To Our Shareholders:
Thank you! for being an important part of the Squam Rock Land Trust. We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting at 7:30 July 19th in the Annisquam Village Hall. In the interim, we’d like to update you on the Pasture restoration initiative. We hope this letter will clarify where we are in the process and where we are headed, so that we can all move forward to accomplish our common goal of preserving this historic and exquisite property for optimal future enjoyment.
The Impetus Behind a New Pasture Management Plan
At the last SRLT Annual meeting many of the shareholders expressed concern regarding the ecological health of the pasture and beach area. A formal request was made to “form a committee with the intent and expertise to research and develop an updated management plan with the objective of conserving the land as an ecologically diverse, sustainable and resilient natural space for the use of the SRLT shareholders”.
Thus began our quest to reconcile the concept of preservation as declared in the revised Trust of 1953* with today’s environmental realities and shareholder interests.
A Pivotal Time
Much has been learned regarding best land management practices since the SRLT Trust was formed. In addition, Federal and state laws have since been put in place to protect vulnerable ecosystems, natural resources, and wildlife.
Finally, climate change is putting pressure on ecosystems worldwide, including the Pasture.
To improve the resiliency and ecological health of the property and safeguard it for future use, it is vitally important to implement measures that will increase the stability and biodiversity of both the shoreline and the upland areas.
We believe that all management efforts to preserve the property should be grounded in the best ecological science. The trustees, with the assistance of the committee, solicited opinions from experts and subsequently hired DeRosa Environmental Consulting Inc., to create a restoration plan. Their ideas for restoration and preservation have been presented to the shareholders via a zoom session and a walk-through of the property.
Shareholder input was gathered, considered and worked into the plan approach below. Some of the consultant’s ideas were much more aligned with the legacy of the property and shareholder preferences than others. The Trustees have no intention of adopting them all.
A Shifted Course
We are working toward an overarching plan for restoration and maintenance of the Pasture that will be detailed and implemented in phases. Given what we now know about the existing condition of the property, the forecast for accelerating climate change, and the interests and desires of the shareholders, we have done two key things: established guiding principles for the overall restoration and chosen two initiatives for immediate focus.
- These are the guiding principles for a slightly shifted approach to the management of the Pasture. They strive to balance responsible ecological preservation of the Pasture with perpetual human enjoyment of the property. We see these as inextricably linked, ongoing goals aligned with the stated purpose of the Trust. Here is the outline for our approach as it now stands:
- Preserve ample recreation space: Mowed areas of ample size where adults, children and dogs can safely recreate as they do now will be retained
- Maintain a stable shoreline with the appropriate native plantings for the existing coastal bank.
- Remediate and restore the wetlands where needed. Any invasives will be replaced with native wetland species.
- Leave other wetland areas undisturbed and protected from excess human traffic.
- Caring for wetland buffer zones in accordance with local and state laws will be a related goal.
- Nurture a rich biodiverse habitat for wildlife in woodland and meadow areas. Remove highly invasive, damaging species and replace with natives in some areas.
- Follow conservation best practices in any meadow mowing schedule and ensure mowing does not radically impact human use of the pasture.
- Create a simplified path system. Shareholders have asked for fewer paths. The placement and treatment of paths system remains under consideration. The goal is to protect sensitive areas such as the wetland and coastal buffer zones and mitigate compaction and erosion of the soil, while maintaining ease of access for shareholders.
- Limit beach access to one entry point in order to protect the shoreline.
- Do nothing that might attract the greater public. A kiosk or board is no longer being considered, nor are picnic tables.
- Continue ongoing research and education from experts to ensure that the most up to date and accurate information is informing the restoration process.
2. We have prioritized two initiatives for vulnerable areas - the shoreline where native plants are being strangled by invasives and the soil will become increasingly susceptible to erosion from rising sea levels and stronger storms, and the wetlands which need remediation due to human misuse and ongoing damage from invasive species.
Next Steps
The Trustees and the committee look forward to seeing you at the Annual meeting where we will discuss the overall approach and topline strategies for the first two initiatives.
We are very grateful to all shareholders who have engaged in this conversation and who have relayed their thoughts and ideas to the trust. We are dedicated to a continued dialogue with all of you as we move towards our shared goal of preserving the SRLT for generations to come.
We’ll be talking about a means of providing shareholders with easier, more frequent access to information regarding the Pasture at the Annual Meeting.
Signed,
Bill Colby, Sue Harris, Steve Langer, SRLT Trustees
Lisbeth Bornhofft, Paul Horovitz, Peg Ris
SRLT Land Management Committee Members
*The trustee’s core responsibilities include “to preserve the beach of the Bent pasture and adjoining areas as a desirable place for the bathing and recreation for such residents of Annisquam as may desire to use the property and to prevent undesirable development of the upland area of such property.”
June 24, 2022
