MCC January 9, 2025 meeting in the BOS meeting room in the town hall at 7:00 pm
Granite Town Rail Trail/Armory Rd crossing Improvement Project Update: The Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) light posts are in the ground. THANK YOU, DPW Crew, for your cheerful and efficient installation! Unfortunately, we still are experiencing syncing problems with the trailside bollards and the flashing light poles. We are working with the manufacturer to find a solution. Thank you for your patience!
As many know, this is was a difficult crossing with steep transitions from the Trail to Armory Rd. After years of research and engineering evaluations, the Commission decided to improve the crossing rather than replace the bridge which was there until the early/mid 1900's. The bridge replacement is too costly at this time, but is the best solution for the future after years of fundraising. In the meantime, the Trail will be regraded from 120% to a more reasonable 12% slope to the road. After the necessary site work, solar powered remote sensing signaling will be installed at the roadside. The signaling will be triggered by motion detecting sensors on the Trail by trail users.
The funds for this project come from the Milford Kaley Foundation which purchased the equipment. The site work costs will be covered by savings from the annual Ghost Train Trail Races. The registration fees from the AMAZING ULTRARUNNING COMMUNITY have been saved for a few years to accumulate to a sufficient level to pay for the site work.
Mile Slip Town Forest: The MCC is working with Eric Radlof, Licensed Forester, to re-estabish the early successional wildlife habitat on the 8 acre Stand 3, which surrounds the parking area on Mile Slip Road. This is a recommended action in the MSTF Management Plan. The MCC applied for and was awarded an Habitat Restoration Grant from New Hampshire Fish and Game which will help pay for some of the costs for this work. The remaining costs will be covered by the Milford Town Forest Fund. This clearing occurred in the fall of 2023. Take a look up there to see the sprouting from the cut stumps. This is great browse and shelter for wildlife. An abutter is donating time, labor, equipment and material to create a wildflower meadow in a 1/4 acre section of this clearing, along the stone wall and Mile Slip Road. To protect his work, he 'borrowed' rocks from the existing stone wall to extend the wall along the perimeter of the parking area. The kiosk will be rebuilt and relocated at the parking area.
One of the MCC long-range goals is to be a Pollinator Friendly Town using the example of the Xerces Society's Bee City model.
The funds for this project come from the Milford Kaley Foundation which purchased the equipment. The site work costs will be covered by savings from the annual Ghost Train Trail Races. The registration fees from the AMAZING ULTRARUNNING COMMUNITY have been saved for a few years to accumulate to a sufficient level to pay for the site work.
Mile Slip Town Forest: The MCC is working with Eric Radlof, Licensed Forester, to re-estabish the early successional wildlife habitat on the 8 acre Stand 3, which surrounds the parking area on Mile Slip Road. This is a recommended action in the MSTF Management Plan. The MCC applied for and was awarded an Habitat Restoration Grant from New Hampshire Fish and Game which will help pay for some of the costs for this work. The remaining costs will be covered by the Milford Town Forest Fund. This clearing occurred in the fall of 2023. Take a look up there to see the sprouting from the cut stumps. This is great browse and shelter for wildlife. An abutter is donating time, labor, equipment and material to create a wildflower meadow in a 1/4 acre section of this clearing, along the stone wall and Mile Slip Road. To protect his work, he 'borrowed' rocks from the existing stone wall to extend the wall along the perimeter of the parking area. The kiosk will be rebuilt and relocated at the parking area.
One of the MCC long-range goals is to be a Pollinator Friendly Town using the example of the Xerces Society's Bee City model.
Ghost Train Trail Races - October 18-19, 2025 This will be the 16th running of the annual Ghost Train Ultra Race on the Granite Town Rail Trail. Our first go at this event was in 2009 with 25 runners. We now register 400 runners who run distances from 30 to 105 miles within the 30 hour event. The Conservation Commission hosts an aid station to support the runners; we serve lots of potatoes, grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. We are always on the lookout for volunteers! This event is a major fundraiser for the Milford and Brookline Conservation Commissions who partner in this event. The revenues from the race are used for rail trail improvements, most recently and visibly is the new tunnel under Melendy Rd and the RRFBs (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons).
New Trees at Keyes Park!! Thankyou, Bill Widmer and Milford DPW!
New Trees at Keyes Park!! Thankyou, Bill Widmer and Milford DPW!
Tucker Brook Town Forest Timber Harvest
The MCC hopes that you visit Tucker Brook often and remember to bring your camera so that you can document the early stages of the regeneration of this part of the forest. It is essential to the health of the forest and the ecosystem to have a multi-aged forest that provides resources to a wider range of wildlife species. You can walk to the southern part of Tucker Brook, easily accessed from Boulder Drive to see how the forest has regenerated from the 2014 timber cut.
The Town of Milford Tucker Brook Town Forest is composed of about 288 acres from the north side of Mason Road to the north side of Whitten Road. This harvest is on the section of the town forest located to the north of Tucker Brook and bordered by Whitten and Savage Roads.
A Tucker Brook Town Forest Management Plan was prepared in 2008, recommending a harvest be done on this section of the town forest in 2018. The Milford Conservation Commission has discussed this proposed timber harvest during the last two years and met with a wildlife biologist and a certified Professional Forester to discuss impacts and outcomes to timbering this section of the forest.
Goals of Harvests:
The MCC hopes that you visit Tucker Brook often and remember to bring your camera so that you can document the early stages of the regeneration of this part of the forest. It is essential to the health of the forest and the ecosystem to have a multi-aged forest that provides resources to a wider range of wildlife species. You can walk to the southern part of Tucker Brook, easily accessed from Boulder Drive to see how the forest has regenerated from the 2014 timber cut.
