Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust Newsletter

Spring 2010 Number 16

Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust Mission Statement “To preserve the quality of the natural resources, wildlife habitat, and beauty of

the Dan Hole Ponds watershed area for the benefit of the general public.” The Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust

Established in March 2000 as a 501(c) (3) tax exempt, publicly supported organization

Gulf Brook Watershed Land Added to Trust Holdings The Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust, active in Ossipee and Tuftonboro, has launched “The Gulf Brook Project” to conserve 97 acres of forestland and critical wildlife habitat between Thurley and Knox Mountains in Center Ossipee.

Gulf Brook after a “sugaring snow” this spring

Since the Trust acquired and protected the nearly 300 acre Thurley Mountain forestland in 2004 it has been in regular contact with abutters and property owners in the area to determine if there was interest in protecting their parcels through conservation easement, purchase

by the trust or other arrangements to protect open space in the Dan Hole Pond area. During the fall of 2009 these contacts led to an opportunity to purchase the 97 acre parcel by the Trust.

Gulf Brook area in pink with other protected land shaded green

The property includes much of the Gulf Brook watershed, an important riparian corridor that feeds into the Dan Hole River. The area is classified in the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan as “highest ranked habitat in the state”.

This conservation project will contribute to the Town of Ossipee Master Plan objective, preserving more of the town’s beautiful forested open space and

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mountain vistas. As the town grows it will become increasingly important to preserve the critical forest, wildlife and recreation resources that make Ossipee an appealing place to live and an attractive tourist destination.

Because Gulf Brook abuts the Trust’s forestland on Thurley Mountain, the two parcels can be managed together as 400 acres of conservation land for the permanent benefit of wildlife and the public:

• The combined property will be open to the public for recreation such as hiking, and hunting.

• The upland portion of the new Gulf Brook property which has previously been harvested for timber will be managed for sustainable forestry according to a management plan.

Gulf Brook Preliminary Survey Reveals Valuable Addition to Thurley Mountain Trust Land

Thurley Mountain and Gulf Brook area relative

to Dan Hole Ponds looking north

A preliminary inventory of the Gulf Brook property indicates several important features that make its conservation important to the surrounding area. : 1. The most important feature of the Gulf

Brook property is Gulf Brook itself containing excellent trout and aquatic macro-invertebrate habitat.

2. An old mill dam in excellent condition;

3. The immediate watershed of this portion of Gulf Brook with undisturbed streamside banks and the steep-walled ravine (35% in most areas) of Gulf Brook.

4. In the ravine, an exemplary mid to late successional forest community of mixed hemlock, white pine, American beech, yellow birch and red spruce.

The late successional woodland along Gulf Brook includes roughly two acres of Hemlock-Northern Hardwood Forest in old growth condition. An additional 8 – 10 acres along the brook exhibits a mature condition of greater than 135 years in age, with white pines that exceed 120 feet in height and hemlocks in excess of three feet in diameter.

Gulf Brook Fundraising Campaign Underway The Trust has begun a campaign to raise the $125,000 required to purchase and protect the Gulf Brook land. Initial response to a letter campaign launched as soon as the purchase opportunity became known has been promising. Over 110 contributors have donated or pledged more than $50,000 so far.

However, nearly $75,000 remains to be raised to reach the objective.

Applications have been made to a number of foundations requesting grants to assist in the Campaign. Even if all of these grant applications were to be successful, there will still be a requirement for strong support from the Trust’s membership and friends to achieve the fundraising goal.

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A contribution form can be found on the final page of this news letter.

• Tax deductible cash contributions can be sent to: Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust P.O. Box 8 Center Ossipee, NH 03814.

• Contributors who wish to provide donations in the form of Stock gifts should contact Mr. Jim Vicenzi at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (207-771-0851) for additional information.

• Information about the project and the Trust can be obtained by contacting Bob Pratt at 603-539-2073, or email at: danholepondtrust@gmail.com.

GULF BROOK DONORS Susan & Patrick Ahearn Janice Bakey Vanessa Banyas Gloria & Ted Belastock Anne & Chet Berlin Joseph & Patricia Bradley Frank & Ruth Bodurtha David & Betty Bowles Albert Bowley Brooks Family Trust Tim Brown Tony & Joan Cardillo William & Phyllis Carifio Jeff & Anne Carr Mark Chag Henry P. Chandler Jr. Harry Chouinard Barbara Clark Cecily Clark Neal & Patricia Clark Sherren Clark Tom Clark Charlotte & Herb Cooper Martha Copithorne

Anne Corson Howard & Connie Cunningham Penelope Curtis Alex & Charity Dahl Charles (Mickey) Dalton Alton & Pauline Davis Jennifer Delaney & Martin Fogarty Richard & Catherine Delaney Frank DeRamer Carlton & Gail Dingman David Dingman & Sue McCoo Rosemary & James Dolan Jane & Alan Dossett Dave & Noreen Downs Kenneth Dunphy Cedric H. Dustin Jr. Diana Dutton Ellyn & Douglas Eastman Anita Fahy Christina Fahy Richard Fahy Betsy & Bill Frago Mark Geppert Al Gerrish Joe Gildea Elizabeth & Bob Gillette Maren Gimpel & Dan Small Mark Golden & Jill Charney Melvin Gonsalves Darren Goodrich Paul Goodrich Carol & Bob Googins Donna Gridley Ann Hackl Jaye Hays Jo-Ann Harding Robert & Josephine Henderson Marjorie Hery Ann & Joe Hobbs Ted Jednak Pat Jones Michael Kaufman Dean & Sue Killam Donna Lietz Jeff Loftus J. Shayne Lovering Maryann Lynch Willard (Bud) Martin Gus Mazzocca

