Milford Conservation Plan (2005): Chap.2

Conservation Plan
Chapter 1 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

CHAPTER 2
Inventory, Analysis and Tools

This section provides a brief discussion of the value of each type of natural resource, an inventory of the resource in Milford, an identification of potential threats and methods of protecting and preserving the resource.

A. WATER RESOURCES
Water resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, aquifers and floodplains, are among the most precious of a town's natural resources. Water is necessary for drinking and bathing, food production, goods manufacture, fire protection and processing of wastes, as well as for plant and animal life. Water resources are among the most fragile of Milford's natural resources. The sensitive hydrologic cycle, which allows humans, plants, and animals to coexist, is easily disrupted.

1. OPEN WATER
Rivers, brooks, lakes and ponds are important areas of ground water discharge and recharge. Along with their banks and surrounding areas, they serve as habitat for many species of plants, fish and waterfowl. Where accessible to the public, these areas provide opportunities for fishing, boating, canoeing, hiking, skating and picnicking. Finally, they provide scenic views and open space, which contribute to Milford's aesthetic appeal and rural character.

Prehistoric and early historic archaeological sites may be found in direct association with rivers, brooks and ponds. Prehistoric sites are particularly likely near rivers and brooks where significant numbers of salmon or other fish have run. Along these rivers and brooks, prehistoric sites are especially likely near falls or in locations where a fish weir could have been constructed. These falls may have been exploited for power, and traces of early dams and mills may be encountered. Ponds, natural and artificially constructed, are likely to have archaeological and historical resources on their banks. The shorelines of artificially created ponds are likely to correspond with prehistoric living areas.

Three major ponds and fourteen major waterways in Milford are listed in Tables 1 and 2. Milford's river, brooks, and ponds are shown in Map 1.

Table 1. Major Ponds in Milford

Name	Ave. Size	Ave. Length
Osgood Pond	20 acres	0.4 mi.
Hartshorn Pond	6 acres	0.2 mi.
Railroad Pond	5 acres	0.3 mi.

Source: Biological Survey of the Lakes and Ponds in Cheshire, Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties, NH Fish and Game Department, 1970 and Milford Conservation Commission.

Osgood Pond
With an area of 20 acres, Osgood Pond, located south of Route 101, is the largest pond in Milford. This artificially constructed pond is about six feet deep at its deepest point. The generally brown water is transparent to the bottom. Submerged and emergent vegetation are abundant. The shoreline is approximately 50 percent swampy, 30 percent wooded, and 20 percent cultivated. In the past, Osgood Pond has been stocked with white perch, horned pout, and largemouth bass fingerlings. It has also supported yellow perch, chain pickerel, minnows and sunfish. A study by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department in 1970 declared the pond best suited to warm water fish, including largemouth bass, and unsuited to smallmouth bass. A management plan created for the pond in 1994 by students at the University of New Hampshire, recommended that the pond be dredged due to presence of choking aquatic weeds and shallowness of the pond. Dredging of the pond was scheduled to occur sometime in 2004. The town has received a federal grant to dredge the pond, but lack of funding for this grant has delayed the project. The town is hopeful the project will be funded in 2006.

Hartshorn Pond
The second largest of the three ponds, approximately 6 acres in size, is Hartshorn Pond in north Milford. An artificially constructed pond, it has scant emergent and submerged vegetation. Its shoreline is partially wooded. The water is transparent to the bottom.

Railroad Pond
Railroad Pond in central Milford is about five acres in size. The pond was artificially constructed, with the bottom designed to support various species of wildlife. The shoreline is privately owned, except for two railroad easements and the portions of shoreline forming boundaries of Bicentennial Park and WW II Memorial Park. The shoreline is partially wooded and partially developed.

2. RIVERS AND BROOKS
Milford contains an approximately eight-mile stretch of the Souhegan River, a tributary of the Merrimack River. In addition, Tucker, Great, Birch, Hartshorn, Purgatory, Spaulding, Mitchell, Medlyn-Woods, Scab Mill, Toddy, Ox, Compressor, and Cold Brooks are located partly or entirely within the Town limits. Milford's river and brooks are listed on Table 2:

TABLE 2:
SOUHEGAN RIVER, BROOKS AND STREAMS IN MILFORD

Souhegan River	Flows east from Wilton line to Amherst line
Birch Brook	Starts south of Kasey Drive. Flows NE then SE joining Great Brook just west of Osgood Pond
Cold Brook	Joins Great Brook at Burns Farm
Compressor Brook	East Branch- from wetland by route 13 NW then N then NE to Great Brook
Compressor Brook	West Branch- from a wetland on Ball Hill Road SE then N joining the East Branch near Melendy Road
Great Brook	From jct. of unnamed streams at base of Burns Hill; NE across Mason Road, joined by Birch Brook; then into Osgood Pond, from Osgood Pond E then N to Railroad Pond; then to Souhegan River.
Hartshorn Brook	Mont Vernon line to Hartshorn Pond, then south near Amherst town line, then west to Souhegan River.
Medlyn Woods Brook	From pond near Hampshire Hills; under Rt 101 bypass then through canyon to Medlyn Street; then to Souhegan River under the treatment plant.
Mitchell Brook	from Rhododendron Swamp S to a swamp at the Mason town line to Spaulding Brook
Ox Brook	West of Melendy Road flowing N then NE crosses Melendy Rd. and Armory Rd. joins Compressor Brook then Great Brook (Ox Brook as labeled on USGS Quad map is actually Compressor Brook)
Purgatory Brook	From Lyndeborough SE into Souhegan.
Scab Mill Brook	From east side of Birch Hill north then west into Brookline
Spaulding Brook	Flows E from Town of Mason across the south western part of town to Brookline
Toddy Brook	South of Ponemah Hill Rd. Flows south into Hollis - Witches Brook.
Tucker Brook	Flows in a northerly direction from Rhododendron Swamp in Wilton; across Mason Road, Whitten Road, 101 and Elm Street to the Souhegan River (White Hall Brook is alternate name for lower Tucker Brook)

Rivers, brooks, lakes and ponds are susceptible to pollution from septic disposal systems or underground fuel storage tanks that malfunction or are located too close to the water bodies. Surface water run-off containing pollutant from lawns, agricultural fields, feedlots, chemical spills, and solid waste disposal sites is another source of contamination. Because rivers and ponds serve as areas for aquifer recharge, pollutants are often directly transmitted to groundwater. Another threat caused by development is the elimination of public access to shore areas.

Conservation methods for surface water bodies include (1) prohibiting construction of underground septic disposal systems and chemical storage tanks in close proximity to water bodies, (2) maintaining an inventory of septic systems and underground storage tanks (UST's) near water bodies and requiring regular testing for leaks and malfunctions, (3) regulating use of pesticides and other toxic chemicals in important watersheds, (4) regulating use of road salt in important watersheds, (5) prohibiting development on steep slopes or development which would cause excessive erosion and sedimentation (6) discouraging removal of natural vegetation along shores, (7) acquiring full or less-than-full rights to property adjacent to water bodies, (8) creating and maintaining trails, campgrounds, and picnic areas along shores, (9) providing access roads, rights-of-way and adequate parking to ensure public access.
3. WETLANDS
RSA 482-A:2 defines wetlands as " an area that is inundated or saturated by surface water or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal conditions does support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions."

Wetlands come in many types including swamps, marshes, bogs, sloughs, beaches and rocky shores. They may be continually inundated with water or they may be inundated only periodically. They may be inland or coastal, freshwater or saltwater. The most comprehensive method used to classify wetlands was developed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, which uses indicators such as soil saturation or flooding, vegetation, and/or soil types.

Wetlands are highly sensitive and perform numerous essential functions including flood control, water purification, groundwater discharge and recharge, shoreline stabilization, wildlife habitat, and recreation. In addition, since freshwater wetlands are constantly undergoing change, they are a particularly fascinating and valuable educational resource.

Wetlands have always been important biologically productive habitats. For the entire 12,000 years of human occupation of New Hampshire, these areas have been used for gathering plant foods and hunting a variety of wildlife. Many small but highly significant prehistoric sites have been found immediately surrounding swamps, marshes, bogs, and sloughs.

Map 2 shows that wetlands occur along all of the major brooks in Milford. Areas of wetland soils are also scattered throughout town, especially in flat, low-lying areas in central Milford. Wetlands can be protected by adoption of a wetlands ordinance or an overlay district that prohibits development or placement of sub-surface waste disposal systems in or near wetlands. In addition, wildlife habitat can be encouraged by providing nesting structures and preventing the introduction of livestock, exotic plant species, or damaging recreational uses.

