Momentum for Merrymeeting
Since 2018, remarkable progress has been made in the community effort to preserve the scenic, recreational, and water quality value of Merrymeeting Lake. And as often happens, success creates opportunity: now, lovers of the cleanest lake in New Hampshire can help permanently protect the 379-acre Mount Bet.
A Majestic Ridge
After witnessing the tremendous community response to protect the Birch Ridge Community Forest and Mount Molly, the owners of Mount Bet began discussing the future of their 379 acres on the flanks and top of Mount Bet. Through those discussions, the Freese family has agreed to a sales price of $600,000, which is $525,000 less than the property’s appraised value. Such a generous reduction reflects their personal love of Merrymeeting and desire to see Mount Bet permanently conserved for the community’s benefit.
Mount Bet is a prominent peak at 1,158 feet along the northwest shore of Merrymeeting Lake, the sister to adjoining and conserved Mount Molly. Located in both New Durham and Alton, this land abuts the 500-acre Collins Family Forest (owned by SELT), providing an opportunity for unified forest management and stunning lake and mountain vistas sought by recreationists.
If protected, Mount Bet will be owned and managed by SELT – the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire – as part of its adjoining Collins Family Forest. The current owners have long worked with a licensed professional forester to manage the red oak and white pine forests of Mount Bet, with last harvest more than five years ago. SELT's initial evaluation has identified the potential for unusual or rare plant and forest types and an inventory is underway to help inform SELT’s careful stewardship of the land.
Mount Bet will continue to be open to the public for recreational uses, including a 1.6 mile trail that nears the summit. Parking areas along Drew Hill Road and Chesley Road have been established by the owner to support public enjoyment once the property is conserved!
A Wealth of Natural Resources and Scenic Beauty
Water Quality Protection
Two-thirds of the Mount Bet property lies in the Merrymeeting Lake Watershed, including nearly 1 mile of intermittent tributaries to the lake. With its conservation, the protected watershed of the lake will grow to 32%, from just 4% in 2018!
Scenic Views and Public Access
Mount Bet is a prominent peak, visible from the lake, as well as from the Birch Ridge Community Forest and Mount Molly. A 1.6-mile trail provides a route up and over Mount Bet for hiking or snowmobiling!
Connected Wildlife Habitat
Nearly all of the Mount Bet property is identified by the NH Wildlife Action Plan as a priority for conservation. Located in a unfragmented block of more than 7,600 acres of forest land, such land provides space to roam for rare and common species, from bobcat to moose, bear to turkey.
Conservation Priority, Locally and Regionally
Mount Bet is a priority within the Moose Mountains Regional Greenways “Conservation Action Plan” (2017) Focus Areas and continues the collective efforts of New Durham and Alton to conserve the watershed – and water quality – of Merrymeeting Lake and Merrymeeting River!
An Amazing Opportunity
As the end of 2023 approaches, tremendous progress has been made to raise the necessary funds to acquire, conserve, and steward Mount Bet and just $322,000 remains to be raised. The total cost of this conservation effort is $1.424 million. To date, more than $1.1 million has been raised, including a $300,000 grant from the state’s conservation program LCHIP, $25,000 from the Alton Conservation Commission, $525,000 represented by the landowner’s bargain sale (priced below the appraised fair market value), and $250,000 in private gifts.
The agreement with the Freese family is an installment sale, with the purchase price split into two equal payments over two years. SELT will acquire the property by the end of 2023 and pay $300,000. At the closing, SELT will execute a promissory note, guaranteeing the Freese family the remaining payment of $300,000 by the end of 2024.
While this approach provides more time for SELT to raise the necessary funds, it presents some risk as SELT is committing to pay funds we have not yet received. SELT is willing to take this risk because we know how important Mount Bet is to Merrymeeting, New Durham, and the region.
Now just $229,000 remains to be raised! Please contribute today!
Ways to Give
Your contribution or pledge will be used solely to acquire, conserve, and steward the 379-acre Mount Bet overlooking Merrymeeting Lake.
Gifts by Check / Credit Card
One-time or recurring gifts. Make checks payable to “SELT” with “Mount Bet” in the memo field and mail to 247 N. River Road, Epping, NH 03042. Or give securely online.
Securities
Giving stocks or mutual funds and other investments can be a smart, tax efficient way of giving. Give SELT a call or have your financial advisor contact us to learn how to make such a gift to SELT.
Distributions from IRAs
Donors who are 70.5 or older are eligible to make tax-free donations from their IRAs, known as Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD), regardless of whether they itemize deductions on their tax returns. Such gifts made directly to SELT help meet your Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) while leveraging the power of invested retirement funds. Give us a call to learn more about this unique way of giving!
Confidential Conversation
To have a confidential conversation about your gift options, please contact Brian Hart, Executive Director (brian@seltnh.org) or Beverly Shadley, Deputy Director (beverly@seltnh.org), or call 603-778-6088.
Huge Strides in a Short Period
The watershed of Merrymeeting Lake is relatively small at ~6,700 acres, the vast majority of which is undeveloped. Protecting the watershed is more than just preserving the incredible scenic vistas; it is a vital action to ensure that Merrymeeting Lake remains New Hampshire’s cleanest lake.
But a 2019 study, Merrymeeting River and Lake Watershed Management Plan, found the Lake and River are at serious risk for sustained water quality degradation as a result of potential new development in the watershed. Amongst a series of recommendations, the Plan recommends that towns collaborate with local conservation partners like SELT on conservation initiatives within the watershed.
Keep Merrymeeting Clean, initiated in 2020 after the successful protection of the Birch Ridge Community Forest, is a direct outcome of that recognition: that by protecting the scenic, forested ridges ringing Merrymeeting, the water quality of the lake can be secured. Today, after successful efforts in 2018 and 2020, you now have the opportunity to help protect Mount Bet – and preserve more of the scenic viewshed and critical watershed of Merrymeeting.
