Dear Friends,
Photo by Kate Wilcox.
Staff Jill Eldredge (Executive Director) Veronica Bodge (Land Agent) Abby Rummo (Coordinator) Board of Directors Nicole Csiszer (Secretary) Greg DeMarco (Vice Chair) Peter Goodwin (Chair) Ian Whitmore (Treasurer) Lorrie Drake Jacob Evans Ron Gehl, PE Jared Kane Steven Panish Joseph Hankins
Winter 2025
MOOSE MOUNTAINS REGIONAL GREENWAYS
I’m hard pressed to find a way to sum up the year we have had concisely. Part of me feels like we’ve spent the year staggering between whirling carnival rides while the other part surveys our considerable successes and wants to pronounce things like ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ If I've learned anything this year, it’s that multiple things can be true at once and our experiences this year have been nothing if not containing multitudes. Things have been hard. There have been impacts. As has been widely reported by us and other nonprofits, changes at the state and federal funding levels and within staffing at federal agencies have impacted our work. Our partners, funders and service providers have reduced capacity and eliminated programs. We’ve had federal funding frozen or possibly lost. Individuals feel uncertain about the future and are slower to make financial decisions such as charitable donations or decisions regarding their land. We don’t know exactly what to expect, except that we can almost certainly continue to expect change. Our successes have also been undeniable. Our events are varied and flourishing. Our community has joined us this year for property walks, timber stand improvement workshops, trail camera demonstrations and everything in between. We’ve formed or strengthened partnerships with companies like Liberty Mutual for their annual volunteer day or with social service organizations such as Great Bay Services which partnered with us for a staff retreat and swaps of volunteer service days between our staff and their clients. MMRG staff are continually evaluating ways we can build upon the public good of conservation in our community with dynamic, inclusive and mutually-beneficial partnerships.
Greenway Gazette
Page {{page}} | MMRG Greenway Gazette • July 2024
Donate Today! Moose Mountains Regional Greenways is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization – we rely on the support of our community to conserve new land, host educational events, and advocate for protection of natural resources. Your support ensures the protection of our region's most fragile and cherished landscapes. Click here to donate online: mmrgnh.org/donate or donate via check! Checks should be made out to "Moose Mountains Regional Greenways" and mailed to our address on the back page.
We’re reaching conservation milestones. Since 2023, MMRG has increased its conservation portfolio by 25%, thanks to the permanent addition of 1,000 conserved acres. This newsletter will introduce you to the projects we’ve completed this year and those expected to reach completion in 2026. We’re looking to the future. MMRG is engaged in a number of financial and operational activities to ensure our future success. In 2026, we’ll be unveiling a comprehensive conservation action plan which will help guide our work into the future. Beginning in spring 2026, MMRG will be undertaking a renewed strategic planning process to help chart the course of the organization as it continues to grow and develop. MMRG is also announcing the creation of the Wyatt Fund for the Future, a donor-driven endowment fund meant to sustain the work and operations of the organization for many years to come. As you join us through the rest of this newsletter, we hope you’ll share in our successes from this past year and in our excitement for what’s to come. Thanks to your support, your participation at events and your advocacy for conservation, we have so much to celebrate and look forward to. The end of the year and impending holiday season is always full of hustle and bustle. We invite you to join us at our upcoming Tree ID Walk in December before our events go on winter break, or to make your own plans to enjoy one of our many properties with trails and public access, such as the newly conserved Hraba Forest. May our conserved lands and natural resources provide an opportunity for calm and reflection in an otherwise busy season. Yours in Conservation, Jill Eldredge, Ed.M Executive Director
Page {{page}} | MMRG Greenway Gazette • December 2025
Thank you for your contribution!
The Shillaber Conservation Easement Photo by Kate Wilcox.
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LANDMARK MILESTONE: 1,000 acres added to our permanent conservation portfolio!
25/25 Vision Achieved!
