Unfragmented Habitat
November
Did you know that over 2600 acres of contiguous diverse habitat, that includes most of Crotched Mountain, is conserved land and that this area is within a large area (5000 plus acres) of land that is unfragmented by development?
These unfragmented habitats are essential for supporting wide-ranging species that need corridors of open space to move and certain species that are sensitive to disturbance and prefer interior areas. Large mammals such as bear, moose and bobcat and some species of hawks and songbirds are drawn to these areas.
The benefit to wildlife is far reaching. These large expanses offer an impressive mosaic of diverse habitats. Crotched Mountain has the largest and most significant Rocky Ridgeline of bedrock outcrops, and the only Cliff and Talus (jumble of loose rocks that have fallen from a rocky cliff) habitat in town. Woody cover includes the high ridgeline of scrubby oak and spruce, forested slopes of hardwood and conifers, and forested wetlands.
We value these great expanses of unfragmented habitat because they offer recreational opportunities to our community, help maintain high water quality for human consumption and aquatic ecosystems and make our region more resilient in the face of climate change. In Francestown, Crotched Mountain provides a noteworthy backdrop to our town’s view-scape.
headwater streams
October
Did you know that headwater streams are critical to the health of the entire river network? These typically unnamed streams provide cold high-quality water to the river system; they regulate the downstream flow of nutrients, the transport of sediment, and distribution of organic matter. They also hold back flood waters, remove pollutants, and provide fish and wildlife habitat.
Headwaters are the smallest in the hierarchy stream network of a watershed; they have low water volumes and are extremely sensitive to disturbance. Development, impervious surfaces, runoff, pollution, loss of tree buffer and loss of connectivity endanger our headwater streams and as a result, jeopardize larger streams and rivers.
Twenty years ago, the FLT Headwaters Project began a multi-year effort to protect headwater streams along Rand Brook and the South Branch of the Piscataquog River in Francestown. Since 2004, efforts by the Francestown Land Trust and the Francestown Conservation Commission have also focused on protecting headwaters of Brennan, Collins, Whiting, School House, Pettee and Avery Brooks.
Headwaters are the stream network’s strongest defense against climate change. When you think about the source of clean water for people and wildlife, now and for future generations, remember the natural benefits of our headwater streams.
FARmLAND
September
Did you know Francestown was once a thriving farm community? The stone walls throughout town are a reminder of the Merino sheep that grazed here in the early 1800s. More recently, the Nutting Dairy Farm spanned hundreds of acres, along with the Jones and Lord farms on Bible Hill and the Winslow’s Hob & Nob Farm on the side of Crotched Mountain, to name a few. Today's farms are not the same as those larger operations of old, but one may still find beef cattle grazing in various pastures while in others there are sheep, goats, and horses.
Local eggs and produce are available in venues including roadside stands and the Francestown Community Market.
Farmland includes pastures that support livestock and poultry, hayfields, croplands, and orchards. Having this land protects our ability to grow fresh food at the local level. It reduces our carbon footprint and supports our local economy.
Farmland provides critical habitat for many species of wildlife, including songbirds. It adds to the cultural heritage and open space values of our rural community.
Scobie Pond, aka Haunted Lake
August
Did you know there is a town beach on Scobie Pond? It is open to everyone in Francestown with a beach permit that can be obtained at the Town Office. It is a wonderful place to cool off on a hot day, swim, or simply relax and catch up with friends at one of the picnic tables.
At about 140 acres, it is Francestown’s second largest pond with about 10% of its shoreline conserved by FLT. With the town beach, a nearby boat launch and private residences, it is enjoyed by folks of all ages throughout the seasons. The pond and the undeveloped part of its shoreline also provide important wildlife habitat.
