The Ashuelot RiverThe Ashuelot River

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And it’s management plan

http://www.des.state.nh.us/Rivers/plans/Ashuelot/

IntroductionIntroduction

First: A Background on the riverFirst: A Background on the river

Then: Discuss management planThen: Discuss management plan

GeologyGeology

• The headwaters of the The headwaters of the Ashuelot are at an Ashuelot are at an elevation of 1,600 feetelevation of 1,600 feet

• Remnants of past glacial Remnants of past glacial activity (varved activity (varved deposits, and glacial deposits, and glacial lake Ashuelot)lake Ashuelot)

• Many high potentaial Many high potentaial Aquifers in river Aquifers in river corridorcorridor

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HistoryHistory

The river valley was first inhabited by The river valley was first inhabited by Squakhag indians.Squakhag indians.

Pioneers settled the river in the 1700’sPioneers settled the river in the 1700’s During the Industrial Revolution, the river was During the Industrial Revolution, the river was

major source of power and food for the region, major source of power and food for the region, evidenced by the mills still visible today on the evidenced by the mills still visible today on the river.river.

Wildlife ResourcesWildlife Resources

Migratory path for raptors, songbirds, and Migratory path for raptors, songbirds, and waterfowlwaterfowl

The river corridor provides feeding areas for The river corridor provides feeding areas for bald eaglesbald eagles

Habitat for the northern harrier, a state Habitat for the northern harrier, a state threatened birdthreatened bird

Blue heron, common loon, common Blue heron, common loon, common nighthawk, and blue grey gnatcatcher are also nighthawk, and blue grey gnatcatcher are also found along the river.found along the river.

Plant ResourcesPlant Resources

The state listed endangered, sensitive senna The state listed endangered, sensitive senna and spiked needlegrass are found in the river and spiked needlegrass are found in the river corridorcorridor

The river corridor supports two ecologically The river corridor supports two ecologically significant natural communities: Northern significant natural communities: Northern New England seepage marsh and Southern New England seepage marsh and Southern New England circumneutral talus New England circumneutral talus forest/woodlandforest/woodland

RecreationRecreation

The ponded sections of The ponded sections of the river are enjoyed by the river are enjoyed by owners of small owners of small watercraft and watercraft and motorboats.motorboats.

The whitewater sections The whitewater sections accommodate kayakers accommodate kayakers and canoeistsand canoeists

Rapids varying from Rapids varying from class II to class Vclass II to class V

Annual canoe race in Annual canoe race in the upper Ashuelot the upper Ashuelot every springevery spring

FishingFishing

Ashuelot Pond supports small and large Ashuelot Pond supports small and large mouth bass, pickerel, horned pout, and yellow mouth bass, pickerel, horned pout, and yellow perchperch

The river's upper reaches with cold, fast The river's upper reaches with cold, fast moving water provide good habitat for moving water provide good habitat for rainbow and brown troutrainbow and brown trout

Walleye, bass, bullheads, and perch are the Walleye, bass, bullheads, and perch are the main catch at the river's confluence with the main catch at the river's confluence with the Connecticut RiverConnecticut River

The Ashuelot Management PlanThe Ashuelot Management Plan

Mission StatementMission Statement The river and it’s corridor continue to experience pressure for The river and it’s corridor continue to experience pressure for

increased development, recreation and other uses of its natural increased development, recreation and other uses of its natural and cultural resources. This trend will likely continue in the and cultural resources. This trend will likely continue in the future. It is essential to have a management approach that future. It is essential to have a management approach that ensures a balance between protection of legitimate community ensures a balance between protection of legitimate community interests and the rights of property owners along the river, in interests and the rights of property owners along the river, in order to protect and improve the existing resource values of the order to protect and improve the existing resource values of the River and its corridor.River and its corridor.

The Ashuelot River Corridor Management Plan proposes a The Ashuelot River Corridor Management Plan proposes a management approach with the mission of protecting plentiful management approach with the mission of protecting plentiful clean water, thriving riparian and aquatic habitat for wild plants clean water, thriving riparian and aquatic habitat for wild plants and animals, providing balance for continued development of and animals, providing balance for continued development of land use and water uses, recreation, and other public needs.land use and water uses, recreation, and other public needs.

Some General Information about Some General Information about the Planthe Plan

The plan was developed by the Local River The plan was developed by the Local River Advisory Committee (LAC) that also reviews Advisory Committee (LAC) that also reviews environmental permits within the corridorenvironmental permits within the corridor

Definition of river corridor is the river and a Definition of river corridor is the river and a quarter mile on each side or the 100 year quarter mile on each side or the 100 year floodplain, whichever is further.floodplain, whichever is further.

