Assessment of College Woods
Part I
Inventory of Natural Resources and Uses
A report to the Ecosystems Task Force
April 6, 2012
*
*
*
Authors: Steve Eisenhaure and Tom Lee
Contributions from Don Chandler, Cary Rhodes, Nate Trauntvein
and members of the Advisory Committee on Land and Property Use
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LAND AND PROPERTY USE: Doug Bencks, Bill
Berndtson, Denny Byrne, Matt Chagnon, Don Chandler, Steve Eisenhaure, David
Gress, John Halstead, Tom Kelly, Tom Lee, Mike Mason, John McLean, Tom Oxford,
Cary Rhodes, Sarah Smith, Nate Trauntvein, Rich Vannozzi, Jon Wraith.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We sincerely thank the following student volunteers who
freely contributed their valuable time and effort to either conduct the field portion
of the recreational use survey or assist with collection of wetland data.
Catie Childs
Emma Congalton
Meghan E. Curtis
Padraic B. Dayton
Jessica L. Dick
Cameron A. Duquette
Jonathan J. Gilbert
Janet Gorman
Kellie L. Hummel
Mikayla B. Jacobs
Craig M. LaFleur
Jeannine M. Louro
Will Lynch
Bryan J. MacMillan
Paul K. Mareb
Sarah McGraw
Zach Merrigan
Michael R. Quinlan
Hallett H. Sargent
Eileen E. Sipple
Alison Stager
Liza Tetley
Tenzin Yeshi
Logan T. Young
Thanks also to Audrey Perkins for assistance with data analysis.
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
2) INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
a) Background……………………………………………………………………………………………………
7
b) Purpose of this document……………………………………………………………………………..
8
c) What is College Woods?…………………………………………………………………………........ 9
3) DESCRIPTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES …………………………………………………………….. 10
a) Physical resources…………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
i) Ecological setting……………………………………………………………………………………... 10
ii) Topography and general description……………………………………………………….… 10
iii) Geology………………………………………………………………………………………………….… 11
iv) Soils and site quality…………………………………………………………………………………. 11
v) Water……………………………………………………………………………………………............ 13
(1) Watersheds………………………………………………………………………………..……… 13
(2) Open water bodies………………………………………………………………………....... 13
(3) Perennial and intermittent streams…………………………………………….……… 14
b) Biodiversity………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
i) Vegetation and natural communities…………………………………….…………………. 15
(1) Forest history…………………………………………………………………………….……….. 15
(2) Forest vegetation and natural communities………………………………….…..… 18
(3) Wetlands and natural communities………………………………………………….…. 20
(4) Unique Natural Features…………………………………………………………………….. 24
(a) Exemplary upland communities………………………………………………..…… 24
(b) Exemplary wetland communities………………………………………………..…. 24
2
ii) Species…………………………………………………………………………………………………..… 26
(1) Vascular plants…………………………………………………………………………………... 26
(2) Insects and spiders (Written by Don Chandler)……………………………………. 26
(3) Fish……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 27
(4) Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians………………………………………….. 28
(5) Animal species of concern………………………………………………………………..… 30
iii) Unique wildlife habitat assets………………………………………………………………..… 34
iv) Corridors or connected “green-ways”………………………………………………………. 35
v) Invasive plants and pests………………………………………………………………………... 37
4) DESCRIPTION OF USES……………………………………………………………………………………….. 40
a) Drinking water……………………………………………………………………………………………..
40
b) Teaching……………………..……………………………………………………………………............
40
c) Research…………………………………………………………………………………......................
41
d) Recreation…………………………………………………………………………………………………...
42
e) Resource management (timber harvest, wildlife management)………………….. 49
f) Other uses…………………………………………………………………………………………………...
51
5) REFERENCES…………………..……………………………………………………………………................ 53
6) APPENDICES……………..……………………………………………………………………..................... 55
3
1) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION In the spring of 2010, the University of New Hampshire “Ecosystems Task
Force” was established under the auspices of the UNH Sustainability Academy. The Task Force
asked the Advisory Committee on Land and Property Use to (1) assess the natural resources
and uses of College Woods and other undeveloped university lands west of the railroad tracks,
to (2) describe the spatial distribution of these values, and to (3) make recommendations about
future use of these lands. This document meets one part of the committee’s charge by
providing an inventory of natural resources and uses for College Woods. A separate document
will focus on the spatial analysis and recommendations for College Woods.
College Woods is presently defined as those UNH-owned lands west of the railroad tracks,
north of Mill Road, south of Main Street, and east of Route 155A that are currently managed by
the UNH Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas. Total area is ca. 230 acres (105 ha). College
Woods includes the 67 acre College Woods Natural Area, established in 1962, “to be left
undisturbed for the study and enjoyment of future generations”. At present, no part of College
Woods is permanently or legally protected from development.
PHYSICAL RESOURCES The topography of College Woods is gently undulating with a relief of
approximately 60-70 feet. Nearly all of College Woods is underlain by a single igneous bedrock
type, Exeter diorite, but most of the bedrock is covered by a mantle of glacial till, marine
sediment, alluvium, or some combination of these. Four soil types have formed on these
substrates, but two, Buxton and Hollis-Charlton, are dominant.
The Oyster River flows through College Woods for a distance of approximately 0.7 miles, the
western half being free-flowing, while the eastern half is impounded, forming a reservoir which
stores about 9 million gallons of water. There are two major perennial streams, College Brook,
which flows easterly along the northern boundary of the woods, and Swamp Brook, which
drains the central portion of College Woods and also flows to the east (toward campus). There
are several small intermittent streams and the most prominent of these are tributaries of
College Brook.
All of College Woods lies within the watershed of the Oyster River. Of particular interest,
however, is the sub-watershed of the Oyster River Reservoir, which provides drinking water for
UNH and the Town of Durham. About 57% of College Woods lies within this sub-watershed. All
other areas of College Woods eventually drain into the Oyster River downstream of the
reservoir.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES: NATURAL COMMUNITIES The different kinds of forest and wetland
that comprise College Woods owe their existence to variation in the physical environment and
to human and natural disturbances. As an example of the latter, much of what is forest today
was agricultural land a century ago.
4
Four major forest community types exist within College Woods: hemlock-beech-oak-pine (in
and around the Natural Area), eastern white pine – hardwoods (west of the Natural Area and
north of the river), mixed hardwoods – eastern white pine- eastern hemlock (upland areas
south of the reservoir and bordering Mill Road), eastern white pine – eastern hemlock (north
facing slopes and riparian zone south of the river and reservoir). The College Woods Natural
Area contains excellent examples of upland hemlock-beech-oak-pine forest and hemlock-pine
forest, and these are recognized as significant in the region. These stands are exceptional due
to the great size and age of the eastern white pine and eastern hemlock trees, some of which
exceed 120 feet (ca. 35 meters) in height, 3 feet (ca. 90 cm) in diameter, and 300 years of age.
Old hemlock-pine forest occurs in six patches mainly in the western, northern, and central
portions of the Natural Area.
Less than 10% of College Woods is classified as wetland, and most of this wetland is forested
rather than open. Six broad wetland community types can be distinguished. Four are forested
wetland communities, mainly red maple swamps, one, an alluvial alder thicket, is shrubdominated, and one is a mixed tall graminoid scrub-shrub meadow marsh. Two wetland
community types considered rare or imperiled in the state (with fewer than 20 occurrences
statewide) are the red maple – black ash – swamp saxifrage community and the red maple –
elm – lady fern silt forest community.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES: SPECIES At the level of species, the biodiversity of College Woods
is, surprisingly, poorly known. A vascular plant survey, done in the 1970s reported 292 species
(> 10% of the State’s known flora) from the Natural Area and adjacent reservoir. None of the
listed species are known to be rare or endangered at the state or federal levels. Sampling just a
small portion of College Woods (east of Channel 11 studio) revealed 280 species of insects and
spiders. While no data on fish species diversity are available from the Oyster River in College
Woods, 16 species occur elsewhere in the Oyster River. The Oyster River is the only New
Hampshire stream with a population of American brook lamprey eel (Lampetra sp.), and four
other freshwater species of concern to the State occur in the river.
The number of vertebrate species (other than fish) that is expected to use College Woods is
estimated at 62 birds, 28 mammals, and 18 reptiles and amphibians. Informal reports of actual
sightings include 24 birds, 10 mammals, and 7 reptiles and amphibians, but no comprehensive
surveys have been done. With successional and mature woodland, river frontage and
associated riparian zones, College woods itself is a substantial and unique wildlife habitat
resource. In fact, portions of the College Woods are the highest ranked wildlife habitat by
condition and by biological region according to the NH State Wildlife Action Plan. College
Woods has habitat appropriate for a variety of ‘species of concern’ to the State, including
several bats and various birds. The most unique wildlife asset in College Woods is the
population of live but ancient white pine and hemlock trees, which offer specific habitat
elements unavailable anywhere else in the immediate area.
Conservation of biodiversity in College Woods depends on migration of species to and from
adjacent undeveloped lands via wildlife corridors. Such corridors include the railroad right of
5
way to the north and south, the Oyster River valley on private lands west of College Woods and
its associated linkages to southern conservation lands across Mill Road and western protected
lands in Durham and Lee, and, finally, the northwestern connection to Moore Fields.
BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES: RELATED ISSUES Non-native, invasive species are a concern in
College Woods. At least 10 non-native plant species are invasive in College Woods. Some, such
as glossy buckthorn, are widespread. Two tree diseases caused by introduced insects and fungi
are present: Dutch elm disease and beech bark disease. Three non-native insect pests that
damage and kill trees will likely reach College Woods in the next few years: Hemlock woolly
adelgid (arrival imminent), emerald ash borer, and Asian longhorned beetle.
Facing the reality of human-induced climate change, there is value in storing carbon in biomass
instead of allowing it to add heat-trapping capacity to the atmosphere. The forest in College
Woods is, overall, a young forest that adds biomass – and thus stores additional carbon –
estimated as the equivalent of 195 metric tons of carbon per year, the equivalent of 714 metric
tons of carbon dioxide.
USES: TEACHING AND RESEARCH College Woods has been intensively used by students and
faculty as an outdoor classroom and research facility. Forty-eight courses from three of the four
academic colleges and from 12 programs currently conduct activities in College Woods. Forty of
these are administered by the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture. Over 60% of courses
make multiple visits to College Woods, with the mean number of visits per course being 3.3. For
the academic year 2010-2011 there was an estimated total of 5240 visits to College Woods by
UNH students for the purpose of education. Some courses use specific areas of the woods in
order to achieve particular academic objectives. While some areas, such as the Natural Area,
the forest on the north side of the reservoir, and the northern-most section of woods (east of
the Channel 11 studio), receive heavy use, other areas are less frequently used.
Five research projects are currently underway in College Woods. These range from studies of
water quality to an examination of fragmentation of the Great Bay watershed. A regional study
of the growth of white pine trees was initiated in the 1960s and continues today. A survey of all
masters and doctoral theses in the library of the Department of Natural Resources and the
Environment found that 21 of these theses had conducted research in College Woods; some of
these have resulted in peer-reviewed publications.
USES: RECREATION College Woods, with nearly 12 miles of footpaths and woods roads and
seven entry points, is open to all forms of non-invasive pedestrian based-recreational activity,
including hiking, running, snowshoeing, skiing, bicycling, and nature study. The highest
concentration of use is in areas closest to campus, centered on the Natural Area.
An on-site recreation survey estimated that recreational visitation was about three times that
of academic/athletic use. The number of persons entering College Woods for recreational
purposes at the three main entrances in the fall of 2011 was estimated at 20 persons per hour.
Even if half that entered College Woods for 8 hours per day from May through October (6
6
months, 184 days), College Woods would register 14,720 recreational visits. Of all recreational
visits, 32.3% were walking, 43.7% were running, 13.4% were walking (or running with) a dog,
and 10.6% were bicycling.
Similar to the on-site survey, data from trail registers showed that most visits were for purposes
of recreation. Forty-two percent of registering visitors were from the community (not affiliated
with UNH) with fifty-one percent representing UNH students, staff, faculty, and alumni. In
contrast to the data from the on-site survey, the vast majority (92%) of visitors using registers
traveled by walking.
USES: ATHLETICS Several university athletic teams and clubs routinely use College Woods for
training and formal competition.
USES: RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Outside of the Natural Area, within which human
disturbance is not permitted, College Woods has been managed for various forest products.
Resource management includes timber stand improvement as well as sustainable harvest of
trees for sawtimber, pulpwood, pallet wood, and firewood. Over 400 MBF of sawtimber has
been removed since 1930.
USES: DRINKING WATER The Oyster River reservoir, located entirely within College Woods,
supplies both the University and the Town of Durham with drinking water. In recent years the
plant has removed approximately 220 million gallons annually from the reservoir. Roughly 57%
of College Woods – almost all of the land south of the river and about a third of the land north
of it – lies within the watershed of the reservoir.
USES: OTHER Up North Orienteers organizes formal orienteering events once or twice a year
in College Woods and classes from the Oyster River School District have used College Woods for
field trips.
FOR MORE DETAIL The present document draws heavily from the College Woods
Management Plan (Eisenhaure 2012), which should be consulted for more detailed information.
2) INTRODUCTION
a) Background
Since its establishment on Ben Thompson’s Durham farm in 1893, the University of New
Hampshire has developed its built campus on the eastern portion of the land Thompson
bequeathed to the state. Over the decades, the University has acquired additional undeveloped
property primarily west of what was Thompson’s land. Today, the campus can be divided into
two distinct parts, a heavily developed portion east of the railroad tracks and a less developed
7
portion to the west, dominated by two large undeveloped parcels: College Woods and the
Woodman Horticultural Farm. These undeveloped parcels have served the University as
outdoor classrooms and laboratories, sites for passive recreation, and as buffer for the local
drinking water supply.
Over the last few years, there has been heightened interest in the undeveloped land
“west of the tracks”. Some expressed the view that these lands had conservation value and
ought to be protected from development through a formal conservation easement. Others
raised concerns about protection and expansion of the UNH-Durham water supply, including
the possibility of tapping the Spruce Hole aquifer west of College Woods. Finally, the
University’s planning process raised questions about locations for future expansion of the built
campus. Meeting in early January 2010, the UNH Committee on Real Property Acquisition and
Disposal recommended the establishment of a task force that would research these three areas
– conservation value, water supply, and future campus expansion – and provide
recommendations.
In the spring of 2010, an “Ecosystems Task Force” was established under the auspices of
the UNH Sustainability Academy. The task force created two new committees, one to deal with
the UNH/Durham water supply (Oyster River and Spruce Hole aquifer) and another to focus on
future campus expansion and development. The pre-existing Advisory Committee on Land and
Property Use was charged with assessing the conservation values of College Woods, the
Woodman Farm, and possibly the private lands west of College Woods.
Specifically, the committee was asked to do the following:
1) Conduct an inventory of natural resources and current and past uses of College
Woods and Woodman Farm,
2) Within these properties, use spatial analysis to identify those areas that have
greatest value in the undeveloped state,
3) Make recommendations about future use and delineate a boundary for what should
be designated as undeveloped land.
b) Purpose of this document
This purpose of this document is to present an inventory of natural resources and uses
(task 1, above) for College Woods. A separate document will focus on the spatial analysis and
recommendations (tasks 2 and 3) for College Woods, and a corresponding pair of documents
will present similar information about the Woodman Horticultural Farm.
8
c) What is College Woods?
College Woods is presently defined as those UNH-owned lands west of the railroad
tracks, north of Mill Road, south of Main Street, and east of Route 155A that are currently
managed by the UNH Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas (see Map 1 for exact boundary
and Eisenhaure 2012 for more detail). College Woods includes the 67 acre College Woods
Natural Area (Map 1), established in 1962 to “mirror the true nature of the pine-hardwood
forest” and “to be left undisturbed for the study and enjoyment of future generations” (Bruns
1963). No such singular statement of purpose exists for the portion of College Woods outside of
the Natural Area. No part of the College Woods presently enjoys legal protection from
development.
Map 1. The University of New Hampshire College Woods (light blue) with Natural
Area (within light red border), Durham NH.
9
3) DESCRIPTION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
a) Physical resources
i) Ecological setting
College Woods is in the transition hardwoods forest region of New England, a part of
the larger eastern deciduous forest biome. This classification is based on vegetation
composition which, in turn, is a direct result of climate (Sperduto and Kimball 2011). In terms of
eco-regions, College Woods lies on or near the boundary of the Gulf of Maine Coastal Plain and
Gulf of Maine Coastal lowland subsection of the Lower New England section. Ecoregions are
distinguished from each other not only by climate, but by underlying bedrock and soil type
(Sperduto and Kimball 2011). College Woods lies entirely within the watershed of the Oyster
River and, at a larger scale, within the Piscataqua River-Coastal watershed. Portions of the
property are classified as the highest ranked wildlife habitat by condition and by biological
region according to the NH State Wildlife Action Plan (2005).
ii) Topography and general description
College Woods is a 230 acre parcel that is nearly 100% wooded; the only exceptions are
small natural disturbances (canopy gaps) and infrequent open wetlands. The property is divided
by the west-to-east flowing Oyster River, with 2/3 of the property north of the river (Map 1).
College Woods is bounded by other UNH lands on the east, north, and northwest; and by
private land to the south and southwest.
Land abutting College Woods is in a mixed developed/undeveloped state. The northern
edge borders a combination of agricultural and athletic fields (Map 1). The eastern edge adjoins
the developed campus and has seen increased encroachment in the past 20 years. Scattered
buildings and impervious surfaces run adjacent to and often directly through the forested edge;
the portion of the eastern edge south of the Oyster River directly abuts an active north/south
rail line.
The southern boundary of College Woods has frontage on Mill Road, a two lane paved
road that links downtown Durham to Packers Falls Road to the southwest (Map 1). South of Mill
Road is low density residential development. The private land on the western edge is entirely
forested and is similar to the western part of College Woods in topography and composition of
vegetation.
