Introduction

A survey of Mont Vernon town maps shows that most unfragmented and vacant land lies in the northern part of the town. Several of these parcels are also part of larger unfragmented lands in neighboring towns. We share the Joe English Parcel with Amherst and New Boston, the Purgatory Brook Parcel with Lyndeborough and The Towne Forest with New Boston.

Our wildlife habitats include coniferous, deciduous and mixed forest, wetlands and some open grassland. Wetland habitats consist of vernal pools, (which have yet to be mapped), swamps, and marshes. Mont Vernon also has several parcels of prime agricultural soil and state-important farmland that are the source of significant open field habitats. Open inland-waterway habitats consist of ponds, brooks and streams.

The people of Mont Vernon value the town’s wildlife and habitats. At the Community Profile Meeting in April 1999 participants said that they wanted to see the town’s rural character maintained. People listed concerns about loss of land to development and the town’s lack of long term environmental planning. They would like to see existing protected properties expanded and special and critical natural areas identified.

Habitats are living communities that provide the food, water and space for plant or animal survival. Broad categories of New England habitats are forests, wetlands, open inland water and waterways and grasslands. Habitat needs may vary throughout the life cycle of an animal. Spotted Salamanders, for example, depend on vernal pools in the earliest stages of their lives but spend their adulthood in underground burrows. Certain species, such as Bobolinks, are specialists that can only live in open grasslands, while deer are generalists and can survive in a wider variety of habitats.

There are several types of habitats that should be given special consideration in planning for growth in Mont Vernon.

Development in New Hampshire consumes 20,000 acres of open space every year. The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the Nature Conservancy estimate that by 2020 Hillsborough County will have the highest population in the state with 467,000 residents. In such a rapidly growing area human development has a significant impact on wild habitats. This disruption takes four basic forms:

Information on the rare species listed in this document comes from data gathered by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and the Natural Heritage Inventory within the New Hampshire Department of Resources and Economic Development. These programs track threatened, endangered, and declining species as well as species with changing distributions in the state. Endangered species include those in danger of extinction in their natural range. Threatened species live in deteriorating habitats which may eventually place them in the threatened category.

Currently 20% of the land in New Hampshire is under some sort of conservation protection. However, in 1998 the New Hampshire Ecological Reserve Systems Project concluded that most rare species live outside of these areas.

People who live in Mont Vernon benefit from habitat protection in several ways. Recreation is the most readily identifiable boon to us as we hike, snowshoe, sled, cross country ski, hunt, bird watch and fish in protected areas. Wildlife-related recreation constitutes an important piece of New Hampshire’s economy as residents and out-of-state visitors spend money on equipment, food, lodging and transportation. Wetlands also benefit humans through their ability to reduce erosion, recharge ground water, filter pollutants and store flood waters. Habitat protection also helps us maintain clean air and water.

Overview of Habitats in Mont Vernon

Conditions in the uplands surrounding the wetland areas in Mont Vernon can either protect or alter these habitats.

The National Wetland Inventory Map of 1990 shows the following wetlands in Mont Vernon. A survey of the map shows the role that beaver play in creating wetland habitat. Herlihy Swamp and the wetland’s next to Woods Pond and along Black Brook are all examples of beaver engineering.

It should be noted that different types of wetlands support different kinds of species:

One third of the native New Hampshire wildlife species depend on aquatic and wetland habitats at some point in their lives including some that are listed on the New Hampshire Rare Wildlife Species Index and that have been sighted in or have a moderate to strong likelihood of being found in Mont Vernon. In particular, habitat fragmentation threatens the Blandings, Wood and Spotted turtles. During their annual cycles these turtles spend time traveling from water to the uplands where they nest or from one wetland site to another. Roads and cars pose a significant risk to these species that are currently declining in number in New Hampshire. Spotted turtles that were studied in New Hampshire rely exclusively on vernal pools for their habitat.

There are several rare bird species that may be found on Mont Vernon wetlands. These include the Northern Harrier which prefers marsh and scrub-shrub swamps such as are found in the Hazen Salisbury parcel. The future of this hawk is considered uncertain in New Hampshire as the marsh and grassland habitats it requires disappear.

The Pie Billed Grebe and Sedge Wren are both marsh dwellers and are both listed as in danger of extinction in their natural range in New Hampshire. Pied- billed grebes have been sighted in Mont Vernon since 1979. In addition the rare American bittern, Common Moorhen, King rail, Least bittern. Marsh wren, Sora, and Virginia rail are also likely to be found in Mont Vernon marshes of three acres or larger. Great blue herons may also find favorable habitat for their rookeries in Mont Vernon’s swamps.

