Land Conservation
Thanks to the foresight of taxpayers and several willing landowners, the CCC has been able to permanently protect over 300 acres of high value natural areas in town (See Figure 1). This acreage represents only 2 to 3 percent of the total land area of Chichester. For comparison, the City of Concord, NH and New York City have permanently protected about 8 and 25 percent of their land, respectively.
Figure 1 - Chichester’s Permanently Protected Open Space
Property Name | Protection Status | Location | Acres |
|---|---|---|---|
Blackman - Drumlin | Conservation Easement, Privately Owned | Blackman, Shortfalls, and Hutchinson Roads | 25.7 |
Blackman - Hermitage | Conservation Easement, Privately Owned | Blackman, Shortfalls, and Hutchinson Roads | 17.8 |
Blackman - Drumlin | Conservation Easement, Privately Owned | Blackman, Shortfalls, and Hutchinson Roads | 72.7 |
Drinon | Conservation Easement, Privately Owned | Staniels and West Roads | 144.9 |
5 Hill Estates Open Space | Set Aside, Privately Owned | Highland Drive | 45.2 |
Cray | Fee Owned, Town Owned | Near Grange Hall and Main Street | 7.9 |
Plummer | Fee Owned, Town Owned | Near Grange Hall and Main Street | 5.0 |
Sanborn | Fee Owned, Town Owned | Near Grange Hall and Main Street | 8.2 |
Sanborn | Fee Owned, Town Owned | Near Grange Hall and Main Street | 21.9 |
Whittemore | Fee Owned, Town Owned | West side Suncook River near north of Webster Mills Road | est 7.0 |
| Total: | 356.3 |
In an attempt to continue our efforts to protect open space, especially the land prioritized in the September 2003 Natural Resources Inventory, the CCC’s Land Protection Subcommittee has developed a brochure explaining why the protection of our significant natural resources is important. In addition to leaving a legacy for heirs and future Chichester residents, there are tax benefits available to landowners willing to permanently protect the significant natural resource areas of their land.
One of the major benefits of protecting significant natural resource areas is recreation by the public. Both conservation easements and town owned conservation lands allow public access. However, the use of these areas has some limitations. Conservation easements for example are on private land and the rights and wishes of the landowners must be respected. Both conservation easements and fee owned conservation land owned by the town also have deed restrictions on them that must be met to protect the natural resource values. Allowable and prohibited uses of the properties are described in Figure 2. Use of the conservation lands contrary to the ways outlined in this figure could invite lawsuits against the town or the need for the CCC to initiate enforcement proceedings.
Figure 2 - Public Use Matrix of Conservation Lands
Property Name | Allowable Use | Allowed with Verbal Approval of Owner(1) | Allowed with Written Approval of Owner(1) | Prohibited Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Blackman Properties | Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Wildlife Viewing, Fishing | Picking Berries, Fiddleheads etc., Hunting, Swimming, Mountain Biking | Trapping, Snowmobiling | Camping, Dirt Biking, ATV’s |
Drinon | Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Wildlife Viewing | Picking Berries, Fiddleheads etc., Hunting, Mountain Biking | Trapping, Snowmobiling | Camping, Dirt Biking, ATV’s |
5 Hill Estates | Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Wildlife Viewing | Picking Berries, Fiddleheads etc., Hunting, Mountain Biking | Trapping, Snowmobiling | Camping, Dirt Biking, ATV’s |
Madeline Sanborn Conservation Area (MSCA): Sanborn, Cray and Plummer Properties | Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Wildlife Viewing, Snowmobiling (Trail Dawgs trail only) | Fishing, Swimming | Snowmobiling | Picking Berries, Fiddleheads etc., Camping, Hunting, Trapping, Mountain Biking, Dirt Biking, ATV’s |
Whittemore Caution: overlook has steep slopes and potential cave-ins | Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Wildlife Viewing, Fishing, Swimming | Picking Berries, Fiddleheads etc., Hunting | Trapping, Snowmobiling | Camping, Mountain Biking, Dirt Biking, ATV’s |
Notes:
- Annual renewal of verbal and written approvals required from the CCC for the Sanborn and Cray Properties and from the owner for the other properties.
- NH Fish and Game rules apply to any hunting, trapping, or fishing activities on these properties.
- Snowmobiling also requires Selectmen and CCC approval.