The LTA accreditation program recognizes land conservation organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural resources and working lands like farms and forests forever.

The Land Trust Accreditation Commission seeks public comment and accepts signed, written comments on pending applications. Comments must relate to how ACT complies with national quality standards. These standards address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust. For the full list of standards see http://www.landtrustaccreditation.org/tips-and-tools/indicator-practices.

To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be faxed or mailed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Fax: 518-587-3183. Comments on ACT’s application should be received by Dec. 31, 2011.

Gardner Ridge is the signature backdrop of Lyman, N.H.

1,100 acres protect key habitat, working forest, recreation 

A significant portion of Gardner Ridge in the Connecticut River valley, the scenic backdrop for Lyman and critically important wildlife habitat, has been conserved. Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust and The Trust for Public Land announced that the conservation easement on the 1,081 acres encourages timber management, protects important habitat, and guarantees public access, but restricts development not related to agriculture or forestry.

This property has been managed for timber for many years, and the current owner, the Merrill Family Trust, wished to see the property conserved rather than developed. In 2004 a wind farm development along Gardner Ridge was proposed and rejected by Lyman voters. Around the same time, the late John Merrill offered the town the opportunity to buy the land. Several residents approached Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT), the North Country’s land conservancy, for assistance in how to accomplish a purchase. ACT enlisted the help of The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization that has brokered many similar projects.

Working together, the residents, ACT, and TPL proposed a community forest for Lyman, but residents voted down a bond for purchasing the property in March of 2009. TPL and ACT then pursued an alternative conservation strategy, conserving the land with an easement but keeping it in private ownership.

The land has now been sold to a new owner, who will operate it as a commercial working forest subject to the conservation easement. Continued forestry will be done on a sustainable basis and will continue to support New Hampshire’s rural economies. ACT will manage the easement.

“Land protection projects often take a lot of time and work, as this one did,” said ACT Executive Director Rebecca Brown. “I’m sure we all wish John Merrill had lived to see this happen. It’s a great tribute to him and his family, and a tremendous gift to people everywhere who care about seeing our landscape conserved for future generations.”

“Gardner Mountain is a remarkable Lyman landmark worthy of protection,” said J.T. Horn, project manager for The Trust for Public Land. “Our sincere thanks to the Merrill Family, New Hampshire’s LCHIP fund, our other funding partners, and the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust for seeing this project through to the end.”

Gardner Mountain includes some of the most important wildlife habitat in New Hampshire. Paddock Mine, an abandoned copper mine on the property, is now home to the second largest bat hibernacula in New Hampshire. Bats are under severe stress from a new and mysterious disease known as White Nose Syndrome, which is causing high mortality rates among several common species of bats. New Hampshire Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe that conservation of the Paddock Mine hibernacula is a critical part of the response to White Nose Syndrome in New Hampshire.

“We appreciate the work that ACT and The Trust for Public Land and have done in protecting this land,” said Emily Brunkhurst, wildlife biologist for the NH Fish and Game Department. “Conserving this hibernacula provides a safe wintering habitat for bats who survive white-nose syndrome and their offspring. As you enjoy this newly conserved land, please help save our bats by staying out of the mine to allow them to hibernate without disturbance.”

Lyman is a rural community that set goals to maintain its heritage of agriculture, forestry, and open recreational access. The property contains a significant portion of the Gardner Ridge, Lyman’s scenic backdrop with western views from the church and fields in the center of the Town. The property will also remain open to pedestrian access for hiking, cross-country skiing and hunting. Visitors will be able to enjoy the dramatic views from the property toward Mount Moosilauke and the Kinsman Ridge in the White Mountain National Forest.

Funding for the $600,000 project came from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), Open Space Institute – Saving New England Wildlife Fund, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation – Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund, the McIninch Foundation, Fields Pond Foundation, the Byrne Foundation and many private individuals.