Wetlands are productive ecosystems, which provide rich stores of food. For this reason a wetland provides a habitat for large variety of plants and animals. Individual habitat size requirements vary among animals with predators needing the largest amount of unfragmented habitat. Wetlands are important not only to animals such as beaver, otter, muskrats, rails and bitterns that have adapted to live there but they often provide wildlife corridors in an increasingly fragmented landscape and stopover areas for migrating birds.

Watersheds in Mont Vernon

Perennial Streams in Mont Vernon

Sources: USGS topographic maps.

Beaver Brook is the only one in town to have been surveyed by the New Hampshire Fish and Game department. The upstream section has 60% pool and 40% riffle or fast water habitat. The stream bottom consists primarily of boulders and rubble (69% boulder, 35% rubble, 3% sand and 2% gravel). Brook trout were found in the downstream habitat which is 25% pool and 75% riffle with a bottom substrate compose of 40% rubble, 30% gravel, 20% boulder and 10% sand.. Brook trout lay their eggs on the bottom of these pools. Once hatched the fry find protection from predators among the gravel stones in streams such as Beaver Brook.

Forested stream banks not only provide shade but also protection for rare species in the root tangles of trees. Wood, spotted and Blandings turtles find a refuge from predators in these root masses. The shorelines of these riparian areas also provide critical habitat for ground nesting birds such as the Spotted sandpiper and perches for Osprey, Herons and Kingfishers.

No water quality assessments have been done on any of the Mont Vernon’s perennial streams. Potential threats to these streams include pollution from lawn fertilizers, septic systems, sediment from timber harvesting and runoff from roads such as petroleum, heavy metals and road salt. Water quality is inextricably linked to human and wildlife health.

Ponds in Mont Vernon

Sources: NH Office of State Planning, Inventory of Lakes, Ponds, and Reservoirs, Biological Survey of Lakes and Ponds in Cheshire, Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties; U.S Geological Survey

Like marshes, these habitats are rich in nutrients. Mont Vernon’s ponds are also associated with other wetland habitats. Horton’s Pond, for example, lies next to a marsh and swampland. Hartshorn Brook flows out of Stearn’s Pond which in turn feeds a marsh and swamp area near Route 13.

Buffers are naturally vegetated areas next to a wetland or surface water. Undisturbed forests, managed forests and abandoned fields may all form buffers. These areas protect water quality by maintaining favorable water temperatures for aquatic life and providing nutrients for these organisms while preventing erosion. During storms buffers help prevent shifts in water levels which would otherwise disrupt the life in a stream. They also provide wildlife habitat for both wetland and upland species.

Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests compose Mont Vernon’s forest cover. We have 772 acre of coniferous forest, 4,288 acres of deciduous forest and 3,690 acres of mixed forest. Much of New England’s forests were harvested beginning in the colonial period and we did not see the reappearance of a largely forested landscape until the 20th century with the demise of farming. As a result, the forests of Mont Vernon are relatively young and fragmented by the network of roads in town. One clearly visible impact of this fragmentation can be seen in the numbers of wildlife killed in collisions with cars. In addition, certain species that nest in forest interiors, such as rose-breasted grosbeaks are more sensitive to the size of an unfragmented parcel. In general, larger parcels create more opportunities for biodiversity.

Although open lands in New England have primarily resulted from human activity, there is evidence that beaver were also responsible for creating open fields in our landscape before the first people arrived. Abandoned beaver ponds eventually turn into beaver meadows as the dams leak, leaving behind habitat for grassland bird species.

Mont Vernon’s open fields consist of hay and dairy fields, corn fields and abandoned farmlands. Examples of open field habitat can be seen on each side of Route 13 between the summit of the Mont Vernon Hill and Purgatory Road. Open areas have been identified by residents as an important piece of our rural character. These areas are particularly vulnerable to development. Between 1982 and 1992 New Hampshire lost 15,400 acres of crop land and 5,300 acres of pasture land.

Rare species dependent on grasslands and shrubland habitat:

• Common Nighthawk
• Golden-winged warbler
• Grasshopper Sparrow
• Vesper sparrow
• Purple Martin
• Upland Sandpiper
• New England Cottontail
• Northern harrier
• Although the American woodcock is not currently endangered in New Hampshire this unusual bird relies on disappearing grasslands and wetlands for part of its habitat.

Open Space with "Farm Appearance"

Source: The Mont Vernon Master Plan Committee

The forests of the eastern United States were once unbroken expanses of wildlife habitat. Wildlife corridors now serve an important function in the lives of native birds, mammals, fish and amphibians by connecting unfragmented habitats to one another. Wildlife biologists have not yet determined exactly how wide a corridor ought to be. Consideration of the length of the proposed corridor, topography and the habitat requirements of target species can help determine appropriate widths. In addition, features such as heavy vegetation and ditches can provide cover for traveling wildlife.