We did it! In 2023, MMRG announced the 25/25 Vision- a bold goal to increase our conservation footprint by 25% by the end of 2025. With 1,000 acres added to our permanent conservation portfolio, we are thrilled to announce that we have reached that landmark milestone! To learn more about our properties visit mmrg.org/directory and read on within this newsletter for highlights from recently completed and upcoming conservation projects. While this is a moment for celebration within our service region, the work doesn’t stop here. MMRG is continuing to increase the pace of conservation and seeking new projects for easement and fee acquisition. Your personal referrals and financial support are vital to our continued success!
Jones Brook/Payne Conservation Easement
Hraba Forest/Lovell Lake
Projects Completed Since Winter 2025
The Bicksler Easement The Bicksler Easement in Tuftonboro, NH, was conserved by MMRG in February 2025. The 150-acre property features over 1,100 feet of frontage along the Melvin River, diverse wetlands and fields with views of the Ossipee Mountains, and connects to a growing network of high-quality wildlife habitat. The Hraba Forest The Hraba Forest in Wakefield, NH, was officially conserved by MMRG in September 2025. The 132-acre property protects over 1,900 feet of frontage along Lovell Lake, includes 79 acres of high-priority wildlife habitat, and features valuable forest soils that help filter water runoff into the lake. The forest offers 1.5 miles of scenic trails currently open for public hiking, wildlife viewing, and community events. Trail marking and kiosk placement are planning for the spring. Up Next: Jones Brook/Payne Conservation Easement The Jones Brook/Payne Conservation Easement is a 23 acre property in Milton, NH, owned by the Town of Milton. Roughly half of the land is freshwater wetland habitat along the Branch River and Jones Brook, while the remainder is forested. The easement will be open to the public for hiking, fishing–including native brook trout–and wildlife observation, featuring about one mile of trail.
Our Land Today...
The Bicksler Easement
Albee Memorial Forest The Ingrid Johannessen Albee Memorial Forest is a 123-acre conservation easement in Wakefield, NH, located within a key wellhead protection area for Sanbornville and near seven public water supply wells. Featuring forested wetlands, fields, and upland forest, the property provides valuable wildlife habitat and connectivity recognized by the NH Fish and Game. Adjacent to 136 acres of conserved land and the Cotton Valley Rail Trail, it strengthens the expanding greenways of undeveloped land in Wakefield. Wingate Memorial Forest The 56-acre Jane K. Wingate Memorial Forest in Farmington, NH, is being acquired by MMRG and features 4,500 feet of frontage along the Berry River, which supplies water to 25,000 Rochester residents. Host to wetlands, upland forests, and rocky outcrops providing prime wildlife habitat recognized by NH Fish and Game, it marks MMRG’s second conservation project along the Berry River. Lang Conservation Easement The 87-acre Lang Conservation Easement in Wolfeboro, NH, is MMRG's first project in the town and is owned by the Town of Wolfeboro. Adjacent to 145 acres of conserved land within a 5,000-acre unfragmented block, it features high-value wildlife habitat and strong climate resiliency. MMRG is partnering with the Wolfeboro Conservation Commission to ensure its permanent protection. Ducharme Conservation Easement The 34-acre Ducharme Conservation Easement in Wakefield, NH, lies within the Great East Lake watershed and includes 1,000 feet along Upper Copp Brook, which flows into the lake that then feeds into the Salmon Falls River. Protecting this mix of wetlands and forest helps reduce runoff into Great East Lake and connects to a growing network of conserved lands in Wakefield and Acton.
Projects Expected to Close in 2026
...and Tomorrow
Thinking about preserving your own land? Visit us online at https://mmrgnh.org/conserve-your-land/ or call our Land Agent Veronica Bodge at 603-473-2020 ext. 2 You can also learn more by attending one of our Conservation 101 for Landowners information sessions - we will begin this series again in Spring 2026!
Albee Memorial Forest
MMRG Announces New Endownment Fund
Gifts may be made securely online at mmrg.org/donate, or mailed by check to MMRG, PO Box 191, Union, NH 03887.
