News Archive
New Era for Natural Area
Freedom — June 1, 2009 — It was the Age of Aquarius when land developers sold 400 acres of Ossipee Lake forest and swamp to the State in 1969. “Hair” was a hit on Broadway and Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock. The Apollo 11 astronauts landed on the moon. To boaters on the lake, and [...]
Water Quality, Bathrooms and Dogs
Ossipee – February 6, 2009 — Water quality, bathroom alternatives and dogs were among the topics at the second meeting of the Ossipee Lake Natural Area Working Group, the advisory committee that’s helping DRED official Don Kent plan the implementation of a management plan for the 400-acre preserve. Sheila Jones, representing the Town of Effingham, [...]
Natural Area Working Group Begins
Ossipee – November 16, 2008 – There was a mood of optimism and cooperation in Ossipee Town Hall on Friday as boaters, environmentalists and state officials settled into the task of finding common ground in implementing the first-ever management plan for 400-acre Ossipee Lake Natural Area. The 17-member Natural Area Working Group was formed by [...]
Natural Area Working Group to Meet
Select panel of state agencies, local organizations and boaters will advise DRED on implementing the property’s management plan.
Effingham Commission Supports Proposed Management Plan
The following letter was sent to DRED by the chair of Effingham Conservation Commission on July 8, 2008: Dear Donald Kent: At the outset, we at Effingham Conservation Commission wish to let DRED know of our support to Alternative 3 (OLNA beach partially open to public) amongst the three alternatives proposed. To that extent, the [...]
DRED’s Proposed Natural Area Plan Seeks Balance
Part of the shoreline would be open for public access and the remainder would be closed to protect natural and historical resources. Officials say success depends on public support from boaters, local communities and stakeholder groups.
Pine Barrens Eyed for Protection
By Roger Amsden OSSIPEE — December 23, 2007 — An effort to protect one of New Hampshire’s most endangered ecosystems, the Ossipee Pine Barrens, is on the verge of obtaining $2.34 million in federal funds. The funds from the federal Forest Legacy program will enable The New Hampshire chapter of the Nature Conservacy to acquire [...]
Natural Area Restrictions Announced
By Terry Leavitt Ossipee – August 23, 2007 – The N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development announced Monday that it is closing most of the beach in the Ossipee Lake Natural Area to public access beginning this week. The 9,200 feet of shoreline, also known locally as Long Sands, is a popular destination for [...]
Long Sands Group Presses DRED
By Alliance Staff
Ossipee – August 6, 2007 – Firing a salvo at State officials, Long Sands Association President George Eisener has written a public letter saying New Hampshire landowners should think twice before selling property to the State agency DRED because of its track record with Ossipee Lake Natural Area.
Kayaking the Natural Area
By Ed Parsons
Ossipee – June 26, 2007 – Here are descriptions of a couple recent interesting and contrasting kayak forays. One is in a 180-acre shallow pond created by a dam. The other involves a short river trip to the fifth largest lake in New Hampshire and a journey to an endangered shoreline.
Commission Says Protection Needed
By Terry Leavitt
Ossipee – June 14, 2007 – Town officials and local conservation activists are questioning the efficacy of N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development’s recent announcement of efforts to educate boaters about the use of Ossipee Lake Natural Area.
State Posts Signs at Natural Area
By Terry Leavitt
Ossipee – May 31, 2007 – State officials kicked off a new effort to educate the public about what uses are allowed at Long Sands this weekend.
Natural Area Priorities Debated
By Roger Amsden Ossipee – May 6, 2007 – Preservation or recreation — or a combination of both? That was the issue that brought more than 80 people to the conference center at Camp Calumet yesterday for an informational planning session on future uses of state-owned Ossipee Lake Natural Area. The 400-acre area, also known [...]
DRED Must Lead
By Alliance Staff [Editorial]
This week Ossipee Lake Alliance announced the results of our “state of the lake” survey summarizing the opinions of lake property owners, renters, campers and local residents who fish and boat there.
Beach at Long Sands Busy Again
By Terry Leavitt
While talk of putting a town beach on Ossipee Lake has died down, complaints about the way boaters use the beach at Long Sands continue. Selectman Harry Merrow said there are three times as many boats using the beach this year as there were last year.