To the north of the river and within the College Woods boundary there is considerable
topographic relief (approximately 60-70 feet, 18-21 meters). North of the river there are several
pronounced hillocks punctuated by small rocky outcroppings. Evidence of historical quarrying
10
can be found on these open granite faces. Nestled between these uplands and at other lower
elevations are occasional pocket wetlands, most of which are associated with the two smaller
streams that run through this area, College Brook (historically known as “Thompson Brook”)
which runs along the northern edge of College Woods and Swamp Brook, which drains the
central part of the Natural Area (see description of streams below, under “Water”).
There are few drainages that run directly from the northern part of College Woods into
the Oyster River. In fact, as one approaches the Oyster River from the north or south, there is a
quick transition from upland to riverbank with minimal flood plain. The limited flood plain areas
that can be found along the north bank of the river west of the reservoir do not show signs of
significant recent inundation and do not support wetland communities.
South of the Oyster River, the land near Mill Road is generally flat and occasionally
rocky. About half the distance from Mill Road to the river, the ground quickly drops away to the
Oyster River Reservoir. Southwest of the reservoir is a similar hilly topography as that to the
north, characterized by rocky hillocks running north-south and terminating at the Oyster River.
The highest point of these rocky knolls rises approximately 30 to 40 feet (9-12 meters) above
the low ground that separates them. Many of the low areas hold standing water for a part of
the year; two of them are large enough to be considered wetlands and are fed by various seeps.
Nearest the river there is a flood plain that has experienced considerable historic flooding.
However, as on the north bank, there is no distinctive floodplain vegetation.
iii) Geology
Nearly all of College Woods is underlain by a single igneous bedrock type, Exeter diorite,
although the western fringe of the property likely covers a portion of the Eliot formation, a mix
of metamorphic rocks (Lyons et al. 1997). Outcroppings of Exeter diorite occur throughout
College Woods, especially on the ridges in the south central portion of the Natural Area. Over
most of the area, the bedrock is covered by a mantle of glacial till, marine sediment, alluvium,
or some combination of these (Vieira et al. 1973). These surficial deposits serve as parent
materials for the soils described in the next section.
iv) Soils and site quality (see Eisenhaure 2012 for more detail)
There are four soil types in College Woods (Map 2) but two, Buxton and Hollis-Charlton,
are dominant. Buxton, derived from marine sediment, makes up a large portion of the Natural
Area while Hollis-Charlton, derived from glacial till, covers greater than 90% of the area outside
of the Natural Area. Mixed alluvial deposits occur along the Oyster River, with Scantic soils
(marine sediment) along the eastern and northern edge of College Woods.
In general, soils associated with riverine or marine origins have higher moisture levels
and fertility; hardwoods have greater competitive ability on these soils. In contrast, areas soils
11
on till are drier and less fertile and softwoods (pine and hemlock) have competitive advantage.
This is confounded in College Woods, as land use history has disrupted the natural course of
events; thus some vegetation has been shaped by our hands rather than land capability.
Map 2. Soils of College Woods. For meaning of soil type codes, see text.
N
300 ft
Buxton silt loam (BzB in Map 2)(parent material: marine silt and clay)
Seasonal wetness and low permeability can limit access on these soils. These sites are
rated good in their productivity for white pine [65]1, upland oaks [59] and northern hardwoods
[55]; and benefit wildlife in their above average ability to support grasses, legumes, wild upland
herbs, and hardwoods. Buxton soils do not lend themselves to road or trail construction.
Hollis-Charlton (HcB, HcC, HdB on Map 2) (parent material: glacial till)
These soils are rated fair for pine [55] and upland oaks [50] and good for northern
hardwoods [55]. Limitations on operability range from moderate to severe while windthrow
risk in general is moderate. Limitations with this soil are generally related to rockiness; this can
1
Average Site Index ratings are listed following each species designation within the specific soil descriptions (e.g.
White pine [79] would be a site index of 79 for this species).
12
be mitigated through careful skid road and harvest unit layout. Windthrow risk can be lessened
through appropriate harvesting methods. Hollis Charlton soils are only rated fair in their ability
to produce elements favorable to wildlife.
Scantic Silt Loam (Sca, ScB on Map 2) (parent material: marine silt and clay)
Scantic soils are not well drained and therefore limit management due to susceptibility
to windthrow and poor support for woods roads. These soils are rated fair in their productivity
for both white pine [55] and northern hardwoods [50] and poor for upland oaks [44]. Scantic
soils benefit wildlife in the above average ability to produce hardwoods as well as wetlandassociated food and cover plants.
Mixed Alluvial (MI on Map 2) (parent material: alluvial sediment)
This soil is a mixture of different types of materials found in stream bottoms, floodplains
and, backwaters. Common vegetation includes red maple and wetland herbs, usually grasses
and sedges. Generally wet, these soils are often a barrier for management although they
produce diverse vegetation for wildlife.
v) Water
(1) Watersheds
All of College Woods lies within the watershed of the Oyster River. Of particular interest,
however, is the sub-watershed of the Oyster River Reservoir, which provides drinking water for
UNH and the Town of Durham (see section on “Description of Uses”). About 57% of College
Woods lies within this sub-watershed (Map 3). All of College Woods south of the reservoir,
except for 26 acres along the south eastern boundary, lies within the reservoir’s sub-watershed.
North of the reservoir, all of the land within approximately 500-1000 feet of the river and
reservoir lie within the reservoir’s sub-watershed. All other areas of College Woods eventually
drain into the Oyster River, but downsteam of the reservoir.
(2) Open water bodies
The Oyster River, 17 miles long, stretches from its source in Barrington to Little Bay, in
eastern Durham. The river flows through College Woods for a distance of approximately 0.7
miles (1.1 km), the western half being free-flowing (Map 3), while the eastern half is
impounded by a 21 foot (6 m) dam constructed in 1933-34 (Map 3). Since 1935, the UNH Arthur
Rollins Water Treatment Plant has supplied both the University and the Town of Durham with
drinking water from this reservoir, which stores about 9 million gallons. (See also section on
“Drinking water”).
13
Other than the Oyster River and reservoir, there is only one other open water feature in
College Woods. Although its origin is unclear, there is a small (1/10 ac., 1/20 ha) permanent
open water source just east of Leawood Orchard (labeled as 1 within wetland B on Map 3). This
body is connected to the wetland to the south (wetland C on Map 3), and its open water is
likely used by a variety of wildlife. While its ecological contribution is not substantial, the
unique location and permanent water supply make it a feature that should likely be preserved.
Map 3. Open water bodies and streams of College Woods. 1 = unnamed water body, 2
and 3 = intermittent streams. Dashed red line = approximate watershed of Oyster River
Reservoir.
College Brook
2
1
College Brook
3
Swamp Brook
Oyster River
Reservoir
(3) Perennial and intermittent streams
(3) Perennial and intermittent streams
There are two major perennial streams in College Woods. The largest, College Brook
(Map 3), originates in a wetland on the north side of Old Concord Road west of Mast Road,
gathers water near the junction of Old Concord Road and Mast Road, flows under Mast road
14
and meets the northwestern corner of College Woods near the Channel 11 Studio. Here, it
meanders and roughly defines the northwestern boundary of College Woods for approximately
¾ of a mile (1.1 km), then goes underground through most of the athletic fields. Near the
western edge of Cowell Stadium it emerges, forming the northeastern boundary of College
Woods until it crosses Colovos Road. College Brook has been channelized and rerouted a
number of times, most recently underneath the new athletic fields to the northwest of Cowell
Stadium. In free flowing areas, the stream width from bank to bank ranges from approximately
5 to 15 feet. College Brook is fed by two intermittent streams, one (2 on Map 3) that drains the
wet meadow by Channel 11, the other (3 on Map 3) that drains the wetland marked as C on
Map 3.
The other perennial stream, “Swamp Brook” (Map 3) originates in a small wetland (G on
Map 3) just west of the Natural Area. From here, it travels in a easterly direction, contributing
to a small wetland H (Map 3}. At wetland J it slows briefly before exiting College Woods and
creating another small wet meadow south of Gregg Hall.
There are several small intermittent streams, the most prominent flowing from
wetlands and L and K on Map 3. These and other intermittent streams are active in spring
during runoff and occasionally during periods of high rain. These offer interesting environments
and diversity, differing in vegetation and structure from most other areas in College Woods.
b) Biodiversity
i) Vegetation and natural communities
(1) Forest history (see Eisenhaure 2012 for additional information)
In identifying forest community types and discussing stand development we are often
left to postulate the events that led up to the current composition of the forest. In doing so, we
are aided by a number of excellent sources, including several 1940’s era type and plantation
maps (Map 4) as well as a series of aerial photos, some dating back to the mid 1920’s.
Close observation of these images in
sequence shows some striking changes in
the composition of the forest over time.
Over the years, College Woods has been
pieced together using the Thompson Lot as
the base. When University foresters
described College Woods at the start of the
20th century, they were mostly talking
about the Thompson Lot (now the 67 acre
Natural Area; see Figure 1, to right) an old
stand dominated at that time by huge, 200
Figure 1. Photo of College Woods circa 1940.
