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State plans 53-acre Bowditch-Runnells harvest to promote white pine regeneration
Summary
The NH Division of Forests and Lands proposed a 53-acre group-selection timber harvest in Bowditch-Runnells State Forest scheduled for winter 2026–2027 to promote white pine regeneration; the Natural Heritage Bureau reported no records of rare species in the area. Commissioners raised concerns about legacy trees, visibility from Route 16, wildlife habitat, and informal trail use.
The Tamworth Conservation Commission on June 8 received a presentation from Matthew Lewis of the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands about a proposed 53-acre timber harvest in Bowditch-Runnells State Forest, west of Route 16 and the Chocorua River. The project, scheduled for winter 2026–2027, would use group selection harvesting to promote white pine regeneration while maintaining an uneven-aged forest structure.
Lewis described harvest layout, access routes, and protections for historic resources including buffers around a cellar hole and a well site; he reported that a Natural Heritage Bureau review found no records of rare species within the project area. Commissioners and members of the public raised questions about protecting legacy trees, the harvest's visibility from Route 16, impacts on wildlife habitat, and informal trail use. Chair Ned Beecher requested copies of the presentation slides, which the Commission will post on its website.
