Kirchner Woods Multi-Use Trail System, Stowe, VT

Together with Hardy Avery of Sustainable Trailworks of Morrisville, Vermont, we completed the installation of an incredible 3 mile non-motorized multiple use trail system for the Stowe Land Trust. A wide machine-built path leads 1/4 mile from the signed parking lot to a historic sugarhouse, where users can choose form easy loop walks on upgraded woods roads, a 1/2 mile singletrack loop, and a 1/2 mile spur with a loop around the top of Taber Hill. The trails are great for hiking, mountain biking and winter uses, and have been well received by local recreationists. For information on how to find the trails at Kirchner Woods, contact the Stowe Land Trust online.

Enjoy these photos of the trail in-progress and completed:

Woodland Trail & Light Forestry, Wilton, NH

Proving that no lot is too small for some good forestry, we recently completed an improvement thinning and built a beautiful trail on less than 2 acres in the small southern New Hampshire town of Wilton. The small lot could have been overlooked by many, but we delved into the intricacies of the land, and sought to bring the varied and colorful detail of the forest to life for the engaged residents, Daniel and Equinimiti. A wide, gravel-surfaced trail meandering through the forest now gives them the opportunity to silently and comfortably move through the majestic stand of numerous trees, including red oak, black oak, white oak, white pine, white ash, black birch, yellow birch, gray birch, paper birch, hemlock, shagbark hickory, American beech, bigtooth aspen, quaking aspen, red cedar, red maple, and sugar maple, as well as numerous shrubs, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers.

Natural & Cultural Resources Inventory of Kirchner Woods, Stowe Land Trust, Vermont

We have teamed up with Hardy Avery of Sustainable Trailworks in Morristown, Vermont, to design and build a non-motorized multi-use trail system on a beautiful, recently conserved 75 acre property in Stowe Vermont called Kirchner Woods. Our client, Stowe Land Trust, has more than just recreation in mind: they intend to protect sensitve natural communities and preserve options for forest management while still providing an exceptional recreation opportunity. The first phase of this extensive project was a walk-through inventory and mapping of wetlands, sensitive areas, unique natural communities, large and old trees, unique forest stands, and more. What we provided for them was a detailed map of these features as well as an accompanying report that describes and highlights the areas to be cautious with and the areas to focus trail installation on. Kirchner Woods is an amazing gem of a conservation property. Located just a mile from downtown Stowe, it preserves a large sugarbush, rich northern hardwood forests, diverse hemlock-yellow birch wetlands, dense red spruce cover habitat, and numerous interesting ecological features. Utilizing this information, Hardy has designed a trail system that focuses on the exceptional beauty and some areas of educational interest, while avoiding areas we determined too sensitive to risk degradation through excessive recreational use. Phase 2 of this project begins next spring when we complete the build out of the trail and open it to use by mid-summer.

Field work over two weeks in September produced the information we

used to generate this map of Kirchner Woods.

Trail Maintenance Leadership, Monadnock Conservancy & Eastern Mountain Sports, Peterborough, NH

Peterborough, NH is the home of Eastern Mountain Sports which employs hundreds of folks enthusiastic about the outdoors. This source of hearty volunteers came in handy in 2008 when the Monadnock Conservancy sought help for cleaning up their trail on a piece if land they own in Peterborough. The Conservancy requested the involvement of Preserve Land Works in organizing and leading the cleanup and repair of the short trail, which with the help of 20 people went real quick. With time to spare, we moved north to the Walcott Preserve in Hancock, NH, where we cleaned the trail through this town conservation land. EMS generously allowed their employees the day off for this volunteering, and they gave us all a great bar-b-que after!

Hiking Trail, Spectacle Pond, Roxbury, NH

Nothing brings the land to life more than a well designed and crafted trail. It should come as no surprise to most of us in New England that the forest is a bit dense in places, and downright difficult to bushwhack through if you're not in the mood. This 1/2 mile footpath on a 17.5 acre lot in Roxbury allows the owners to silently and easily pass through very old hemlock forest nearing old-growth stature; rich shrub communities with hobblebush, witchhazel, blueberries, native honeysuckles, dogwoods, pepperbush, huckleberry, shadbush, and others; vernal pools; and the highlight, more than 1500 feet of shoreline on Spectacle Pond.

An old hemlock along the trail at Spectacle Pond. The scar was caused by a fire decades ago, which may have escaped from a burning field. Well-designed trails 'connect the dots', or move the user from one interesting feature to the next, whether it's a large tree, a view, a mossy log, or any other feature that stands out. Not only does this make the trail more visually enticing, but also serves as an educational tool.

What's involved in establishing a long-lasting and enjoyable trail like this?

-It's critical that the land is thoroughly inventoried for unique natural features, suitable topography, natural contours, and wet & sensitive areas to avoid.

