Join the Squam Lakes Association (SLA) on April 3rd from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm for an exploration of the intricate habitats around the Squam watershed. LRCC AmeriCorps member and conservation professional, Ben Grunwald, will lead participants on a one mile hike through Belknap Woods as they look at different types of wetlands and microhabitats. Participants will meet at the Belknap Woods trailhead off of Rt. 25b in Center Harbor, and should be prepared with cold weather hiking gear as well as water and snacks for the hike.
Wetlands and other small habitats within the woods of New Hampshire are over-looked, but important components of our local ecosystems. They provide ecological services with far reaching effects, such as filtering pollutants and creating unique breeding grounds and homes for many species. However, they are also under threat from human disturbances, as they can be easily overrun by invasive plants and damaged due to development in the surrounding habitat. In order to help maintain New Hampshire’s diverse natural communities, it is important to be able to recognize these habitats and understand how to preserve them.
Participants will get the opportunity to identify these habitats, and understand how human disturbance changes the dynamics of the forest understory. Additionally, participants will find out how to make their own backyards more habitable for early spring critters that might take advantage of natural and artificial wetlands and microhabitats. This is an opportunity for members of the community to get connected into small scale conservation efforts and citizen science programs that can make a big difference for our watershed. Participants should be prepared for early springtime conditions on the trail with proper footgear and traction devices. Updates on the program due to changing trail conditions or weather will be sent out to participants that sign up ahead of time.
For more information, or to sign up for this Adventure Ecology program, visit the SLA website (squamlakes.org) or contact the SLA directly (603-968-7336). The SLA also offers other guided hikes and environmental programs throughout the year. These free programs, presented by the LRCC AmeriCorps members at the SLA, are open to the public and cover a variety of conservation related topics and activities around the lake.
