Property Name: Albert W. Doolittle Conservation Area
Description:
Largely forested land. The land borders on Manter
Brook. Manter Brook is a major source of water for Beaver Lake.
The land has
several hiking trails.
Size:
94 Acres
Public Uses:
Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Nature.
Location: East of Beaver Lake,
Between North Shore Road & Faith Drive
Access via: Faith Drive
History: The Albert W.
Doolittle property was a long standing
priority of the Conservation Commission for permanent protection. The parcel
was also the
number one
conservation priority of the Derry Land Advisory
Committee. The land was purchased from the Arthur and Diane Caras on June
21, 2006
to protect
this valuable undeveloped land in the Beaver Lake
watershed. The Caras's made the following statement: "This beautiful
property not
only protects
an abundance of wildlife but also nourishes the
human spirit. We are all part of nature and to protect the land in turn
protects us all."
Funding for this property came from the Town
of Derry general fund, the Conservation Commission's land acquisition fund
and from a grant from the
Land and Water Conservation Fund.
A condition of the sale by the Caras family
was that a conservation easement would be placed on the property so that it
can never be developed.
Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire
(formerly Rockingham Land Trust) will hold the easement.
The Albert W. Doolittle property was once open pastureland.
Some upland areas are now nearly pure stands of white pine. Other areas
contain a mixture
of various oak species, hickory and pine. According to
licensed forester and Southeast Land Trust board member, Phil Auger, the
property
contains rich productive soils.
The NH Department of Environmental Services
estimates that more than 70% of the water flowing into Beaker Lake enters
via Manter Brook.
The Doolittle property has more than 3,000 feet of shoreline
along Manter Brook. The brook and surrounding wetland are a designated prime
wetland.
The wetland acts as a cleansing agent for water before it enters
Beaver Lake, by filtering sediments and other pollutants. The prime wetland
is also important for flood storage after heavy rains.
Historically the property contained a
valuable public transit corridor. One of the existing trail which
approximately bisects the property, sits on
the bed of the old Chester &
Derry Electric Railroad. The rail line operated from 1891 to 1928. Electric
railways served as the public transit for
many NH cities a and towns in the
late 1800s and early 1900s.
In December of 2006, Charlie Jones, a Boy
Scout from Troop 405, First Parish Church in Derry, constructed a trail from
Faith Drive to the existing trail on old railroad bed. Charlie also made a
trailhead sign for the Faith Drive entrance.
The property is named in honor of Albert W. Doolittle, former member and
chairman of the Derry Conservation Commission. Albert passed away in 2007 at
the age of 93. He served on the commission for 22 years.
The Derry Conservation Commission manages the land for water quality protection, wildlife habitat, low impact recreation and sustainable timber harvesting. The conservation easement requires a forest management plan prior to timber harvesting. Future timber harvests will have to be overseen by a licensed forester.
Updated 3/19/08