One hundred years ago the North Country faced a pivotal moment. Our forebears united across boundaries of geography, politics, and financial interests to win passage of the Weeks Act, which led to the creation of the White Mountain National Forest. Their actions guaranteed that the forest – the economic, ecological, and spiritual foundation of the region – would remain. They had a bold idea and audacious vision.

 One hundred years later, what is our bold vision? 

This question will be discussed as part of the Weeks Centennial Celebration, White Mountains Cultural Festival: Eight Days of Weeks.  ACT and the Arts Alliance of Northern New Hampshire (AANNH) are hosting the discussion on Saturday, August 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the home of ACT trustee Rosalind Page and Tom Simpson in Lisbon overlooking Pearl Lake. Wine and light fare will be served.

Well known author Nathaniel Tripp of Barnet, Vt. will lead the discussion. His most recent book, Confluence, focuses on the Connecticut River. According to a review in the Valley News, ”This is a powerful book. It will work on your psyche the way a really good poem does. Mainly what will stick with you though is the author’s powerful, articulate voice, at times kind and humorous, at times outraged.”

The question of what the future holds for the North Country is addressed by ACT Executive Director in the essay “The Rediscovery of the North Country.” The essay may be downloaded here.

Space is limited and reservations are required.  For an optional donation of $60 is requested, $100 for couples, you will receive a  limited-edition hard-cover copy of the new book Beyond the Notches: Stories of Place in New Hampshire’s North Country.” Please call ACT at 603-823-7777 or e-mail us at rbrown@aconservationtrust.org  for directions and reservations.

Keep Growing: Sowing the Seeds of Our Local Food Movement is a free public event at the Colonial Theater in Bethlehem, N.H. on Sunday Aug. 7 from 5 – 7 p.m. Watch the short film, Ladies of the Land, about four women whose career changes into farming change their lives. Participate in a panel discussion about local food and agriculture in our region, and enjoy locally grown and prepared light far courtesy of the Littleton Food Coop and Meadowstone Farm. For more on Keep Growing, visit the Web site www.keepgrowingnhvt.org.

Here’s Meadowstone Farm manager Sam Brown and chef Jenny Johnson talking about what might be served at the Keep Growing kick off.

Early Saturday morning May 21 some local folks headed over to the Wedick Nature Reserve in Bethlehem, N.H., to enjoy a morning walk birding and enjoying the remains of a glacial lake. The drizzle didn’t keep the strong hearted away from this wonderful opportunity.

We started off near Wedick gravel pit entrance on Wing Road, which is ACT protected land. The group, led by ACT director Rebecca Brown, moved through the gravel pit. After we moved away from the road we stood around listening to the bird songs, counting the different birds we could hear. After about six birds I lost track, but the group shared the same observations.

As we moved further away from the road, the landscape changed. The habitat in and around the gravel pit was a mixture of new low tree growth and some wetland adapted plant species. When birding it is important to take notice to the type of habitat one is looking at. Many bird species look and sound very similar, especially if you’re like me, so just having an idea of where bird species occur is very important.

Looking for spring warblers.

Birds, warblers especially, are small, but have huge voices. So on this day we saw only glimpses of yellow feathers every so often up in the treetops and a flash as a bird flew by. With the help of Rebecca and Ginny Jeffryes we identified birds by song. The chestnut-sided warbler, a Nashville warbler, a phoebe, purple finch, and winter wren along with ravens and crows were some of the birds that graced us that damp morning.

We were pleasantly surprised to discover a cluster of pink lady slippers, an orchid native to New Hampshire, in the most unlikely place along one of the gravel pit access roads. More fun surprises were newly winged damselflies, assorted moths, and fresh bear prints!

The bear prints were small suggesting a young bear and we know they are fresh because the rain did not affect them that the area experienced the previous night and that morning.

A fresh bear print shows up clearly in the fine glacial till.