Forested portion of Thompson lot in green.
15
year old eastern white pine. What we call College Woods today is a collection of parcels
assembled mainly during the early 1900s. As these properties came into UNH ownership, our
predecessors put them to immediate use, likely for class exercises (mainly tree planting) as
some of these pastures were quickly converted to woodland; this is shown in Map 4,
plantations.
Map 4. Plantations on UNH land circa 1941-1942.
16
While College Woods is now nearly 100% forest cover, this was not the case even as
recently as 1940. Contrary to the widespread perception that College Woods is now “shrinking”
from the pressure of development over the last 40 years, the woods have been expanding
outward for the past 75 years. This is most evident in the early 1940 aerial image (Figure 2)
where approximately 30 acres of the current College Woods were either mown field or
abandoned pasture. Maps from that time (see Map 4, plantations) show that these areas were
quickly planted, most often with white pine but sometimes with unlikely species like Scots pine,
blue spruce, Douglas-fir, or hardwoods. By 1962 (Figure 3), all of these areas were young
woodlands; Figure 4 shows the growth as of early 2010.
Figure 2. 1940 aerial photo of College
woods; open areas shaded in red.
Figure 3. 1962 aerial photo of College Woods;
northern areas quickly becoming forested.
Figure 4. 2010 aerial photo of College
woods, now nearly 100% closed canopy
forest.
The Thompson lot has a unique history (Stevens 1954). Age of the upper forest canopy
ranges from 200-300+ years old and is composed of trees that likely established following
17
clearing by early settlers and, in the 20th Century, survived a series of powerful storms, the most
infamous being the 1938 (“Great”) Hurricane. Hurricane Carol (1954) was also influential.
Following these storms, areas of blow-down were quickly populated by hardwoods, especially
black birch, red oak, and red maple (Asahina 2004).
Figure 5. 1939 aerial photo, looking south into the Thompson Lot; note timber
downed by the 1938 Hurricane.
(2) Forest vegetation and natural communities (see Eisenhaure 2012 for
additional information)
Natural community types are groups of plants and other organisms that are often found
together on specific site types. Given the climate and soil parent materials of College Woods,
the expected natural community type is hemlock-beech-oak-pine as characterized by Sperduto
and Kimball (2011). While this is a very common natural community in New England, College
Woods provides excellent examples, and exhibits classic successional stages given the types of
disturbance the area has been subjected to (see “Unique Natural Features” below).
Generalizations about tree populations in College Woods can be summarized as: ridges
and upper slopes are often composed of dry site species, such as oaks, beech, and eastern
white pine; mid- and lower slopes, valleys, and depressions move towards red maple. Hemlock
and black birch are ubiquitous.
Four major overstory forest community types exist within College Woods (see Map 5):

Hemlock-beech-oak-pine (in and around the Natural Area; type 2 on Map 5)
18

Eastern white pine – hardwoods (west of the Natural Area and north of the river, type 1
and 1a on Map 5)

Mixed hardwoods – eastern white pine- eastern hemlock (upland areas south of the
reservoir and bordering Mill Road; type 3 on Map 5 )

Eastern white pine – eastern hemlock (north facing slopes and riparian zone south of
the river and reservoir; type 4 on Map 5)
Map 5. Forest community types of College Woods. 1 = eastern white pine –hardwoods, 2 =
hemlock-beech-oak-pine, 3 = mixed hardwoods – eastern white pine, 4 = eastern white pine
– eastern hemlock.
19
The College Woods Natural Area is dominated by an older aged class of eastern hemlock
and white pine (up to 300 years of age) that is both taller and larger in diameter than the
younger age class of black birch, red oak, and American beech that is also present (type 2 in
Map 5). Some areas are strongly dominated by old white pine and hemlock (see “Unique
Natural Features” below). Regeneration is limited to shade tolerant species, mostly eastern
hemlock and American beech. Although most of the white pine originated ca. 1700 from
natural reforestation of pastureland, some areas were naturally reforested after the 1938 and
1954 hurricanes and other areas are known to have been planted in the early part of the last
century (see Map 4).
One area that was more intensely planted was that to the west of the Natural Area and
north of the reservoir (type 1 in Map 5). Mostly a mature white pine stand (many pine > 90
years), this area does have pockets of pole sized and larger hardwoods. These pockets are
mostly red oak but other common upland hardwood species can be found, albeit scattered and
in low quantities (and likely related to harvest activity). Regeneration is limited to scattered
pockets of young white pine, but lack of major disturbance has allowed hemlock and beech to
dominate the understory. Similar pine – hardwood forests dominate the area southeast of the
Natural Area (type 1a in Map 5), although this forest is younger with pines < 70 years old.
Along the southern edge of the reservoir, the forest is primarily dense large diameter
hemlock and white pine (type 4 in Map 5). Although the trees are younger than those in the
Natural Area, pockets of this zone mimic the appearance of the stands north of the river; the
closed coniferous overstory has little regeneration. Where this stand is bordered by younger,
managed stands, there is a higher diversity of tree species. The portion of this forest
community that lies west of the footbridge has less hemlock and more hardwoods.
In the forest type bordering Mill Road (type 3 in Map 5), both timber harvesting and
past planting practices have created the highest diversity of tree species in College Woods.
Pockets of red and Scots pine can be found amidst pockets of naturally regenerating upland
hardwood species and planted areas of white pine. Regeneration here runs the gamut of shadetolerance and corresponds directly with past management and site conditions; areas
untouched by natural or human disturbance are limited to shade loving species (hemlock and
beech) while areas that have been most actively managed have some healthy pockets of less
tolerant young growth, mostly white pine.
(3) Wetlands and natural communities (see Eisenhaure 2012 for more detail)
Less than 10% of College Woods is classified as wetland, and most of this wetland is
forested rather than open. Six broad wetland community types can be distinguished. Four are
forested wetland (‘swamp’) communities, one is shrub-dominated, and one is a meadow marsh.
These communities are listed below, from wettest to driest:
20






Mixed tall graminoid scrub-shrub meadow marsh
Alluvial alder thicket scrub-shrub wetland
Red maple – black ash forested wetland
Red maple-American elm forested wetland
Eastern hemlock-eastern white pine forested wetland
Mixed hardwood-eastern white pine forested wetland
Map 6. Wetlands of College Woods. Areas denoted by letters described in text.
21
The mixed tall graminoid scrub-shrub meadow marsh community is found in two
locations (C and D on Map 6). Area C is a small, 1 acre wetland in western College Woods where
water draining from wetlands A and B collects, becomes organized, and forms a stream
channel. Area D is the transition zone between the forest east of the Channel 11 studio and the
meadow to the north and east. Wetland D is influenced by College Brook, which runs through
it. At both sites wetland shrubs, including winterberry holly, speckled alder, meadowsweet,
steeplebush, silky dogwood, and willows are scattered within a matrix of herbaceous plants.
Wetland C (Map 6) differs from D by the greater diversity of native herbaceous plants, with
species such Canada bluejoint grass, manna grass, other wetland grasses, numerous sedge
species, broad-leaved cattail, flat-topped aster, several goldenrod species, marsh fern, and
sensitive fern. In contrast, the herb layer at D is a monoculture of reed canary grass (likely an
exotic genotype of this species). Wetland C is an excellent example of a mixed tall graminoid
scrub-shrub meadow marsh as described by Sperduto and Kimball (2011). Because of the
unique vegetation and the interaction with hardwood-dominated woodland to the north and
softwood dominated woodland to the south, we expect a high diversity of wildlife at C.
The alluvial alder thicket scrub-shrub wetland forms the border between the northern
edge of the College Woods Natural Area and the athletic fields (this community is scattered
throughout wetlands E and F, especially the former, on Map 6). Speckled alder, 10-15 feet (3-5
m) in height, dominates, with sensitive fern common in the understory.
Areas dominated by the red maple - black ash forested wetland are located within and
adjacent to the Natural Area (wetlands H and parts of E and F on map 6). Wetland H is
associated with Swamp Brook, while E and F form the northern edge of the Natural Area,
draining into College Brook. Red maple, black ash, American elm, and musclewood are common
trees with sensitive fern abundant in the understory. Species composition and growth form of
upland trees species on the fringe of these wetlands and the presence of black ash implies
nutrient enrichment; this is also supported by species in the herbaceous layer that include
pennywort, brook saxifrage, and white avens. Small patches of foamflower and golden saxifrage
suggest sub-acid seepage within and adjacent to these swamps (Sperduto and Kimball 2011).
Toward the eastern end of wetland F, diversity of vegetation (canopy and understory) is
unusually high. There is an exemplary red maple – black ash – swamp saxifrage community in
this area (see section on “unique natural features”).
One very small wetland, unique mostly in its isolation, is located just west of the Natural
Area (wetland G on Map 6). Eastern hemlock and eastern white pine form a canopy here, but
most of these trees are actually rooted outside of the wetland. A few individuals of northern
white cedar can be found adjacent to this wetland. Hemmed in on all sides by mature forest,
water gathers here and contributes to the wetlands below (starting with “H”), eventually
creating Swamp Brook. At the time of observation (December) there was a thick layer of ice
here; it is likely that this area holds water for a majority of the year.