4. AQUIFERS
Aquifers are geologic formations of saturated, permeable materials from which significant quantities of water can be drawn through wells and springs. Stratified drift aquifers, composed of sand and gravel deposited in layers by the melting of glacial ice, have been the focus of groundwater investigations in the northeast United States because of their ability to store and transmit water. Like most towns in the Nashua region, Milford relies primarily on groundwater held in aquifers for its municipal and industrial water supply systems.

Three hydraulic properties of aquifers are important in determining their capacity to transmit and store water: saturated thickness, transmissivity and storage coefficient. Saturated thickness is the distance between the water table and the base of an aquifer. This measure indicates the amount of water stored in an aquifer and the aquifer's potential for development. Transmissivity is a measure of "the rate at which water is transmitted through a unit width of aquifer under a hydraulic gradient" (USGS, 1987). Storage coefficient is a measure of the volume of water an aquifer releases from or takes into storage per unit surface area of the aquifer.

A recent USGS study (1987) of the Nashua region found that two major stratified drift aquifers underlie the Town of Milford (see Map 3). Together these aquifers cover about 10 square miles, or 38 percent of the town. The Souhegan River Valley Aquifer is the largest and most productive in town. The Great Brook Valley Aquifer also contains a large deposit of stratified drift. Adequate aquifer protection measures are essential because groundwater pollution can be hard to detect. Moreover, when water supply contamination is detected, pollution sources are often difficult to identify, and treatment, when possible, is very costly. Given Milford's reliance on groundwater, contamination of a major water supply source would present a significant threat to health, safety, and the environment. Three sites in Milford have been identified as pollutant sources, the Fletcher Paint site, OK Tool site, and Grugnale Waste/Drum disposal site. Both the Fletcher Paint site and the OK Tool site are on the National Priority Superfund List. Measures being taken to address these issues are described in Chapter 4.

Aquifers can be protected through adoption of an aquifer protection ordinance or an aquifer overlay district in the Town's zoning ordinance. Detailed aquifer maps recently published by the USGS allow these areas to be delineated with a fairly high degree of certainty. Aquifer protection ordinances should include provisions for potential point and non-point sources of pollution, including underground storage of petroleum and other products and wastes; residential, commercial, and industrial septic systems; solid waste disposal; use of fertilizers and pesticides; animal feedlots; storage and application of road salt; and dumping of chemically treated snow. The Town may require examination of development plans by technical experts where appropriate.

In 2003 the Town of Milford adopted a Groundwater Protection Overlay District in its Zoning Ordinance to "preserve maintain, and protect from contamination existing and potential groundwater supply areas."

5. WELLHEADS
RSA 485-C:2 defines "Wellhead protection area" as "the surface and subsurface area surrounding a water well or wellfield, supplying a public water system, through which contaminants are reasonably likely to move toward and reach such water well or wellfield."

Table 3 describes five areas in Milford, which are currently or will potentially be used as a water sources. A. 'sanitary protective radius' around each wellhead must be maintained in its natural state as required by Env-Ws 378, 379 and 372.14. The size of the radius is based on the permitted production volume of the well as set forth in Table 378-1: of Env-378-06. and 379-1 of Env-379-06.

These wellhead areas are designated as Level I Protection Areas on the "Groundwater Protection District" map located in the Planning Department, Under this Level I protection strict regulations for use of the land is defined in the Groundwater Protection District overlay of the Zoning Ordinance.

TABLE 3: EXISTING and POTENTIAL WELLS IN MILFORD

Curtis	Located in Amherst
Savage	EPA Superfund Clean-up site. Treatment is in progress.
Kokko	The Kokko Well was taken off-line in 1995 due to high iron and manganese levels which limited the well capacity and required frequent cleaning. This well is not being considered as a future water source for the town.
Keyes	VOC contamination was discovered in this well. In 1982, the State inspected the Fletcher Facility in response to a complaint and found 800 drums of alkyd resin and 21 drums of solvent. Leaking and open drums were removed from the Elm Street Facility, as well as stained soil.
Brox	Water exploration was conducted on the Brox Land. The water quality was excellent, but the yield was not 400 gpm, which is necessary to make it a viable town water supply

6. FLOODPLAINS
Floods are known as a potential cause of sudden and large scale destruction. The potential benefits of floods, however, should not be ignored. Benefits of floods identified by the USDA Soil Conservation Service in its 1976 report, Flood Hazard Analyses, Milford, NH, (Souhegan River, Purgatory Brook, Tucker Brook and Great Brook), include the following: (1) Floodplain soils consist of rich deposits of sediments suitable for agricultural cultivation and wild plant species, (2) spring pools that remain after flooding support insects and small animals, which, in turn, feed larger creatures, and (3) floods carry food to ocean estuaries, which are breeding grounds for marine life.

In addition, floodplains provide groundwater recharge, habitat for plants and animals, open space, and aesthetic and scientific value. The rich soils and abundant plant and animal resources of the floodplains combine with the availability of potable water to make these areas highly probable sites of prehistoric and early historic use. Large late prehistoric agricultural villages may be found along rivers in the floodplain. Earlier sites may be encountered on associated terrace formations and along relic river channels in the floodplain. Rivers and brooks also provided important transportation routes in prehistoric and early historic periods leading to potential clustering of sites along these routes.

The largest floodplain area in Milford surrounds the Souhegan River. The floodplain is widest near the inlets of Purgatory, Tucker, and Hartshorn brooks. Narrower floodplain areas surround each of the major brooks. Notable also are the floodplains comprising part of the swamp northwest of Osgood Pond and the floodplain areas in extreme south Milford surrounding Mitchell Brook. Milford's floodplains are shown in Map 4.

Rivers and streams usually undergo some degree of flooding every year due to snow melt and rainfall in the spring when soils are saturated or partially frozen. During other times of the year, flooding may also occur from heavy rainfall on saturated soils. The extent and frequency of flooding and thus flood hazard, has been increased in many areas by urban development and the associated increase in impermeable surfaces. The 1976 study reports that flooding is also increased by landfilling, structures, bridge abutments and raised transportation systems in floodplains. In addition, floodplains are particularly sensitive to water supply pollution because of their low elevations and nearness to the water table. Conservation methods for floodplains include (1) prohibiting development in the most frequently flooded and environmentally critical floodways and requiring the gradual removal of incompatible uses, (2) limiting the intensity of development in flood plains, (3) establishing minimum elevations for development in floodplains, (4) requiring protective methods that reduce structural damage and prevent leakage from or infiltration of sewage disposal systems, (5) prohibiting storage of hazardous substances or pollutants such as road salt in floodplains, (6) prohibiting development that causes significant increases in flood elevations or speeds, (7) acquiring full or partial rights to flood plain properties.

The Milford Zoning Ordinance contains a Floodplain Overlay District which purpose is to "promote the public health, safety and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions in specific areas of the Town of Milford."

B. TOWN FORESTS
Forest resources can be effectively managed for multiple uses and, therefore, contribute to several of the town's conservation goals. Forestlands provide open space; buffers to visual nuisances, wind, and noise; wildlife habitat; recreational opportunity; water supply protection; soil stabilization; and a supply of lumber and other wood products.

Forests, particularly those near old roads and early settlement locations, are locations of potential historic archaeological sites such as cellar holes. Isolated care should be taken in harvesting timber so that these resources are not destroyed.

Designation of land as Town Forest aids conservation efforts by allowing the Conservation Commission to contract for forest management plans. A professional management plan for Milford's forests was completed in December of 1987. The following descriptions and specific management recommendations are taken directly from that report. Information regarding the town's forests was prepared by John Ferguson, Hillsborough County Forester, for the revision of the Conservation Plan in 1993, 1998 and again in 2004. Management recommendations for each forest drafted in 2004 by Jon Nute, County Forester, are discussed in Chapter 4.

Milford has five areas, which were designated as town forests by vote of Town Meetings as follows:

Hitchiner Town Forest - March 1987.
Tucker Brook Town Forest - March 1987, 1990 and 1995
Mayflower Hill Town Forest - March 1990, 1992, 2005
Rotch Wildlife Preserve - March 2004.
Dadoly Property - March 2004

The locations of the town forests are shown on Map 5.
Characteristics of the various forests are summarized in Table 4.

TABLE 4: MILFORD'S TOWN FORESTS

Parcels	Location	Size	Elevation
Hitchiner Town Forest	Off Mullen Road near Burns Hill	193.8 acres	350 - 750 ft.
Tucker Brook Town Forest	Between Savage Road and Boulder Drive	286 acres	400 - 550 ft.
Mayflower Hill Town Forest	Between Falconer Avenue, Shady Lane and Perkins Street	41.5 acres	270 - 440 ft.
Rotch Wildlife Preserve	Between Rt. 13 South, Ruonala Rd. and Melendy Rd.	40 acres	320-370 ft.
Dadoly Property	Fox Run Road	18 acres	450-550 ft.