-A potential path should be plotted on a map to see how it utilizes the shape and features of the lot. This should then be reviewed with the landowner.

-The path is then flagged out and walked to assure that the course follows the best natural features and contours, and possibilities for losing the trail are minimized. Make changes if necessary.

-Construction begins! Clearing the debris, cutting necessary trees, and pruning all branches that are in the trailspace now and might be in the future. Opening a broad vertical space creates a feeling of a high forest canopy even in dense young forest. It's also important to drag the brush far enough off the trail that it is not an eyesore or a safety hazard.

-Final touches; raking the thick duff off the path, contouring corners, filling low spots, cutting stumps low, building bridges, and opening/accenting natural views of scenic features.

A well designed and built trail can last for a long time and provide years of enjoyment. For this particular landowner, it opened their eyes to their own land in a way they couldn't have anticipated, allowing them to access special spots that formerly required a serious undertaking to get to.

Forest Ecosystem Management Plan, Beard Brook, Hillsborough, NH

Every piece of land is different, and every landowners approach to managing their land is different. This particular piece of land, while only 17.5 acres, has tremendous potential for wildlife habitat enhancement, watershed protection, and recreation for the owners who live on-site. The land is bound along one edge by the beautiful Beard Brook, just above the popular and stunning Gleason Falls. Remarkable 150-200 year old dry-laid stone bridges cross the brook in several places in this part of Hillsborough; some of which there is no record of who built them.

Dry-laid stone bridge over Beard Brook

This property features a stunning riparian floodplain corridor rich with ferns, forbs, shrubs, and grasses. The upland oak-pine forest represents a transition from pasture to mature forest, and our focus will be create small canopy gaps and allow varied regeneration to establish that will move the stand towards a multi-aged forest of diverse tree species and ages. Tending the regeneration following a timber harvest 10 years ago will enhance this age class and ensure development of a high-quality cohort of trees. Establishing trails and water crossings for the homeowner to use for firewood harvesting is another management objective. It is true that small lots are a challenge in forestry, but as fragmentation, development, and parcelization continue, we will learn to overcome this and maximize the often high potential of these parcels. Cost-share agreements with the Natural Resources Conservation Service facilitate this work, as does our general approach to helping people see whats right in front of them, and working together to make the forest work for them.

Pisgah Old-Growth Field Tour with the Forest Guild

The Forest Guild is a national forestry organization comprised of varied members from government, private, academic, and non-profit backgrounds. The Guild's mission, in short, is to promote and practice excellent forestry. Part of the process of practicing excellent forestry is to spend time with fellow professionals in the field observing some of what nature does without human influence. To this end, New Hampshire and Massachusetts Forest Guild members convened at Pisgah State Park in southwestern New Hampshire to see first-hand relict old-growth oak, pine, and hemlock stands that survived the immense hurricane of 1938. Leaders Amber Fields and Joe Trudeau took the small but dedicated group on a 7 mile hike through mature forest patches, and ultimately, to visit the notorious "Harvard Tract". This ~25 acre parcel, owned by Harvard University, was in 1938 an old-growth pine forest that established in the mid 1600's. The hurricane blew down most of the stand, and a hemlock-hardwood forest now grows there. Several remaining 400 year old white pines and hemlocks still stand, which were the highlight of a day filled with good conversation, great insights into natural disturbance, and camaraderie among peers of many generations.

Environmental History of the Kane & Two Mile Ranches, Arizona

The Grand Canyon Trust , one of the Southwest's premier conservation organizations, manages nearly one million acres of rangeland and forest across federal, state, and private lands north of the Grand Canyon. This is one of the first instances of a conservation organization purchasing grazing leases from the government with the intent of not shutting down operations, but improving them through sound science, public participation, and an historical ecological approach. In 2005, I was a member of the 8-person team who inventoried over 600 plots across the project area, encompassing the Kaibab National Forest, Grand Canyon National Park, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, and other 'Canyon Country' treasures. Visit the Grand Canyon Trust website to read about this incredible project.

Old growth ponderosa pine stand at Fire Point, Grand Canyon North Rim

Following this period of rigorous field work in extremely remote areas, I was retained to research and write a comprehensive environmental history of the area. My research brought me back 40,000 years into pollen records and paleo-ecological studies that portrayed a much different ecosystem. I included detailed assessments of Native American land use, early settler accounts, fire history chronologies, and much more. Investigations of scientific and popular literature were critical to this research, as were interviews, visits to regional, local, and university libraries, and a perspective only gained by spending so much time on the ground.

For a really interesting read, download the report here.

