Purgatory Watershed Conservancy

Purgatory Watershed Conservancy

What's New?

INTRODUCTION

The Purgatory Watershed Conservancy (PWC) is dedicated to protecting the Purgatory Brook Watershed. This group is a partnership of residents from Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough and the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF). The Souhegan Valley Land Trust also supports the efforts of the PWC. Our mission is to protect the Purgatory Watershed by acquiring properties and easements along the brook that will then be held by the New England Forestry Foundation.

WHY IS THE PURGATORY WATERSHED SO IMPORTANT?

Wildlife Habitat - The Purgatory Brook runs north/south between the towns of Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough. The Purgatory Brook Watershed provides an important wildlife habitat corridor that connects the Pisquataquog River corridor to the north and the Souhegan River corridor to the south. Wildlife abounds along the Brook, including waterfowl, heron, fox, deer, porcupines, turtles, beaver, mink, fisher, otter, turkeys, and numerous species of songbirds.

Scenic Beauty - The terrain varies with unique geological formations throughout the length of Purgatory Brook. The brook flows over three waterfalls and passes through a gorge. The Upper Falls are protected by 30 acres of conservation land owned by the town of Mont Vernon.

Public Access - The Purgatory Watershed is accessible by an established hiking trail system used frequently for hiking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and horseback riding. The Lower Falls are located near the town borders of Lyndeborough, Milford, and Mont Vernon. The Upper Falls are accessible from Lyndeborough and Mont Vernon.
The Purgatory Brook Corridor has been listed as a priority by the Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) in their regional environmental protection plan. There have been long standing conservation efforts to protect the Purgatory Brook. In 1988, Governor Judd Gregg, created the River Management Protection Program (RMPP). Under this program, the Souhegan River (and its tributaries, which includes the Purgatory Brook) has been chosen as one of two rivers to be addressed by a pilot program for the RMPP, passed by the legislature last year.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE PURGATORY WATERSHED?

According to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, each year over 13,000 acres of forest lands are lost to development in the state of New Hampshire. Southern New Hampshire, especially, is being developed at an alarming rate and much of the open space is quickly becoming fragmented. Our goal is to preserve over 1,000 acres of undeveloped land and forests throughout the Purgatory Watershed. This area is now in danger of being developed and may be lost forever. In the past two years, approximately 800 acres along the Purgatory Brook have changed hands and the future of the Purgatory Watershed is now in jeopardy.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT THE PURGATORY BROOK WATERSHED?

We are in the process of speaking with land owners to let them know that we exist and to inform them that there are some options available to them. We believe in compensating property owners for their property or development rights and are willing to raise funds at the local, state, and federal level to purchase properties and easements. We are fortunate to have the support of the New England Forestry Foundation, an organization long accustomed to holding and managing forested lands. Founded in 1944, NEFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to permanently protecting the working forests and wildlife habitats of New England.
Lands and/or easements acquired by the Purgatory Watershed Conservancy will be owned and protected forever by the New England Forestry Foundation. This property will be open to the public for recreational use, including snow mobiles, but exclude motorized, wheeled vehicles.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP SAVE THE PURGATORY WATERSHED?

The Purgatory Watershed Conservancy needs to raise funds to purchase 78 acres of beautiful forest located in the Purgatory Watershed. You can view a map of the Purgatory Brook Watershed, used with permission by the Nashua Regional Planning Commission. Parcel P-6 identifies the 78 acres for this project. The New England Forestry Foundation has signed a purchase and sales agreement with the owner of the property. But closing the deal depends on our ability to raise the money. Now we need YOUR help to raise the funds so we can complete the purchase and protect this land forever.
To kick off our fund raising, we have a "Sponsor an Acre" campaign and are looking for individuals, families, or businesses who are interested in donating $1,000 (tax deductible) to help purchase one acre of land. The Purgatory Watershed Conservancy will be announcing other fund raising events throughout the coming months. All donations, big or small, are needed to meet this challenge! The New England Forestry Foundation has set up an account specifically for this project. Please make your checks payable to the NEFF/Purgatory Watershed Conservancy.

You can print out, fill in, and mail the following form to make a donation.
Related links:
New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF)
Friends of Purgatory Brook
Directions to the trails to the Upper and Lower falls on Purgatory Brook

Purgatory Watershed Conservancy

	What's New?