Red maple-American elm forested wetlands are scattered throughout College Woods
(see wetlands H, I, J, K, L, M, N, and O on Map 6). Wetlands L, M, N, and O all drain surrounding
22
uplands and feed intermittent streams that flow north into the Oyster River or reservoir; K
drains from the north into the reservoir. Wetlands I and J are associated with Swamp Brook,
which although intermittent, drains the large, central portion of the Natural Area. The
composition of the forest canopy of these wetlands ranges from nearly pure red maple
(wetland K) to a diverse mix of red maple, American elm, white ash, sugar maple, shagbark
hickory, eastern white pine, and other hardwoods (wetlands H, I, J, L, M, N, O). The understory
of these communities varies as well, with a dense shrub layer at K and O to a near absence of
shrubs at M. Where present, shrubs include the native species speckled alder, winterberry
holly, but the invasive glossy buckthorn is always present and is usually the dominant shrub.
The herbaceous layer at these sites includes intermediate wood fern, sensitive fern, white
avens, drooping wood reed, manna grass, dwarf raspberry, swamp dewberry, and various
grasses and sedges. Some upland species, such as partridgeberry, are often mixed in, especially
on slightly higher ground. Some of these wetlands bear special mention:

Parts of wetland H and I are classified as red maple-elm-lady fern silt forest, a rare forest
type in NH (Sperduto and Nichols 2004).

Wetland O is notable for its unique structure (dense shrub layer) and high plant
diversity.

Wetland J forms a shrub thicket of alder and silky dogwood where Swamp Brook leaves
College Woods and enters the meadow marsh south of Gregg Hall.

What is marked as wetland L (Map 6) is actually a red maple forested wetland only in
the south; further north, downstream and downslope, the topography steepens slightly
and the intermittent stream appears to lose influence on the bankside vegetation,
running through what is essentially a hemlock-dominated upland forest until it reaches
the Oyster River.
The areas of mixed hardwood-eastern white pine forested wetland are located in the
western portion of College Woods and on the adjacent Leawood Orchard property and UNH
sawmill lot (wetlands A, B, and parts of C on Map 6). Wetland A is a depression with no obvious
surface drainage out of the wetlands; B collects surface water and drains to C. In the overstory
of this type are red maple and “old-field” eastern white pine, with American elm, shagbark
hickory, white ash, and several other hardwoods, The shrub layer is dominated by exotics, with
dense thickets of both common and glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica and Frangula alnus,
respectively) and lesser amounts of multiflora rose. Native shrubs include speckled alder and
winterberry holly. The herbaceous layer is diverse, with sensitive fern abundant and patches of
reed canary grass where the forest canopy is sparse. Forests surrounding wetland B have been
aggressively harvested within the last 20 years; this wetland is also highly heterogeneous due to
variation in both hydrology and history. While wetland A has wet soils, the vegetation there
does not include any obligate wetland species. Wetlands A and B both harbor numerous
invasive species; the size and vigor of the Japanese knotweed and common buckthorn
populations at site A are a particular concern.
23
(4) Unique Natural Features (see Eisenhaure 2012 for additional information)
(a) Exemplary upland communities
The College Woods Natural Area provides excellent examples of hemlock-beech-oakpine forest and hemlock-pine forest, examples that are cited by Sperduto and Kimball (2011) in
The Nature of New Hampshire: Natural Communities of the Granite State. While these forest
communities are not uncommon in New Hampshire, the examples at College Woods are
exceptional due to the great size and age of the eastern white pine and eastern hemlock trees.
There are at least 10 eastern white pine individuals that exceed 1 meter (3.3 feet) in diameter
at breast height (DBH), and some that exceed 35 meters (120 feet) in height. There are 37 white
pine trees with DBH exceeding 90 cm (ca. 3 feet; see A and individual trees on Map 7). Some of
the pines exceed 300 years in age (based on estimates given in Stevens 1954, Lyon and Reiners
1971). Some eastern hemlock individuals approach or exceed 90 cm (3 ft) in diameter and
exceed 200 years in age (Norma Henderson, unpublished). Old hemlock-pine forest, which we
defined as areas of large pine and hemlock at least 80 cm DBH that lack evidence of disturbance
by the great hurricanes of the 20th Century, occurs in six patches mainly in the western,
northern, and central portions of the Natural Area (see A on Map 7). Hemlock-pine forest is a
later successional stage of hemlock-beech-oak-pine forest. The unusual and regionally
significant properties of the forest communities in the College Woods Natural Area are well
known to scientists and naturalists and are cited in Lyon’s and Reiners’ (1971) Natural Areas of
New Hampshire, Jorgensen’s (1977) A Guide to New England’s Landscape, and Sperduto and
Kimball (2011) as noted above.
(b) Exemplary wetland communities
While the hemlock-beech-oak-pine forest of the natural area is the most widely
acknowledged natural feature of College Woods, there are a number of other exemplary
natural communities, several of which have been cited by the State’s Natural Heritage Bureau
in Natural Communities of New Hampshire (Sperduto and Nichols 2004). Two community types
considered as rare or imperiled in the state (with fewer than 20 occurrences statewide) are the
red maple – black ash – swamp saxifrage community (B on Map 7) and the red maple – elm –
lady fern silt forest (B on Map 7; Sperduto and Nichols 2004). In College Woods, neither of
these is limited to the Natural Area; in fact the most complete and species rich example of the
former lies just outside the Natural Area close to the eastern boundary of College Woods (see
“B1” on Map 7). Subacid forest seep communities also occur along the northern edge of the
Natural Area and on the north side of the central wetland (C on Map 7).
24
Map 7. Unique natural features of College Woods. Individual large trees (> 90 cm or 36 inches
diameter) denoted by asterisks. A = old hemlock-pine forest, B = red maple – black ash –
swamp saxifrage community and red maple – elm – lady fern silt forest, C = subacid forest seep
community.
B1
25
ii) Species
(1) Vascular plants
We lack an up-to-date flora for College Woods. The Natural Area files, however, contain
a list of vascular plants (ferns and allies, gymnosperms, and angiosperms) from the College
Woods Natural Area and the adjacent reservoir. It is not clear who produced the list nor is it
known when it was produced. Review of the list by a botanically trained member of the UNH
faculty suggests the list is accurate, and circumstances suggest it was produced in the 1970s
(Dr.Janet Sullivan, personal communication).
Based on this document, 292 vascular plants have been reported from the Natural Area
and adjacent reservoir. This number represents over 10% of the flora of the State of New
Hampshire. There are 260 flowering plant species, 25 ferns and allies, and 7 gymnosperms on
the list, but none are known to be rare or endangered at the state or federal levels. Twentynine species are reported from the reservoir or close to it, implying that 263 species are limited
to the uplands and wetlands of the Natural Area. It is likely that there are additional species in
College Woods outside of the Natural Area. An up-to-date, property wide survey is needed.
While we have no detailed description of the spatial distribution of plant species in
College Woods, it is evident that many taxa, black ash (Fraxinus nigra), for example, are
spatially constrained, being found at just one or a few locations.
(2) Insects and spiders (contributed by Dr. Donald Chandler)
An insect and spider biodiversity survey was undertaken for a six week period in 2006 as
a core activity for ZOOL 745/845 (Biology and Biodiversity of Insects). These data were obtained
using several collecting techniques that took place in the northwestern portion of College
Woods and the adjacent meadow east of Channel 11. The specific groups of insects that were
targeted represented groups that the students could be reasonably expected to sort to the
level of species and identify. Several other major insect groups were not collected or sorted.
The results by major group are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Total numbers of species of spiders and insects taken in
September/October 2006 at College Woods.
GROUP
Araneae (spiders)
Coleoptera (beetles)
Hemiptera (long-horned and short-horned bugs)
Hymenoptera (ants, wasps, and bees)
Orthoptera (crickets and grasshoppers)
Miscellaneous other groups
# SPECIES
65
124
50
24
12
5
26
A total of 280 species were taken. While a good spider fauna was produced, none were
considered remarkable occurrences from the forest. The soggy sod samples along the forest
edge produced several uncommonly taken species of beetles. Fall 2011 collections of
leafhoppers (Hemiptera) along the entrance trail to College Woods by the athletic fields have
produced about 20 new records of leafhopper species, but these have not yet been added to
the data base.
(3) Fish
We are unaware of any fish surveys conducted within the Oyster River Reservoir or
upstream in the Oyster River within College Woods. General data on fish diversity in the Oyster
River has been compiled by the Oyster River Watershed Association (2010). What follows is
taken from that compilation.
At least 16 species of fish are present and common in the Oyster River (Table 2),
although for most species it is not known if habitat includes the UNH reservoir or the section of
the Oyster River within in College Woods.
Table 2. Common freshwater species in the Oyster River. Source: Oyster
River Watershed Association (2010).
