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NEMBA
News 2003
South Central NH NEMBA
at Work on Merrimack Trails
South Central NH NEMBA at Work on Merrimack
Trails (07/2003)
A dozen members of the SCNH NEMBA chapter
turned out on April 27th to spruce up a length of Class 6 highway in Merrimack, NH,
known locally as Grater Woods. The clean up was coordinated with the
Town who picked up the trash at a central location. The clean up was
followed by a ride that showcased the varied terrain of the Grater
Woods.
The Grater Woods area is a 250-acre parcel of land purchased by the
Town of Merrimack
as an "open space" set aside. The area consists of fire roads
and double track interspersed with many wetlands, ponds and stream
crossings. The Town is attempting to balance recreational uses as well
as preserving the habitats and migratory patterns of the incredibly
diverse wildlife in the area.
The SCNH chapter has been working with the
town closely on how to best manage the many recreational uses of the
area. There is even chapter member, George Borrelli, who sits on the
Merrimack Conservation Committee.
The Town has been very receptive to the chapter's proposals to
develop some areas of the woods as single track. By working with groups
like SCNH NEMBA the Town feels it will
benefit from club sponsored educational programs and trail maintenance.
One of the many challenges of trail development in Grater Woods is
how to best manage trail use by bikers and other trail users such as
ATVs, hunters, and equestrians. To that end, the SCNH
NEMBA is proposing a segregated use of the land, tight single track for
bikes and open double track for motorized use. Several sections of
single track are currently being mapped for town approval. --Tom Vaillancourt
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