Interpretive Nature Hike for the Lyndeborough Trails Association

The newly formed Lyndeborough Trails Association (http://lyndeboroughtrails.blogspot.com/) seeks to improve and expand the trail network in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. Joe Trudeau led a half-day hike up "The Pinnacle" to describe to the group the history, flora, fauna, and natural communities along the trail. Additionally, Joe created a trail map based off of the work he did for the Natural Resources Inventory earlier in the year. The Pinnacle features the headwaters of Cold Brook, an important tributary to the Piscataquog River, as well as uncommon dry shrubland communities giving habitat to more than 20 native shrub species. The views are among the finest in the Monadnock Region, encompassing a panorama from the Wapack Range, to Monandnock, Crotched Mountain, and all the way to the Presidential Range 100 miles north.

The view from The Pinnacle, two days after the 2008 Ice Storm

Clement Hill Forest Management Plan, Deering N.H.

We were asked to prepare a forest management plan for a 54 acre forested property in Deering, NH. Most of the land is protected by a Conservation Easement held by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. It is part of a conservation block totalling over 2,600 acres that straddles the Hillsborough, Henniker, and Deering borders.

The project was a challenge as it was logged over the past winter, and part of our job was to inventory what was there, not just what is there now. We collected data on wetlands, hydrology, understory flora, wildlife, overstory trees, regeneration, stand dynamics, and harvest effects on the residual stand.

A major highlight was locating a unique enriched hardwood seepage forest featuring black ash, basswood, elm, hornbeam, and a very rich herbaceous understory. We also observed breeding rose-breasted grosbeaks, an uncommon bird in the northeast in the spring. Unusual plants like oak fern and baneberry occurred in the mature forests low in the property, while the closest areas to the road featured great early successioanl forest habitat in dense pole stands of aspen and mixed hardwoods.

To protect private property rights we are choosing to not post the management plan for public viewing, but if you own land and would like to see a sample of this type of work feel free to contact us and we can show you portions of some management plans to give you and idea of what we can do for you and your property.

Forest Guild Pisgah Old Growth Outing

Forest Guild members and other interested:

The upcoming Pisgah State Park old-growth forest field trip (July 19, 2009) has homework! To gain a better perspective of the history and conditions of the Pisgah forests, see this great paper by Harvard's David Foster. Check back in just before the outing for any additional information.

To download 2mb pdf visit our file sharing link below:

http://groups.google.com/group/preservelandworks

Also, you can download the tri-fold brochure of the outing at that site for all the information you'll need.

Mapping Protected Lands and Natural Features of Roxbury, N.H. and Surroundings

Private landowners in Roxbury requested a detailed conservation lands map for their own uses. They enjoy exploring the wild lands around them, but a good regional map is not available. This is a problem common to southwestern New Hampshire; plenty of open spaces to enjoy but few maps showing any detail. In addition to navigation, our clients, Amy & Carol, have discussed the possibility of protecting their own 17 acres. The map shows to them the various entities involved in land conservation in the area, the levels of protection of these areas, and it highlights the connectivity of these lands. A surprising 5,300 acres of conservation land are contiguous, and only minutes from the city of Keene. Amy & Carols property, which has extensive frontage on Spectacle Pond, would expand that base of contiguous conservation land and continue on the thoughtful work of many landowners, municipalities, and land trusts who have over the years amassed this impressive block of protected land.

Conservation Lands Mapping for Souhegan Valley Land Trust

The Souhegan Valley Land Trust (SVLT) recently deeded a critical piece of conservation land to the Town of Lyndeborough, NH. While only a few acres in size, the Lower Purgatory Falls Conservation Area features a spectacular 30 foot waterfall, popular hiking trails, historic sawmill infrastructure, and a stretch of Purgatory Brook. This property is within the Purgatory Brook Conservation Focus Area identified by Preserve Land Works for Lyndeborough in the Natural Resources Inventory we recently completed. SVLT asked us to prepare a publication quality GIS-based map of the area to serve as a baseline documentation of the property and the surrounding parcels.

Edward McDowell Lake Trail Maintenance

2009 marks the second year Preserve Land Works was chosen to maintain the trail system at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Edward McDowell Lake Project. The 1,200 acre tract of public land encompasses several miles of beautiful brooks, extensive wetlands, and unmanaged upland forests. The December 2008 ice storm toppled and damaged many trees, leaving the trails in terrible condition. We have been working hard to open the trails and fell hazard trees in close proximity to the trails. The West Ridge Trail follows the west side of the lake from NH Route 137 to the dam at the base of the lake. The trail passes through incredible mature forest well on its way towards attaining an 'old-growth' character. If you're up for a hike and would like to see something new, try this trail out, and enjoy the hard work we've been putting in for the publics benefit. Details can be found at the project webpage: http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/eml/emlhome.htm

