In central New Hampshire, the Beebe River boasts crystal clear water, great fly-fishing and exceptional opportunities for public recreation along its shores. For decades, however, the river had a problem — wild brook trout spawning in five tributaries were able to access the river’s main stem, but were prevented from returning to their home in its upland tributaries. That’s where we came in.

Our Role

In 2014, we purchased 30,000 acres of forestland across New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine through our Working Forests program. This included 5,441 acres encompassing 27% of the Beebe River watershed. Throughout our ownership, we’ve worked with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA), Trout Unlimited and White Mountain National Forest to improve water quality and restore fish passage on these five tributaries.

Our work was extensive. It involved removing five undersized culverts and bridges that impeded stream crossings and replacing them with steel-and-plank bridges on the property’s main access road. In addition, five miles of road were reconstructed and ditched, 1,200 feet of road were relocated away from the river and 50 culverts were installed. These actions were taken to mitigate impacts of sedimentation and erosion to the river, restore habitat, improve access for continued forest management and provide flood mitigation to communities downstream. This work was made possible, in part, by funding from the USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which was created to bring innovation, partners, resources and leveraged funds together to reach conservation goals.

Additionally, in 2022, with funding from the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program and overwhelming community support, we permanently protected the land with working forest conservation easements that guarantee in perpetuity public recreational access for hunting, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing and a state-designated snowmobile trail.

Why This Project Matters

Our efforts to conserve this forested landscape and its wood- and tourism-based economies benefit the forest, the river and the communities of New Hampshire. The land shares a 6.5-mile border with White Mountain National Forest and allows access to 150 miles of hiking trails to be safeguarded as well. The restored stream crossings reconnect fish access to nearly six miles of spawning and rearing locations, reduce water temperatures for cold-water fish and link 15 miles of aquatic habitat. These successes are especially good news for wild brook trout, one of New Hampshire’s “species of greatest conservation need,” which spawn in only 7% of the state’s rivers. Finally, the land will continue to be managed as a working forest — ensuring jobs and revenue will stay in the region. Thanks to these efforts, supported by PA Wilds partners and community members, generations of people and wildlife will be able to enjoy this special place well into the future.

Partners

Restoration

• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• USDA White Mountain National Forest
• New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
• Pemigewassett Chapter of Trout Unlimited (Pemi-TU)
• New England Culvert Project, a division of Trout Unlimited Inc.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Plymouth State University

Conservation

• Squam Lakes Conservation Society
• New Hampshire Division of Forests & Land

Special thanks to the project’s host towns, Campton and Sandwich, and the wholehearted support of their residents.

Learn More

• Video: Restoration: Reconnecting A River, Wildlife and A Community’s Favorite Place