Mascoma Watershed Conservation Council

WHY We Do What We Do

WHAT we do

WHY we do it

WHEN things happen

HOW you can help

LINKS & Pictures

Mission Statement

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Mascoma Watershed Conservation Council is to support conservation-education and conservation within the Mascoma watershed. 

GOALS

• Sponsor conservation-education programs
• Identify, map, and monitor important wildlife habitat      
• Gather and analyze data about natural resources   
• Provide appropriate data and other information to governmental and other organizations that are involved in reviewing or planning developments that could impact natural resources
• Provide assistance to landowners interested in setting up conservation easements
• Establish a fund to assist individuals and organizations to obtain easements and land within the Mascoma watershed for the conservation of natural resources

History of the Mascoma Watershed Conservation Council

1998 - Residents in the Mascoma Watershed interested in learning from Keeping Track how to identify and monitor wildlife habitat founded the MWCC, a non-profit 501 (C)(3), all-volunteer organization.

3/2002 - The MWCC purchased the Bear Pond Natural Area and placed a conservation easement on it that is held by the Upper Valley Land Trust.

The 923-acre Bear Pond Natural Area contains more than 2 miles of water frontage (Bear Pond, Bear Pond outlet, Little Goose Pond, Little Goose Pond Brook, and Mascoma River), plus the 95-acre Bear Pond Bog, a prime example of this natural community type.

9/2002 - The MWCC partnered with the Goose Pond Lake Association to obtain a grant to purchase water-testing equipment.

3/2003 - The MWCC contracted with The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests [SPNHF] to prepare a Natural Resource Inventory of the Mascoma River Watershed. The following maps and analyses were prepared:

Conservation Lands Basemap
Land Cover
Soils
Unfragmented Lands
Water Resources
Wildlife Habitat
Co-occurrence Model

8/2003 - The MWCC contracted with New England Institute for Landscape Ecology [NEILE] to do a more detailed Natural Resource Inventory of the Bear Pond Natural Area.

The following plants and animals are being studied:

Aquatic food web characterization
Amphibians, reptiles
Birds
Butterflies, dragonflies
Fish
Plants, lichens, and fungi
Small mammals
Large mammals

11/2003 - Ms. Arzdorf of Canaan donated 13.9 acres of land between the west shore of Little Goose Pond and Goose Pond Road to MWCC. The MWCC then placed a conservation easement on this property that is held by the Upper Valley Land Trust. The property has about 2800 feet of frontage on Little Goose Pond and Goose Pond Brook, which will provide breeding ground for waterfowl, songbirds, and amphibians.

9/2004 - The MWCC Partnered with the Goose Pond Lake Association to obtain a grant for controlling erosion damage at "The Acre" boat launch and Swimming Area.

2005 - Suzanne Brown property Easement (~100 acres in Enfield along Mascoma River)

2006 - Raised community awareness around the Smith Pond Brook Property.