Conservation Almanac

Almanac

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New England

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New Hampshire

New Hampshire Profile of State Programs and Policy Framework

Highlighted Local Programs

New Hampshire

Highlighted State Programs

New Hampshire

State Policy Framework

New Hampshire

Disclaimer

To avoid double counting acres where multiple programs contributed to the acquisition of a single parcel, the parcel acreage is only aggregated under the program that provided the majority of funding. For example, if the chart displays a dollar amount greater than $0, but also shows 0 acres, it is because the program was not the primary contributor for any parcels in that year.

Highlighted Local Programs

Local data coming soon.

Highlighted State Programs

Land and Community Heritage Investment Program

In September 2000, the New Hampshire Land & Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP) was formed. LCHIP is an independent state authority that makes matching grants to New Hampshire communities and non-profits to conserve the state’s most important natural, cultural and historic resources.

LCHIP receives an appropriation from the New Hampshire legislature for grant making. All appropriated funds go directly to projects. Eighty percent of the funding for a project comes from the community. LCHIP funds cover on average, 20 percent of the project cost.

LCHIP also receives $6 from each sale of a conservation license plate (Moose Plate). Sixty percent of administrative costs are paid for through license plate funds and the remaining forty percent as interest earned from the Trust Fund.

YearAcresDollars
2004 3,798.5 $1,798,000
2003 14,001.1 $3,902,149
2002 1,875.3 $2,912,800
2001 2,790.3 $1,490,000
Total22,465.2 $10,102,949

Water Supply Land Conservation Grant Program

The Water Supply Land Conservation Grant Program allows the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) to make 25 percent matching grants to municipal water suppliers for the purchase of land or conservation easements critical to their water quality.

The state grants must be matched 75 percent from local sources. These match sources can include donated land or easements that are also within the source water protection area, public funds, transaction expenses, or private funds. Also, there is a low interest loan fund available from DES that may be used to finance the match.

YearAcresDollars
2005 387.0 $597,306
2004 39.0 $92,200
2003 210.0 $295,523
2002 1,227.0 $2,013,898
2000 1,888.0 $1,353,125
Total3,751.0 $4,352,052

Department of Resources and Economic Development

The Land Management Bureau in the Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) is responsible for the acquisition of land for expansion of the state forest and state park system.

Presently there are no regularly appropriated state funds for DRED land acquisitions. Occasionally, the legislature will appropriate a specific amount for a specific project. Most rights in real estate acquired by the state are either gifted or purchased with federal dollars from programs like Forest Legacy and LWCF.

YearAcresDollars
2005 7,826.2 $2,494,000
2004 207.1 $0
2003 150,414.5 $15,980,750
2002 1,477.0 $2,195,000
2001 28,596.4 $3,686,000
2000 106.2 $1,000
1999 99.2 $1,100,000
1998 86.0 $37,000
Total188,812.8 $25,493,750

State Policy Framework

Substantial State Investment

Enable Local Financing

State Incentive for Local Land Conservation

Public-Private Partnerships

Conservation Tax Credits

Federal Partnerships

Some data was not provided on a yearly basis, but rather as an aggregate figure. In this case we have distributed total acres acquired and/or dollars spent evenly by year.