Protecting our Natural Legacy: Understanding the Power of a Conservation Easement
by Chocorua Lake Conservancy Stewardship Director Debra Marnich
In our beautiful corner of the world here in Chocorua, New Hampshire, we are surrounded by stunning natural beauty. From the majestic White Mountains and Chocorua Mountain to the breathtaking views and pristine waters of Chocorua Lake, our landscape is a treasure we all cherish. But how do we ensure this beauty endures for future generations? One powerful tool in our conservation toolkit is the conservation easement.
CLC Stewardship Director Debra Marnich, left, with Jon Foley and Karen Baehler. | Will Zehring
In December of 2024, Chocorua Lake Conservancy, Jonathan (Jon) Foley, and Karen Baehler closed on a Conservation Easement on MacGregor Hill Road in Tamworth that protects 18 acres of undeveloped forest land. The property is surrounded by conserved land on three sides and is an integral part of a network of 3000 protected acres in the Chocorua Lake Basin. The land is also an important part of a wildlife habitat corridor connecting forests, rivers, wetlands, and a lake. The values of protecting the property include preserving a scenic viewshed, protecting the Chocorua Lake Basin watershed, habitats, and wildlife corridors, and, through these protections, increasing the quality of life for the human community.
Often, the desire to protect land stems from a deep personal connection to a particular place—a family farm, a beloved hiking trail, an undisturbed stretch of forest that holds precious memories. While owning land provides a sense of stewardship, it doesn't always guarantee long-term protection from development or other changes. This is where a conservation easement comes in.
"Our motivation to purchase the property was largely driven by our long-standing attachment to the immediate area and a desire to keep those woods as they are,” Karen Baehler said. “Jon's mother, Marguerite Pratt Foley, who spent parts of her childhood at the Pratt House, including attending the one-room schoolhouse in Chocorua Village, would tell stories of building forts with her cousin along the stone boundary wall in the property we purchased. Jon spent nearly every summer as a child at the Pratt House with his siblings and an array of cousins. Walking down the ‘wood road,’ alongside the MacGregor Hill property on the way to and from a swim in Chocorua Lake was a staple of their childhoods.”
What Exactly is a Conservation Easement?
A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement and partnership between a landowner and a qualified conservation organization such as a land trust or government agency. This agreement permanently restricts certain uses of the land to protect its conservation values. The landowner retains ownership of the land, but they agree to limit activities, for example development, subdivision, or certain types of resource extraction. The conservation easement process is legal, lengthy, and involved, but overall, it's a working partnership between the landowner and the entity that will hold the conservation easement. It’s a commitment to conservation between partners to conserve and protect the land in perpetuity.
Why are Conservation Easements so Important?
Conservation easements play a vital role in safeguarding the natural and cultural heritage of our communities for several key reasons:
• Protecting Natural Habitats: Conservation easements help preserve critical habitats for wildlife, ensuring biodiversity and the health of our local ecosystems. This is crucial for species that rely on specific habitats for survival and for maintaining the ecological balance of our region while promoting resilient landscapes.
• Preserving Scenic Beauty: They help maintain natural landscapes, protecting viewsheds and the beauty that draws people to Chocorua and enhances our quality of life.
• Safeguarding Water Quality: By protecting forests, wetlands, and riparian areas, easements help filter pollutants, maintain the health of our rivers, streams, and drinking water sources, and protect diverse, resilient habitats.
• Supporting Local Agriculture and Forestry: Easements can be tailored to allow for sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, ensuring the continuation of these important local industries while preventing unsustainable development.
• Providing Public Benefit: While the land remains privately owned and protected, the conservation value is a large benefit to the community.
Why protect this specific property in the Lake Basin?
Jon and Karen shared their thoughts on what protecting their property in perpetuity means to them.
“In a sense, the property is remarkable for being unremarkable,” Jon said. “The woods are a mix of familiar fir and deciduous trees. In the spring, vernal pools develop along the southwestern corner of the property and multiple springs drain in a southeasterly direction under MacGregor Road toward Madison. While walking the property, we’ve heard woodpeckers busy at work and seen barred owls, cardinals, starlings, and many other birds. [CLC Stewardship Director] Deb Marnich has shown us where deer overwinter in many parts of the property. The adjacent properties to the north and west are undeveloped and, through connection with our property, may provide a wildlife corridor for animals wandering toward Chocorua Lake, the Chocorua River, and the wetlands northeast of the lake and along Route 16.
“By being left alone,” he continued, “the woods provide benefits to all by supporting wildlife habitat, absorbing carbon from the air, and allowing natural filtering and flow of water to both west and the east. Although there may be no "remarkable" features that warrant a special designation, we value the relatively untouched nature of the woods, the location of the property in the Chocorua Basin, and the inherent conservation benefits for humans and other animals."
A Win-Win for Landowners and the Community
For landowners, a conservation easement can be a way to leave a lasting legacy, knowing their land will be protected in perpetuity. It can also provide potential tax benefits. For the community, conservation easements represent a local commitment to preserving the landscapes, wildlife habitats, and clean waterways that are part of our identity as rural people and that contribute to the economic vitality of this region.
Protecting the natural beauty of the Chocorua Lake Basin is a shared responsibility. By understanding and embracing tools like conservation easements, we can ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy the same breathtaking landscapes that we cherish today.