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Mascoma Watershed Conservation Council |
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WHAT We Do |
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WHO we are
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The Mascoma Watershed Conservation Council is a non-profit 501 (C)(3), all-volunteer organization that supports conservation-education and conservation within the Mascoma watershed. To this end, we have collaborated with others on several projects. History of the Mascoma Watershed Conservation Council 1998 - The organization began as a vehicle for accepting and transferring funds for Sue Morse's Keeping Track program, which teaches identification and monitoring of wildlife habitat. 2002 - We completed a multi-year effort to protect the 923 acre Bear Pond Natural Area in Canaan in partnership with the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT). BPNA has more than two miles of water frontage including Bear Pond and its outlet, Little Goose Pond and its brook, and the Mascoma River. It is also home to a 95 acre bog that is a prime example of this natural community type. "BPNAtrailmap.pdf" MWCC partnered with the "Goose Pond Lake Assn" to obtain a grant to purchase water-testing equipment. 2003 - We contracted with the Society for the Protection of NH Forests (SPNHF) to prepare a Natural Resource Inventory of the entire watershed. Maps of Conservation Lands, Unfragmented Lands, Land Cover, Water Resources, Soils, Wildlife Habitat and Co-occurrence were prepared. "WatershedNRI.pdf" We also contracted with New England Institute of Landscape Ecology (NEILE) for a more detailed NRI of the BPNA. The inventory was done by selecting transects so that the areas of study can be rechecked periodically in order to learn more about the natural processes of nature. The NEILE study cataloged aquatic food webs, amphibians & reptiles, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, fish, plants including lichens and fungi, and small & large mammals. Mrs. Kathe Arzdorf of Canaan donated 13.9 acres of land to MWCC in memory of her late husband, Siegfried Arzdorf. Support from UVLT and a grant from the New England Natural Areas and Wildlife Grants Program of the Fund for the Environment helped to complete this conservation project, which permanently protects the shores of much of Little Goose Pond and Little Goose Pond Brook. Left to right, Jay Waldner of UVLT, Eric Weidemeier, Kathe Arzdorf, Judy Macnab, Nik Palmer, and Kurt Gotthardt at the closing. 2004 - 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 - MWCC partnered with UVLT and the Enfield Conservation Commission to protect the 97 acre Suzanne Brown parcel that includes 6300 ft of frontage on the Mascoma River in Enfield. It also contains forested, vernal pool and grassy wetlands and significant wildlife habitat including a deer wintering yard. 2008 - MWCC had a successful fundraising effort that allowed us to make a $10,000 bid on the Smith Pond Brook property behind Lakeview Condos in Enfield. We were outbid by Jim and Becky Petryk, but their plans for the property include restoration projects that would be beyond our means. Donations were returned to those who wished. 2009 - We began a cooperative effort with the Upper Valley Lake Sunapee Regional Planning Commission (UVLSRPC) to include the Mascoma River in the Federal River Management Protection Program. MWCC began a partnership with NHDES for the Volunteer River Assessment Program (VRAP) which monitors various parameters of water quality - turbidity, pH, conductance and dissolved oxygen. Lab tests for various elements may be added if indicated. Information about HOW You Can Help
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