Source: Hillsborough County Cooperative Extension Service, 1988, Milford Conservation Commission, 1993, revised 1998, 2004.

1. Hitchiner Town Forest:
The Hitchiner Town Forest provides prime habitat for white tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray squirrels, ruffed grouse, weasels, mink, fisher cats, snowshoe rabbit, red fox and porcupine. The variety of forest types and age classes provides a multitude of habitat and "edge", or interface, between two types of ecosystems.

The open fields, saplings, acorn producing oak and cover provide for an abundance of wildlife. The proposed management practices and timber sales will promote healthy oak for acorn production. New openings will produce high quality saplings for deer browse and continued regeneration of the forest. Proper maintenance of the fields will also promote quality grazing and enhance the aesthetics of the property. Periodic mowing (at least once every three years) is advisable to prevent the forest from reclaiming these open areas. Consideration should be given to planting forest tree species such as red and white pine and wildlife plants such as apple trees if mowing is not desired or if site conversion is desired. Poison Ivy is abundant along the stone walls, trails and in the fields.

The Hitchiner Town Forest provides a variety of uses for recreation and education. The 16 acres of open fields are easily accessible by car, and if properly mowed and maintained, they would be suitable for a fairground or campsite for Boy Scouts or other such organizations. There are many trails which are used for hiking, mountain biking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. A pavilion, with picnic tables, was constructed in 2003. A Management Plan for the Hitchiner Town Forest was developed by the Milford Conservation Commission in January 1994.

2. Tucker Brook Town Forest:
This area provides important habitat for wildlife. The tracts contain woodlands, swamps, ponds, and brook ecosystems. The variety of forest types and age classes provides a multitude of habitats and "edge", or interface, between two types of ecosystems. The following species are likely to frequent this property: white tailed deer, beaver, wild turkey, ruffed grouse, otter, weasel, mink, fisher cat, snowshoe rabbit, red fox, porcupine, red and gray squirrel, several species of local hawk, duck and other migratory water fowl, crow, kingfisher, great blue heron, woodpecker and a variety of local songbirds.

The Tucker Brook Town Forest, with its close proximity to town and easy access, provides excellent opportunities to view wildlife and their habitats. There are many hiking trails throughout the property. Trailheads are located on Savage Road, Whitten Road and Boulder Drive (off Mason Road). This area provides excellent opportunities for viewing and studying wetland habitat. A local branch of the New England Mountain Biking Association (NEMBA) has taken an interest in the trails in forest. After review and approval by the Commission, NEMBA has relocated trails from steep slopes and added new trails to this popular town forest.

In conjunction with the Land Conservation Investment Program (L.C.I.P.) a Land and Resource Management Plan was developed for this Town Forest by the Milford Conservation Commission in October 1993, and a Monitoring Program was developed in October 1994.

3. Mayflower Hill Town Forest:
Mayflower Hill Town Forest is 42 acres in size and is located just northwest of the center of town. It is primarily used for hiking and passive recreation for area residents. The property is crisscrossed with hiking trails with most leading to the top of Mayflower Hill, which has a spectacular view looking west up the Souhegan River Valley. The property is growing a mixture of tree species, predominated by red and black oak and white pine. Because the hardwood species produce an abundance of food and the pine provide cover, a good wildlife population can be found on the property.

Much of the land has relatively shallow soil to bedrock, which is very well drained. Because of this, tree growth is slow and quality generally poor. In other areas where tree growth is much better, the terrain is quite steep, limiting the value of timber products. Mayflower Hill Town Forest is a valuable property for the town to preserve as open space for hiking and viewing small wildlife species and the general aesthetic value of the area.

In conjunction with the Land Conservation Investment Program (L.C.I.P.), a Land and Resource management Plan was developed for this Town Forest by the Milford Conservation Commission in October 1993, and a Monitoring Program was developed in October 1994.

Because of the small size of the property and its encirclement by residences, the forest has limited wildlife value. Some of the rock quarries have vernal pool characteristics.

This is a backyard for the many abutting residents. Walking trails are marked with white, red, blue, pink and yellow paint. There is a nice view to the west when you look across the new housing development on the north boundary. The most unusual characteristic of the property is the presence of many shallow granite quarries, with the hand cut slabs probably used for foundation stones downtown. Source: J. W. Nute UNH Coop. Ext. Forester in Hillsborough County, Dec. 2004.

4. Rotch Wildlife Preserve:
In October of 2002 this 40 acre parcel of land was donated to the Town by the Rotch family. It has been in the Rotch family since 1926 and was fondly known as the "woodlot". The area includes a variety of land, brooks, swamps, and hills. Years ago the wetland area that is now in center was a "moss meadow" and was harvested for sphagnum moss. A trail runs through the property from Melendy Rd. to Ruonala Rd. where the 200ft. frontage may be suitable for future parking. The Rotch property is quiet, serene and naturally diverse. Use of motorized vehicles is forbidden. The property was last timbered in 1987 and may be due for a harvest. The 14 acre swamp and associated brooks and wetlands are important habitat for a full range of wetland species. There are also some low areas in the forest that may have vernal pool characteristics. Terrestrial wildlife us is limited, however, because of the small size of the forest and its encirclement with roads and residential development.

5. Dadoly Property:
This 18 acres of forested property between Federal Hill Rd. and Fox Run Road was acquired by the town in 1991. It was designated a town forest in 2004. The numerous lots that comprise it were consolidated to one lot, Map 53. Lot 72. Public use is allowed. Because of the small size of the property, and its location surrounded by residential development, the wildlife habitat value is limited. The important features are the seasonal brooks, the early successional habitat of the power line clearing and the ruffed grouse or woodcock habitat .

General Forestry Recommendations and Comments:
(Specific recommendations for management are included in Chapter 4.)
Harvesting in areas immediately adjacent to wetlands should be modified to leave an adequate buffer to maintain the aesthetics and to minimize disturbance to the wetland habitat. Prescribed harvesting will improve the habitat for wildlife by removing less valuable species and favoring red oak that provide acorns, den and nesting trees and deer wintering areas (deer yards). Areas that are opened as a result of the cutting will increase available browse for spring and summer feeding requirements and will help establish red oak regeneration. Proper harvesting will increase available browse for food requirements. Shelter, cover and nesting sites will also be more abundant following recommended harvests.

The County Forester reports that, in general, Milford's forests support a mixed growth of softwood and hardwood with a good distribution of age classes. The forest is currently growing at a rate of just over 2 percent, providing 48,800 board feet of growth per year, or 133 board feet and .07 cords per acre per year. The good soil conditions, combined with good access, produce properties with excellent forest management potential.

The County Forester identifies three primary management objectives to maintain and improve the current use of its forests:

Maintain the vast majority of the property as open space for forestry, recreational, wildlife and educational purposes.
Allow for the development of additional recreational opportunities located in environmentally appropriate areas, as they are needed.
Conduct environmentally sound, long term multiple-use management practices which over time will upgrade the quality and health of the timber resource, improve access for recreational and educational opportunities, as well as protect and improve wildlife habitat.

Milford can take several specific actions to protect existing forest lands and provide for their public use: (1) blaze and paint all Town Forest property lines that are not defined by stone walls or barbed wire fences to facilitate identification of forest properties and guard against timber trespass; (2) maintain and improve timber stock by reseeding, thinning, and harvesting as needed; (3) adopt steep slopes and erosion and sedimentation ordinances to prevent problems from forest cutting on steep slopes and in important watershed areas; (4) protect and improve important wildlife habitats; (5) create and maintain trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, and adequate parking to make forests suitable for public recreational use; (6) provide trail maps, wildlife information or other materials or programs for educational purposes; (7) acquire full property rights, development rights, or conservation easements on important wooded lands, such as those that are contiguous with town forest lands, that have not been designated town forests; and (8) acquire full property rights to forest lands and lease them for appropriate levels of timber production.

C. AGRICULTURE
The preservation of agricultural land, of course, is important to those who work the land for a living. It also provides a number of important benefits to the town as a whole. Conservation of agricultural land: (1) provides a local source of fresh food; (2) protects open space and scenic views; (3) preserves Milford's rural character, important to residents and businesses; (4) provides wildlife habitat, especially for deer, turkeys, bluebirds, sparrow hawks, and woodcocks; (5) protects water supplies by preserving recharge areas and limiting impermeable surface area; (6) makes productive use of floodplains; (7) conserves farming knowledge and skills; and (8) preserves areas of high potential for prehistoric sites. There are two ways of identifying agricultural resources: agricultural soils and active agricultural use. Each is important in assessing the town's agricultural resources and setting priorities for conserving them.