Black Crappie
American eel
Blacknose Dace
Bluegill
Brook Trout
Brown Bullhead
Chain Pickerel
Common Shiner
Common White Sucker
Creek Chubsucker
Fallfish
Golden Shiner
Horn Pout
Largemouth Bass
Longnose Dace
Pumpkinseed
Yellow Perch
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
Anguilla rostrata
Rhinichthys atratulus
Lepomis macrochirus
Salvelinus fontinalis
Ameiurus nebulosus
Esox niger
Luxilus cornutus
Catostomus commersoni
Erimyzon oblongus
Semotilus corporalis
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Ameiurus nebulosus
Micropterus salmoides
Rhinichthys cataractae
Lepomis gibbosus
Perca flavescens
27
The Oyster River is the only New Hampshire stream that supports a population of
American brook lamprey eel (Lampetra sp.). NHDES has mapped brook lamprey habitat above
the water supply dam, with the habitat closest to College Woods about 1 km upstream.
The bridled shiner (Notropis bifrentus), now believed to be extirpated in the Oyster
River, was studied there by Robert W. Harrison in the 1940s; he published a numerous papers
on the life history of this fish. The cause of the extirpation is not known.
Five freshwater species of concern to the State of New Hampshire occur in the river: the
state endangered American brook lamprey and bridled shiner, the banded sunfish
(Enneacanthus obesus), redfin pickerel (Esox americanus americanus), and swamp darter
(Etheostoma fusiforme). The distributions of most of these taxa are limited to southern New
Hampshire, where aquatic habitats are often threatened by development. Brook trout
(Salvelinus fontinalis) are limited to spring-fed streams and found in feeder streams upstream
of the reservoir.
(4) Mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians
The non-fish vertebrates – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians – are commonly
referred to as “wildlife” (DeGraaf and Yamasaki 2001). Surprisingly, there is no comprehensive
list of the wildlife species that inhabit or visit College Woods. Given the available habitat and
the list of species known to frequent the NH seacoast region (DeGraaf and Yamasaki 2001), the
expected number of species is estimated at 62 birds, 28 mammals, and 18 reptiles and
amphibians (Table 3). Informal reports of actual sightings include 24 birds, 10 mammals, and 7
reptiles and amphibians (Table 3). College Woods is highly regarded as a site for viewing wildlife
and is cited by Peterson and Burrows in their 2004 field guide on New England birds.
The majority of the species found in New England (over 59%) use a combination of nonforested, forest, and aquatic habitat types rather than a single habitat type (only 17% of
species) (DeGraaf et al. 1992). It has also been found that 64% of all species have a home range
of 10 acres or less (DeGraaf et al. 1992). In areas of rapidly diminishing woodland size and
connectivity, like those in the NH seacoast, conservation efforts should be applied precisely and
with awareness of the resource for greatest overall wildlife benefit.
With successional and mature woodland, river frontage, and associated riparian zones,
College Woods itself is a substantial and unique wildlife habitat resource. In fact, portions of
College Woods are the highest ranked wildlife habitat by condition and by biological region
according to the NH State Wildlife Action Plan (2005). When considered in light of surrounding
properties and their associated habitats, College Woods and its expected future state of
conservation represent an important foundation for larger scale conservation and management
that may include active management within College Woods and on surrounding properties.
Active management may include timber harvesting, mowing, or application of prescribed fire.
28
Table 3. Species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians expected in College Woods.
Observed taxa denoted with an asterisk.
Mammals
Birds
beaver*
black bear*
bobcat
deer mouse
eastern chipmunk*
eastern cottontail
eastern coyote*
ermine
Fisher
gray fox*
gray squirrel*
long-tailed weasel
masked shrew
meadow vole
Moose
porcupine*
raccoon
red fox*
red squirrel*
river otter
snowshoe hare*
southern flying squirrel
southern redback vole
star-nosed mole
striped skunk
Virginia opossum
white-footed mouse
white-tailed deer
American crow*
American goldfinch*
American redstart
American robin
Baltimore oriole
barred owl*
black-and-white-warbler
blackburnian warbler
black-capped chickadee*
black-throated blue warbler
black-throated green warbler*
blue jay*
blue-headed vireo
broad-winged hawk
brown creeper
Carolina wren
cedar waxwing
common yellowthroat*
Cooper’s hawk
dark-eyed junco
downy woodpecker*
eastern screech owl
eastern wood-pewee
fish crow
gray catbird*
great blue Heron*
great crested flycatcher
great horned owl*
hairy woodpecker*
hermit thrush*
hooded merganser
house finch
kingfisher
least flycatcher
Louisiana waterthrush
Mallard
mourning dove
northern cardinal*
northern flicker*
northern waterthrush
ovenbird*
pileated woodpecker*
pine warbler*
red eyed vireo*
red-breasted nuthatch
red-tailed hawk
rose-breasted grosbeak
ruby-throated hummingbird
ruffed grouse*
scarlet tanager*
sharp-shinned hawk
song sparrow
tufted titmouse*
warbling vireo
white-breasted nuthatch*
white-throated sparrow
wild turkey
winter wren
wood duck
wood thrush*
yellowbellied sapsucker
yellow-rumped warbler
green frog
northern brown snake
northern dusky salamander
northern red-backed salamander*
northern spring peeper*
northern two-lined salamander
northern water snake
painted turtle
pickerel frog
red-spotted newt*
spotted salamander*
wood frog*
Amphibians and Reptiles
blue-spotted/Jefferson’s
salamander
bull frog
common garter snake*
common snapping turtle
eastern American toad*
gray tree frog
29
(5) Animal species of concern (see Eisenhaure 2012 for additional information)
In addition to the relatively common species known or expected to occur in College
Woods, there is also potential for College Woods to support species that are uncommon in New
Hampshire. The focus of this section will be on rare species and unique habitats. Specifically,
this section will emphasize species identified by the NH State Wildlife Action Plan (2005) as
species of concern and that may use College Woods. We also discuss how we may shape our
management goals to benefit these species.
Under broadly defined habitat types (NH State Wildlife Action Plan 2005), upland areas
of College Woods are generally classified as Hemlock-Hardwood-Pine forest (HHP), upstream
along the river is river floodplain forest (RFP), and the river and surrounding watershed is part
of the non-tidal coastal watershed group (TCW). Species of concern that are either associated
with these habitat types or have known populations in or near College Woods are listed in
Appendix 1. The appearance of a species on this list certainly does not mean that this taxon will
be found in College Woods, but merely allows for the possibility that the species may use or
may eventually use this area. Although College Woods may have appropriate habitat for some
uncommon species, the habitat may be too rare or may be unable to satisfy some other
requirement of the species.
Mammals
Both the increasing numbers of locally
observed individuals and the large home ranges of
both bobcat and black bear make it likely that both
species use portions of College Woods. Use is more
likely concentrated on the margins of this property,
however, due to the lower diversity of available
habitat elements and higher level of human
disturbance in central areas. The railroad track right
of way and portions of College Woods abutting it to
the east (A on Map 8) allow access to food for both
bobcat and bear as well as a connection to other
useable properties. Western portions of College
Woods (A on Map 8) offer a juxtaposition of
open/shrubby field and mature hardwood and
conifer forest that provides hard and soft mast
sources, small prey habitat, and cover elements
attractive to these species as well.
Figure 6. White pine snag in the
College Woods Natural Area.
30
Map 8. Locations in College Woods of habitats related to animal species of concern. See text
for meaning of letters.
31
The abundance of large (<18” dbh) diameter snags [both coniferous (white pine) and
deciduous (American beech)] within the Natural Area create numerous roosting opportunities,
either under loose bark or in cavities, for potential inhabitance by eastern pipistrelle, hoary bat,
eastern small footed bat, red bat, northern myotis, and silver haired bat. The reservoir and
Oyster River waterway provide excellent feeding opportunities that increase the probability of
seasonal populations of bats to be present.
Although early successional and shrub growth are limited within the College Woods
boundaries, it is likely that at some point New England cottontails have used the sort of
vegetation found along the railroad corridor (A on Map 8) and extending downward to the river
and along the small utility right-of-way on the extreme southeastern part of the property.
Populations are known to have existed just south of here in West Foss farm and the likelihood
of finding cottontails increases where you find both wet ground and dense shrubby conditions.
Although it is unlikely that this area hosts source populations of rabbits, this cover may likely be
used as an important link between West Foss Farm and other properties to the north.
Birds
Goshawks are among the species of concern that are known to use areas near College
Woods. Although the high amount of pedestrian traffic within the interior of College Woods
limits the potential for goshawk nesting, conditions may be available in the far southwestern
portion of the property (C on map 8). These areas are relatively undisturbed and distant from
roadways. Foraging areas may be available in former pastureland to the West.
Using similar nesting and foraging areas to the goshawk but more tolerant of human
activity, Cooper’s hawk may be found in fringe areas of College Woods (B on map 8). Purple
finch may use either the abundant natural coniferous cover of the College Woods, or the
slightly less abundant plantings of various spruce and fir species scattered throughout the
entire area (such as D on Map 8),
especially in the southern portion
of the property where they may be
supplemented by favorable
suburban conditions (e.g.,
ornamental plantings, bird
feeders). Canada warbler and veery
may occur in the shrubby wetland
areas surrounding the upper parts
of the Oyster River (I on map 8).