All in all, the morning was beautiful and the wildlife was plentiful. We just needed to stand around and be still to hear and notice all that this wonderful place in Bethlehem had to offer.

Courtney Bowler will start her senior year at the University of New Hampshire this fall. She lives in Littleton. 

Margo Connors, representing Sugar Hill Select Board and Conservation Commission

The town of Sugar Hill is concerned that there may be serious negative environmental impacts associated with the proposed NP Transmission line, which would pass through our community. Our town presently has 7 miles of existing ROW with a single row of towers carrying AC lines. This ROW is projected to be widened from its current cut width of 150 feet to a minimum width of 225 feet with the new HVDC towers added. We ask that you give serious consideration to the points we raise in order to provide our town the fullest protection possible from the EIS phase of the permitting process.

Sugar Hill developed a series of maps in 2008 that show the town’s most valued natural resources. The Selectmen and Conservation Commission have examined the proposed Northern Pass route against our natural resource co-occurrence maps and we believe that the following factors should be addressed in the Department of Energy environmental impact study. It is important that the EIS consider the inherent physical changes brought by  towers, lines and clearing of the right of way, the electromagnetic field generated by the proposed power line as well as the noise.

1.Conservation Land – The Northern Pass proposed ROW impacts 6 conservation land easements, including the Sugar Hill Town Forest, which constitutes about half the conserved acreage in town. We are too small to absorb that blow. We ask that the study evaluate habitat fragmentation and specifically the impact of the power line on wildlife corridors, bird nesting environments, and mammal reproduction on these conserved lands.

NP also cuts through 2 large un-fragmented land parcels that are shared with the town of Lisbon (Streeter Pond and Gale River areas) as well as the towns of Easton and Landaff (the Coal Hill area).  We ask that DOE consider the intent of conserved land, that is, to preserve land in its natural state and address the question of whether the presence of industrial infrastructure negatively impacts its conservation value.

2. Water Resources – The proposed power line would impact half the length of the Salmon Hole Brook and it would cross the Gale River.  The Right of Way would cross or abut large areas of hydric soils and wetlands. It could negatively impact amphibians and vernal pools and migratory waterfowl on the Gale River and Streeter Pond. It would impact the riparian zones in the northern and western sections of town. The EIS should address all of these features of wetlands impacts.

3. Forest – The NP Power Line would impact a significant portion of Sugar Hill forest land, fragmenting tracts, disrupting wildlife, altering communities,  and reducing the many benefits our town derives from un-fragmented forest. The EIS should evaluate the total effect on forest land.

4. Recreation – We ask that you evaluate the impact of the proposed line on our recreational trails, lands and waterways that are currently used by school groups, the historical museum, the library, 4-H, the tri-town recreation program, hikers, skiers, fishermen and year round tourists.  Recreation land is one of the major facets of our economy. So we specifically ask that you assess the visual and the auditory impact of these proposed lines.

5. Farmland – We fear that the power line will reduce farm development in Sugar Hill. The proposed line crosses areas of prime agricultural soil and existing farms. It would reduce the potential for new farms by fragmenting parcels and cause concern for the health and wellbeing of livestock (danger, noise, electromagnetic effects, etc.). It has also come to our attention that electric and magnetic fields can negatively impact soil bacteria. These factors should be included in the EIS.

6. Public Safety, Public Health, Accidents – would PSNH be able to handle the bisecting of towns and interstate highways if there were downed overhead lines in severe weather or natural disasters? What are the health risks associated with HVDC lines? We have learned that childhood leukemia and brain cancer have been associated with this form of transmission. We also fear that the constant noise emitted by these lines pose a risk to health and well-being.

We urge the US Department of Energy to carefully look at these issues and consider all of the alternatives  to Northern Pass.  Does importing this power benefit Sugar Hill or NH? Is it needed? Should it be built at all?

On March 8, 2011 the town of Sugar Hill voted unanimously to oppose Northern Pass at its annual Town Meeting. It is the town’s responsibility to preserve our community for future generations.