1. Agricultural Soils
Areas of important agricultural soil have the potential for economically viable agricultural use. That potential depends on the amount of subdivision and development, protection of soil quality, the existence of adequate water supply and favorable weather conditions, and accessibility of agricultural markets. Milford has significant areas of land designated as Prime (federal) or Important (state) Agricultural Soils. Prime Agricultural Soils are located primarily along the Souhegan River. A large area of Important agricultural soils underlies a developed area of town south of Elm Street. Other areas of Important agricultural lands lie along Federal Hill Road, Savage Road, and Amherst Street. It should be remembered that these soil designations are based on Soil Conservation Service classifications, which are mapped only at a small scale. The type and quality of soil will vary somewhat within areas delineated on the soil maps. A Site Specific Soil Survey is necessary to determine soil characteristics of individual parcels. Prime and Important agricultural soils in Milford are shown in Map 6.

2. Active Agriculture
Active agricultural use may or may not be located in Prime or Important agricultural soil. Areas of active agriculture may include parcels that are particularly suited to farming because of their proximity to wetlands or other water resources, access to markets, or the existence of auxiliary farm buildings. In addition, active agriculture itself is a resource to the town. A "critical mass" of active farms in an area is often necessary for agriculture to be economically feasible for any local farmers. Moreover, active farms, with the associated buildings, animals, and cultivated fields are considered scenic by most and contribute to the rural character that makes Milford appealing. Milford has a number of properties currently in agricultural use. Milford's active farmers are listed in Table 5.

TABLE 5: ACTIVE AGRICULTURE IN MILFORD

Name	Address	Products	Market
Burns Farm	Burns Rd.	Hay	Local
Butternut Farm	Federal Hill Rd.	Flowers, vegetables, cut your own Christmas trees	Local
Carl Chappell	Osgood Rd.	Silage	Local
Chappell Farm	Federal Hill Rd.	Forage	Local
Curtis Farm	Joslin Rd.
Spaulding Farm	Spaulding St.	Strawberries, blueberries	Wholesale
Ferguson Farm	No. River Rd.	forage	Local
Fitch's Farm	North River Rd.	Dairy, greenhouses	Wholesale
Henderson's Greenhouses	No. River Rd.	Greenhouses	Local
Holcombe Property	No. River Rd.	Rented for forage	Local
Holland Farm	Osgood Rd.	Hay	Local
Kokko, Property	Osgood Rd.	Nursery, trees	Local
McLeod Apple Orchard	No. River Rd.	Fruit, apples, berries, peaches, garden Pick-your-own,farm stand	local and wholesale
Old Savage Farm	Elm St.	Forage	Local
Spring Creek Elk Farm,	Mason Road	Elk meat, starting in 2005	Local
Sunny Prairie Farm	No. River Rd.	Forage, dairy	Local
Wheeler Property	Amherst St.	Blueberries	Local
Zahn's Pick-Your-Own	Jennison Road	Blueberries, Christmas trees	Local

Source: Milford Conservation Commission, 1988, Revised 1998, 2004

Protecting agricultural resources is becoming increasingly important throughout the state. The New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Service reports that approximately one million acres of prime agricultural land and about two million acres of non-prime farmland are irrevocably converted each year to urban uses, highways, and other development. New Hampshire, which imports about 85 percent of its food supply and thus is particularly vulnerable to production decisions made outside the state and trucking industry price variations, continues to lose a considerable share of its scarce farmland. The National Agricultural Lands Study (1980) estimates that the state loses approximately 19,000 acres of farmland annually. Conservation of agricultural resources is particularly important in Milford, which values its rural character but faces increasing development pressures. The work of protecting agriculture in Milford has already been started.

Agricultural land development rights are held for the following five parcels of agricultural land in town:

Old Savage Farm, Elm Street: This 70 acre property has been a farm for over 100 years. Robert A. Savage sold this farm to Gary Frye in February 1981 and, at the same time, sold the agricultural development rights to the State of New Hampshire.
Donald M. Hawes Farm, Spaulding Street: Donald Hawes, who has owned this active, 61 acre farm since 1957, sold the agricultural development rights to the State of New Hampshire in 1982.
Carl H. Holland Farm, Osgood Road: Carl Holland donated a Conservation Easement on his farm to the Town of Milford in October 1984. The easement provides that the property be maintained in perpetuity as open space or used for agricultural production or forestry. In 1998, Mr. Holland donated the entire farm including buildings, to Beaver Brook Association of Hollis, New Hampshire. The interest in this property held by the Town of Milford remains in effect.
Ferguson Farm, North River Road: In October of 2002, a conservation easement was purchased by the town and placed on this working farm, while a farmer purchased the buildings and house lot. The house is currently listed in The New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places.
Holcombe Farm, North River Road: In May of 2002, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Holcombe donated a conservation easement on approximately 10 acres of land along North River Rd. and the Souhegan River.

In addition, some parcels of land in town have been purchased by the New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game for water supply protection purposes and are currently leased to farmers for agricultural use.

Methods of keeping land in agricultural use and preventing loss of potential agricultural land include agricultural zoning, floodplain zoning, conservation zoning, restriction of development to several lots, cluster development, transferable development rights, scenic easements, compensable regulations, tax stabilization agreements, current use taxation, deed restriction, purchase of full or less-than-full property rights by the municipality or a land trust, purchase and leaseback arrangements.

D. WILDLIFE
It is hard to quantify the value of wildlife habitat and the loss from its destruction. Nonetheless, the conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat provides many benefits to the town, including (1) preservation of open space and scenic views, (2) recreational and educational opportunities, (3) water resource and water supply protection, (4) wind, noise, and visual buffers, and (5) flood prevention.

The cumulative effect of development is detrimental to wildlife habitat. Although a single development may destroy only a fraction of existing wildlife habitat area, repeated approval of such development will quickly reduce or eliminate the land's ability to support many species of plants and animals and irrevocably prevent future use of land as wildlife habitat.

The following table lists the animal species currently endangered or threatened in the State of New Hampshire.

Table 6
ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Fish and Game, 2004

Endangered wildlife are those native species whose prospects for survival in New Hampshire are in danger because of a loss or change in habitat, over-exploitation, predation, competition, disease, disturbance or contamination. Assistance is needed to ensure continued existence as a viable component of the state's wildlife community.

Threatened wildlife are those species which may become endangered if conditions surrounding them begin, or continue, to decline.

* = Federally threatened or endangered.

MAMMALS
Endangered: * Canada lynx, Lynx canadensis small-footed bat, Myotis leibii	Threatened: pine marten, Martes americana
BIRDS
Endangered: pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps * bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus northern harrier, Circus cyaneus golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus * piping plover, Charadrius melodus upland sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda * roseate tern, Sterna dougallii common tern, Sterna hirundo least tern, Sterna antillarum purple martin, Progne subis sedge wren, Cistothorus platensis	Threatened: common loon, Gavia immer osprey, Pandion haliaetus Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii arctic tern, Sterna paradisaea common nighthawk, Chordeiles minor three-toed woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus grasshopper sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
FISH
Endangered: Sunapee trout, Salvelinus alpinus * shortnose sturgeon , Acipenser brevirostrum	Threatened: (none currently listed)
REPTILES
Endangered: timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus	Threatened: eastern hognose snake, Heterodon platyhinos
AMPHIBIANS
Endangered: marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum	Threatened: (none currently listed)
INVERTEBRATES
Endangered: * dwarf wedge mussel, Alasmidonta heterodon brook floater, Alasmidonta varicosa frosted elfin butterfly, Incisalia irus * Karner blue butterfly, Lycaeides melissa samuelis Persius dusky wing skipper, Erynnis persius persius Ringed bog haunter dragonfly, Williamsonia lintneri	Threatened: pine pinion moth, Lithophane lepida lepida pine barrens Zanclognatha moth, Zanclognatha martha cobblestone tiger beetle, Cicindela marginipennis

Ways of protecting wildlife habitat include the following:

Restrict the amount and level of development in wetlands. Wetlands are essential habitats for many species of wildlife.
Encourage concentration of development in central areas of town, leaving outlying areas relatively less developed and more suitable for wildlife habitat.
Establish minimum lot sizes in outlying areas.
Maintain a conservation fund to purchase land or development rights in areas suitable for wildlife habitat.
Educate the public about applicable wildlife laws and investigate incidents of suspected illegal hunting and trapping.
Maintain or create wildlife corridors through well-designed open space preservation in subdivisions.

