Description: Cole Marsh currently comprises three parcels of land. The two original parcels of land are east of Damren Road and are adjacent to each other: the Raymond Moore parcel and the Joshua Morse parcel. The parcels were purchased at different times using funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Town of Derry funds. The third parcel is located west of Damren Road and was acquired by the town for non-payment of taxes. The properties east of Damren Road contain mixed hard and softwoods, including some large hemlocks and pines. The property west of Damren Road is largely wetland.

The east properties contain a small dam which creates a pond for waterfowl and other wildlife. The pond is surrounded by the Francis Cormier Trail loop. The trail begins at Valley Road in Hampstead as a woods road. The trail enters a clearing at the dam and pond. From the upstream side of the dam the trail starts near a turtle nesting area, passes a patch of ladyslippers, and crosses several intermittent brooks. The trail merges with a woods road which if followed continues to the Damren road entrance. Bear left to loop back to the dam.
You will cross several bridges, and see beaver dams and trees cut by beaver. Look for high bush blueberry and checkerberry. The trail enters into a clearing above the dam. Cross the bridge on the downstream side of the bridge to return to where you started.

Size: 243 acres east of Damren Road, 40 acres west of Damren Road
Public Uses: Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Nature, Camping, Hunting, Fishing
Snowmobiles are allowed. NO ATVs
Location: Northeast corner of Town between Valley Road in Hampstead and Damren Road in Derry.
Access via:  Trailhead at the end of Valley Road in Hampstead or trailhead on Damren Road near Hidden Valley Campground.

Click here for a G.I.S. Map of the property.

History of the properties: The wetland area occupied by Cole Marsh has been through a number of changes in the past 200 years.
Most of the properties was cleared and farmed until about the time of the Civil War. There is evidence that the meadow was regularly hayed.
After the Civil War, forest reclaimed most of the wetland until about 1970 when beavers moved in and built a dam which flooded the wooded
swamp, creating a shallow pond with standing dead trees. Beavers abandoned the site in the mid 1980’s when food supplies were scarce.
Shortly thereafter the beaver dam collapsed leaving an open meadow.

In 1990, the then Chairman of the Conservation Commission, Francis Cormier worked with the NH Fish and Game Dept, the Town of Derry,
the NH Waterfowl Association, the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, the UNH Cooperative Extension, and the USDA
Soil Conservation Service to construct a stop block dam to improve habitat for waterfowl and other wetland dependent species. The dam
was dedicated June 1, 1991.

The dam was constructed so that water levels can be controlled. Much of the time the marsh is flooded. However periodic draining is needed
to maintain valuable vegetation for wildlife.

In 1995 and 1996 the beavers returned to the area and began constructing dams on various portions of the property increasing the size of the
wetlands. In fact beaver activity flooded a bridge during the grand opening of the Francis Cormier trail loop in 1997. The Francis Cormier Trail loop,
which circles the pond, and several bridges were built by Derry Boy Scouts: John Haycock, Chris Gagnon, and Chris Settle. A new floating bridge
was designed and built by Boy Scout Matthew Box, to replace the regularly flooded bridge.

The dam was breeched during the spring flooding of 2007. The pond has been largely drained. The Conservation Commission is working with the NH Dam Safety Bureau, NH Fish and Game to determine whether to rebuild the dam and if so in what configuration.

The area is named in honor of Charlie Cole, a dedicated sportsman and conservationist. Charlie helped establish Ducks Unlimitied in New Hampshire and served as its first president. Charlie was also a founder of the New Waterfowl Association.

Management: The properties are a registered Tree Farm and as such are actively managed by the Derry Conservation Commission and a professional forester to provide forest products, improve wildlife habitat, and provide recreation opportunities. The properties are a registered Tree Farm.

Updated 5/22/07