o> 



£ NEW HAMPSHIRE 



C/) General description: Bogs, hardwood swamps, and beaver meadows are among 



fc the characteristic wetlands in New Hampshire. Although limited data have been 



< received on beaver-created wetlands, they are reported to be the state's most 



I important fresh-water type. Data received have been chiefly on the northern 



^ bogs. 



HI 



^ Status of the wetlands: Two types of disturbances are especially mentioned, 



timber operations and removal of sand and gravel in the morainal areas. 



Sources of data: State Fish and Game personnel and university biologists have 

 provided most of the data reported. The publication Natural Areas of New 

 Hampshire (Lyon and Bormann 1962) gives descriptive information on several 

 of the areas. 



Recommendations: Among the bogs submitted for consideration, it would ap- 

 pear that the wetland complex south of Lake Ossipee, which includes Heath 

 Pond Bog, the Pine River, and adjacent eskers, should be given top priority for 

 Natural Landmark status. The bog exhibits the greatest floristic diversity of any 

 in the state. There are also excellent beaver meadows, and buttonbush and silver 

 maple swamplands along the Pine River. Although Heath Pond and portions of 

 the surrounding heath are under protection of state ownership, the two out- 

 standing eskers and several miles of Pine River, bordered by the beaver 

 meadows and fragments of swamp forest, are still in private hands. The whole 

 wilderness complex should be established as a single preserve. Another exten- 

 sive bog complex, including two senescent bog lakes, is the Pondicherry Wildlife 

 Refuge, comprising 700 acres, and noted for its waterfowl and other wildlife. 

 The ownership is divided between the Audubon Society of New Hampshire and 

 private interests. Here, national recognition may help to protect the entire acre- 

 age. Beaver ponds and wetland habitat created by these animals should be in- 

 vestigated in specific detail through the State Fish and Game Department. Other 

 excellent bog areas are the Moose Pasture at East Inlet, which has been recog- 

 nized as a Natural Area by the St. Regis Paper Company, the Floating Island on 

 Lake Umbagog, the Madison Bog Ponds, and the much smaller Spruce Hole 

 Bog near Durham. The Black Gum Swamp in the Fox Forest is a mature swamp 

 forest of Acer and Nyssa that has developed on a bog site. The Chocorua Lake 

 Swamp, a portion of which is being preserved by The Nature Conservancy, is a 

 fine complex of wetland types, including swamp forest growing on the delta of 

 the inlet to Chocorua Lake. It is worthy of landmark status. 



Literature cited 



Lyon, C. J., and F. H. Bormann (eds. ). 1962. Natural areas of New Hampshire, 

 Dept. of Biol. Sciences, Publ. No. 2, Hanover, N.H., p. 47. 



Lyon, C. J., and W. A. Reiners (eds.). 1971. Natural areas of New Hampshire, 

 Rev. Ed., Dept. of Biol. Sciences, Publ. No. 4, Dartmouth College, Hanover, 

 N.H.,p. 75. 