E. SCENIC RESOURCES
Milford has a number of scenic roads and scenic vistas, which contribute to the town's rural character and aesthetic quality. These areas should be identified, and appropriate measures should be taken to protect their value to the community.

Scenic Roads
Under RSA 231:157 and 158, towns may designate any road (other than Class I or Class II state highways) as Scenic Roads by town meeting vote. This important piece of legislation stipulates that a public hearing must be held and approval of the Planning Board or official town body be obtained before any repair, maintenance, reconstruction, or paving takes place that would involve cutting of medium or large sized trees or removal of stone walls.

Scenic Road designation protects views from destruction without being overly restrictive or inflexible. The law does not prevent landowners from working on their property. The law does not affect routine maintenance either. The highway superintendent is allowed to cut trees, shrubs, vegetation, and any other natural or man-made obstruction within three feet of the traveled roadway without consent and to cut trees beyond three feet of the roadway in emergency situations. Furthermore, Scenic Road designation does not affect the town's eligibility to receive state construction and reconstruction aid pursuant to RSA 241.

The advantage of Scenic Road designation is that it provides a mechanism for public input before the highway department does its work. Views that are highly valued by property owners and those who travel the roads daily are not destroyed suddenly and unexpectedly by maintenance personnel unaware of their value. The Planning Board intends to draft a scenic road ordinance for the town.

Table 7 lists the scenic roads in Milford, almost 22 miles in all. Map 7 shows the location of the Scenic Roads.

Table 7:
SCENIC ROADS: (With Date of Designation)

Road	Location
1. Ball Hill Road	Entire length from the intersection with Melendy Road to the intersection with Young Road (1974).
2. Emerson Road	From the intersection with Federal Hill Road to the intersection with Ponemah Hill Road (1991), and from the intersection with Route 13 South to the intersection with Federal Hill Road (1992).
3. Federal Hill Road	From the State Compact Line to the Hollis Town Line (1974).
4. Foster Road	From the intersection with Wallingford Road to the Brookline Town Line (1988).
5. Jennison Road	From the intersection with North River Road to the Mont Vernon Town Line (1991).
6. Joslin Road	From the intersection with Jennison Road to the Amherst Town line (1975).
7. Mason Road	From the State Compact Line to the Wilton Town Line (1974).
8. McGettigan Road	From the intersection with Mason Road to the Wilton Town Line (1975).
9. Melendy Road	From the intersection with Osgood Road to the intersection with Route 13 South (1991).
10. Mile Slip Road	From the intersection with Mason Road to the Brookline Town Line (1991).
11. North River Road	From the Old Iron Bridge (a.k.a. The Green Bridge) to Wilton Road (1993 and 1994).
12. Osgood Road	From the intersection with Melendy Road to the intersection with Young Road (1975) and from the intersection with Young Road to the Brookline Town Line (1991).
13. Ponemah Hill Road	From the intersection with Route 101A (Nashua Street) to the Amherst Town Line (1975).
14. Ruonala Road	From the intersection with Melendy Road to the Brookline Town Line (1991).
15. Savage Road	From the intersection with Phelan Road to the Wilton Town Line (1975).
16. Young Road	From the intersection with Ball Hill Road to the intersection with Osgood Road (1974)

Source: Milford Conservation Commission, 1988. Revised December 1993, 1998

1. Scenic Vistas
Scenic views can be lost unexpectedly due to development of open land parcels or clearance of roadside trees and shrubs. In addition to Scenic Road designation, several means of protecting the town's visual resources exist.

Acquisition of land or acquisition of development rights by purchase, transfer, or preferential tax treatment ensures that development will not destroy significant scenic views. Note that protection of scenic vistas may not require purchase of entire parcels of land. The view along a scenic road can be protected from destruction by road agents and property holders by acquiring rights to only a buffer strip adjacent to the road. The view of a hilltop may be better preserved by preventing development on the hilltop than by trying to prohibit development in the lower land from which it is visible.

A final method of conserving views for public enjoyment is the control of billboards and other signage. Billboard regulation is most effective when it is enacted before a significant number of signs have been erected due to requirements that "just compensation" be paid for removal of existing signs. Milford currently exercises control over the number, size, and height of signs in all parts of town through its zoning ordinance. In addition, portable signs and advertisements not incidental to the use of the property on which they are constructed are prohibited.
Milford's scenic vistas are described in Table 8 below and shown on Map 8.

Table 8: SCENIC VISTAS IN MILFORD

Location	Description
1. Jennison Road	Various points along this road provide views southward over the entire town.
2. Look-Out Point	Located on Mayflower Hill Town Forest north and west.
3. Federal Hill Fire Tower	Views in all directions.
4. Federal Hill Road	Various points along the roadway afford views in all directions.
5. Mason Road	About 1,000 feet west of intersection with Whitten Road is a view southward of Burns Hill.
6. Savage Road	To the northwest is a view of a stand of dogwoods on Fred Conrey's private farm.
7. North River Rd.	Views of town and hills to the north.
8. Elm St.	Views to the west.

Source: Milford Conservation Commission, 1988. Revised December 1993, May, 2004.

F. HISTORIC RESOURCES
Historic structures and sites are the visual manifestation of the story of a community's people, places, and activity. The preservation of these resources helps a community retain a sense of place and identity. Prehistoric and historic archaeological sites, such as Indian sites, cellar holes, and cemeteries, also contribute to the understanding of a community's past like no written record can. In the case of prehistoric Indian sites, for example, there are no written records to study. Moreover, historic archaeological sites often contain artifacts that tell a story different from the one popularly accepted as history.

Within Milford's borders exist potential sites relating to the following historical contexts:

Prehistoric Period*

Paleo-Indian	10,000 to 8,000 BC
Archaic	8,000 to 1,000 BC
Woodland	1,000 BC to 1600 AD
Proto-Historic/Contact	c.1600 to 1740 AD

Historic Period*

Small-scale lumbering and sawmilling	1750 - 1850
Rural textile manufacturing in So. NH	1820 - 1920
Sheep farming in NH	1820 - 1870
Dairying in NH	1840 - 1890
Dairying in NH	1890 to present
Granite quarrying in NH	1850 to present
NH Railroads	1850 - 1940

*Proposed contexts from the NH Statewide Comprehensive Plan for Historic Preservation, now under preparation by the DHR.

These contexts are being developed by the Division of Historical Resources following a National Park Service model designed to help each state present and evaluate information before making preservation decisions. There are likely to be other themes or contexts that could be applied to Milford.

Historic sites and structures contribute significantly to the town's character and aesthetic quality. In effect, there are two historical aspects to Milford. The first is the center Oval with its late 18th, 19th, and 20th century buildings, a classic and significant New Hampshire mill town center. The second is the rural character of the town, with many l8th, and 19th century houses scattered along country roads. Cellar holes, or even complete communities of cellar holes, may be found in the southeast corner of Milford in the now abandoned Town of Monson (off Federal Hill Road) and along Mile Slip Road in the southwest corner of Milford. These resources contribute to the visual quality of Milford, both along scenic roads and in the town core. A variety of buildings of differing ages and styles provide an exciting built environment, which attracts tourists and patrons of local businesses.

A preliminary review by Division of Historical Resources (DHR) staff indicates that there are many historic structures in Milford meriting further study and protection. These structures are listed below in Table 9 and shown in Map 9.

Table 9: HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN MILFORD Source: Division of Historical Resources, 1988.

