Conservation Commission Notes

Did you know that Cornish has its very own swimming area that also does double duty as a fire pond? If you travel to Cornish Flat, turn onto School Street and go to the end of the street to the intersection of School Street and Leavitt Hill Road, you can take a refreshing dip in the dammed area of Blow-Me-Down Brook

Town history tells us that in January 1967 Irene LeClair granted the town of Cornish a parcel of land that included portions along Blow-Me-Down Brook. The dam located at the corner of Leavitt Hill Road and School Street forms a “natural” pool that makes for an ideal swimming hole. Because of the condition of the old dam, an on-site inspection was completed in 1973 in order to acquire grant funds to repair and improve the dam. In June 1975, following a second pre-award on-site inspection (Image 1), a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for $3000 was approved and matched by the Town of Cornish for improvements to the dam and the formal establishment of a public recreation area.

At the time of the grant request the proposed scope of the improvements included a stop-log control gate, fill for the shoulder, excavation and installation of 4” of beach sand, excavation of silt from behind the dam, landscaping and installation of a guardrail on the dam. The project was completed in July 1976 (Image 2) with the project finalized in 1981 (Image 3).

Although the beach sand and guardrails on the dam are gone, the swimming hole is still a refreshing break from the dog days of summer (hopefully we will have a few in August!), and who knows, you might even share the water with a duck or other wildlife during your visit (Images 4–6).

There is no lifeguard on duty, or trash receptacles provided, so please take appropriate precautions, supervise children, clean up after pets if needed and remove any trash from the area.

Many thanks to the town road crew and local volunteers for keeping the grass mowed and the area accessible. Parking is on the street.

Conservation Commission Notes

On a snowy and COLD Saturday afternoon (2/25/23), 13 intrepid trackers headed into the Fitch Farm woods at the top of Dingleton Hill with environmental educator and soil scientist, Martha Mitchell for the CCC’s first field trip of 2023. For the next two hours, we found ourselves learning about why red pines do not flourish in NH soils (including a short and fascinating lesson on the continental plate tectonics that produced very different soils for NH and VT), that most trees in NH have no tap root, and that tree roots can develop calluses by the perpetual rocking movement from the wind in their crowns (a sudden hard wind coupled with wet soil conditions, and the cumulative stress on roots over time – and down it can go!). 

The day’s cold and snowy conditions meant few tracks were to be seen that afternoon – non-hibernating animals hunker down and conserve energy by waiting for better travel/feeding conditions, but human curiosity and learning were to be found everywhere. February is the season of love for red foxes, look for a romping pair of fox tracks and a possible trampled circle in the snow, evidence of their joy in finding one another. Fresh hemlock branches/twigs on the snow and a trough-like track about 8” wide is evidence that a porcupine is, or was nearby. Their tails drag in deep snow, often covering the prints and making a perfect half pipe trail. Barred owls are already feeding their young owlets, and bear cubs have been born during their mother’s hibernation. Shredded bark/wood on the snow at the base of a tree signals a pileated woodpecker has been busy excavating insects with its massive bill. 

Martha reminded us of the importance of land conservation, not only for the animals we love to observe in their natural habitat, and for tree and plant diversity, but also for the water/aquifer recharging that a protected forest with its seeps, pools, and streams can offer us, and those with whom we share the landscape. 

Join us on future field trips, a great time and much learning is guaranteed! Keep your eye on Connect Cornish for details on our Wetlands exploration in mid-April. Thank you to the Fitch family for hosting this Conservation Commission event, and to Martha Mitchell for sharing her deep understanding of the forest and its inhabitants. Find her tracking guide, co-authored with Lynn Levine, Mammal Tracks and Scat Life-Size Tracking Guide (published by heartwood press), available on-line.

Conservation Commission Notes

The Cornish Conservation Commission continues to work toward completing a full update of the Natural Resources Inventory this year, and to focus programs and speakers on the important topic of Water Quality in Cornish.

Conservation Notes in Connect Cornish will advertise upcoming events and summarize outings and information for the Cornish community after the fact.

Early spring and summer events this year will include Wildlife Habitat and Tracking (February), featured speaker Justin Shaw from NH Granite State Rural Water Association discussing Protection of Source Water in Cornish (March), including opportunity for residents to test their well water, Wetlands Field Trip (April), Bird walks (May), Kayaking and Upstream Water Testing on the CT River (July/August). The focus on Water Protection topics will continue in the fall and winter, specific programming will be announced later.

Stay tuned for specific dates, times and locations!