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

• f 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