On a beautiful fall day in late October, MMRG staff, along with volunteers and members of Great Bay Services, teamed up to tackle stream clearing, trail maintenance, and trash pickup at Teneriffe Mountain Forest in Milton, NH. We're so grateful for the new partnerships we’re building with both community organizations and individual volunteers!
Teneriffe Mountain Forest
MMRG is thrilled to kick off this annual giving season with an exciting announcement! We are proudly introducing a new, donor-driven, traditional endowment fund which will ensure the future financial health and sustainability of MMRG and its conservation mission. Founder and supporter Cynthia Wyatt has generously pledged to jump-start this financial initiative with annual gifts of $25,000 over the next four year period. As we embark on this giving season, we are challenging our supporters to help us match Cynthia’s inaugural gift! Those making online donations through our website will be able to choose the Endowment Fund as a giving option. Those providing contributions by check may write “Endowment” in the memo line. 2025 Annual Appeal Gets Underway November marks the beginning of our 2025 Annual Appeal Campaign. As we’ve been reporting this year, changes at the state and federal funding levels have increased the need for MMRG to receive more of its funding from private donations. While our needs are increasing, so are our successes. MMRG continues to hold a robust calendar of events, including annual favorites like the Woods, Water and Wildlife Festival and unique presentations from experts, such as our event early this spring featuring a guest speaker on New Hampshire and Maine’s struggling moose population. Our conservation work is stronger than ever, with over 1,000 acres placed into permanent conservation in the last two year period and a slate of four expected projects coming to completion in 2026. Your tax deductible contribution supports our community from public outreach and events to successful natural resource conservation.
Stewardship Rooted in Partnership : MMRG Partners with Great Bay Services on Fall Clean Up
2025 Woods, Water & Wildlife Festival Photo by Kate Wilcox
Moose Talk, Wolfeboro, NH
The Effect of Climate Change on NH Moose Population by Dr. Pete Pekins
On a cool night in March, looking out over Lake Winnipesaukee from the Pinckney Boathouse at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, NH, MMRG hosted Dr. Pete Pekins, Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Ecology at UNH, for a fascinating presentation on the decline of New England’s moose. Once rapidly expanding through the 1980s and ’90s, moose populations have since dwindled due to a devastating relationship with winter ticks—a threat intensified by climate change. Drawing on 15 years of research and data from 500 radio-collared moose in New Hampshire and Maine, Dr. Pekins shared an inside look at the science and fieldwork behind understanding this complex and urgent conservation story. MMRG welcomed over 50 attendees for this event, and raised over $1,000. A lot was learned, and many relevant discussions emerged. It was a wonderful presentation that has stuck with those that attended! On August 9, Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) and the Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust hosted another wonderful Woods, Water, and Wildlife Festival at Branch Hill Farm in Milton Mills. Nearly 500 visitors enjoyed a full day of outdoor fun and learning, celebrating the beauty of New Hampshire’s forests, waters, and wildlife. Families fished in the pond, met farm animals, and created nature crafts, while adults explored exhibits from local organizations and toured Branch Hill Farm’s gardens led by teen apprentices. The always-popular Squam Lakes Science Center wowed crowds with live animal presentations. Festival-goers also learned about MMRG’s ongoing conservation work, including the Jane K Wingate Memorial Forest in Farmington and recently completed Hraba Forest project in Wakefield. Proceeds from the event support MMRG’s mission to protect local lands and provide environmental education. A big thank you to all our volunteers and Festival Underwriters—The Siemon Company, Branch Hill Farm/Carl Siemon Family Charitable Trust, and Cynthia Wyatt and the Wyatt and Siemon families—for making this community tradition possible!
