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Upcoming Events

Map & Compass Workshop
Saturday, July 25
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
University of New Hampshire, Durham
Learn how to use a map and compass to navigate through the woods. Dick Weyrick, retired UNH professor of forestry, will teach this workshop which will involve a classroom component and a field component at UNH’s College Woods property. Feel free to bring your own compass. The Conservancy is working with the University to put a conservation easement on this important property. Registration is $5 for Members of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy and $10 for non-members. Register online for this event. This program is funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Canoe – Kayak on Salmon Falls River
Saturday, August 15
9:00 am to 11:00 am
Scoutland Property, Rollinsford
Join us for a canoe-kayak trip up the beautiful Salmon Falls River to visit the town of Rollinsford’s Scoutland property. Bring your own canoe/kayak and life preservers for all passengers. If you don’t have access to a boat, please contact us. The Conservancy is working with the town to put a conservation easement on this property. Nancy Carmer, SRC Board member, will lead the program. Registration is free for members of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy and $5 for non-members. Register online for this event. This program is funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Celebration of Conservation
Saturday, September 26, 2009
5:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Three Rivers Farm, Dover, New Hampshire
Join us for good food, good drink, good music, great camaraderie and an opportunity to get a tour of this restored historic mansion. View more information on prices, information and to register online.

 

PLEASE NOTE: SRC is no longer hosting the Great Cochecho Boat Race. Due to the increase in the number of land conservation projects we've taken on over the past few years, our capacity to host the boat race has greatly diminished and we will no longer be running it.

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Recent Events

Rivers Cruise
Saturday, June 6
9:30 am to 3:00 pm
Piscataqua and Cochecho Rivers
Join us for a cruise up the Piscataqua and Cochecho Rivers on UNH’s research vessel, the R/V Gulf Challenger. We’ll look at conserved properties along the way and learn about the rivers, water quality and estuarine systems. Cost is $35 for members of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy or Great Works Land Trust, $45 for non-members. Space is limited to 20. Advanced payment is required. We cruise rain or shine, so please dress appropriately for variable outdoor weather. Sturdy shoes are recommended and seating on the boat is limited. Bring your lunch and beverages. Appropriate for children 10 and older. Register online for this event. This program is funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

LAND AID!
A benefit concert featuring music by GAZPACHO
Friday, June 12th
6:00 to 11:00 pm
The Links at Outlook Golf Course, South Berwick, ME
Learn more!

 

 

Stonehouse PondStonehouse Pond Property Hike
Saturday, May 16, 2009
10:00 am - 12:30 pm
(Rain date: Sunday, May 17th same time)
The Strafford Rivers Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land invite you to join us for a morning hike at the spectacular Stonehouse Pond property. Project staff will describe the conservation project and campaign goals. Come hike and learn how to get involved in helping save this natural treasure! Lunch will be served under the trees at noon. Box lunch provided by the SRC & TPL.

Surveying 101: The Science, Art and Legal Dimensions of Land Surveys
Saturday, May 9
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Durham and Lee

What do surveyors do and how do they do it? What information can you find on a survey plan and how do you interpret it? Landowners, Conservation Commission and Planning Board members, natural resource professionals and others who have an interest in property boundaries or use survey maps will gain a greater understanding of how surveys are conducted and how to interpret the results. Bob Moynihan, professor of surveying at the UNH Thompson School, will present this four-hour workshop, which will include two hours of classroom activities at UNH followed by two hours of outdoor activities on the Ford property in Lee, which was recently conserved by a conservation easement easement. Registration is $5 for Members of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy and $10 for non-members. This program is funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

NH’s Water Resources Plan
Tuesday, April 28
7:00-9:00 pm
NH Fish & Game Conference Room, Durham

New Hampshire’s economic well-being, public health, and quality of life depend on the sustainable management of water resources. Consequently, the state is developing a plan to better manage and protect this significant resource. This meeting with NH Dept. of Environmental Services staff, NH Representative Judith Spang and Michelle Daley, Associate Director of UNH’s Water Resources Research Center, is an opportunity for you to learn more about the state’s water resources and to provide input into the plan. Registration is free. All are welcome. This program is funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Woodcock Courtship
Tuesday, April 14 or Thursday, April 16
6:30-8:00 pm
Aikman Easement, Rollinsford

Spring is in the air and New Hampshire’s woodcock are feeling romantic. Join Strafford Rivers Conservancy President Kevin McEneaney for an informal gathering to watch for woodcock courtship rituals at the Aikman conservation easement in Rollinsford. The woodcock dance has been described as “one of the grandest spectacles of nature.” The program is limited to 10 people and will be cancelled in case of rain. Please indicate which night you would like to attend when you register. Waterproof footwear and dark clothing are recommended. Children that are able stand still and stay quiet for an hour are welcome. Registration is free. This program is funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Who's Coming to Dinner? Understanding Habitat and How to Improve it for Wildlife and People
Wednesday, March 4, 6:15-8:00 pm

Rochester Public Library – Community Room

Looking for ways to make your yard more attractive to wildlife? Jon Batson, professional landscaper, presented ideas about what a habitat is, how you might improve the habitat value of your property and help fit your yard into the larger landscape. He also discussed the habitat value of specific plants and ways to make your yard more attractive to wildlife. Jon Batson, President of the NH Landscape Association, is the owner of Jenesis Gardens and Design and volunteers as a Community Tree Steward. This event was free and open to the public. This program was funded in part by the New England Grassroots Environment Fund.