Name	Date	Location
1. Carey House (Historical Soc.)	?	Union St.
2. Community House (Livermore)	1842	Union St.
3. First Congregational Church	1834	Union St.
4. Water Works	1889	South St.
5. Benjamin Goodwin	1818	Nashua St.
6. Methodist Episcopal Church	1816	Mt.Vernon/Grove
7. Eagle Hall	1784	Union Square
8. First Unitarian Church	1878	Elm St.
9. St. Patrick Church	1890	Amherst St.
10. Baptist Church	1806	No. River Rd.
11. Joseph Gould House	1746 F	ederal Hill Rd.
12. Aladon Averill House	1820	Jennison Rd.
13. Ebenezer Averill, Jr. House	1786	Jennison Rd.
14. Col. J. Burnham's Tavern (Hutchinson Family Homestead)	1773	No. River Rd.
15. Abner Hutchinson House	1775	No. River Rd.
16. Nathaniel Hutchinson House	1882	No. River Rd.
17. William Marvel House	1842	No. River Rd.
18. Deacon J. Wallace House	1811	No. River Rd.
19. Abiel Holt House	1793	Grove St.
20. Humphrey Moore House	1820	Elm St.
21. William Darracott, Jr. House	1799	Elm St.
22. Hopkins-Tucker House	1816	Elm St.
23. Andrew Bradford House	1743	Joslin Rd.
25. Elisha Town House	1770	Nashua Street
26. Phineas Blanchard House	1813	Savage Rd.
27. Daniel Goodwin House	1790	Federal Hill Rd.
28. Moses Foster Homestead	1788	Federal Hill Rd.
29. Isaac Abbott House	1778	Emerson Rd.
30. Caleb Brown House	1781	Judd Hall Rd.
31. Timothy Colburn House	1803	Echo Rd.
32. Col. J. Shepard, Jr. House	1757	Mt. Vernon Rd.
33. Daniel Burns, Jr. House	1761	Burns Rd.
34. Nehemiah Barker Homestead	1782	Foster Rd.
35. James Johnson House	1800?	Ruonala Rd.
36. Monson Village (cellar holes)	1746	Adams Rd.
37. William Peabody House	1740	North River Road

Table 10. HISTORIC SCHOOLS IN MILFORD

Name	Date	Location
1. Bales School (Centennial High School)	1895	Elm Street
2. Congregational Parish House	1845	Union Street
3. Federal Hill Schoolhouse	1896	Federal Hill Road
4. Howard School at Pine Valley	Prior to 1794	Union Street
5. Krush Block (Brick Schoolhouse)	1788	West side of Union Square
6. Laurel School - Formerly Abbott School	1862	Emerson Road
Moved	1898	Nashua Street
7. Santos Dumont bagel store- originally a Milford schoolhouse	1911	Elm St.
8. North River Road Schoolhouse (used by Baptist Church 1806-1816)	1806	North River Road
9. Old Brick School (Cabinet Press)	1853	School Street
10. Osgood School	Prior to 1794	Osgood Road

Table 11. HISTORIC BRIDGES IN MILFORD

1. Stone Bridge	Rt 13 just north of the oval
2. Swing Bridge	Bridge St. - pedestrian
3. Green Iron Bridge	North River Rd. - closed to vehicular traffic

Table 12. HISTORIC SITES IN MILFORD

1. Monson Rock	Federal Hill Road
2. Memorial Stone at Jones Crossing	Dedicated in 1895
3. Burns Rock	Old Brookline Road
4. Josiah Crosby Marker	Rt. 13 South

Source: Division of Historical Resources and Milford Historical Society, 1988; History of Milford 1738 - 1901, George A. Ramsdell; Brief History of the Public Schools in Milford, Edith Hunter, 1973; The Granite Town, History of Milford 1901 - 1978, Winifred A. Wright.

Four properties nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places have been approved. Table 13 identifies the four properties in Milford.

Table 13: PROPERTIES LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES - 1988.

Name	Date	Location
1. William Peabody House (1740)	11-30-79	North River Road
2. Milford Cotton & Woolen Manufacturing Company (The Mill)	8-18-82	Bridge Street
3. Town Hall (Dedicated 1870)	12-1-88	Union Square
4. Carey House (Dedicated 1979) - home of Historical Society, which was formed in 1898.		Union Street

Source: NH Division of Historic Resources

The Division of Historical Resources keeps on file a list of known archaeological sites throughout the state. These sites may be discovered during the review of cultural resources required of projects receiving federal funds, in the course of local construction or utility work, or through other means. The DHR's list does not necessarily reflect the quantity or quality of archaeological sites in a town. Listed below in Table 14 are three known archaeological sites in Milford. Areas of high potential for prehistoric and historic archaeological sites are shown on Map 10. DHR staff identified areas of prehistoric site potential based on land form and drainage patterns; areas of high historic site potential were determined based on town histories, observations, and historic maps of Milford from 1846 and 1854.

Table 14: ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN MILFORD

Site Name	Site Number DHR file, 1988	Associated Geographic Feature	Time Period
N/A	NH44-8	Souhegan River	unknown
Jones Crossing	unassigned	Souhegan River	Woodland
John Burns, Jr. Farm	NH44-11	Upland Farm	c. 1761-1980

A first step in protecting Milford's historic resources is to inventory the existing structures in town. An inventory of historic resources is the most basic of preservation tools and can be used to establish historic districts, prepare nominations for listing of historic structures in the National Register of Historic Places, and assist with environmental reviews required in projects that receive federal funding. An inventory of historic resources may encourage greater appreciation of the historic structures and sites by local citizens and acts as a firm foundation for future preservation decisions. Such an inventory has a beginning in the Milford town history, The Granite Town, with its listing of early Milford homes. In process for more than a decade, this 550 page volume provides an account of the town's history from 1901 to 1978. A separate book, written by Edith Hunter in 1972, details the history of Milford's schools.

Milford's Historic Society was created in 1898. The Heritage Commission was formed in 2001. The DO-IT organization worked on the Main Street America award winning oval and is now working towards creating a Historic District. Information about the Historical Society and the Heritage Commission can be found on the Web at
http://www.milfordhistory.com/
http://www.milfordnh.info/committees/committees.htm

An active Historic Preservation Commission allows for coordination of preservation efforts with local planning and development efforts and helps ensure coordination with the State Historic Preservation office, the Division of Historical Resources. Additionally, a commission can assist with preparation of nominations of historic structures and districts for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, establishing a local historic district, or enacting a local preservation ordinance. The establishment of an Historic Preservation Commission can also aid the town in competing for funds available through the Division of Historical Resources. Assistance with conducting an historic resource inventory, preparing grant applications, and enacting preservation ordinances is available from the Nashua Regional Planning Commission.

Archaeological resources are more difficult to identify and protect. Each site is unique and fragile. Once a site is disturbed, information is lost. Lands with identified prehistoric and historic archaeological resources may be preserved by acquisition of the land or land development rights. Careful examination of development plans may result, after consultation with a professional archaeologist, in the avoidance of damage to a site and possible incorporation of the site into the development scheme. If a site is to be unavoidably destroyed, the State Archaeologist at the Division of Historical Resources should be contacted for technical assistance.

The few applicable laws that protect archaeological resources are primarily federal. As a result of these laws, large highway projects or projects which require review by a federal agency usually have a review of impacts to cultural resources. In addition, there are mining laws, which allow review of projects for impacts, and there is the possibility of review within the dredge and fill permit process.

The DHR has very limited ability to review private projects for impact on archaeological resources. Developers may be asked to fund recovery of archaeological data by hiring a professional archaeologist as a consultant to evaluate a property for archaeological potential and/or survey the area for unknown archaeological sites. This common procedure is dictated by law in many neighboring states. In New Hampshire, many developers may be willing to contribute to the state's historical record voluntarily. A list of qualified professional consultants is available from the DHR.

G. PARK AND RECREATION LANDS AND FACILITIES

Adequate parks and recreational facilities are necessary to ensure the health, education, and general well-being of residents. Milford has several public and private lands and facilities offering recreational opportunity. These lands and facilities are described in Table 15 and depicted in Map 11.

Table 15: Public Parks, Recreation Lands, Trails, and Their Facilities in Milford