Woods, Water, & Wildlife Festival Brings Families Outdoors
Moose Talk at Brewster Academy
2025 Annual Meeting: Spotlight on You! MMRG members and supporters came together on November 9 for the 2025 Annual Meeting, held at Trenta in Wolfeboro, NH. This annual event offers a chance for our community of supporters, board members, and staff to celebrate the year’s accomplishments and recognize the vital role the Moose-ie community plays in our work. This year’s gathering welcomed more than 60 attendees! Dr. Lee Alexander, Research Professor (Emeritus) at the University of New Hampshire, joined us as the featured speaker for this year’s Annual Meeting. With a master’s in Wildlife Ecology from UNH and a Ph.D. in Forest Management from Yale University, Dr. Alexander’s career has been as diverse as it is impressive. In his remarks, Dr. Alexander reflected on a research survey he helped conduct in the mid-1980s at the Yale School of Forestry for the U.S. Forest Service. The study explored New England forest landowner attitudes, knowledge, and activities related to wildlife and forest management. He noted that the findings remain relevant today and align closely with MMRG’s mission—highlighting how the organization fosters not only land conservation and stewardship but also a shared “land ethic” and “sense of husbandry” toward the region’s wildlife. MMRG Executive Director Jill Eldredge shared an overview of the organization’s accomplishments in 2025 and offered a look ahead to the coming year. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to the volunteers, committee members, and Board of Directors whose countless hours of dedication make MMRG’s mission possible. Our success is built on the support of these many committed individuals who continue to lift us up! Our Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Peg Hurd, honored for her decade of dedication to MMRG, especially as a longtime member of our Special Events Committee and the face of the WWW Festival raffle. Her energy, commitment, and “can-do” attitude have made a lasting impact—thank you, Peg! The Conservationist of the year was awarded to the Lovell Lake Association for their dedication to the Hraba Forest project. Their advocacy, enthusiasm, and partnership ensured the permanent protection of this property in the Lovell Lake watershed. Next spring a commemorative plaque will be installed at the Hraba Forest kiosk to celebrate their contribution. Lorrie Drake Retires from the MMRG Board. After serving since 2013, including serving as Vice Chair, Lorrie Drake has retired from the Board of Directors. Her dedication, leadership, and tireless volunteer work—especially in educating youth and families about conservation—have made a lasting impact. Thank you, Lorrie, for your many years of service and commitment to MMRG’s mission. As always, a huge thank you to Trenta for making this event feel like "coming home" for our group, and for the fantastic dinner. This felt like such a great way to cap the year and welcome what 2026 has to bring!
Dr. Lee Alexander
MMRG Annual Meeting
Volunteer of the Year - Peg Hurd
Conservationist of the year - Lovell Lake Association
Get Involved in 2026
Last spring, we welcomed Abby Rummo to the MMRG team as our new Stewardship and Events Coordinator. Abby has been busy getting to know our conserved properties, building relationships with landowners, and connecting with the MMRG community. She’s been involved in stewardship workshops, event planning, and a range of administrative projects. With a background in Environmental Science and a lifelong love of nature, Abby enjoys hands-on learning and collaborating with others who share her passion for conservation.
254 Main Street • PO Box 191 • Union, NH 03887
Family-friendly fun at the 2024 WWW Festival! Photo by Kate Wilcox.
To conserve key natural resource areas in our New Hampshire communities and connect them within a permanently protected network of greenways and open space for today and tomorrow.
Event and Stewardship Volunteers Volunteers help with our events (which keep them low-cost for the community) as well as trail maintenance, stewardship, and other monitoring responsibilities crucial to conserving land. Looking to spend more time outdoors while giving back to the beautiful wild landscapes we call home? We have the perfect opportunity for you! Volunteering with MMRG is on an as-needed basis, making it easy to volunteer without commitment. We work with our volunteers to find the best fit for your time and abilities. Please reach out to Abby Rummo at abby@mmrgnh.org for more information.
Join the Board or a Committee Board members help guide our strategy and growth as we complete our work. Board members attend monthly virtual meetings, serve on our committees, and are elected to serve three year terms. We especially seek Board members with skill sets and experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, event coordination, the legal or real estate fields and municipal planning. For more information, please reach out to Jill Eldredge at jill@mmrgnh.org
www.mmrgnh.org | greenways@mmrgnh.org | 603-473-2020
Welcome, Abby!