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The Connecticut River Headwaters is an important link between
the extensive Wildlands of northern Maine and the Northeast Kingdom,
Green Mountains of Vermont and Adirondacks of New York.
With
the exception of Lake Umbagog, the upper Connecticut Lakes are the
last large, essentially wild places in New Hampshire. This Northern
tip is very popular for fishing and hunting. The New Hampshire Rivers
Protection Project gave the Connecticut River headwaters the highest
possible score for critical ecological significance, inland
fisheries
and scenic value, and gave both Indian and Perry Streams the highest
score for undeveloped character.
Approximate
Acreage: 150,000 acres
Location:
This area encompasses the undeveloped portions of the Connecticut
Lakes and upper Connecticut River watershed, including Hall's, Indian
and Perry Streams, and excluding the developed areas of the Connecticut
River/Route 3 corridor downstream from First Connecticut Lake.
Lakes:
• First, Second, Third, and Fourth Connecticut Lakes
• Lake Francis
Rivers & Watersheds:
• Hall, Perry, and Indian Streams
• Headwaters of the Connecticut River
• Headwaters of the Dead Diamond River
Critical Ecological communities:
• East Inlet
• Scott's Bog
• Norton Pool old-growth stand
Habitat
and Animal Life:
• Freshwater wetlands along the Indian and Perry Streams
and the Connecticut River
• Bald eagle habitat at East Inlet
• Habitat for pine marten, lynx, loons, pied-billed grebes,
northern harriers, spruce grouse, osprey and other raptors
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Outstanding Recreation:
• Outstanding freshwater fishing
• Hunting
Protected Lands:
• State Forest protection for the narrow Connecticut Lakes
State Forest along the Route 3 corridor
• Permanent protection by private landowners for special
places, including East Inlet and Fourth Connecticut Lakes
• Undeveloped shoreline of Lake Francis owned by the New
Hampshire Water Resources Board
• Brown and Gray Wildlife Management Areas
• French Wildlife Refuge
Existing Development:
• Little if any resident population or development except
for the Route 3 corridor along the Connecticut River
• Limited access along logging roads
• Road density in the uplands of Hall, Indian and Perry
Stream watersheds is especially low
Emerging Conservation Opportunities:
• In the Connecticut Lakes region, 180,000 acres of
forest under new management may offer opportunities to craft conservation
strategies that will protect the region's high ecological and recreational
assets, and its capacity to provide quality timber for future generations.
Current Action Step:
• Given landownership patterns that have been occurring
in the region, it is safe to say that the Connecticut Lakes Wildland
is at risk of being sold. There is a tremendous opportunity to create
a multi-owner conservation approach that would protect the region's
most important ecological and recreational resources while also ensuring
conservation easements allowing continued, but improved forest management.
• If
conservation of the Connecticut River Headwaters Wildland is to
succeed it will most likely require Forest Legacy funding. Write
a letter supporting Forest
Legacy today.
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