Name	Facilities	Location
Adams Park Map 42 Lot 10	Recreation fields, hiking, picnic area	Osgood Road
Ames Lot Map 57 Lot 2	Open space	Abuts Monson Center
Bicentennial Park Map 25 Lot 33	Flag pole, park benches, fishing sites	South Street
Burn's Rock Map 48 Lot 3	Open space	Old Brookline Road
Colburn Acres Map 53 Lot 116	Open space	Comstock Drive
Dadoly Town Forest Map 53 Lot 72	Open Space	Fox Run Road
Emerson Park Map 25 Lot 28	Park Benches, open space, trailhead for Souhegan River Trail	Mont Vernon Street
Federal Hill Fire Tower Map 53 Lots 22, 24	State Owned, Hiking, Views	Federal Hill Rd.
Fessedon lot/Brookline Town Line Map 56 Lot 69	Open space	land locked
Gen. Frank E. Kaley Memorial Park Map 31 Lot 32	Recreation fields, hiking	off Nashua Street
Granite Town Rail-Trail	Hiking, mountain biking	DPW, Rt. 13 to Brookline
Hampshire Hills Map 48 Lots 36, 41, 49, 52	Open Space	Emerson Road
Hartshorn Pond Park Map 2 Lot 29	Two granite picnic tables/benches, park benches, open space, parking	Route 13 North
Hazel Adams Burns Memorial Park Map 42 Lot 8	Park benches, parking area, fishing sites, open space, access for Osgood Pond	Osgood Rd.
Heron Pond School Map 38 Lot 50	Nature trail	Heron Pond Rd.
Hitchiner Town Forest Map 46 Lot 2	Hiking, mountain biking, pavilion	Mullen Rd.
Holland/Burns Farm Map 41 Lots 28, 31 Map 41 Lots 26, 27, 38	Owned by Beaver Brook Association Hiking, picnicking	Mason Rd.
Kaley Park Map 31 Lot 32	Open space	Nashua St.
Keyes Memorial Park Map 25 Lot 133	Swimming pool, wading pool, tennis courts, softball field, baseball field, general purpose field, playground, skateboard park, open space.	Elm Street
Larchmont Circle Park Map 36 Lots 178 - 182	Open space	Millbrook Drive
Mayflower Hill Town Forest Map 8 Lot 92	Hiking, mountain biking	Shady Lane, Falconer Avenue
McLane Dam Map 26 Lots 99-1, 110	Hiking, fishing, picnicking	Bridge St.
Mile Slip WildernessPark Map 50 Lot 9, Map 55 Lot 1-5	Multi-use trail system, cellar holes	Mile Slip Road
Milford Community Athletic Fields Map 8 Lots 11 & 11-1	Recreational fields	North River Road
Milford Fish Hatchery Map 4 Lots 36, 37, 38, 39, 41 Map 8 Lot 1	Owned by NH Fish and Game Hiking, tours	North River Rd.
Milford Oval Map 25 Lot 32	Park Benches, handicapped bench, Band Stand	Downtown
Monson Village Map 56 Lots 46, 47 Map 57 Lots 12, 13	Owned by SPNHF Hiking, open fields, historic trails, cellar holes, restored Colonial era house.	Federal Hill Rd. to Adams Rd.
Old Smith Well Site Map 43 Lot 13	Open Space	Union St.
Osgood Pond Map 42	Fishing, non-motorized boats	Osgood Rd.
Rotch Wildlife Preserve Map 52 Lot 18	Town Forest, Hiking	Melendy Rd., Ruonala Rd., Rt. 13
Shepard's Park Map 31 Lots 33 & 34	Playground, 2 baseball fields, (one Little League and one practice), Scout House, open space.	Nashua Street
Souhegan River Trail	Hiking	Emerson Park through Fish Hatchery land
Tucker Brook Town Forest Map 10 Lots 53, 55, 56, 58, 64 Map 38 Lot 29 Map 40 Lots 11, 14, 15, 61, 62	Hiking, mountain biking	Savage Road
World War II Memorial Park Map 25 Lot 48	Open space	Downtown

Source: Milford Conservation Commission, Revised 1998, 2004.

