Letters to the Editor
Ashburnham voters urged to support land purchase

To the Editor:

This letter is to all residents of Ashburnham. At our upcoming Wednesday Jan. 24 Special Town Meeting, Ashburnham has the opportunity to purchase an additional 200 +/- acres of conservation land and we need your vote.

The Russell Hill project is located in the eastern section of Ashburnham within a large area of un-fragmented unprotected forested land. This parcel could potentially serve as a reroute or potential spur trail of the Midstate Trail, which passes through unprotected lands under direct threat of development. The property's protection will allow the town and other partners to develop plans for an alternate route of the Midstate Trail with the goal of permanently protecting the entire trail. There also exists extensive forestry and walking trails that crisscross the property, these trails would provide a significant passive recreational resource and the forests will provide income, which can be used for stewardship and future conservation projects.

This parcel retains the same native characteristics it had when it was owned by the historic Adam's family in the 1700's. The property is mostly comprised of forested land with gentle southwest and west-facing slopes containing several small streams that drain into Brown Brook, a feeder stream to Phillips Brook and lead to the Nashua River. The forested condition, therefore, contributes to water quality protection and flood prevention in the large downstream watershed.

The Russell Hill project is supported by a partnership between the town of Ashburnham, the Ashburnham Conservation Trust and the Mount Grace Conservation Land Trust. The town of Ashburnham applied for and has been awarded $200,000 from the state self-help grant program and we are awaiting word on an additional $300,000 from a federal land & water grant application. The land trusts have successfully raised funds to cover the remaining costs for the purchase price of the property. The only cost to Ashburnham will be the interest on the loan which will be needed while we wait for the reimbursement from the state. The interest costs are minimal and these large unprotected parcels of open space are quickly disappearing.

Please attend the Wednesday, Jan. 24 Special Town Meeting to support this warrant article. Our town has supported similar large projects in the past like Mt. Watatic and the Bush Hill Town Forest and we need to maintain our momentum towards protecting the valuable natural heritage so many of us cherish.

Gary Howland

Ashburnham