Snowshoe on Newly Conserved Lavender Property
Saturday, January 24, 10:00 am-12:00 pm

Brookfield and Wakefield

A good group joined us for a winter snowshoe on 200 acres of varied habitat that includes a reclaimed gravel pit, forests, fields and wetlands. Matt Chagnon, UNH Professor of Forest Technology, lead the walk and discussed the property’s natural resource features. This property, owned by Tom and Dulcie Lavender, was recently conserved by two conservation easements. The walk was co-sponsored by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy and Moose Mountains Regional Greenways

Showshoeing on the newly conserved Lavender Property.
Twenty-eight people enjoyed the fresh snow and clear skies as they snowshoed across the 200-acre Lavender property.

Peter and Thelma Thompson shared their expertise in geology at the parcel preserved by the Goodwill easement on Richardson Pond.
Peter and Thelma Thompson shared their expertise in geology at the parcel preserved by the Goodwill easement on Richardson Pond.

Exploring the Geology of Richardson Pond
Saturday, November 22, 2008 - 9:00 am -11:00 am
Richardson Pond Easement, Barrington
Geologists Peter and Thelma Thompson led the excursion to Richardson Pond in Barrington, offering an opportunity to sharpen powers of observation and gain an appreciation of this interesting conservation property while learning how geologists look at the landscape. Topics included: the tools of a field geologist, the main rock types on the property and how do you recognize them, clues to reconstruct the geologic history of the area, how the bedrock and overlying materials relate to groundwater. Registration was free for members and $5 for non-members.

Annual Meeting
Thursday, December 4 at 5:30pm
Governor’s Inn, Rochester

In 1942, a group of New Hampshire women operated a sawmill on the shores of Turkey Pond, Concord. The sawmill, one of two on the pond, was built to saw up what remained of the logs stored in the water from the 1938 hurricane. At this year’s annual meeting Sarah Smith presented “They Sawed Up A Storm,” a slide show about this group of women, the 1938 hurricane and the determination of the people of New England. A very brief business meeting preceded the slide presentation. Registration was $40; dinner is included.

Learn about the women who ran the Turkey Pond sawmill at this year’s annual meeting.
The women who ran the Turkey Pond sawmill.

Roselawn Farm Walk
Saturday, November 1, 2008 - 9:00 am -11:00 am
Roselawn Farm, Madbury/Durham
Participants in the walk learned about the diverse habitats and conservation values of Roselawn Farm with Mark West, wetland scientist and naturalist. Roselawn Farm offers visitors an interesting variety of forests, fields and wetlands to explore. Part of the property was recently conserved by the Gangwer family in partnership with the towns of Durham and Madbury, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and The Strafford Rivers Conservancy. There was no groomed trail, so participants did some bushwhacking on rough terrain. The walk was co-sponsored by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy, the Madbury and Durham Conservation Commissions, and the Durham Land Protection Working Group
.

Many generations enjoyed exploring the diverse habitats of Roselawn Farm.
Many generations enjoyed exploring the diverse habitats of Roselawn Farm. Photo by Robin Mower

Kevin McEneaney, President of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy, presents the Ashton Hallett Conservation Award to Robin Aikman of Rollinsford. Aikman, a founding member of SRC, was honored for her significant contributions to land conservation in the region.
Kevin McEneaney, President of the Strafford Rivers Conservancy, presents the Ashton Hallett Conservation Award to Robin Aikman of Rollinsford. Aikman, a founding member of SRC, was honored for her significant contributions to land conservation in the region.

Three Rivers Farm, Dover NH

Celebration of Conservation
Saturday, October 4,2008 - 5:00 - 9:00 pm
Three Rivers Farm, 185 Three Rivers Farm Road, Dover, NH
All who joined enjoyed good food, good drink, good music, great camaraderie and an opportunity to get a tour of this restored historic mansion.

Tickets were $125 each, and each purchase entered guests into a raffle for a dinner for two and an overnight stay at Wentworth by the Sea. $100 of ticket contribution is tax deductible. All proceeds will benefit The Strafford Rivers Conservancy.