Publicly Owned:
1. Adams Park: This 5.5 acre area abutting Osgood Pond, was deeded to the Town of Milford in 1992 as a bequest of the late Hazel Adams Burns. Her will states: "....shall be given to the Town of Milford or to any organization within the town such as a conservation or recreation organization which the town may designate. It is my desire that the land be used for recreation and conservation purposes. It is my desire that no future subdivision or multi-family dwelling units be placed upon the land. ...." The area has open space used as ball fields, a small wooded area and a short walking trail along Osgood Pond. It has the possibility for development of a canoe launch site, once the proposed dredging of Osgood Pond takes place.
2. Bicentennial Park: About 3 acres in size, this park abuts Railroad Pond on the west side of South Street. Bicentennial Park provides excellent access for fishing and boating (canoes and rowboats). Ducks, Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, and Green Herons are abundant in this area and can be seen from the park. This land, the Cora M. Woodward property, was purchased through the Conservation Commission in 1973. The old house on the property was burned by the Fire Department, and the restoration process began. The flagpole was donated by the American legion, the VFW Post and Auxiliary, and the Knights of Columbus, and two park benches were donated by the Rotary Club. Plans are in place to erect a statue in the park of Harriet E. Wilson, the first African-American woman to be published in the United States. Her autobiographical novel, "Our Nig", was published in 1859.
3. Burns Rock: Located on the Old Brookline Road, this historic site is named for one of Milford's first settlers. In 1959, the Association of the Descendants of John Burns donated Burn's Rock, the land on which it rests, and a right-of-way from Old Brookline Rd. to the Milford Historical Society. Two inscribed boulders mark the entrance of the pine tree lined site. The bronze tablet set in Burns Rock was dedicated in 1923.
4. Emerson Park: This park located between the Souhegan River and the US Post Office is about 1.5 acres in size. Emerson Park is lit at night and has easy handicapped access. It contains park benches, a stone wall, and an old millstone, a gift from the late Theodore Langdell. The undeveloped land was given to the town at the 1947 Town Meeting by Charles S. Emerson as a gift from his brother, the late Harry Emerson. In 1969, with a $1,000 gift from the children of the late Charles Emerson, creation of the park began. Summer band concerts are currently held in this park.
5. Gen. Frank E. Kaley Memorial Park: In 1996 the Town of Milford purchased this 19.7-acre parcel of land located off Nashua Street, with a frontage on the Souhegan River of about 960 feet. Proposed plans for this area include recreation facilities, cemetery expansion and conservation such as wetland protection, floodplain protection and river protection.
6. Hartshorn Pond Park: Hartshorn Pond and the land around it were given to the Town of Milford by Harold Wilkins, Jr. of Amherst. The town-owned land borders the entire pond except for a small piece at the northern end. Deed conditions provide that the lake shall not be stocked with fish and that "no digging, destruction, cutting or transplanting of trees, shrubs or plants or other silvicultural or forest management practices" be allowed "except under the auspices of or the consent of (the) Milford Conservation Commission and then only insofar as necessary to undertake proper silvicultural and conservation management practices . . . " Mr. Wilkins reserves the right to timber the premises. The park has two granite picnic tables/benches and two wood/concrete park benches. The Department of Public Works keeps the grass at the site cut.
7. Hazel Adams Burns Memorial Park: Located on Osgood Road at the site of the Osgood Pond Dam, it consists of about 0.75 acres of lawn with a small parking area. The Town of Milford purchased the land from Maurice Babine in 1952. As part of the major dam repairs in 1988, the area was landscaped, and in 1992 it was dedicated to the memory of the late Hazel Adams Burns, wife of Harlan Burns, Jr., and named in her honor. Further landscaping includes crabapple trees, hardy rose bushes, and park benches. This much-used property provides for good fishing in Osgood Pond. Harlan Burns, Jr., whose farm lies upstream on Great Brook, holds the flowage rights to the dam. The Park is maintained by the Department of Public Works.
8. Keyes Memorial Park: Approximately 19 acres in size, this park is located on Elm Street and abuts the Souhegan River. It serves primarily as an athletic field. Facilities include a swimming pool, a wading pool, four tennis counts, a softball field, a baseball field, a general-purpose field, a playground, and open space. In 2004 a pedestrian bridge was added to provide a crossing of the Souhegan River. Once a farm owned by Josiah Crosby, the land was sold to the Arthur L. Keyes Memorial Trust in 1957 and then given by the Trust to the Milford School District. Eventually, the School District gave the Keyes Park property to the Town of Milford in exchange for the Town's Endicott Park, which abutted Bales School.
9. McLane Dam: This town owned parcel is approximately 10 acres in size. It abuts the McLane Dam and connects to downtown via the 'swing bridge'. Future access for seniors, young families and physically challenged persons is planned for the area.
10. Milford Community Athletic Association Fields: Once owned by the Milford Hospital Association, this land was donated to the Town of Milford in 1993. The heavily used fields on North River Road were developed by the Milford Community Athletic Association to supplement the inadequate supply of town-owned recreation lands. The fields are maintained by the Department of Public Works and the activities are organized by the Milford Community Athletic Association. Facilities include several sports fields.
11. Milford Oval: This small triangular property is located in the center of the downtown area. The land was donated to the Southwest Parish, now the Town of Milford, in 1788 by William Crosby. The area is a grassy tree-studded parkland with large well-maintained flowerbeds, and is the home of the Milford Band Stand. For many years, the summer Band Concerts were held here before being relocated to Emerson Park. During 1995 and 1996, the Oval underwent extensive renovations. and a brick walkway was laid out. This project was the idea of the Chief of Police, Steven Sexton, and was privately funded. In 1994, a Read-A-Thon was held in the elementary school to raise funds for a statue of two children reading books on a granite rock. Known as "Milford's Reading Children", the statue was sculptured by Sylvia Nicolas of Mont Vernon, and was dedicated, as was the entire renovated Oval, in August 1996, as a lasting contribution to the Renovation Project. In 1997, the Downtown Ongoing Improvement Team (DO-IT), with full support of the community, applied to become a part of the NH Main Street Center program, and Milford was accepted as one of the first three inaugural programs in the state. In 2002, Milford was honored by the National Trust For Historic Preservation's Main Street Center with their Great American Main Street Award.
12. Shepard's Park: Located on the north side of Nashua Street between Shepard and Linden Streets, this park is mainly an athletic area. It has a Little League baseball field, which was built by the Rotary Club and dedicated as the Hugo Trentini Memorial Park in June 1961. There is also a baseball practice field and a playground. It is the site of the Scout House, managed by the American Legion for use by the Boy Scouts of America and Cub Scouts of Troop 4. The open land beside the park is used for the annual Labor Day Parade turn-around and Carnival. Most of this land was donated to the town in 1898 as a site for a school and playground. With the bequeath of an additional piece of land adjacent to the original parcel in 1899 by Andrew Shepard, a public park was created. The park was named, at the donor's request, after his great-grandfather, John Shepard, who in 1791, built Milford's first sawmill and gristmill.
13. World War II Memorial Park: On the southern side of the Union Square and adjacent to Railroad Pond, this small park was once the site of a blacksmith shop. In 1947, Mr. and Mrs. James Howison presented the land to the town to be used as a WW II memorial. Thirteen arborvitae trees commemorate the lives of the thirteen men from Milford killed in the war and form a background for a fountain. In 1995, this Memorial Park was renovated through the efforts of the Chief of Police, Steven Sexton. A brick walkway was laid out bearing the names of all veterans from Milford who served in any foreign war in which the United States of America was involved. Six Milford granite slabs were laid along the walkway, which bear the names of the six branches of the service involved in those wars. To the rear of the Park a granite wall was erected and is engraved with the names of all Milford veterans of World War II. This was created from Milford granite and is the work of the Northern Marble and Granite Co., located on Oak Street, Milford. New flowerbeds were laid out in the Park, the work of the members of the Milford Garden Club. The renovations of the Park were completed in 1995, and the Park was rededicated on the 50th anniversary of the ending of World War II in September of that year. The dedication ceremony included a fly-over of World War II fighter aircraft.
School Facilities:
1. Milford High School has fields for soccer, football and softball, which are available for public use when not required by school related activities.
2. Heron Pond Elementary School has a nature trail which was constructed in 2002 as part of an outdoor classroom project.
Privately-Owned:
1. Holland/Burns Farm - Beaver Brook Association.
2. Monson Village: This 215 acre property lies in both Milford and Hollis. The first European settlement in New Hampshire, it was settled in 1737 and abandoned in the 1770's. The remaining cellar holes and stone walls were nearly destroyed by plans for housing construction. The area was saved by land and financial donations by concerned citizens. It is now owned by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and maintained by Russ and Geri Dickerman, a Milford couple who donated a large parcel of land to the project.
3. Community House: This elegant white pillared building was built in 1842 by Squire Solomon K Livermore. Milford's first lawyer. The last Livermore. Elizabeth, conducted a private school on the third floor. Upon her death in 1910 a family friend and Milford native, Albert E. Pillsbury, purchased the building. In 1921 he donated the property "for the benefit of the town" to be administered by a board of trustees. In 1928 the house was taken over by the Milford Woman's club. Arrangements were made for a caretaker to live in the house as a manager. Rooms are used for meetings by the Women's Club, Souhegan Valley Seniors Bridge Group, Farm Bureau, Milford Rotary Club, T.O.P.s. Lion's Club, Drivers Education, Rug Hookers, and Toastmasters.
In addition to the aforementioned parks and recreation facilities, Milford has a considerable number of sites that are particularly well suited for hiking, fishing, canoeing, and picnicking. Appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that these informal recreation sites remain available for public use.
Hiking Trails In Milford
Maps are available in the Town Hall and on the Web:
http://www.conservation.milfordnh.info/index.html
1. Emerson Park Trail: This short trail along the Souhegan River begins in Emerson Park, located beside the Milford Post Office, and runs west along the Souhegan River ending in the grounds of the American Stage Festival. A very easy walk and delightfully pleasant. Plans are being made to construct a pedestrian bridge across a rock-filled gully in the trail. The bridge will provide a bench to sit on and enjoy the view. Completion of the bridge will enable the trail to be handicap accessible from Emerson Park to the Boys and Girls Club.
2. Mayflower Hill Town Forest Trails: Identified by signs, the two entrances to this 41.5-acre town forest, provide access to much used trails. One entrance is on Shady Lane and the other is located at the end of Falconer Avenue Extension. The main trail is circular and passes Look Out Point and several small granite quarries. There are several side trails as well. The area provides a leisurely walk in a quiet setting in spite of being surrounded by development.
3. Hitchiner Town Forest Trails: On this property, located at the end of Mullen Road off Osgood Road, is a well-marked trail which includes Burns Hill. This hill is not on town property but forms part of the trail with permission of the owner and provides an excellent view point. The trail was laid out by Owen Kelly as his Eagle Scout project. In addition to Owen's trail, there are several old logging roads which add to the accessibility of the land.
4. Tucker Brook Town Forest Trails: Approximately four miles of well-marked trails exist on this 286-acre town forest.. The property contains forest, pine groves, beaver ponds, large swampy areas and Tucker Brook Falls, located on Tucker Brook, which runs through this property. The remains of an old mill can be found along this brook.
5. Souhegan River Trail: Located on the property of the Milford Fish Hatchery land on North River Road, this trail follows the Souhegan River for approximately 7/10 mile. It is in the process of being extended from the Fish Hatchery property to Emerson Park in downtown Milford.
6. Granite Town Rail-Trail: An abandoned railroad bed provides an excellent surface for hiking on this 2.86-mile trail in Milford. The trailhead is located behind the Department of Public Works facility on South St. The trail runs to the Brookline town line and continues into Brookline.
7. Fred Conrey Conservation Easement Trail: In 1991, the Milford Conservation Commission purchased a conservation easement on this entire 79 acre farm, located on Savage Road. This will ensure the land remains undeveloped forever. A hiking trail is proposed around the perimeter of the property, which will include part of Dram Cup Hill.
8. Mile Slip Property: In March of 2005, the town voted to purchase this 452-acre piece of property in the southwest section of town. Existing roads on the property will provide access for hikers and, in designated areas, riders as well. A management plan will be in place for this property in time for the town to take ownership in August of 2005.
Picnic Sites In Milford
1. Hartshorn Pond Dam: Located off Mont Vernon Road, this is a popular picnic spot in Milford. There is ample parking, handicapped access, park benches and a grassy area.
2. Bicentennial Park: This park is located off South Street adjacent to the railroad tracks. There are several park benches and well-tended grassy areas. The park abuts Railroad pond.
3. Emerson Park: Located adjacent to the Milford Post Office, Emerson Park has park benches and a table. It is a popular lunchtime area. The park is handicapped accessible via the Masonic Temple parking area off Mont Vernon Street. Abutting the Souhegan River, the park provides excellent views of the granite bridge over the river.
4. Hazel Adams Burns Memorial Park: Overlooking Osgood Pond and located at the dam on Osgood Road, this site has been landscaped with grass, crabapple trees, hardy rose bushes, park benches and a gravel parking area. It is an excellent spot to view wildlife while picnicking or fishing. The foundations of an old icehouse are visible.
5. Hitchiner Town Forest: This 193.8-acre forest provides picnic tables in a newly constructed pavilion in the field at the end of Mullen Rd .
6. Keyes Memorial Park: This 19 acre park is located off Elm Street within walking distance of the Oval. With its open fields, tree lined riverbanks and children's playground Keyes makes for a delightful picnic spot.
Fishing Spots in Milford
1. Railroad Pond: Public lands providing good access are Bicentennial Park off South Street and World War II Memorial Park off the Milford Oval. Private lands providing access where the public is welcome include the bank on South Street and the Congregational Church property on Union Street.
2. Purgatory Brook: A favorite access point is the bridge over the brook on North River Road 2.7 miles west of the center of town.
3. Hartshorn Pond: This pond is located 2 miles north of the center of town on Rt 13. This pond is not stocked with fish by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, at the request of the donor of the land.
4. Osgood Pond: The pond is accessible from the Hazel Adams Burns Memorial Park and Adams Park, both on Osgood Road.
5. Souhegan River: Fishermen can access the river at Keyes Field; Emerson Park; the Green Iron Bridge, the Swing Bridge, McLane Dam, and Kaley Park.

Conservation Plan
Chapter 1 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4