Newport, Croydon, and Grantham project gets $475,500 wetlands grant

CONCORD — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Aquatic Resource Mitigation Program (ARM) has awarded funding from the Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund for 26 projects totaling $4,288,402.75.

The NHDES ARM Fund, established by law, accepts payment as a mitigation option for certain projects that impact wetlands and are not able to provide other forms of mitigation.

An ARM Fund Site Selection Committee is charged with selecting high priority projects that most effectively compensate for the loss of wetlands functions and values caused by the projects that paid into the Fund. According to the law, the chosen projects are subject to approval by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Hampshire Wetlands Council.

Area Projects receiving funds in 2018 include:

Newport, Croydon and Grantham – $475,500: North Branch Sugar River Land Conservation Project/Ruger Property Acquisition, New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Two properties totaling 3,181 acres known as the Ruger lands within the watershed of the North Branch of the Sugar River will be permanently protected including approximately 416 acres of wetlands habitat plus 28 vernal pools and 10.85 miles of streams.

The project will expand the extent of protected lands in a 48,750 acre unfragmented block of natural land cover, and provide habitat for numerous wildlife species including at least 12 species of greatest conservation need. The Brighton Forest parcel (1,905 acres) has 713.2 acres of WAP Tier 1 habitat, 366 acres Tier 2 habitat, and a variety of other habitat types (including approximately 40 acres of managed shrubland under an existing powerline right-of-way), 14.6 acres of old field, and 237.67 acres of a variety of wetland types including a 132 acre marsh complex and 11 documented vernal pools. The Loverin Hill parcel has 532.2 acres of WAP Tier 1 habitat, 294.5 acres Tier 2, and 390 acres Tier 3 habitat, which cover 98.2% of the parcel.