The LAC recognizes that the river and it’s The LAC recognizes that the river and it’s riparian lands are valued by the communities riparian lands are valued by the communities for many different reasonsfor many different reasons

The LAC prepared this plan to protect The LAC prepared this plan to protect the river and riparian land for the river and riparian land for ecological and social valuesecological and social values

Ecological values Ecological values include biological include biological diversity and unique diversity and unique plant and animal habitatplant and animal habitat

Social values include Social values include recreation, scenic areas, recreation, scenic areas, aquifers for drinking aquifers for drinking water supply, flood water supply, flood water storage, river water storage, river impoundments for impoundments for hydropower, and hydropower, and developable land areadevelopable land area

Purposes of Management PlanPurposes of Management Plan

Document the condition of the river and Document the condition of the river and corridorcorridor

Document the conditions and trends of Document the conditions and trends of resource use within the corridorresource use within the corridor

Identify threats to the quality of those Identify threats to the quality of those resourcesresources

Identify conflicts of resource protection and Identify conflicts of resource protection and developmentdevelopment

Present recommendations to the communitesPresent recommendations to the communites

The upper reaches of the The upper reaches of the AshuelotAshuelot

Most of this upper reach is Most of this upper reach is rural, development intensifies rural, development intensifies near Gilsumnear Gilsum

Timber harvest and sand and Timber harvest and sand and gravel mining are common gravel mining are common activities and are sources for activities and are sources for concernconcern

Goals include enhancement of Goals include enhancement of water quality, preservation of water quality, preservation of wild plant and animal habitat, wild plant and animal habitat, soil and other resource soil and other resource conservation activitiesconservation activities

Protection of historic sitesProtection of historic sites

The upper reahesThe upper reahes22

Water Quality is good, however, threats do Water Quality is good, however, threats do existexist

Protection of the riparian buffer, use of BMPs Protection of the riparian buffer, use of BMPs to prevent soil erosion, stormwater to prevent soil erosion, stormwater management, and monitoring of septic systems management, and monitoring of septic systems are important safeguards to water quality are important safeguards to water quality

The upper reachesThe upper reaches33

A land conservation strategy is required in A land conservation strategy is required in order to provide habitat for indegenous plants order to provide habitat for indegenous plants and animals, however, it is complicated by the and animals, however, it is complicated by the private pattern of land ownership.private pattern of land ownership.

This might be accomplished by bringing This might be accomplished by bringing together town governments, conservation together town governments, conservation commissions, sport fishing clubs and other commissions, sport fishing clubs and other conservation organizations.conservation organizations.

The upper reachesThe upper reaches44

Public access to undeveloped land and to the Public access to undeveloped land and to the river itself is a valuable amenity in the upper river itself is a valuable amenity in the upper Ashuelot corridorAshuelot corridor

Public education about land stewardship, Public education about land stewardship, responsible behavior in the outdoors on public responsible behavior in the outdoors on public or private land, and places where access is or private land, and places where access is permitted is essential to ensuring continued permitted is essential to ensuring continued access to public and private landsaccess to public and private lands

Gilsum to KeeneGilsum to Keene

This 14.5 mile stretch of This 14.5 mile stretch of the river transitions the river transitions from a high energy from a high energy stream to a meandering stream to a meandering streamstream

Similarly, management Similarly, management issues transition from issues transition from resource extraction to resource extraction to threats of pollution and threats of pollution and lack of riparian bufferslack of riparian buffers

Gilsum to KeeneGilsum to Keene22

Water quality is considered to be good, Water quality is considered to be good, however, road salts and herbicides from golf however, road salts and herbicides from golf courses represent significant concerns.courses represent significant concerns.

Public access is also a concern for this region, Public access is also a concern for this region, most private lands are not posted as no most private lands are not posted as no trespassingtrespassing

Public education to build awareness of Public education to build awareness of responsibilities and building public access responsibilities and building public access areas are suggestedareas are suggested

Gilsum to KeeneGilsum to Keene33

Suburbanization and the Bretwood golf course Suburbanization and the Bretwood golf course have eliminated much of the trees and shrubs have eliminated much of the trees and shrubs from the river banksfrom the river banks

River bank deforestation has the effects of River bank deforestation has the effects of riparian and instream habitat destruction and riparian and instream habitat destruction and loss of floodwater moderationloss of floodwater moderation

Private landowners are encouraged to plant Private landowners are encouraged to plant and manage the stream.and manage the stream.

