Woods, Water, and Wildlife in the Great Bay Watershed
In 2017, the Forest Society protected nearly 300 acres at Powder Major’s Farm and Forest in Madbury, Lee, and Durham—creating a valued landscape of trails, wildlife habitat, and river frontage along the Oyster River and Dube Brook.
Now, we have a rare opportunity to build on that success.
We are working to conserve an additional 133 acres just north of the existing forest—expanding this conservation area and strengthening a vital corridor for clean water and wildlife in the Great Bay watershed.
Why This Land Matters
This property sits at the center of an important natural system:
- Protects drinking water: Located near the Bellamy River Reservoir, a primary drinking water source for the City of Portsmouth.
- Safeguards Great Bay: Dube Brook flows into the Oyster River—both headwaters to Great Bay—making this land critical for water quality.
- Supports wildlife habitat: Part of a priority area for the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge, supporting species like New England cottontail, American woodcock, ruffed grouse, and monarch butterflies.
- Connects conserved lands: Links Powder Major’s Forest to the Town of Madbury’s Bolstridge Forest and nearby protected lands, creating a nearly 700-acre conservation corridor north of Route 155.
In this part of the state, where development pressure is high, protecting connected forests like this is especially important.
A Timely Conservation Opportunity
The Forest Society has an agreement in place to purchase this land and is working with strong partners to complete the project.
Thanks to generous support—including grants from the NH Drinking Water and Groundwater Trust Fund, LCHIP, the Great Bay Resource Protection Partnership, and funding from the Town of Madbury—we’ve made significant progress.
Now, we need to raise the final portion from private support.
Help Us Reach the Goal
- Total project cost: $886,000
- Remaining to raise: $150,000
- Deadline: June 30, 2026
Your gift will help protect clean water, conserve important wildlife habitat, and expand a well-loved forest in the Great Bay region.
Lasting Impact
This land will be managed primarily for habitat and water resource values, helping sustain a diverse mix of forest types and sensitive species. While no new trails are planned in the near term, the property plays a quiet but essential role—supporting wildlife movement, protecting water quality, and strengthening the broader landscape of conserved land.
Make a Gift Today
Help conserve this important piece of the Great Bay watershed.