Identifying and Protecting Significant Wildlife habitat: A Guide for Towns and Conservation Groups recommends the following guidelines for connecting blocks of habitat.

There is no one answer to the question of how large and unfragmented parcel ought to be. In general, the larger the price of unfragmented land the greater variety of habitats it will support which in turn supports a larger variety of wildlife species. Minimum parcel size also depends on current patterns of fragmentation. While a 500 acre minimum tract is recommended in Identifying and Protecting Significant Wildlife Habitat the authors suggest that some communities may need to reduce their parcel size to 250 acres because of existing heavy development.

Significant Unfragmented Parcels Identified by the Master Plan Committee

Location: This parcel is bounded by Hazen, Salisbury and Beech Hill Roads and by the New Boston town line to the north.

Grassland

Wetlands- forested swamp

Scrub/shrub swamp

Marsh

Forests-Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests

Soils-State important farmland soil

Poorly and very poorly drained soils

Existing Conservation Land: Herbert Lot -143 acres

Location: A triangular parcel bounded by Hazen and Beech Hill Roads and the Francestown Turnpike.

Wetlands- marsh

Forested swamp

Scrub/shrub swamp

Black Brook

Forests-Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests

Soils-State important farmland soils

Poorly and very poorly drained soils

Existing conservation land: The Case Parcel

Location: Northern part of town bounded by Cross Road, The Francestown Turnpike, Route 13 and the New Boston Town line.

Size: The Towne Forest portion is 28.7 acres.

Forests-Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests.

Wetlands-The Towne forest is site of a Great Blue Heron Rookery

Marsh

Scrub/shrub and forested swamp

Soils- prime agricultural and state important farmland soils

Poorly and very poorly drained soils

Open grasslands

Location: This parcel is bounded by Route 13, Brook, Grand Hill and Weston Hill Roads.

Wildlife travel corridor

Forests-Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests.

wetlands- Woods Pond

Carlton Pond

Forested and scrub/shrub swamp

Marsh

These wetlands result from beaver activity.

Soils- prime agricultural and state important farmland soils

Poorly and very poorly drained soils.

Existing conservation lands: Herlihy Swamp (45.3 acres)

Location: This parcel is part of the New Boston Satellite Tracking Facility, which is shared by Amherst and New Boston.

Size: The Mont Vernon section of this parcel is 488 acres.

Wetlands-Ice Pond

Roby Pond

Forested and scrub/shrub swamp

Marsh

Soils- prime agricultural and state important farmland soils

Poorly and very poorly drained soils

Forests-Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests.

Grassland

Location: This parcel is actually a piece of a larger one which is shared with Lyndeborough. Part of the newly created Purgatory Falls Trail also crosses this area. It is bounded by Old Wilton, Purgatory and Upton Roads and by Purgatory Brook. There currently is no conservation easement for the privately-owned portions of this trail.

Forests-Coniferous, deciduous and mixed forests.

Wetlands- Purgatory Brook

Scrub/shrub swamp

Forested swamp

Marsh

Two ponds with beaver complex

Recent clearcut area

Soils-state important farmland soils

Poorly and very poorly drained soils.

Existing conservation lands: Purgatory Falls-Three separate lots totaling 43.4 acres.

Unfragmented Lands Map

Recommendations

1. Map Significant wildlife habitat in Mont Vernon. The Following maps should be done:

• Unfragmented lands,
• Riparian areas and priority wetlands.
• Agricultural and other open lands.
• Habitat of rare wildlife species.
• Additional significant habitat, such as migration stopover areas.

Alden, P. (1998). National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England. New York: Alfred A Knopf Inc.

Askins,R. (2000). Restoring North America’s Birds. New Haven: Yale University Press.

Foss, C. (Ed.). (1994). Atlas of Breeding Birds of New Hampshire. Dover: Arcadia.

Carroll, D. (1999). Swampwalkers Journal.. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Chase, V, Deming, L. & Latawiec, F. (1997). Buffers for Wetlands and Surface waters: A Guide book for New Hampshire Municipalities.

Audubon Society of New Hampshire.

Kanter, J., Suomala, R.& Snyder, E. (2000) Identifying and Protecting Significant Wildlife Habitat: A Guide for Towns and Conservation Groups. New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.

Kricher, J. & Morrison, G. Ecology of Eastern Forests (1988). Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

Niering, W. 1998). Wetlands. New York: Alfred A. Knopf Inc.

Tappan, A. (Ed.). (1997). Identification and Documentation of Vernal Pools in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Fish and Game.

Society for The Protection of New Hampshire Forests. New Hampshire’s Land and Community Heritage at Risk. February1999 .

Yahner, R. (1995). Eastern Deciduous Forests. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.