 

Hawk Watch and Nature Walk
Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 9:00 am -11:00 am
Panish Easement-Teneriffe Mountain, Milton
Tour guide and naturalist Mark Suomala lead participants on a gentle climb through woods and across the top of Teneriffe Mountain in Milton. He described the flora and fauna encountered along the way, and all enjoyed views of the blueberry fields, the White Mountains in the distance, and some hawks!

Mark Suomala looks for hawks with Jill Taylor of Barrington.
Mark Suomala looks for hawks with Jill Taylor of Barrington.

 

John Wallace, SRC Land Agent, leads participants through the 50 acre Dunham easement in Durham/Lee.
John Wallace, SRC Land Agent, leads participants through the 50 acre Dunham easement in Durham/Lee.

 

After the Easement: Conservation Land Monitoring Walk
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 9:00 am -12:00 pm
Dunham Property, Durham-Lee
While legally protecting land from development may seem like the end f a conservation project, for the conservation organization that holds the easement the work is just beginning. The public wais invited to join John Wallace, Strafford Rivers Conservancy Land Agent, to learn about how conservation easements are documented and monitored. He demonstrated this essential conservation work on the 50 acre Dunham/Cody property located in Durham and Lee. This property features substantial farmland and over 1500 feet of spectacular habitat along the Lamprey River. This walk was co-sponsored by the Durham and Lee Conservation Commissions.

Online Community Mapping
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - 9:00 am -12:00 pm
McConnell Center, Dover
The public was invited to learn how to map natural resources in their community using NH GRANIT’s free online Data Mapper with Nancy Lambert, SRC member and a geospatial technologies educator. They were shown how to make custom maps with geographic data, aerial photos, soils and other features. The workshop was$20 for members of Strafford Rivers Conservancy and $35 for non-members. (All proceeds benefit the Conservancy.) Limited to 10 participants.

Bugs, Buds and Beasts in Barrington
Thursday, June 19, 2008 - 6:00-8:00 pm
Newhall Property, Barrington
Charlie Tatham, Barrington Natural Heritage Committee member and Trails Committee Chairman, led the group on an evening walk on the 80-acre Newhall property in Barrington. In addition to learning about the conservation values of this property, which is protected by a conservation easement, participants got a closer and perhaps more sympathetic look at those much-maligned beasts that bite, chew and suck: insects. They also examined the plants that sustain them.

Participants in the Community Resource Mapping workshop learn to map natural resources in the region using the online NH Data Mapper.
Participants in the Community Resource Mapping workshop learn to map natural resources in the region using the online NH Data Mapper.

Global Climate Change and Land Conservation
Monday, May 19, 2008 - 7:00-8:30 pm
Dover Public Library
Dr. Barry Rock, a botanist at UNH’s Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, discussed global climate change and the role of land conservation in the strategy to combat global warming. Dr. Rock specializes in the remote sensing of vegetation and is highly regarded for his ability to make science interesting and understandable to the general public. This program was co-sponsored by Strafford Rivers Conservancy, Great Works Regional Land Trust and Bear-Paw Regional Greenways.

Malin Clyde, UNH Cooperative Extension, discussed grassland habitat and historical changes to New Hampshire’s landscape during the April 12 Wildlife Habitat workshop on the Aikman property in Rollinsford.
Malin Clyde, UNH Cooperative Extension, discussed grassland habitat and historical changes to New Hampshire’s landscape during the April 12 Wildlife Habitat workshop on the Aikman property in Rollinsford.

Wildlife Habitat Workshop
Saturday, April 12, 2008 - 9:00-11:00 am
Participants learned how to identify and enhance wildlife habitat with Malin Clyde, SRC member and coordinator of UNH Cooperative Extension’s wildlife volunteer program. Participants visited the Aikman property in Rollinsford, which is protected by conservation easements held by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy.

 

Sustainability and Spirituality
Monday, March 3, 2008 - 7:00-8:15 pm
Dover Public Library, Trustees Room
A discussion of sustainability and spirituality with John Carroll, SRC member and UNH professor of natural resources. Dr. Carroll is the author/editor of several books on this topic including Sustainability and Spirituality; Ecology and Religion: Scientists Speak; The Greening of Faith: God, the Environment; and the Good Life and Embracing Earth: Catholic Approaches to Ecology.

 

Conservancy walk at Richardson Pond Easement
Saturday, February 23, 2008 - 9:00am - 11:00 am
(Snow date is from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 24)
At the easment off Route 9
Residents joined naturalists Dick Weyrick, Bob Eckert and Kai Staplefeldt on this walk on the Richardson Pond easement in Barrington. This property is newly protected by the town of Barrington and the Strafford Rivers Conservancy. Owner Carolyn Goodwill granted an easement to the conservancy before the purchase of the property by the town. This walk was cosponsored by the Barrington Conservation Commission.