		INTRODUCTION The Purgatory Watershed Conservancy (PWC) is dedicated to protecting the Purgatory Brook Watershed. This group is a partnership of residents from Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough and the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF). The Souhegan Valley Land Trust also supports the efforts of the PWC. Our mission is to protect the Purgatory Watershed by acquiring properties and easements along the brook that will then be held by the New England Forestry Foundation.
	WHY IS THE PURGATORY WATERSHED SO IMPORTANT? Wildlife Habitat - The Purgatory Brook runs north/south between the towns of Mont Vernon and Lyndeborough. The Purgatory Brook Watershed provides an important wildlife habitat corridor that connects the Pisquataquog River corridor to the north and the Souhegan River corridor to the south. Wildlife abounds along the Brook, including waterfowl, heron, fox, deer, porcupines, turtles, beaver, mink, fisher, otter, turkeys, and numerous species of songbirds.
	Scenic Beauty - The terrain varies with unique geological formations throughout the length of Purgatory Brook. The brook flows over three waterfalls and passes through a gorge. The Upper Falls are protected by 30 acres of conservation land owned by the town of Mont Vernon.
	Public Access - The Purgatory Watershed is accessible by an established hiking trail system used frequently for hiking, cross-country skiing, snow shoeing and horseback riding. The Lower Falls are located near the town borders of Lyndeborough, Milford, and Mont Vernon. The Upper Falls are accessible from Lyndeborough and Mont Vernon. The Purgatory Brook Corridor has been listed as a priority by the Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) in their regional environmental protection plan. There have been long standing conservation efforts to protect the Purgatory Brook. In 1988, Governor Judd Gregg, created the River Management Protection Program (RMPP). Under this program, the Souhegan River (and its tributaries, which includes the Purgatory Brook) has been chosen as one of two rivers to be addressed by a pilot program for the RMPP, passed by the legislature last year.
	WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE PURGATORY WATERSHED? According to the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, each year over 13,000 acres of forest lands are lost to development in the state of New Hampshire. Southern New Hampshire, especially, is being developed at an alarming rate and much of the open space is quickly becoming fragmented. Our goal is to preserve over 1,000 acres of undeveloped land and forests throughout the Purgatory Watershed. This area is now in danger of being developed and may be lost forever. In the past two years, approximately 800 acres along the Purgatory Brook have changed hands and the future of the Purgatory Watershed is now in jeopardy.

	WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PROTECT THE PURGATORY BROOK WATERSHED? We are in the process of speaking with land owners to let them know that we exist and to inform them that there are some options available to them. We believe in compensating property owners for their property or development rights and are willing to raise funds at the local, state, and federal level to purchase properties and easements. We are fortunate to have the support of the New England Forestry Foundation, an organization long accustomed to holding and managing forested lands. Founded in 1944, NEFF is a non-profit organization dedicated to permanently protecting the working forests and wildlife habitats of New England. Lands and/or easements acquired by the Purgatory Watershed Conservancy will be owned and protected forever by the New England Forestry Foundation. This property will be open to the public for recreational use, including snow mobiles, but exclude motorized, wheeled vehicles.
	WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP SAVE THE PURGATORY WATERSHED? The Purgatory Watershed Conservancy needs to raise funds to purchase 78 acres of beautiful forest located in the Purgatory Watershed. You can view a map of the Purgatory Brook Watershed, used with permission by the Nashua Regional Planning Commission. Parcel P-6 identifies the 78 acres for this project. The New England Forestry Foundation has signed a purchase and sales agreement with the owner of the property. But closing the deal depends on our ability to raise the money. Now we need YOUR help to raise the funds so we can complete the purchase and protect this land forever. To kick off our fund raising, we have a "Sponsor an Acre" campaign and are looking for individuals, families, or businesses who are interested in donating $1,000 (tax deductible) to help purchase one acre of land. The Purgatory Watershed Conservancy will be announcing other fund raising events throughout the coming months. All donations, big or small, are needed to meet this challenge! The New England Forestry Foundation has set up an account specifically for this project. Please make your checks payable to the NEFF/Purgatory Watershed Conservancy.
	You can print out, fill in, and mail the following form to make a donation. Related links: New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) Friends of Purgatory Brook Directions to the trails to the Upper and Lower falls on Purgatory Brook