Other suitable habitat can be found
upriver into the property to the
west, where pasture and field
edges provide for dense, young
growth in close proximity to the
Figure 7. Vernal pool in stand 3 of College Woods.
river. Areas of mature deciduous
32
forest surrounding the river may attract Cerulean warbler and red shouldered hawk as well,
although conditions for these birds improve as you move upstream and off of UNH property.
Great blue heron have been seen frequenting the edges of the reservoir and using the
river as a travel corridor. Although nesting opportunities here are limited, these individuals may
travel to the relatively food-rich reservoir from areas along the number of beaver
impoundments on western Thompson Farm, the wetlands supplied by Laroche brook on West
Foss Farm or from areas off of Longmarsh Road.
It is likely that American woodcock use areas behind Gregg Hall, the shrubby wet areas
surrounding the Oyster River as described above, or even the margins of the athletic and
hayfields to the north (A and E on Map 8). These areas have excellent cover for
roosting/feeding with substantial sized openings nearby.
Fish and freshwater molluscs
The species of concern that have known populations in the area, and may use certain
habitat components of College Woods but are unlikely to be present here are brook floater
mussel, American brook lamprey, bridle shiner, redfin pickerel and swamp darter. Eastern
brook trout are found in feeder streams north of where the Oyster River travels through
College Woods. It is possible that during times of cooler temperatures and higher water flows
that brook trout travel down this far, but it is highly unlikely there are resident fish in this
portion of the river.
Amphibians
The species of concern that have known populations in the area, and may use certain
habitat components of College Woods but are unlikely to be present here are the leopard frog.
It is likely that blue spotted salamander/Jefferson’s salamander can be found in portions of
College Woods.
Populations of these salamanders are directly linked with the availability of wetlands
that hold ponded water for a period at least 4 continuous months; the minimum length of time
required for their eggs to develop into larvae that can leave the wetland before it dries. Areas
that are likely to hold water, are free from large predators, and are sizeable enough to support
this are located at locations F (Map 8) just west of the Natural Area, G, an open water
impoundment about 0.1 acres in size, and H, where water backs up from the inadequate culvert
draining water from College Brook and under the athletic fields. Other potential but
undependable spots for others (dusky and spring salamanders) are low areas of the upstream
Oyster river flood plain, seeps surrounding the origins of swamp brook, and pocket wetlands in
the southwestern corner of the property.
33
Reptiles
Of the reptile species of special concern, wood turtles and spotted turtles may occur in
College Woods although the size of the reservoir may limit the number of individuals using this
area. It is also possible that turtles may use the slow sections of river north of here, where the
bankside vegetation (field/shrub/floodplain forest) and composition (level sandy sites) are
more amenable to a greater range of their lifecycle.
iii) Unique wildlife habitat assets
The most unique wildlife asset in College Woods is the population of live but ancient
white pine and hemlock trees. These senescent stems offer specific habitat elements
unavailable anywhere else in the immediate area. Structurally, they are taller than most other
trees, landforms, and human-created objects, providing productive high nesting sites for
insects, birds, and small mammals. The large diameter stems of these trees also provides
feeding and denning opportunities that are used by great horned owl, long eared owl, northern
saw-whet owl, pileated woodpecker, blue headed vireo, red squirrel, fisher, and porcupine. As
these trees die they continue to be a productive source of shelter and food for a number of
organisms. Rotting large diameter material provides important habitat that northern redbelly
snake and deer mice specifically key in on.
Another unique wildlife habitat is where the forest dominated by large diameter white
pine hemlock meets the riparian zone of the river, creating a rare cover type that certain
species prefer. These include: pileated woodpecker, red headed woodpecker, red bellied
woodpecker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, wood duck, common merganser, and
hooded merganser.
The reservoir itself represents a suite of habitat elements unique to the general vicinity.
Although the open “still” water area of the reservoir is quite small, it does support populations
of insects, fish (see section on fish), and amphibians (red-spotted newt, bullfrog, green frog
would be expected). This in turn allows for the support of a number of species using the
reservoir for this food source as well as other elements; mink, beaver, and water shrew likely
use this area.
The Oyster River and its riparian habitats that feed the reservoir support dozens of
different bird species as well as mammals like river otter, long tailed weasel, and northern short
tailed shrew. Individuals may also use or disperse to sections of College and Swamp brook that
offer similar features and/or good cover for passage.
Adjacent to College Woods are numerous anthropogenic features that may benefit
wildlife in College Woods. Permanently maintained openings, like the athletic and hayfields to
the north offer great open habitat for birds and bats as well as for species often thought of as
pests: woodchucks, masked, water and smoky shrew, star nosed mole, meadow jumping
34
mouse, southern bog lemming, woodland vole, meadow vole, white footed mouse, and deer
mouse. Soft field edges, especially those immediately surrounding College Brook, have great
offerings for the turtles and bird species mentioned above as well as northern brown snake,
common garter snake, ribbon snake, northern black racer, and eastern smooth green snake. It
is likely that grey and red fox and sharp shinned, broad winged, and red-tailed hawk find these
areas useful for the availability of small prey species.
iv) Corridors or connected “green-ways”
Although College Woods is embedded within a bustling campus and small town, there
are substantial undeveloped lands that are connected to College Woods and whichcollectively,
form a network of properties that could be managed on a landscape basis. In terms of wildlife,
metapopulation2 management allows the use of College Woods as a building block within a
managed system of inter-connected properties, including UNH, town, and private parcels.
Having a large collection of diverse, connected habitats provides refuges for species that face
threats (from a crippling pest or disease infestation for instance) in one or a few locations. Thus,
preservation of certain natural communities and the connections between them is critical. Both
barriers to and corridors for connectivity must therefore be taken into consideration.
Anthropogenic barriers in the vicinity of College Woods vary in their degree of
restriction between the varied undeveloped properties. These include (in likely order of
restriction) the Route 4 bypass, Campus and Main Street (F on Map 9), Mill road and suburban
development G and H, and Mast Road (near E on Map 9). Although the railroad corridor (A on
Map 9) may act as a means for movement for certain species, it certainly can limit movement
from west to east and may increase mortality to wildlife due to collisions with trains. Natural
barriers to north/south movement for certain wildlife species may include the Oyster River,
where it bisects both College Woods and undeveloped lands to the west. Alternately, the river
itself can act as a successful corridor for movement depending upon the kind of organism.
Corridors that link UNH-owned properties and other lands are the railroad right of way
(A on Map 9); the Oyster River valley on private lands west of College Woods, which leads to
the Spruce Hole Preserve and protected lands in Lee (I on Map 9); the passageway (C and D on
Map 9) that links the Oyster River valley to the larger block to the south (UNH’s Foss Farms,
MacDonald Lot, NH Fish and Game’s Beaudette parcel and the Town’s Doe Farm parcel), the
connection between Moore Fields, the Spruce Hole areas to the West and College Woods E on
map 9), and finally the open space connectivity between the Horticulture Farm and Kingman
farm via Beech Hill, the power line right of way and Town properties (B on map 9). It should also
be noted that on a smaller scale, most areas of College Woods offer a chance for resident
wildlife to foray out into nearby locations and quickly return to the larger body of woods. One
2
A Metapopulation describes one population of individuals that may survive by dispersing among fragmented
patches of land that work together as a unit.
35
excellent example of this is the observed movement of red fox across Main Street to link up
with the equestrian fields to the north of the road.
Map 9. Open land connectivity in the vicinity of College Woods. Red lines indicate major anthropogenic
barriers to wildlife. Arrows indicate likely corridors.
I
36
It is conceivable that source populations of wildlife may use any or all of the larger
routes to move beyond College Woods. It is less likely but still possible, mainly through related
wildlife movement, that genetic diversity of vegetation could similarly be dispersed from the far
corners of this map, which in turn increases the health and constitution of UNH’s forest
holdings as a whole. This mechanism is well represented by the ability of invasives (esp. Glossy
buckthorn) to rapidly invade distant areas. Thus, through these interconnections, recognition
and resulting protection of important corridor areas will contribute to the resilience of College
Woods and the larger landscape as a whole.
v) Invasive plants and pests (see Eisenhaure 2012 for additional information)
Non-native, invasive species are a management concern in College Woods. At least 10
non-native plant species are invasive in College Woods (Table 4, Map 10). Some of these, such
as glossy buckthorn, are widespread. At least two tree diseases caused by introduced insects
and fungi are present in College Woods: Dutch elm disease and beech bark disease. Moreover,
three non-native insect pests that damage and kill trees will likely reach College Woods in the
next few years: Hemlock woolly adelgid (arrival imminent), emerald ash borer, and Asian
longhorned beetle.
At present, invasive plants present the more manageable problem. There are two main
assumptions regarding invasive plants: 1) invasion by such species is a detriment to ecosystem
function; 2) any invasive plant that is abundant and persists in the understory limits the ability
to regenerate native or economically valuable tree species; in managed stands this interrupts
timber production, in unmanaged stands this influences forest succession.
Although the Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas does not currently have a set
policy on invasive plant control, this document will identify and address any known or
anticipated problems in the context of stand development.
