Photo: Daranie Pin
For Immediate Release, Wednesday, August 7, 2024
For information contact:
Ryanne Flynn Rossi, 978.466.3900 rflynnrossi@northcountylandtrust.org
Kolya Partan, 978-541-1762 partan@mountgrace.org
North County Land Trust and Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust Celebrate the Grand Opening of Monomonac Hill Conservation Area
WINCHENDON – North County Land Trust (NCLT) and Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust proudly announce the grand opening of the Monomonac Hill Conservation Area, which took place on Wednesday, August 7. This 194-acre conservation area, now open to the public for passive recreation, marks the successful conclusion of a significant conservation effort that began in August 2021.
With the support of individual donors, organizations, and foundations, NCLT and Mount Grace have secured the funding necessary to protect this critical piece of forestland at the southern reaches of Lake Monomonac. The Monomonac Hill Conservation Area is held by North County Land Trust with a conservation restriction to be held by Mount Grace, ensuring its permanent protection.
“This is NCLT’s first conservation area in Winchendon” said Anna Wilkins, NCLT Director of Conservation and Climate. “My hope is Monomonac Hill Conservation Area and trails will become a beloved recreational resource for the local residents and visitors. The trails highlight the rich diversity and beauty of the region’s forests, which makes for a nice walk in the woods. I’m glad NCLT was able to step in to bring all the partners together to permanently protect this land and so thankful for the wonderful people I’ve met through the process.”
NCLT and Mount Grace worked in collaboration with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, a local private conservation buyer, town administrators, the Winchendon Springs Lake Association, the Monomonac Lake Property Owners Association, and many concerned residents.
“Partnerships like this one are essential to protect important places like Monomonac Hill,” said Emma Ellsworth, Mount Grace Executive Director. “By working together, we can take on more new projects and still be ready whenever a community needs help to protect a cherished place.”
Monomonac Hill is part of the remaining undeveloped portions of land once owned by the White Brothers of White’s Mill, just south of the hill on the Millers River. This developable land has been managed for timber, with a recent harvest that occurred in 2022, before the start of the conservation project. Existing trail networks across the mixed hardwood forest were revitalized through the work of staff and volunteers over the course of several months. The main trail culminates at a scenic view from a powerline easement out to Mt. Monadnock and points north.
The western portion of the property protects hemlock forest around a shady brook—the north branch of the Millers River. On the eastern side, several vernal pools dot the woodland providing abundant habitat for salamanders, wood frogs, and other vernal pool species. Wildlife, including deer, fox, coyote, bear, fisher, turkey, and many other creatures, utilize the variety of habitats throughout the property. Monomonac Hill serves as a vital corridor connecting Winchendon Springs Wildlife Management Area to the east with town conservation land to the west.
Conserving this land links the Winchendon Springs Wildlife Management Area to hundreds of acres of forest conserved by the Town of Winchendon. Parts of this landscape are considered crucial habitat by Massachusetts’ Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program, so this larger connectivity ensures that species can migrate through diverse habitats to provide greater resilience to climate change.
Renee Tambling, Treasurer for the Winchendon Springs Lake Association and an early supporter of the project, states, “This is going to be great for our community, our lakes, and our river. Not only will we benefit from keeping the land natural now, but it will be that way for future generations. It doesn’t get any better than that.”
Lifelong Winchendon resident Marie Urquhart also spoke favorably of the project and partnership: “How fortunate we are to have Mount Grace and NCLT working collaboratively to protect Lake Monomonac and many acres of forested land around it! Much of my time as a child growing up in Winchendon was spent enjoying these resources, swimming, sailing, hiking, and camping to name a few. I have come to realize over the years how important it is to be a steward for the land.”
Permanent conservation of this land was made possible by foundations including the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation, the Bafflin Foundation, the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, Fields Pond Foundation, and the Adelard and Valeda Roy Foundation. This project relied upon critical support from the Winchendon Springs Lake Association, the Monomonac Lake Property Owners Association (NH), and many individuals in the surrounding community. Short-term loans through Mount Grace’s Leigh Youngblood Conservation Opportunity Fund and an anonymous donor were key in making project logistics work. NCLT and Mount Grace are unified on the goal of ensuring the land is open for recreation and continues to provide critical wildlife habitat for the Millers River headwaters.