Debra Marnich. Photo courtesy of Debra Marnich.
The Chocorua Lake Conservancy (CLC) is excited to announce that Debra Marnich is joining the CLC as Stewardship Director.
Deb will be responsible for advancing the stewardship program of the CLC, which is responsible for managing or stewarding 3,300 acres of protected land in the Chocorua Lake Basin across over 110 properties. She will start work with the CLC in early September.
Deb brings to the CLC over two decades of conservation experience at the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (Conway, NH) working with private landowners to plan conservation strategies for their properties; managing large-scale conservation projects with multiple partners, stakeholders, and volunteers; developing and presenting outreach and educational programs; and creating conservation maps using GPS and GIS programs. Deb’s experience also includes working as a forester with the Maine Department of Conservation, managing public lands for silviculture, wildlife projects, and public recreation. Deb has a B.S. in Zoology and an M.S. in Forestry from Southern Illinois University.
“We are very excited to have Deb joining the CLC team,” said Alex Moot, CLC Executive Director. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and relevant experience from her work at NRCS which will help us further support and enhance the CLC’s mission.”
At NRCS, Deb administered Federal cost share programs and provided technical assistance to private landowners as they implemented soil, water, agriculture, and wildlife-related conservation projects. She helped landowners develop conservation plans related to forestry and wildlife management that included practices such as stream habitat improvement, forest stand improvement, early successional habitat creation, and pollinator habitat creation. Deb has also worked with several Federal conservation easement programs and has monitored NRCS easements as well.
Deb has previously worked with the CLC on projects in the Chocorua Lake Basin that addressed forestry, water quality, and wildlife management on CLC conservation properties, including the Clark Reserve, the Charlotte C. Browne Woods, Scott Preserve, and the Island and Grove public lake access properties. She has also assisted many local landowners in Carroll County and the Chocorua Lake Basin with conservation projects on their properties.
“This unique opportunity to conserve and protect land, water, wildlife and recreational resources with the CLC is a lifetime experience for me,” said Deb Marnich. “As Stewardship Director, I am committed to inspiring future generations and creating a lasting positive impact on local conservation and preservation efforts."
The CLC is excited to begin working with Deb as it continues its 50-plus year history of protecting the natural beauty of the Chocorua Lake Basin and providing convenient, attractive, and free public lake access for all visitors.