Meet and Mix with your Conservation Commissioners

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways (MMRG) and the Farmington Conservation Commission will hold the 3rd annual ‘CC Mixer’ on Thursday, December 3, 6:30 – 9 pm, at the American Legion Building, 526 Main Street in Farmington. The evening will feature a round table session for Conservation Commissioners from MMRG’s seven service towns and presentations about the new state Wildlife Action Plan (WAP) and the work of the Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative.Amanda Stone of UNH Cooperative Extension will present the newly revised NH Wildlife Action Plan, which guides the efforts of towns, local and statewide land trusts and individual landowners to protect wildlife and their habitats in New Hampshire. The plan identifies 169 species of greatest conservation need and focuses on 27 habitat types that support these species, such as lowland spruce-fir forest, salt marsh, shrub lands, warm water lakes and ponds, and vernal pools. Stone will bring maps detailing the priority types of habitat across the state.Other presenters include Nik Coates of the NH Association of Conservation Commissions, with an update on conservation-related legislation, and staff of the NH Department of Environmental Services, who will introduce the work of the Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborative (SFWC) and its focus on mapping drinking water resources in the SF watershed that need protection. There will also be opportunities for networking, questions and input from the public.Members of the public who wish to learn more about newly updated state priorities for conservation, the SFWC, or about the work of their town Conservation Commissions (CC) are encouraged to come. It would be an excellent opportunity for people interested in serving on their town CC to learn more. The round table session, during which each town CC may share its recent successes or challenges, will be followed by discussion and a chance for Commissioners to learn from each other’s experience.This event is free and open to the public; light refreshments will be available. Pre-registration is helpful but not required. For more information, call MMRG’s Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrgnh.org.The Farmington CC is comprised of town volunteers. The Commission works to acquire and conserve town open spaces and waterways, in accordance with the Farmington Town Master Plan, using funds from the town current use tax. For more information, see www.farmington.nh.us/Public_Documents/FarmingtonNH_BComm/conservation.