Statement by Rebecca Brown

I’m Rebecca Brown. I live in Sugar Hill, and I am representing myself and my organization, the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, which is the North Country’s regional land conservancy.

Like many people, when I first heard about the Northern Pass proposal I preformed a mental calculus of pros and cons. Pros: renewable, low cost energy, suposedly with low carbon impact. Cons: huge towers going through my front yard. Conclusion: For the greater good we’ve all got to sacrifice or at least compromise a little to get “green” power. I’d live with the towers.

I was wrong. It is clear to me now, with more information, that Northern Pass is wrong for the North Country, wrong for New Hampshire, wrong for the economy, and wrong for the environment.  No alternatives would make it right for New Hampshire. In terms of public benefits, technology, economy, and public policy, this project does not add up.

It is now well known (from PSNH itself) that New Hampshire does not need power from Hydro-Québec. Northern Pass does not represent a public policy initiative. It is a private, corporate market share initiative. The greatest beneficiary of this project (after Hydro-Québec) is Public Service of New Hampshire. PSNH has been losing market share for years. It is a failing corporation. Northern Pass represents a last gasp effort to boost its revenues, at the expense of our region. Northern Pass is like a private toll road cut through the heart of the North Country – a toll road with no exits and no on ramps. We would not receive the power, nor could we use the lines to export our locally generated power.

Northern Pass unplugs incentives for locally produced biomass energy in the North Country. Biomass plants are teetering on shutting down. These plants employ our North Country people, using wood chips transported by our truckers, from trees cut by our loggers, in forests marked by our foresters, on land owned by North Country people who need financial return in order to manage their forests for the long term.  In return, Northern Pass predicts temporary construction jobs, with no guarantee that hiring is local.

The Department of Energy should require a detailed analysis of the impact of Northern Pass on other energy alternatives including biomass and wind.

Northern Pass is dangling financial incentives for local communities. For cash strapped towns and taxpayers, this may appear an enticing carrot. But long term, these transmission lines are sure to cost towns and taxpayers far more than increased revenue provided upfront. The tax losses from abatements for severely diminished property values, the real estate sales and investment in new or improved homes that will not take place because of this devaluing, plus the ripple effect of these losses in economic activity, may far exceed additional revenues from the lines, especially as line values depreciate.

The Department of Energy should require an expert, objective analysis of the economic impact of the transmission lines.

In conclusion, Northern Pass represents yesterday’s technology trying to solve tomorrow’s needs.  Many energy experts describe a host of innovations in use now, coming to market, or in design that significantly improve the efficiency and lessen the environmental impact of power generation and transmission. It is likely that within a few decades, these enormous towers will be relics of a bygone era. Yet their scar on our landscape will continue. Therefore, while there are studies the DOE might do, I urge the Department take no action on this permit application. It is the wrong project, the wrong place, and the wrong time.

Thank you.

Statement by Chris Thayer

Thank you for this opportunity to provide public comment. My name is Chris Thayer. My wife Wendy and I along with our two boys 4 year old Tucker and 16 month old Riley live on Hadley Road in Sugar Hill. Our home of 9 years complete with small frog pond, wildlife paths, and organic garden lies on the preferred route planned for the Northern Pass Power Transmission Project as it passes through our town on existing ROW. We stand in opposition to the project as currently proposed for the following reasons:

* The expansive metal towers ranging in height from 90 to 135 feet tall will scar the scenic landscape of our town and region affecting quality of life, diminishing

property values and town tax bases and our reputation as a scenic rural destination.

I respectfully request the Department of Energy to evaluate all project alternatives including that of no action that allows our northern region to retain the natural assets that have been the lifeblood of local citizens and the source of inspiration and spiritual renewal for all over countless generations.

