Headwaters of the Suncook River.
Lakes
Region Conservation Trust Offers Guided Hike To Celebrate Two Land
Conservation Projects In The Belknap Range
Join the Lakes Region
Conservation Trust for a guided hike on Saturday, September 9th from
10 am to 1 pm to celebrate two LRCT land conservation projects in
the Belknap Range Conservation Coalition (BRCC) Focus Area and along
the headwaters of the Suncook River in Gilmanton. These
projects are the 124-acre Rendall Conservation Easement and the
abutting 88-acre former Fenollosa property, which lie between Guinea
Ridge Road and the Griswold Scout Reservation (Camp Bell and Hidden
Valley Camp) just downstream from Manning Lake and Lake Eileen.
The program will begin with light refreshments and recognition for
these projects and for the people who made them possible, Nancy
Rendall and Marilyn and Michael Fenollosa. This will be
followed by an optional guided hike on the conserved land led by
Nancy Rendall, and the property.
The Rendall Conservation
Easement property encompasses significant parts of a large wetland
complex below the outlets of Lake Eileen and Manning Lake, and
includes riparian buffer and a perennial stream system that is part
of the headwaters of the Suncook River. The property also
includes fieldstone house and barn foundations and fieldstone walls
marking intensive agricultural use in the past. The
conservation easement was donated to LRCT by Nancy Rendall, and the
property is now owned by the Fenollosas.
The former Fenollosa
parcel contains what was the last unprotected portion of a
significant wetland and stream system that is part of the Suncook
River headwaters, and approximately one-third of the parcel is
classified as highest ranked habitat in the state under the NH
Wildlife Action Plan. When the land was in danger of being
sold for development, Marilyn and Mike Fenollosa stepped forward to
acquire and hold it for more than a year until funding for LRCT’s
acquisition could be secured. Nancy Rendall donated
professional services for project planning and wetlands assessment
needed to obtain grant funding, and the effort came to a successful
conclusion when LRCT received the necessary grant from the NH
Department of Environmental Services Aquatic Resource Mitigation
Fund.
LRCT is very grateful to Nancy Rendall and the Fenollosas
for their generosity and dedication to the success of these
projects, as well as to the ARM Fund for its support for the
Fenollosa project. LRCT’s conservation of these key parcels
builds on other conservation achievements in the Belknap Range Focus
Area in recent years involving LRCT, the Society for the Protection
of NH Forests, BRCC, and others committed to conservation of the
extraordinary scenic, natural, recreational, and historical
resources of the Belknaps.
Participation in this event will be
limited and registration is required. To register for this program
and to learn more about this event please visit
www.lrct.org.
The Lakes Region Conservation Trust was founded
in 1979 to conserve the natural heritage of New Hampshire’s Lakes
Region. To date, LRCT has conserved more than 145 properties
totaling over 25,000 acres. LRCT’s conservation and
stewardship work preserves community character, conserves critical
wildlife habitat and diverse ecosystems, protects natural landmarks
and scenic landscapes, and provides outdoor recreation opportunities
for people of all ages.
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