The Francestown Land Trust has been awarded $159,895 from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services to support the purchase and permanent conservation of a 16.6-acre property in Francestown.
The funding is part of more than $1.59 million recently approved by the Governor and Executive Council for six Aquatic Resource Mitigation Fund projects across the state.
The Francestown parcel features over 11 acres of a high-functioning fen/bog peatland, three acres of undeveloped aquatic resource buffer, and one confirmed vernal pool. Project plans include protecting the ecological integrity of the peatland and enhancing the surrounding upland buffer to support nesting habitat for state-threatened and endangered turtle species.
The property abuts more than 266 acres of existing protected land, which includes a 39-acre fen and bog. According to state officials, permanent protection of the parcel will build upon regional landscape connectivity efforts and help safeguard irreplaceable aquatic resources within the Merrimack River watershed.