Gilsum to KeeneGilsum to Keene44

The rise of suburban development and increased The rise of suburban development and increased density of the road network and other paved areas density of the road network and other paved areas increases the impact of non-point source pollution in increases the impact of non-point source pollution in this reachthis reach

Gasoline and other petrochemicals spilled from motor Gasoline and other petrochemicals spilled from motor vehicles, particles of metal and other chemicals on vehicles, particles of metal and other chemicals on roadways and parking lots, and the use of fertilizers roadways and parking lots, and the use of fertilizers and other chemicals for suburban lawn care endanger and other chemicals for suburban lawn care endanger water quality and aquatic habitatswater quality and aquatic habitats

Public education about management impacts and Public education about management impacts and riparian zones is recommendedriparian zones is recommended

KeeneKeene

ThisThis four-mile Community segment is unique in the four-mile Community segment is unique in the corridor for the intensity of urban development on its corridor for the intensity of urban development on its river banksriver banks

Issues here include high percentage of impervious Issues here include high percentage of impervious cover, conveyance of runoff via storm sewers, cover, conveyance of runoff via storm sewers, industrial contamination sites, dense street and industrial contamination sites, dense street and highway network, and dense developmenthighway network, and dense development

KeeneKeene22

Water is collected and channeled to the Ashuelot by Water is collected and channeled to the Ashuelot by pavement, rooftops, drains, ditches, culverts, and pavement, rooftops, drains, ditches, culverts, and walled/diked stream channels to move as much water walled/diked stream channels to move as much water away from development as fast as possible and away from development as fast as possible and maximize the amount of land available for maximize the amount of land available for developmentdevelopment

The negative effects of this include increased flood The negative effects of this include increased flood hazard, as well as, increased erosion.hazard, as well as, increased erosion.

KeeneKeene33

There are several areas in the City where former There are several areas in the City where former municipal or industry practices and accidents left municipal or industry practices and accidents left extensive soil contaminationextensive soil contamination

Known contamination sites include underground Known contamination sites include underground gasoline spills, abandoned back lot industrial waste gasoline spills, abandoned back lot industrial waste dumps, and former municipal dumpsdumps, and former municipal dumps

Political will to expose and eliminate these problems Political will to expose and eliminate these problems must be developed locally and at the state level.must be developed locally and at the state level.

KeeneKeene44

The River has recently enjoyed a renewed The River has recently enjoyed a renewed appreciation as a city assetappreciation as a city asset

During the last two decades the River in Keene During the last two decades the River in Keene has become a stream of cleaner water bordered has become a stream of cleaner water bordered by park land and natural areasby park land and natural areas

A typical paradox has developed concurrently: A typical paradox has developed concurrently: increased popularity and appreciation of increased popularity and appreciation of natural areas can lead to destruction of the natural areas can lead to destruction of the various attributesvarious attributes

Keene to WinchesterKeene to Winchester

Mostly a rural segmentMostly a rural segment

Canoeing and kayaking Canoeing and kayaking are popular in this reachare popular in this reach

High nutrient and High nutrient and sediment load from sediment load from upstreamupstream

Keene to WinchesterKeene to Winchester22

The main problem in this segment is that the The main problem in this segment is that the river channel is filling with sediment,due to river channel is filling with sediment,due to the low gradient and high sediment loadthe low gradient and high sediment load

Effects of this situation are several: disruption Effects of this situation are several: disruption of ecology of the River water, River bed, and of ecology of the River water, River bed, and floodplain; reduction in volume of the river floodplain; reduction in volume of the river channel; and accumulation of pollutants in channel; and accumulation of pollutants in River bed sediments.River bed sediments.

Winchester to HinsdaleWinchester to Hinsdale

The River bank throughout these last two-and-a-half-The River bank throughout these last two-and-a-half-miles has a variety of land cover types: upland forest; miles has a variety of land cover types: upland forest; floodplain forest; impervious surfaces of buildings, floodplain forest; impervious surfaces of buildings, pavement, and retaining walls; or rural residential pavement, and retaining walls; or rural residential development with lawns, roadsides, and pasturedevelopment with lawns, roadsides, and pasture

The corridor in the vicinity of the confluence hosts a The corridor in the vicinity of the confluence hosts a variety of riparian, floodplain, and wetland habitats variety of riparian, floodplain, and wetland habitats for plants and animals, including waterfowl (raptors, for plants and animals, including waterfowl (raptors, bald eagles, and peregrine falcons)bald eagles, and peregrine falcons)

Winchester to HinsdaleWinchester to Hinsdale22

Connection of the homes upstream in Ashuelot to the Connection of the homes upstream in Ashuelot to the Hinsdale waste water treatment plant and the Hinsdale waste water treatment plant and the installation of the Hinsdale waste water plant are part installation of the Hinsdale waste water plant are part of the recent restoration of water quality in this part of the recent restoration of water quality in this part of the River to Class Bof the River to Class B

Water quality improvements to the Connecticut and Water quality improvements to the Connecticut and Ashuelot Rivers make possible sport fishing at the Ashuelot Rivers make possible sport fishing at the confluence where fish species include walleye, confluence where fish species include walleye, northern pike, small mouth bass, and large mouth northern pike, small mouth bass, and large mouth bassbass