 Participants trudged through the snow in snowshoes to enjoy the winter beauty and learn about the conservation values of the newly conserved Richardson Pond property in Barrington.

Map Making Online
Saturday, January 12, 2008 - 9:00 am-12:00 pm
(snow date: January 19, 2008 - 9:30 am–12:30 pm)
McConnell Center, Dover
Participants leanred how to map natural resources in their community using NH GRANIT’s free online Data Mapper with Nancy Lambert, SRC member and a geospatial technologies educator. They made custom maps with geographic data, aerial photos, soils and other features. The workshop was $20 for members of Strafford Rivers Conservancy and $35 for non-members. (All proceeds benefit the Conservancy.)

Winter Tree and Shrub Identification Workshop
Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 9:00-11:00 am
(snow date: December 16, 1:00-3:00 pm)
Participants learned how to identify trees and shrubs in the winter with Dick Weyrick, SRC member and retired professor of forestry at UNH. Participants visited the Franklin parcel; a beautiful 50 acre property along the tidal portion of the Salmon Falls River in Rollinsford owned and protected by the SRC.

The hardy participants of the Winter Tree & Shrub Identification workshop braved freezing temperatures to enjoy the remarkable winter beauty of the Franklin Preserve, a 47-acre parcel on the Salmon Falls River that is owned and protected by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy.

The hardy participants of the Winter Tree & Shrub Identification workshop braved freezing temperatures to enjoy the remarkable winter beauty of the Franklin Preserve, a 47-acre parcel on the Salmon Falls River that is owned and protected by the Strafford Rivers Conservancy.

Protecting Shoreland and Riparian Buffers Workshop
October 29, 2007 – Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center, Great Bay Discovery Center, 89 Depot Road, Greenland, NH
Hosted by the Rockingham Planning Commission, as part of its I-93 Conservation Commission Institute workshop series

November 5, 2007 – Governor’s Inn, 78 Wakefield Street, Rochester, NH
Hosted by the New Hampshire Estuaries Project and the Strafford Regional Planning Commission

November 29, 2007 – Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission Office, 438 Duqubue Street, Manchester, NH
Hosted by the Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, as part of its I-93 Conservation Commission Institute workshop series

A Workshop for Municipal Board/Commission Members, Town Staff, Members of Watershed Organizations, and Citizens Interested in Protecting Surface Waters by Strengthening Buffer Ordinances.

This workshop increased understanding of the value of buffers, the extent to which different regulatory scenarios protect water resources, the strength of their towns’ buffer ordinances, and steps they can undertake to improve local buffer protections. Participants learned about the value of buffers, the extent to which different regulatory scenarios protect water resources, the strength of their towns’ buffer ordinances, and steps they can undertake to improve local buffer protections. For more information see http://www.nhep.unh.edu/resources/temp/protecting_shoreland_and-nhep-07.pdf.

Agenda
6:30 Workshop introduction & presentation on the functions and values of buffers
7:15 Buffer mapping exercise – a hands-on mapping exercise that demonstrates how different buffer regulations protect water resources
7:45 Short break
8:00 Assessment of town buffer regulations* – participants will review their town’s buffer ordinance to better understand strengths and limitations
8:30 Steps to develop or improve local buffer regulations – planning commissions will provide a “road map” for participants to enhance regulatory protections for buffers in their towns
9:00 Adjourn

* Participants were asked to bring a copy the buffer ordinance for their town; if none exist, they will review a neighboring town’s ordinance.

The workshop was free. The workshop was conducted three times throughout the seacoast/southern region of the state.

Workshops organized and presented by staff from the following agencies and organizations: Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Fish and Game Department, New Hampshire Coastal Program, New Hampshire Estuaries Project, Rockingham Planning Commission, Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission, Strafford Regional Planning Commission, and UNH Cooperative Extension.

The Strafford Rivers Conservancy Annual Dinner Meeting
The Governors Inn, 78 Wakefield St., Rochester, NH
Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 6:00 p.m.
Cost: $35 per person

Members, friends, guests, and the Board of Directors of Strafford County's Regional Land Trust.

Approximate Schedule
6:00 PM - Social hour: Light hors d'ouevres/Cash Bar
6:30 PM - Brief business meeting and announcements
6:45 PM - Speaker - Kristine Rines, NH Fish and Game Department: Hear great stories and ask questions about "NH's Moose!"
7:30 PM - Dinner/Dessert Table/Coffee

Hawk and Nature Watch and Walk
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Teneriffe Mountain Blueberry Farm, Milton NH

Tour Guide and Naturalist Mark Suomala led participants on a gentle climb through the woods up across the top of Teneriffe Mountain, describing the flora and fauna that we encountered along the way. At the top, we enjoyed views of the blueberry fields below, the White Mountains in the distance, and some hawks! Mark also described the importance of Teneriffe Mountain to the regional watershed. > More information

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Articles & Press Releases

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