Scobie Pond has high levels of chlorophyll and phosphorus which can lead to cyanobacteria blooms, so we need to be vigilant about preserving its current water quality. Throughout NH many waterways could benefit from measures taken to better protect their watershed; these are detailed in a fact sheet on phosphorus on the Conservation Commission’s website. We all have a part to play in protecting our town’s water. Clean water is a precious resource.
young forests
July
Did you know that young forests, an important habitat type, is dwindling in NH? Young forest has few or no mature trees but does include a diverse mix of shrubs and saplings along with openings where grasses and wildflowers grow. They are created by humans through disturbances to the forest such as mowing down shrubs or timber harvesting. These disturbed areas are also caused naturally by fire, floods and high winds resulting in the removal of mature trees. The area is then colonized by new vegetation. It’s that “messy stuff” which provides this important habitat.
These shrub swamps, old farm fields and early regenerating timber harvests provide abundant food and cover for wildlife. More than 60 species in the Northeast need young forest habitat to survive, including bobcats, cottontail rabbits, American woodcock, whip-poor-wills, indigo buntings, golden-winged warblers, ruffed grouse, box, wood and spotted turtles, green snakes and pollinating insects.
Many organizations are creating young forests in key places to help wildlife. Whether you own land for cutting timber or for enjoying recreation or viewing nature, you can play an important role too. Visit www.youngforest.org to learn more. We benefit by assisting in reversing wildlife population declines and in maintaining the health and rich diversity of our flora and fauna.
Shattuck Pond
June
Did you know the entire Shattuck Pond shoreline is now protected?
The effort to protect this pristine 25-acre pond began over twenty years ago. The final piece of the 418-acre Shattuck Pond Town Forest was acquired by FCC in 2006, protecting most of the shoreline. It was purchased using grant money from NH LCHIP and the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund, town funds that included part of a 2005 bond, and a donation from the Russell Piscataquog Watershed Foundation. The support of FLT helped pass the bond which was critical to the success of the project, as was the support of many private individuals.
This past year, the Schott family donated 216 acres and the remaining unprotected shoreline to the Monadnock Conservancy, creating the Kermit A. Schott Forest Preserve.
The NH Natural Heritage Bureau has identified the wetland system in this area as an “Exemplary Natural Community” meaning it is most likely to support the greatest variety of native species and the ecological processes on which they depend. NH Wildlife Action Plan has classified most of the area as top-tier wildlife habitat. Shattuck Pond also is a special place for people. You can find maps on the FCC website trails page and in the trails map binders at our library and town office.
vernal pools
May
Did you know that 85% of amphibians born in a specific vernal pool, return each year to breed in the pool of their birth?
Vernal pools are wetlands with a seasonal cycle of flooding and drying. In NH, tadpoles and larvae of wood frogs and spotted, blue-spotted and Jefferson salamanders as well as the state-endangered marbled salamander depend on developing in pools where there are no predator fish. By mid-summer before their pool dries up, young depart for the surrounding woodlands where they spend the next 11 months as adults, usually within 600 yards of their pool.
NH’s endangered Blanding’s turtles and state-threatened spotted turtles feed on vernal pool amphibian eggs and tadpoles, insects and crustaceans (like fairy shrimp which exist only in vernal pools). They use the pools for basking, mating and overwintering. Both small carnivores and large game species use vernal pool inhabitants as an important food source.
Ranging in size from a small puddle to over two acres, vernal pools and their adjacent uplands provide critical habitat for these amphibians. Elimination of vernal pools can decimate a population and indirect impacts from development can cause habitat fragmentation. Through care and land planning, we can leave a mosaic of vernal pools with undisturbed travel corridors between them for these animals. It will help keep our forests the healthy and diverse resource we all enjoy.
pleasant pond
April
Did you know Pleasant Pond is home to nesting loons each summer? It is also enjoyed by people for fishing, swimming, boating, kayaking, and other recreation, as well as providing diverse wildlife habitat. However, according to the NH Dept. of Environmental Services there has been some decline of water quality in Pleasant Pond. Phosphorus levels in the pond have increased based on testing that was initiated in 1979 and has been conducted annually since 2000. Increased phosphorus negatively impacts water quality and aquatic habitat. Likely sources of elevated phosphorus include stormwater runoff from roads, construction and landscaping, shoreline erosion, and faulty septic systems.
