Albert W. Doolittle Conservation Area
Property Name: Albert W. Doolittle Conservation Area
Description: Largely forested land. The land borders on Manter Brook. Manter Brook is a major source of water for Beaver Lake. The land has several hiking trails.
Click here for a map of Albert W. Doolittle Conservation Property.
Size: 94 Acres
Public Uses: Hiking, Cross Country Skiing, Nature.
Location: East of Beaver Lake, Between North Shore Road & Faith Drive
Access Via: Faith Drive
History: The Albert W. Doolittle property was a long standing priority of the Conservation Commission for permanent protection. The parcel was also the number one conservation priority of the Derry Land Advisory Committee. The land was purchased from Arthur and Diane Caras on June 21, 2006 to protect this valuable undeveloped land in the Beaver Lake watershed. The Caras's made the following statement: "This beautiful property not only protects an abundance of wildlife but also nourishes the human spirit. We are all part of nature and to protect the land in turn protects us all."
Funding for this property came from the Town of Derry general fund, the Conservation Commission's land acquisition fund, and from a grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
A condition of the sale by the Caras family was that a conservation easement would be placed on the property so that it can never be developed. Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire (formerly Rockingham Land Trust) will hold the easement.
The Albert W. Doolittle property was once open pastureland. Some upland areas are now nearly pure stands of white pine. Other areas contain a mixture of various oak species, hickory, and pine. According to licensed forester and Southeast Land Trust board member, Phil Auger, the property contains rich productive soils.
The NH Department of Environmental Services estimates that more than 70% of the water flowing into Beaker Lake enters via Manter Brook. The Doolittle property has more than 3,000 feet of shoreline along Manter Brook. The brook and surrounding wetland are a designated prime wetland. The wetland acts as a cleansing agent for water before it enters Beaver Lake, by filtering sediments and other pollutants. The prime wetland is also important for flood storage after heavy rains.
Historically the property contained a valuable public transit corridor. One of the existing trails, which approximately bisects the property, sits on the bed of the old Chester & Derry Electric Railroad. The rail line operated from 1891 to 1928. Electric railways served as the public transit for many NH cities and towns in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
In December of 2006, Charlie Jones, a Boy Scout from Troop 405, First Parish Church in Derry, constructed a trail from Faith Drive to the existing trail on old railroad bed. Charlie also made a trailhead sign for the Faith Drive entrance.
The property is named in honor of Albert W. Doolittle, former member and chairman of the Derry Conservation Commission. Albert passed away in 2007 at the age of 93. He served on the commission for 22 years.
The Derry Conservation Commission manages the land for water quality protection, wildlife habitat, low impact recreation, and sustainable timber harvesting. The conservation easement requires a forest management plan prior to timber harvesting. Future timber harvests will have to be overseen by a licensed forester.
Updated 3/19/08