A Vital Landscape Worth Saving
By: Katrina Meserve
In November of 2024, a 747-acre lot on Prospect Street in Bethlehem, New Hampshire was put on the market. This listing threatened development along the Ammonoosuc River, endangering important river habitat, healthy forests and abundant wildlife. The Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT) is working with our community to raise funds to purchase this property and protect it forever.
The forested land tucked back behind 2.5 miles of river frontage on the Ammonoosuc River will become host to a network of multi-use non-motorized recreation for the public to enjoy year-round. After walking the property ACT’s Trails Manager, Conor, explains “the Ammonoosuc Riverlands is an excellent location for trail development. The proximity to the river, sweeping views of the surrounding hills, easy access, and diverse terrain will make for a unique and exciting recreation experience. ACT anticipates upgrading existing forest trails and building new trails specifically designed for sustainable use by mountain bikers, hikers, cross-country skiers, runners and snowshoers. Some trails will be specifically designed and reserved for mountain bikers, while others will be foot traffic only, to keep trail users safe and improve the recreational experience for everyone who decides to visit.”
These trails will be part of ACT’s careful management of the property which will include an in-depth analysis on the best locations for trails while maintaining the important wildlife habitat. ACT will also work alongside the snowmobile club regarding the existing snowmobile trail on the property. ACT alongside the community is incredibly excited about the trails. Because of their importance and the overall impact and value of this land, we will analyze the best way to manage the property keeping our four conservation values in mind, with wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation, and water quality being at the forefront of this property.
In addition to these forest trails, ACT hopes to improve an existing riverside trail for access to fishing sites and swimming holes, as well as a put-in and landing for paddlers on the Ammonoosuc. All-in-all, ACT hopes to have trails open for public recreation on this property, not including the existing snowmobile trail maintained by the Mt. Agassiz Snowmobile Club. Developing the trail system on this property will take some time, but with the help of Littleton Boy Scout Troop 209, the Bethlehem Trails Association, ACT volunteers, and other partners, ACT aims to open a portion of this property to the public as soon as we are able to.
The Ammonoosuc Riverlands property is host to ecosystems of high importance within New Hampshire. The forest is a mix of spruce-fir and younger northern hardwood-conifers at higher elevations. The property contains widespread wetlands with intermittent streams draining the property and is scattered with beaver ponds. Outside the floodplain live uncommon red spruce, black spruce, and larch-mixed confer communities. This area is home to about 16.5 acres of the “Highest Ranked Wildlife habitat in NH” and about 326 acres of “Highest Ranked Wildlife Habitat in the Region” according to the NH Fish and Game Department 2020 Wildlife Action Plan showing the importance of this property’s valuable wildlife.
Protecting this unique piece of land will ensure ecosystem resiliency within the North Country as it sits 2,000 feet away from an ACT property, 4,000 feet away from another piece of ACT protect land, and about 5,000 feet away from land conserved by SPNHF (Bretzfelder Memorial Park). Our valued community has already been a part of this effort, and we are incredibly thankful for their support. The Bethlehem Conservation Commission, Bethlehem Trails Association, Mt. Agassiz Snowmobile Club, the Cross NH Adventure Trail Association, the Bethlehem Selectboard, Trout Unlimited, Bike the North Country, Grafton County Conservation Commission, the Ammonoosuc River Local Advisory Committee, Bethlehem Sustainability Group, NH Fish & Game, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests (SPNHF), and the Connecticut River Conservancy are all in support of this project.
The Ammonoosuc Riverlands will be a place to remain mostly wild, but also a space for you, our community to utilize and enjoy. A day fishing along the Ammonoosuc River in the July sunshine, a place to hike and move your body among tall spruce trees, a piece of land that will remain this way forever with the sustainable management plan put together by ACT’s dedicated staff. We are always available to answer any questions you may have – you can call our office at (603) 823-7777 or email [email protected].