* The taller towers proposed for carrying the high voltage direct current aerial

transmission lines will necessitate widening existing ROWs including the possible use of eminent domain to do so – and will allow for additional capacity in the future. I respectfully request the Department of Energy and related federal agencies to perform due diligence in studying the impacts to wildlife, wetlands, forest resources, communities, and recreation areas along the proposed routes including most significantly the White Mountain National Forest – a public land area with more annual visitation than Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks combined.

* Information to date concerning the project has been incomplete, troubling, or at best inaccurate including the estimate of permanent jobs created, estimates of electricity cost reductions to rate payers, estimates of tax payments to towns by utilities, and the presentation of the overall project as ʻgreenʼ energy aimed at meeting the stateʼs carbon reduction goals. I respectfully request the Department of Energy to set the standard for an open, and transparent process that ensures the public interest is on equal footing with corporate interests.

* Published health affects of living on or near high voltage direct current aerial

transmission lines are alarming including higher risks associated with childhood

leukemia and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in adults – our local Profile High School lies directly on the preferred transmission route affecting the children of our entire tri-town region. I respectfully request the Department of Energy to perform due diligence in studying and reporting on the full affects of such transmission lines on surrounding populations and communities including proposals for mitigation as accomplished elsewhere in the US and Europe.

* The proposed project does not consider 21st century solutions aimed at protecting the regionʼs heritage, scenic landscape, and people while providing a model for energy transmission in the United States – in short burying the lines as is currently being done elsewhere in the Northeast should be final consideration. I respectfully request the Department of Energy to challenge those involved in the proposal of this project to put energy innovation and community benefit before shareholder value or profit.

On behalf of my family and along with others in our community and surrounding North Country region, we stand firmly against this project as presented and ask that this public process produce a result that serves the best interests of the state of New Hampshire and those of us who are lucky enough to call it home.

By Rebecca Brown

Like many people, when I first heard about the Northern Pass transmission line proposal I performed a quick mental calculation of pros and cons. Pro: renewable energy. Con: huge towers going through my front yard. My initial conclusion: we’ve all got to sacrifice or at least compromise a little to get “green” power, because it’s for the greater good. I’d live with the towers.

I was wrong.

It is clear to me now that the Northern Pass project is wrong for the North Country, wrong for New Hampshire, wrong for the economy, and wrong for the environment. And no alternatives or mitigation will make it right. In terms of public benefits, technology, economy, and public policy, this project simply does not add up.

It is now well known (from PSNH itself) that New Hampshire does not need this power from Hydro-Québec. The consumers who could use it are in southern New England. These consumers could very likely include Vermont, if the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant shuts down, which Gov. Shumlin is determined to do.

There are good reasons to locate new power generation facilities and transmission lines closer to where the power is needed. One is to cut down on the significant line losses incurred by transmitting electricity over long distances. A second is energy security – systems of smaller facilities located closer to consumers are less vulnerable to failure from natural and human disturbances (ice storms, hurricanes, terrorists) than one big one far away. A third is to make clearer to southern New England the impact of new power generation and transmission. Consumers should understand the connection between how they get their power and its effect on their environment.

Perhaps most important, Northern Pass does not represent a public initiative, where presumably a broader spectrum of interests would be reflected and balanced for the public good. It is a private, corporate project to increase market share. The greatest beneficiary of this project (after Hydro-Québec) is Public Service of New Hampshire and its parent, Northeast Utilities, which are private, shareholder-owned companies.  PSNH has been losing market share for years. It is a failing corporation. Northern Pass represents a last gasp effort to boost its revenues, at the expense of our region. Northern Pass is like a private toll road cut through the heart of the North Country – a toll road with no exits and no on ramps, and no local benefits. We would not receive the power, and we could not use the lines to export any power generated locally.

Indeed, Northern Pass would completely unplug any incentive for producing biomass energy locally. Biomass plants are already teetering on shutting down. These plants employ real people, using wood chips transported by real truckers, from trees cut by real loggers, in forests marked by real foresters, on land owned by people who need a financial return in order to manage their forests for the long term.  In return, Northern Pass predicts temporary construction jobs, with no guarantee that even that hiring is local.