Merrow Backs off from Beach
By Terry Leavitt
Ossipee – February 17, 2006 – Selectman and state Rep. Harry Merrow is backing away from his plan to create a new town beach at Long Sands on Ossipee Lake — at least for the present.
Merrow Recommends Pulling Plug On Natural Area Plant Study
By Alliance Staff
Ossipee – February 14, 2006 – In a written statement submitted at last night’s Ossipee Selectmen’s meeting, Harry Merrow recommended that the town cancel the second phase of the botanical study of Ossipee Lake Natural Area.
Lynch Taps Bald for Return to DRED
By Chelsea Conaboy
Concord – February 3, 2006 – Gov. John Lynch announced yesterday that he will ask George Bald, who led the Department of Resources and Economic from 1998 to 2004, to come back to the department as its next commissioner.
State Disputes Ossipee On Beach Claims
By Alliance Staff
Freedom – January 22, 2006 – State officials have told Ossipee Lake Alliance there is no basis in fact to statements that White Lake State Park turns away visitors or that the Marine Patrol opposes swimming at Constitution Park Beach.
Plant Found in Lake Natural Area Is “Critically Imperiled” In State
By Barre Hellquist
Ossipee – January 7, 2006 – Ossipee Lake has been known for a number of rare plants occurring along its shores or in its immediate vicinity. The Ossipee Lake shoreline harbors many uncommon species due to its similarities to the coastal, sandy regions to the south and east.
Alliance Says Beach Study Highlights Need For Protection
By Terry Leavitt
Ossipee – December 22, 2005 – Ossipee Lake Alliance says the initial study of natural resources at Long Sands shows that the proposed site for a new town beach for Ossipee does in fact have rare plants and significant plant communities that need to be protected.
Permanent State Protection Next Step for Lake Natural Area
By Alliance Staff [Editorial]
Freedom – December 5, 2005 – The Ossipee-funded botanical report has been released and the results are clear: Ossipee Lake Natural Area remains as unique as previous research has shown.
Merrow Says Plant Survey Results Inconclusive
By Terry Leavitt
Ossipee – November 24, 2005 – Selectman Harry Merrow released the state report on natural resources at Long Sands and said that at this time those results are inconclusive. They do not rule out the creation of a town beach on the land, but further study is needed, he said.
New Study Confirms Lake Natural Area Contains Rare, Endangered Plants
By Alliance Staff
Freedom – November 22, 2005 – The latest botanical study of Ossipee Lake Natural Area shows that the proposed location of a town beach contains five natural communities, four of which are rare in New Hampshire and one of which is the only known example of its type in the state. The site also contains an endangered individual plant species.
Ossipee Resident Irked By Town Hall ‘Editorial’ Regarding Beach Battle
By Nate Giarnese
Ossipee – November 10, 2005 – Selectmen offered little response Monday to a Long Sands Road resident’s complaint that the board editorialized on a divisive public beach battle when a selectman posted a one-sided commentary at town hall.
DRED Discusses Expectations of Ossipee In Beach Project
By Alliance Staff
Ossipee – November 3, 2005 – What is required for Ossipee to obtain state approval to construct a beach in Ossipee Lake Natural Area? What will the town’s responsibilities be? Why did DRED re-open the beach issue after rejecting it in 1999?
A Walk In the Natural Area
By Barre Hellquist
Ossipee – October 14, 2005 – To get a perspective on a place like Ossipee Lake Natural Area, there’s nothing like exploring it with a biologist – especially if it’s Barre Hellquist, the long-time lake resident and co-author of “Aquatic and Wetland Plants of North America,” the definitive textbook on the subject.
Ossipee Lake Alliance Says Ossipee Doesn’t Need New Beach
By Terry Leavitt
Ossipee – October 6, 2005 – David Smith, executive director of Ossipee Lake Alliance, has written a letter to Sean O’Kane, commissioner of the N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development, questioning the town’s need for another beach on Ossipee Lake, particularly one that will use state land at Long Sands.
1,454 days…
It has been since DRED implemented the new Natural Area management plan.
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- New Era for Natural Area
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