Barr Property on the Isinglass River Awarded LCHIP Grant

BARRINGTON, NH — Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, and Senate President Chuck Morse, R-Salem, joined together to congratulate LCHIP’s most recent grant recipients on their hard work and successful efforts toward protecting the special places that define New Hampshire. The Barrington Conservation Commission is receiving a $150,000 award in support of its efforts to project the Barr property on the Isinglass River.

The proposed conservation parcel encompasses approximately 55-acres in Barrington along 4,700 feet of the Isinglass River. The property is proposed to be permanently conserved via a conservation easement held by the Southeast Land Trust of NH and the town. The easement will ensure that the one-mile portion of the popular “Barrington Trail” that runs along the property’s river frontage remains open to the public. The Isinglass River was made a “Designated River” by the Legislature in 2002 for its outstanding natural and cultural resources.

According to NH Fish and Game, the river contains one of the best examples of a native fish community in the state.

“Protection of the Isinglass River corridor as long been a priority for the town, and this is a significant part of that process,” said Conservation Commission Chair John Wallace. “I’m sure that the late owner, Colonel John Barr, who was one of the founders of the Barrington Trail, would be delighted to know that this portion of the trail will always be open for the public’s enjoyment.”

The Commission’s project is one of thirty five awarded funding in LCHIP’s fifteenth grant round supporting projects ranging from Northumberland in the North County to Nashua in the south and from Portsmouth in the east to Claremont in the west. The three and a half million dollars awarded by LCHIP are being matched by nearly $20,000,000 in funds from other sources.

Hassan observed that "The Land and Community Heritage Investment Program is critical to protecting our natural, historical and cultural resources, and I am proud that we restored funding for LCHIP in 2013 and maintained that commitment in our current bipartisan budget. For every dollar invested by LCHIP, we see a significant return on investment through the economic activity generated by those conservation efforts. This year's grants will support important projects across the state that will preserve our natural beauty and protect our rich history and vibrant culture."

Grant decisions are made by the 18-member LCHIP Board of Directors, following a rigorous months-long application and review process.

“The LCHIP Board of Directors is always pleased to help with saving New Hampshire’s historic landmarks and landscapes,” stated LCHIP Board Chairman Doug Cole or DS Cole Growers in Loudon. He continued: “It is great to see historic buildings rehabilitated to their original glory and contributing to the local economy again. Plus, since we all like to eat, protecting farmland is a good investment.”

Submitted by the Barrington Conservation Commission.