In December 2016, the John Moir, Jr., family, of Washington Hill Road, Chocorua, and Stuart, Florida, presented a wonderful holiday gift to the Chocorua community and to the Chocorua Lake Conservancy.

By their gift, the Moirs created a perpetual Conservation Easement (CE) on 92 acres of previously unprotected land on Washington Hill Road. The new CE abuts the CLC’s Brown Lot, and is a significant addition to the network of nearly 3,800 acres already conserved or owned by the CLC for the protection of the water quality and scenic values of the Chocorua Lake Basin.

This extensive network of protected lands provides important connectivity for wildlife migration, a factor which has become increasingly important in an era of climate change. The CE creates a forested buffer along the western side of scenic Washington Hill Road and on the portion of the property visible from Chocorua Lake, protecting those scenic areas forever, while allowing active forest management by the Moir family. The CE prohibits new structures on the remainder of the parcel, except those used for forestry and other permitted activities, such as maple sugaring.

The Moir family has summered on Washington Hill Road since 1929, when the former Oliver property was purchased by John Moir, Jr.’s aunt, Edith R. Moir. John and Heather Moir’s children, Jim, Alan, and Alex, grew up exploring and enjoying the Washington Hill woods.

Now John, his son Jim and wife Kim, and Jim and Kim’s son Colton spend a part of each summer on the property, enjoying the cool New Hampshire woods and the company of their Washington Hill neighbors and friends, knowing that a large portion of their land is protected forever.

The CLC is very appreciative to the Moir family for protecting this important parcel of land.

Banner: Wolf Pine tree on Moir family easement. Photo: Lynne Flaccus