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Moosewood Ecological to prepare Quimby Mountain stewardship plan; field surveys to begin in spring
Summary
The commission approved initiating a stewardship plan for Quimby Mountain. Moosewood Ecological will lead ecological and timber inventories, coordinate with Meadows Inn Consulting for forest inventory, and prepare a draft stewardship plan by November with finalization by year‑end.
Jeff Littleton, principal ecologist and owner of Moosewood Ecological, presented the scope of work for the Quimby Mountain Stewardship Plan. Littleton said Moosewood has begun background research and will start site investigations in spring, aiming for inventory work through the summer and a draft stewardship plan in November.
The scope includes an ecological and timber resources inventory, mapping natural communities and wildlife habitat, targeted surveys for species of greatest conservation need, a forest inventory (to be conducted by Laura French of Meadows Inn Consulting), and trail recommendations consistent with the conservation easement deed. Littleton said the team had reviewed baseline documentation, conservation easement deeds and prior invasive‑species work and asked the commission to share any monitoring reports or previous management plans.
Littleton noted logistics: limited parking on Goffstown Road and available access at the northern cul‑de‑sac; he estimated about eight field days for inventories with flexibility to add more as needed. He also said the stewardship plan will follow the easement’s guidance, identify potential parking locations consistent with easement limits (a parking area up to 5,000 square feet and within 1,100 feet of roadway is allowed under the easement), and recommend trail siting and signage.
Commissioners asked about past invasive‑species work and monitoring; Littleton said Bear Paw and other prior contractors had documentation they would like to include. He also asked the commission whether it wanted a public field day once initial inventory results are available; commissioners supported the idea and said they would coordinate timing and any Natural Heritage outreach.
Ending: Littleton said the contract had been signed and Moosewood will coordinate scheduling and preliminary data requests with commission staff. The commission will provide existing monitoring reports and consider scheduling a public field day during the inventory season.