Fruit Tree Pruning

The pruning season has come to an end, as buds have broken, leaves have appeared, and some trees are flowering. This season we pruned over 70 apple, crabapple, pear, cherry, peach, and other fruit trees in Lyndeborough, Greenfield, Hancock, and Peterborough, NH. Most of these trees had not been pruned or released for almost a decade. Maintaining fruit trees is an important aspect of conservation. The flowers are valuable pollinator habitat, the fruits are enjoyed by wildlife and people alike, and the diversity of varieties and strains protects our region from large scale destruction by tree pests and pathogens. Furthermore, unpruned fruit trees can look unsightly and will not live as long as well cared for trees. It is sad to see many of the once lively and productive orchards in southwestern NH growing in and falling apart. We are proud to be part of the effort to revitalize and restore these important trees throughout the region, and we applaud the efforts of commercial orchards and private landowners who are maintaining this tradition despite difficult economic pressures. As the global economy continues to change and localization becomes even more important, we will be thankful for those who took the effort to keep these trees healthy and abundant. If you have fruit trees on your property and would like a professional assessment of their health and options for conservation, call us up and we'll take a look. However, we won't be pruning again until March 2010.

Early Succesional Habitat Creation, Roxbury, NH

This summer we will be implementing the creation of a semi-permanent woodland opening in a homogenous hemlock-hardwood-pine forest in the Monadnock Region of NH. The even aged forest has low plant species richness and offers limited habitat opprtunities for native wildlife. The 1.5 acre opening (part of a 17 acre property) will focus on creating a small grassland adjacent to a red maple forested swamp, a dense hemlock stand used by deer for winter yarding, and existing young hardwood forests. This project is part of a longer term ecosystem inventory and managment plan for this property. The landowners have a strong interest in enhancing habitat, creating views, and increasing diversity. A funding request has been submitted to the WHIP program of NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service) which will be helpful in making this non-commercial timber harvest more affordable. A unique aspect of forest management that Preserve Land Works offers is that we not only provide inventory and planning, but we will actually complete the work on-the-ground, ensuring that the project takes shape in the most ecologically effective manner. As we get going we will post updates.

Tree Planting at Sugar Woods, Bradford, NH

In late April we planted nearly 200 seedlings at Sugar Woods, our 54 acre demonstration forest in Bradford, NH. The highly diverse forest was logged heavily, but relatively sensitively, in 2004. Tree regeneration is dominated by beech, a typical situtaion in central NH. In one location we cleared a small area, applied a light surface fire, and planted black cherry, paired with an area we did not burn for comparison. Also, we planted silver maples in the sandy floodplain; white spruce, larch, red pine, and mountain ash in an upland area; and numerous fruiting shrubs throughout the riparian area. Stabilizing the riparian community, restoring degraded streambanks, and enhancing future forest diversity were major goals with this treatment. All seedlings were purchased from the NH State Nursery, a good source for affordable and locally-adapted tree and shrub seedlings.

Grand Canyon Backpacking 2009

This April, Joe led another successful week-long backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon with 8 students from Bow High School in Bow, NH. He and his co-leader James Doneski have been taking students into the wilderness for ten years now, ranging from New England to Arizona. This, our second trip to the Grand Canyon, took us across the Escalante Route, a difficult trek in the eastern part of the canyon. Near-record low temperatures and snow at the beginning of the trip slowly gave way to 85 degrees and sunshine by the end. The fantastic group of students made for a great trip in a beautiful setting; despite a scorpion sting early in the trip. Preserve Land Works is equipped to plan and guide backcountry expeditions virtually anywhere in the United States. For custom trips led by expert naturalists contact us anytime. Already in line is another trip with Bow High School in 2010!

Photo published in The Leopold Outlook!

The Winter 2008 issue of The Leopold Outlook features a cover photo taken by Joe Trudeau. The shot is from the east rim of the Kaibab Plateau in northern Arizona. Also, the second page features a photo he took of sunset through the old-growth ponderosa pine forests of Grand Canyon National Park.

The Leopold Outlook is the official publication of the Aldo Leopold Foundation based in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The Aldo Leopold Foundation works to weave a land ethic into the fabric of our society; to advance the understanding, stewardship and restoration of land health; and to cultivate leadership for conservation.

Download the issue and see these two beautiful photos at:

http://www.aldoleopold.org/About/outlook.shtml

Centennial Valley Environmental Review

The 370,000 acre Centennial Valley in southwestern Montana has been heralded as a hot spot for biodiversity and a top conservation priority in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The International Center for Earth Concerns has developed a environmental research and education facility adjacent to the headquarters of the 45,000 acre Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Refuge in the heart of the valley. Over the summer of 2007, Preserve Land Works was contracted to compile and review all available environmental information in order to provide the best possible information to move the program forward. Field assessments and expert interviews were conducted to enhance the quality of the information.

Download the 122 page report here

Old growth Douglas-fir