The good news is that Pleasant Pond is still relatively clean and clear. It is worth protecting this beautiful pond from phosphorus and other pollutants. During the summer, Lake Hosts monitor incoming boats to avoid the introduction of invasive plants and organisms and last summer protected Pleasant Pond by capturing a fragment of variable milfoil that was attached to a boat about to enter the pond.
The water bodies that we love can’t take care of themselves. We have a part to play in protecting them, for our enjoyment and also for the preservation of wildlife corridors and habitat.
forests
March
Did you know that Francestown has five unique Forest Types as de- fined by NH Fish and Game? The Hemlock-Hardwood-Pine Matrix (including hemlock, red oak, red maple) is our dominant forest type. Appalachian Oak-Pine (white, black and red oaks, white pine) is distributed thinly and evenly throughout most of town. Northern Hardwood-Conifer (sugar maple, yellow birch, beech) is found at mid to upper elevations along the sides of Crotched Mountain’s ridgeline. Lowland Spruce-Fir (red spruce) is found along the Crotched Mountain ridgeline and Campbell Hill. Finally, Rand Brook and the South Branch of the Piscataquog River in the southeast corner of town support a Floodplain Forest (red and silver maples, black ash, black cherry, ironwood). While Forest Types are a scientific way to look at our forests, on the ground they tend to be a mix.
Topography, soil type, natural disasters, historical and current use all factor into the forest type. As incredibly biodiverse ecosystems, each forest type provides critical habitat for a unique variety of common and at-risk flora and fauna. Forests are dynamic systems, responding to natural successional changes, continued risk to diseases, climate change and land use pressures.
The health of our forests matters; when they thrive, we prosper. They regulate our climate, clean the air we breathe, filter the water we drink and offer a renewable supply of materials for a sustainable future.
Wildlife Corridors
February
Did you know that moose cover more than 25 square miles during mating season, that a male bobcat needs 3 square miles of territory, and that some turtles travel a mile or more during breeding or nesting?
Wild creatures travel to find food and shelter, reproduce, and migrate between winter and summer habitats. Distances are species specific and movement may involve a variety of habitats. Wildlife corridors connect different areas to enable movement and can cross town borders and private land. They are critical for the conservation of wildlife.
The greater the connectivity between significant habitats, the more effective the wildlife corridors will be. The area surrounding Crotched Mountain Town Forest, and the northeast corner of Francestown that includes Pleasant Pond, are within important unfragmented habitat blocks that each exceed 5000 acres. The Shattuck Pond Town Forest and FLT’s Rand Brook Forest also are part of large, unfragmented blocks. Protecting connections to these areas is an important conservation goal.
Expanses of forests, fields, and wetlands also provide great places for outdoor recreational activities such as walking, snow-shoeing, cross-country skiing, and hunting. Keeping large blocks of unfragmented land is good for both people and wildlife.
rivers and streams
January
Did you know there are 35 miles of rivers and streams in our town? The longest is the South Branch of the Piscataquog River, which runs for 7.7 miles from north to south. It begins at Pleasant Pond and picks up waters from Collins Brook which has absorbed waters from Shattuck Pond, Dinsmore Brook and other small streams. Bixby Brook joins next and then Brennan Brook with waters gathered from Taylor Brook. Having picked up waters from Mountain, French and Schoolhouse Brooks, Rand Brook joins further south. Along with many unnamed streams in town, the Avery Brooks join the river just before it enters New Boston. To the east, Whiting Brook picks up Pettee Brook and flows into Scobie Pond.
Approximately 8.4% of Francestown’s land area is made up of waterways, ponds, and wetlands. They are source waters that help maintain our healthy water quality. Together they provide critical habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species and serve as important corridors for an enormous variety of wildlife.
Our pristine rivers and streams are integral to the rural beauty of town. We enjoy watching them change through the four seasons, while driving or during recreational activities.
Francestown’s Natural Resource Inventory, located on FCC’s website, has a list and maps of rivers and streams. A printed copy also is available at our library.