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Barbara McClure William McClure Betsy & Dan Mena Drew Mena Virginia Mills Alan Moore Wes & Alice Moore Thomas Najarian Emily & Frank O'Hara Bruce & Kathleen Parsons Carol Pearson Paul Poyant Alix & Bob Pratt Elizabeth Pratt & Jeremy Bell Robert Pustell John Putnam Paul & Julie Robbins Carl Schaub Susan Schuur Jim Scott Peg Scully Sally Sharples Charles Smith Spider Web Gardens Margaret Stewart Adam Stockman Bill Stockman Joan Sullivan Bill & Sally Stoops Ron & Carolyn Sundquist Phyllis & David Tela Bruce & Pamela Thayer Kate Thompson Cristina & Andrew Ullmann John Ullmann Inc. Warren & Tensy Walker Mahlon & Meadow Welch Steve Wingate Nancy Witherell & Tom Check Mark & Jane Wright

Special Gifts Received This Period In Memory of Elmer W. Baron, Jr.

David Dingman & Susan McCoo

In Honor of Barbara Clark Sherren Clark

Window on the Ossipees Outlook Taking Shape Local contractors led by Ossipee Conservation Commissioner Ralph Buchanan have made substantial progress over the winter in the site preparation for the Window on the Ossipees scenic overlook on the west side of Route 16. Top soil, gravel, signs, kiosks and some paving must be completed before the site is open to the public in the fall of this year.

Window on the Ossipees Outlook

The project requires 170 yards of topsoil plus 370 yards of 11/2-inch gravel to enhance earthwork on the site Anyone knowing of topsoil or gravel to donate, please call Pat Jones at 539 4181 for information.

When the topsoil and gravel are obtained they will be promptly moved into place by the team of local contractors who gave generously over the winter months either through reduced prices or donated services. They include R. Baldwin Transport, Gordon Berry, Bob Cantwell, John Dusvitch and Wayne Lloyd.

The DHPWT helped to raise $250,000 required to buy the 20-acre “Windows” property and it holds a conservation easement to retain the magnificent view of the Ossipee Mountains.

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The DHPWT Celebrates a Decade of Preservation in the Ossipee Mountains Although it may seem like yesterday to some, the Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust has been actively protecting the Dan Hole Pond Ossipee Mountain area for a decade. The Trust was founded by a group of approximately fifty year-round and seasonal residents of the towns of Ossipee and Tuftonboro who were concerned about the long-term negative effects that development and subdivisions could have on the water and forest resources of the Dan Hole Pond watershed. The Trust’s first land protection project, completed in 2001, was the purchase of a 200-acre parcel of land on the south shore of Big Dan Hole Pond in Center Ossipee. This project succeeded thanks to contributions totaling over $300,000 by more than 100 donors. The Trust manages the land as “forever wild” space open to the public to enjoy for passive recreation and hunting. We donated a conservation easement on the property to the New Hampshire chapter of The Nature Conservancy to ensure its permanent protection. In 2004 the Trust acquired a second conservation property – 300 acres of forestland on Thurley Mountain located north and upland of the Dan Hole ponds and also within the town of Ossipee. This purchase was made possible with support from Fields Pond Foundation, Sweetwater Trust and donations from 150 individuals. The Trust is managing this property as “forever wild”and it is also, open to the public for passive recreation.

In 2008 we assisted the Ossipee Conservation Commission in their acquisition of the “Window on the Ossipees” property along NH Route 16 in Ossipee. This land provides a magnificent view of the Ossipee Mountains. The Trust raised $18,000 for the project and holds a conservation easement to ensure that it will be preserved as open space in perpetuity.

To celebrate these achievements and to thank our friends and supporters, the Trust will undertake a three day sequence of entertainment and property hikes culminating with a Pot Luck Dinner Party overlooking the Ossipee Mountains from a porch in Roland Park – arguably one of the best ways to view the results of our efforts.

The Trust and Spider Web Gardens will jointly present an entertaining talk by Steve Taylor on “Cows in the Community.” The talk will take place at Spider Web (Route 109A Tuftonboro) on Thursday 29 July at 7pm.

On Friday 30 July the Trust will schedule hikes and possibly a light work effort on protected land for a close-up view of Gulf Brook and other lands managed by the Trust. There is plenty of trail and boundary marking work that needs to be done.

To conclude the celebration, the Annual Meeting will be held at director Martha Copithorne’s home in Roland Park on 31 July from 4-7pm. In addition to a grand view of the Ossipees; attendees are invited to bring a dish for a potluck dinner. There will be tents, tables and chairs for a comfortable gathering. We hope to see you there.

Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust P.O. Box 8 Center Ossipee, NH 03814

DHPWT Trustees Bob Pratt, President Mark Wright, Vice President Barbara Clark, Secretary Martha Copithorne, Treasurer Tim Brown Carlton Dingman Dawn Evans Anita Fahy Elizabeth Gillette Donna Gridley Bill Stockman Cristina Ullmann ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Make your tax deductible contributions payable to Dan Hole Pond Watershed Trust, and send your check with this form to: DHPWT, PO Box 8, Center Ossipee, NH, 03814-008 Please Join or Renew Your Membership for 2010! r $25 r $50 r $75 r $100 r $200 r Other____________

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Please Contribute to the Gulf Brook Project Fund

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