Our Mission
It is the mission of the Holderness Conservation Commission to care for the conservation properties owned by the Town of Holderness, to be strong advocates for good conservation practices in the Town, to protect the Town's wetlands from being degraded, to be the local agent for wetland permits and other matters controlled by the NH Department of Environmental Services, and to educate the residents of the town and region as to suitable conservation practices.
The Commission manages several properties and oversees three conservation easements. The three easements are non-access easements and therefore are not listed in this section. We welcome conversation with town residents who would like to consider either access or non-access easements.
Town Forest
This is a twenty-five acre plus parcel that is located off Beede Road. The town took over the property for non-payment of property taxes. In 1999 the Conservation Commission gave the town five acres of the property to serve as a facility for the Public Works Department. The rest of the property is managed as the town forest.
Pilote Forest
This is a 105 acre parcel - on the north side of Beede Road just after the intersection of Beede Road, Hardhack Corner Road, and Seven Pines Road. The property was purchased in 1988 with LCIP (Land Conservation Investment Program) money. It is managed for multipurpose use, primarily recreation and wildlife. A resource inventory was done in 2002 by Feather Ledge Forestry.
Pemi Riverside Park
This is a 5 acre parcel located at the very south end of South River Street. The property was purchased in 1988 with LCIP money. It is managed for multipurpose use, primarily recreation and wildlife. Although on the Pemigewasset River, there is no direct access to the river.
Swainey Brook Easement
This 7.8 acre easement was acquired in 2001 in order to maintain The integrity of vital wetlands which contribute to the Lakes. Significant conservation values include aesthetics, natural and wildlife habitat, stormwater storage, and nutrient retention.
Chabot Easement
The Chabot Conservation Easement executed in place in 1997 to protect a major wetland in Holderness. The easement impacts seven properties on Butternut Lane. There are seven other properties that include or abut this wetland. The easement provides for a 75' buffer around the designated prime wetlands. The buffer is to be maintained as undeveloped land and setbacks are required of the adjacent residential subdivision.
Crawford Easement
This easement is located on a 37.22-acre parcel. The parcel fronts the easterly side of Route 3 and extends down to Sunset Point on the southwest side of Squam Lake. It protects 530 feet of shore line and abuts another 21 acres of shorefront land, also protected by a conservation easement. The land is gently sloping and wooded. The oak/pine forest contributes to high scenic value and water quality protection.
Smith Sargent
This 7.8 acre parcel was obtained in 2001 in order to improve, maintain, and the conservation values of aesthetics; wildlife habitat; storm water storage; and nutrient retention. The Commission anticipates completing a biological inventory on this property in the near future.
White Oak Pond
This is an 8.5 acre parcel only accessible by water adjacent to White Oak Pond. Its conservation values include prime wetlands.
Commission Profile
The Conservation Commission is a local agency, but organized and governed by NH state regulations. Our budget is generated from town funds and one selectperson has been assigned to meet with us and coordinate matters between us and the selectboard. We meet monthly on the second Tuesday of the month at the Holderness Town Hall from September through June and irregularly during the summer months. Our meeting time is generally 4:00pm.
We belong to the NH Association of Conservation Commission. We are one of the few towns in New Hampshire that have identified their prime wetlands and had the town adopt those designated wetlands as Prime Wetlands at a town meeting. Maps and information about those wetlands are available in the town office.