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Town adds 84 acres of conservation land (complete article from source)
Source: seacoastonline.com
January 26, 2007
NORTH HAMPTON -- The town acquired 84 acres of upland forests, vernal pools and recreational trails for permanent conservation this week. The property is at the headwaters of three critical coastal watersheds -- Berry's Brook, Little River and Winnicut River. It is bound to the north by the North Hampton/Greenland border and to the south by the Sagamore Golf Course.
The land was sold by Richard Luff and Antonia Tagupa. The purchase was made possible through a $1.4 million federal grant awarded to North Hampton by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. The grant was matched by recent town acquisitions secured through the town bond funds passed in 2001.
The preserved area was identified by the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire as critical in providing significant unfragmented habitat in a part of the state that has seen significant residential development in recent years. The property has a network of cross country skiing and hiking trails and soft and hardwood forest habitats. Under an easement between the town and the Southeast Land Trust, the natural resource values of the land will be protected and preserved in perpetuity for continued passive recreational use by the public.
Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., secured the federal funding through his position on the Senate Commerce, Justice and State Appropriations Subcommittee.
"This project not only preserves an important natural ecosystem, but also will enhance the quality of life for the people who live nearby," Gregg said.
The Trust for Public Land negotiated the sale and helped with the effort to apply for federal funding.
"This successful project is the result of diligent work of the New Hampshire Congressional delegation, particularly Sen. Gregg, and the remarkable conservation vision of the town of North Hampton," said Sam Hodder, of the Trust for Public Land.
Phil Wilson, co-chairman of North Hampton Forever, said the intent is to continue leveraging the value of land purchases with town bond funds or land gifted to the town to match equally valued federal grant funds to acquire even more land for conservation.
Luff called the sale of his land a "win-win" situation.
"It's reassuring that the land will be kept out of development and in its natural state to be available for many future generations of North Hampton's residents," Luff said.
Luff said the land was part of the former Forest Hills Farm that dates to the late 1800s. Luff said his father purchased the property in the early 1960s and was ahead of his time in maintaining the golf course to the south with organic fertilizers before they were widely available.
The North Hampton Forever program has resulted in the acquisition of 338 acres of conservation land and the expenditure of approximately $1.3 million of the town's bond funds. The town hopes to acquire 12 more target properties totaling more than 300 acres.
In addition, North Hampton Forever facilitated a number of private land donations to protect land without the use of bond funds.
The latest acquisition brings the total land in conservation in town to about 900 acres.
"We fully expect to achieve a major milestone in 2007 by having over 1,000 acres of North Hampton land in conservation," said Chris Ganotis, chairman of the Conservation Commission.
Click here for complete article from seacoastonline.com
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