In Cornish Conservation Notes 2021/# 8, (scroll down), we defined the different types of wetlands and described the rich plant and animal wildlife found in these special habitats. Wetlands are among the most biologically diverse, productive, and unique habitats on earth. No other part of our landscape provides so many benefits at so little cost to the public, including flood control, water quality maintenance, groundwater discharge and recharge, and they provide beautiful vistas and recreational benefits for all to appreciate.
NH is the fastest growing NE state; our population doubled from 1960-2000 and is expected to increase 8.8% by 2040. This population growth and the desirability of New England real estate in a rapidly heating global climate, means that Cornish could expect to see increasing pressures on our landscape and our natural resources in the future.
The Cornish Conservation Commission is currently updating the town’s Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) https://www.cornishnh.net/?page_id=912, which supports the town’s Master Plan, and informs the Planning and Zoning Boards. This work is important in assessing land use patterns, and providing focus and guidance to the Town on land conservation efforts to protect important natural resources of the town. Land trust groups and societies like the Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests utilize this kind of inventorying and town planning to help them determine the level of assistance they can render landowners seeking to conserve property and the natural resources they contain.
A high-quality wetland is typically defined (by the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan) as being:
- At least 1000 feet from houses, roads or recreational trails
- Surrounded by intact vegetation
- In remote areas where beaver dams don’t affect humans
If you have one of these habitats on your land, please celebrate the gem you have, and work to protect this very valuable resource for your future generations, your wildlife neighbors that depend on them, and for the broader Cornish community.
Historically, New Hampshire has lost fewer wetlands to development than many other states. As southern New Hampshire faces increasing development pressure, wetlands and their very important surrounding uplands are at risk. Loss of upland habitat, pollution, salt runoff from roads and destruction of or loss of beavers and their dams all have a detrimental effect on how effectively these sensitive landscapes can continue to perform their much-needed ecosystem functions for us all. And read more about NH Wildlife Action Plan at https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/wildlife/wap.html or view the Marsh and Shrub Wetlands brochure at https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/nongame/documents/habitat-marshes.pdf
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services’ (DES) Wetlands Bureau administers the state statute protecting New Hampshire wetlands from “despoliation, and unregulated alteration.” The statute specifically authorizes conservation commission participation in the regulatory permit process. Please contact the Conservation Commission, or NH DES for more information.