The Town of Milford Tucker Brook Town Forest is composed of about 288 acres from the north side of Mason Road to the north side of Whitten Road. This harvest is on the section of the town forest located to the north of Tucker Brook and bordered by Whitten and Savage Roads.
A Tucker Brook Town Forest Management Plan was prepared in 2008, recommending a harvest be done on this section of the town forest in 2018. The Milford Conservation Commission has discussed this proposed timber harvest during the last two years and met with a wildlife biologist and a certified Professional Forester to discuss impacts and outcomes to timbering this section of the forest.
Goals of Harvests:
- Wildlife – Create large openings to provide early successional habitat for many of the less common southern NH birds and animals, while maintaining a diversity of forest types.
- Forestry - Improve the long-term quality and productivity of the timber resource. Remove trees that are mature or because of defect will not grow into quality sawtimber. Create large openings that allow full sunlight to reach the ground which will stimulate rapid re-growth of trees from the germination of seeds and from hardwood sprouts.
- Recreation – Maintain and minimize damage to the existing trails. Create early successional habitat near the trails that will provide opportunities to view birds and other wildlife.
The result will be a more open forest which will naturally regenerate into seedlings and saplings providing habitat for many varied wildlife species, which can be viewed by hikers on the trails. The MCC asked the logger to either leave, or return the slash ( unused woody material) to the forest floor. This slash will return nutrients to the soil, provide shelter for wildlife and protect regeneration of the forest.
The Milford Conservation Commission members honored Hub Seward on August 6, 2020 at the bridge in Emerson Park. Hub has served the Town of Milford in many ways, but most notably, with his 30 years on the Conservation Commission; serving twice as Chair of the Commission. He has shepherded many projects, among which are: the protection of Mile Slip Town Forest, the permanent protection of Hitchiner and Mile Slip Town Forest, the enhancement of MayThe Milford Conservation Commission members honored Hub Seward on August 6, 2020 at the bridge in Emerson Park. Hub has served the Town of Milford in many ways, but most notably, with his 30 years on the Conservation Commission; serving twice as Chair of the Commission. He has shepherded many projects, among which are: the protection of Mile Slip Town Forest, the permanent protection of Hitchiner and Mile Slip Town Forest, the enhancement of Mayflower Hill and Tucker Brook Town Forests, the establishment of the highly effective Trails Committee which produced a standards manual for trail design and maintenance, and has been a font of institutional history as the Conservation Commission members have served the Town these many years.
The dedication took place at the bridge in Emerson Park. Hub and Rodney Dellafelice were the designers/constructors/installers of this well-used bridge. A plaque commemorating Hub’s years of service was unveiled at the honor event. Judy Gross, a former MCC member, wrote for the dedication, “Hub is a man of less than a few words”, which sent Hub’s shoulders bobbing in his trademarkable silent laughter. His few words were always measured and used wisely to advise our decisions. Thank you, Hub. We will miss you.
The dedication took place at the bridge in Emerson Park. Hub and Rodney Dellafelice were the designers/constructors/installers of this well-used bridge. A plaque commemorating Hub’s years of service was unveiled at the honor event. Judy Gross, a former MCC member, wrote for the dedication, “Hub is a man of less than a few words”, which sent Hub’s shoulders bobbing in his trademarkable silent laughter. His few words were always measured and used wisely to advise our decisions. Thank you, Hub. We will miss you.
Contact Us
The Milford Conservation Commission was established by Town vote in 1968 and functions under the authority of NH RSA (Revised Statute Annotated) 36:A.
Our Mission
Milford Conservation Commission promotes the conservation, protection and sound management of Milford’s natural resources for current and future generations. The Commission seeks to balance the community’s immediate needs and desires with responsible long-term use and protection of the environment. As appointed stewards, we educate and encourage the public to make wise decisions about land use.
The Milford Conservation Commission was established by Town vote in 1968 and functions under the authority of NH RSA (Revised Statute Annotated) 36:A.
Our Mission
Milford Conservation Commission promotes the conservation, protection and sound management of Milford’s natural resources for current and future generations. The Commission seeks to balance the community’s immediate needs and desires with responsible long-term use and protection of the environment. As appointed stewards, we educate and encourage the public to make wise decisions about land use.
Who We Are and What We Do
Who We Are
The seven members and several alternates of the conservation commission are volunteer citizens of Milford. We have a common goal, to educate ourselves and the town's residents to understand and appreciate the natural environment. We inventory, oversee and plan for the protection of the town's natural resources. These resources include the river and streams, the wetlands and wildlife, forests, trails and open space. The commission advises the other town boards, developers and landowners in the protection of the natural treasures in Milford.
What We Do
Our activities can be generally divided into the following categories: land protection and management, interaction with the Wetlands Bureau, natural resources inventory, advisory capacity to other Town Boards, and education.
- The commission was instrumental in establishing five town forests. It continues to manage these town forests: caring for the continued health of the forest community, building and maintaining public trails, and monitoring property lines.
- Assist property owners to protect their land for the future with conservation easements. The commission is a nonprofit which accepts gifts of land that support our mission.
- Review requests for wetland disturbances from property owners and developers, giving our recommendations to the applicant and the state Wetlands Bureau for reducing the impacts.
- Attend workshops and seminars to gain the tools to better do our job.
- Sponsor programs and events to educate ourselves, the public, town boards and other local commissions
- Work with private and state organizations, college students and local residents to improve our skills in habitat management.
- Wrote our Conservation plan. This document is valuable to us and to the town as a planning tool for the future.