Ham Branch Nomination Presentation to Rivers Management Advisory - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NHRMPP Ham Branch Nomination Presentation to Rivers Management Advisory Committee (RMAC) Concord, NH June 23, 2014

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Who we are: Roy Stever Chair, Easton Conservation Commission Kris Pastoriza Vice-Chair, Easton Conservation Commission

North Kinsman and Judd Brook, feeding the Ham Branch

Kinsman Flume

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Why Ham Branch in Easton? Why Now?  Overall integrity of Watershed in Easton  Unusual Commitment of Residents to Conservation  Town Master Plan (2010), Taking Action for Wildlife (2011), Natural Resources Inventory (2012) all in place  Recent Establishment of Cooley Jericho Community Forest (CJCF)  Pressures are Mounting Now!  Franconia, Sugar Hill to Follow over time

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 A Broad Base of Support – Letters Received  New Hampshire Fish and Game  USDA/NRCS  Grafton County Conservation District  New Hampshire Rivers Council  Trout Unlimited – Ammonoosuc Chapter  Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests  Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust  Town of Easton  Residents

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Watershed Overview  21 ½ miles of river/watershed, 13 feeder streams  46% within WMNF  50% Highest Ranked Habitat in NH

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Natural Features  North & South Kinsman Mountains form eastern boundary of watershed  Cooley-Cole ridge form western boundary  Over 3000’ of vertical rise, from valley floor to alpine zone

Ham Branch Watershed from Black Mountain (Benton)

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Current Settlement  92% forested  Low-density, dispersed homes  No commercial presence except seasonal camp  1,300 acres in conservation

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Significance: Geology/Hydrology  Easton Valley is an alluvial fan, probably of prehistoric origin  Valley is classic sand and gravel aquifer

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Significance: Vegetation  Lindley’s Aster, Mountain Firmoss  High-gradient rocky riverbank system  High-elevation spruce-fir forest

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Significance: Wildlife  Lynx sighting near Kinsman Pond  Deer yards, fisher, marten, moose  Excellent woodcock & grouse habitat.

Canada Lynx (tracks sighted near Kinsman Pond, 2013)

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Significance: Historical  At least 12 mills formerly on watershed  Reel Brook trail old route through Kinsman Notch  Mormon Settlement (commemorated in Robert Frost Poem)

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Significance: Recreation  10 miles AMC, WMNF hiking trails  Three swimming holes  In-stream Kayaking, and Fishing  In-watershed Hiking, Hunting, Cycling, Snowshoeing, Cross-Country Skiing  Reel Brook Trail and Mt. Kinsman Trails, feeders to the Appalachian Trail  CJCF recreation plan under development

Ham Branch Watershed from Bald Knob

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Key Issues  Residential Development Pressure  Landowner Practices  Climate Change  Resource Extraction  Energy Transmission

Discarded Utility Poles in PSNH Right-of-Way along Reel Brook

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Current Conservation Efforts  NHRMPP  Stream Corridor Protection Program  Cooley Jericho Community Forest Plans  WMNF Collaboration  Private Easements (SPNHF, USDA WRP, ACT)  Northern Pass Engagement Efforts

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Northern Pass Engagement Efforts Easton Conservation Commission  WMNF Presentations (2) in 2013  Requested Meeting, Approved by Gary Long, PSNH CEO – Still Pending  21 Due Diligence Questions – Only Partially Addressed  Correspondence with Bill Quinlan, PSNH President and COO and Jerry Fortier, NP Project Director Ongoing

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Next steps  State-level protection for watershed  Franconia & Sugar Hill inclusion  Federal-level protection

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Backup

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Northern Pass Impact Assessment 26

Ham Branch Nomination/NHRMPP Presentation to RMAC June 23, 2014 Current Conservation Commission Workplan