Northern Pass is dangling financial incentives for local communities. For cash-strapped towns and taxpayers, this may appear an enticing carrot. But long term, these transmission lines are sure to cost towns and taxpayers far more than increased revenue provided upfront. The tax losses from severely diminished property values, the real estate sales and investment in new or improved homes that will not take place, plus the ripple effect of these losses in economic activity, is likely to far exceed additional municipal revenues from the power lines, especially as their value depreciates.

That the first appearance of financial gain may be deceiving is clear to towns affected by the Northern Pass. In a survey, select boards reported consistent and grave concerns about negative impacts in categories from future job creation and economic development, to town budgets, to wildlife and water resources. And earlier this month, resolutions opposing Northern Pass were approved – most unanimously – at every town meeting where the issue was on the warrant.

Finally, Northern Pass represents yesterday’s technology trying to solve tomorrow’s needs.  Many energy experts describe a host of innovations in use now, coming to market, or in design that significantly improve the efficiency and lessen the environmental impact of electricity generation, transmission, and use. It is likely that within a few decades, these enormous towers will be relics of a bygone era. Yet their scar on our landscape will remain.

So what if we buried the lines – maybe in railroad rights-of-way, or along I-93, or even down the Connecticut River – all which have been floated as potential alternatives to the towers?  The environmental impact of burying is unknown – it could exceed that of the aerial lines. Even if it were known, burying sidesteps the main issue – is this power line necessary or desirable for New Hampshire?

I’m glad I checked my initial “math” on this project as more information became available, and I urge New Hampshire and federal policymakers to do the same.  I trust they will reach the same logical and sane conclusion: that Northern Pass does not provide public benefit sufficient to outweigh the enormous costs to our land, people, economy, and future.

Rebecca Brown lives in Sugar Hill. She is executive director of the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust, the regional land conservancy for the North Country.

Federal “scoping hearings” are coming up. Click above to expand this page and get a live link to the dates, times, and places and other information about making comments – in person or by letter.  Click here for PDF download.

The Northern Pass issue is one of the most important land use and economic questions in recent memory.  ACT’s position statement can be downloaded by clicking the link below or by clicking the heading above and then the download link.

download here.

Last week (Feb. 25) we and other concerned citizens met with U.S Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in Lancaster to discuss the Northern Pass project. Read the Union Leader coverage of the meeting here. Link to Union Leader story.

Carl Schaller

Everyone is invited to join members of the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT), who are hosting the event. Schaller is known as one of the North Country’s wisest leaders and hardest workers on environmental issues. In January, ACT dedicated a trail to him, shown here. As a board member of ACT, Schaller helped build the trail on ACT’s Foss Forest in Sugar Hill.

The public is invited to this celebration, so please spread the word to anyone you know who would enjoy honoring Carl. For more information please call ACT at 823-7777 or visit www.aconservationtrust.org.

Carl Schaller

Carl Schaller of Littleton, N.H. is one of the North Country’s most beloved and tireless  leaders in conservation and environmental issues. Among Carl’s numerous contributions are starting the Littleton Conservation Commission and launching the first Earth Day celebration. Carl also served on the ACT board, and he and his wife Mary Lu are longtime members. An Episcopal priest,Carl was rector of All Saints in Littleton for 27 years and has served other local congregations  since his retirement from full time ministry.

On Jan. 9 ACT honored Carl by naming its first trail after him. Carl helped build the trail, which winds through a beautiful forest along a meandering brook on ACT’s Foss Forest in Sugar Hill. On Sunday Feb. 20 at All Saints Episcopal Church on Main Street in Littleton, the community is invited to join ACT in celebrating Carl’s work for the environment. The reception will be at 11:15 a.m. at the parish hall. Everyone is invited!