Within this document, non-native, invasive plant populations will be identified as
“uncontrollable”, “controllable with effort” and “treatable at time of detection”:

“C” -“Controllable with effort” would describe populations that could realistically be
weeded by a crew of three in a week’s time. This would be an area that is < 3 acres that
has less on average than 500 stems per acre.

“U”-“Uncontrollable” would describe areas greater than an acre in size with multiple
age classes present and greater than 500 stems per acre.

“T”-“Treatable at time of detection” would describe areas of 5 acres or more with <20
stems per acre.
37
The general strategy for controlling invasive plants is to start with small, peripheral
populations that can be controlled with moderate effort and progress toward large, central
populations that cannot be controlled at present. Although birds and wind can spread seed
outward from large well established populations, controlling the smaller outlying populations
helps contain the self-advancing front of invasive populations. Continuous efforts over years
should concentrate on this advancing front.
There are ten specific problem areas (see Table 4). Each site is given a priority ranking.
Priority is given to those areas where attempts at control can have the most impact with the
least effort.
Our greatest concern is with infestations of glossy buckthorn, which has successfully
invaded all of the cover types in College Woods. Its early seed production and resistance to
control methods make it a considerable threat to forest structure and dynamics. Glossy
buckthorn is found in concentrated populations as listed below, but small groups and
individuals can be found scattered throughout the property.
Table 4. Invasive plants in College Woods: population status and priority for
control. See Map 10.
Population
status of
Priority
Map location and name
Key invasive species
key species
level
Japanese knotweed
C*
5
A- Sawmill wetland
glossy buckthorn
U
9
B - Oyster River North
glossy
buckthorn
C,
T
1
C - Natural Area and
surrounding woodland
glossy buckthorn
U
8
D - Channel 11 Wetlands
multiflora rose
creeping euonymus
C
3
E - Ocean Engineering
U
7
F- Red pine plantation and glossy buckthorn
upland forest
garlic mustard
C
2
G - Grounds and Roads
glossy
buckthorn
U
10
H - Lower Oyster River
winged euonymus
U
6
I - Mill Road
glossy buckthorn
C, T
4
J - College Woods South
*Other invasives present include common buckthorn and multiflora rose;
these are considered U
38
Map 10. Locations of problematic invasive plants populations in College Woods. See Table 4 for
meaning of letters.
About Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA)
Hemlock woolly adelgid is an exotic pest of native eastern hemlock that can, when
infesting a stand, result in up to 90% hemlock mortality. Although not a highly valuable tree
species commercially, within College Woods hemlock represents an invaluable wildlife and
cultural resource. Since resources are limited in the control of the adelgid, a small investment in
early detection is worthwhile. Treatment of the adelgid in College Woods (if caught early)
would either be through basal bark application of herbicide (to kill the host tree) or cutting the
tree(s) and scattering and/or heat treating (through tarping) the foliage. In the event HWA is
discovered within the College Woods, a treatment plan will be developed and then approved by
39
the Woodlands and Natural Areas Committee and, if necessary, the Advisory Committee on
Land and Property Use.
4) DESCRIPTION OF USES
a) Drinking water
Since 1935, the UNH Arthur Rollins Water Treatment Plant on the Oyster River reservoir
has supplied both the University and the Town of Durham with drinking water. In recent years
the plant has removed approximately 220 million gallons annually from the reservoir (Oyster
River Watershed Association 2010). Drinking water for UNH-Durham is also drawn from the
Lamprey River and from a well in Lee.
Roughly 57% of College Woods – almost all of the land south of the river and about a
third of the land north of it – lies within the watershed of the reservoir (blue line marked as A
on map 21). Using the water intake facility near the reservoir dam as a reference point, College
Woods provides a ~600 foot forested buffer to Mill Road, south of the intake, a ~1500 foot
buffer to the UNH athletic fields north of the intake, and protects reservoir shoreline and the
river upstream of the reservoir for a distance of over 3000 feet from the intake facility.
Vegetative buffers around drinking water sources are of critical importance in assuring
sufficient quantities of water and in protecting water quality and thus minimizing water
treatment costs.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT DRINKING WATER SUPPLY: Our committee was charged with
documenting the natural resources of College Woods and, to that end, we have included a
description of surface water features and watersheds. Given the vital nature of drinking water
supply, we have paid special attention to the Oyster River and reservoir. In the second volume
of this report we assign the highest ecological value to land within the reservoir’s watershed.
However, a second committee within the Ecosystems Task Force was assigned the task of
evaluating the UNH/Durham water supply in relation to the lands “west of tracks” including the
regional protection of the Oyster River and the possible exploitation of the Oyster River
reservoir.
b) Teaching
Over the years, College Woods has been intensively used as an outdoor classroom and
research facility by tens of thousands of students and hundreds of faculty. Proximity to campus
and diverse habitats available for study combine to make College Woods the most widely used
University-owned property for teaching. In this way, College Woods contributes directly to the
educational mission of the University. In 2010-2011 a survey was done using personal
interviews with faculty members who use College Woods for teaching, research, or both. All
40
academic departments and individual faculty that might have even a remote connection to
College Woods were contacted by phone or email. Subsequently, interviews with individual
faculty were scheduled and conducted, usually by members of the Advisory Committee on Land
and Property Use. Faculty were asked to provide information about which of their courses used
College Woods, how frequently these courses visited the woods, how many students were
typically enrolled in these courses, and what specific areas within College Woods were used.
Not all faculty who use College Woods for teaching responded to the survey and, consequently,
survey results certainly underestimate the amount of teaching activity on site.
The survey revealed that a surprisingly eclectic variety of programs uses College Woods
(Table 5). A total of 48 courses, from three of the four academic colleges and from 12 programs,
currently conduct activities in College Woods, with most of the courses (40) from the College of
Life Sciences and Agriculture (Table 5). Over 60 percent of courses make multiple visits to
College Woods, with the mean number of visits per course being 3.3. Some courses use specific
areas of the woods in order to achieve particular academic objectives. For the academic year
2010-2011 there was an estimated total of 5240 visits to College Woods by UNH students for
the purpose of education.
The distribution of teaching activity in College Woods indicates that some areas receive
heavy use while other areas are rarely used. The most heavily used portions are the Natural
Area, the forest on the north side of the reservoir, and the northern-most section of woods
(east of the Channel 11 studio). The lands at the western edge of College Woods and south of
the reservoir receive the lowest level of use for teaching. (Spatial patterns of teaching in
College Woods are detailed in Part 2 of this report.) A March, 2012, survey of 19 faculty who
use the Natural Area for teaching suggested that this unit provides unique educational
opportunities not available elsewhere in College Woods. Thirteen of 17 faculty responding
(76%) answered “NO” to the question: Could the teaching activities you conduct in the College
Woods Natural Area be just as effectively conducted in other parts of College Woods?
c) Research
College Woods serves as a natural laboratory for research by faculty, graduate students,
and undergraduates. A survey of faculty, conducted as part of this assessment (see ‘Teaching’
above), indicated that five research projects are currently underway in College Woods. These
range from studies of water quality (W. McDowell) to an examination of fragmentation of the
Great Bay watershed (R. Congalton). In fact, there is a rich history of research in College
Woods. For example, regional study of the growth of white pine trees was initiated in the
1960s, with three plots established in the College Woods. UNH faculty have measured these
plots for over 40 years, resulting in several scientific publications. A survey of all masters and
doctoral theses in the library of the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
found that 50 of these presented research conducted on UNH-owned land; 21 had conducted
research in College Woods and 6 in the College Woods Natural Area. At least some of these
theses have resulted in peer-reviewed publications.
41
Table 5. Number of UNH courses that use College Woods, mean number of visits to College
Woods per course, and mean number of students per course by college and program.
PROGRAM
NUMBER
OF COURSES
USING COLLEGE
WOODS
MEAN
NUMBER OF
VISITS PER
COURSE
MEAN
NUMBER
OF STUDENTS
PER COURSE
Biology
Forest Technology
LSA Freshman seminar
Natural Resources
Plant Biology
Zoology
Overall
2
7
1
26
2
2
40
3.5
1.6
1.0
3.7
1.5
3.5
3.1
86.0
15.0
30.0
35.5
63.0
6.5
34.2
Kinesiology
Recreation
Management
Overall
3
4
20
1
2
3
3.5
50
35
Liberal Arts
English
Geography
Overall
1
1
2
2
10
6
48
15
31.5
ROTC
Air Force
Army
Overall
1
1(?)
2(?)
3
?
3
60
?
60
48
3.3
33.9
COLLEGE
Life Sciences
and Agriculture
Health and
Human Services
Overall
d) Recreation (see Eisenhaure 2012 for additional information)
College Woods is open to all forms of non-invasive pedestrian based-recreational
activity, including hiking, running, snowshoeing, skiing, bicycling, and nature study. The entirety
of College Woods, however, is closed to hunting, and portions of the Oyster River near the dam
on the reservoir are closed to fishing. There is a specific restriction on motor vehicle use,
including snowmobiles, within the Natural Area. Traditionally, biking has been restricted from
the Natural Area as well, but there are ongoing enforcement issues.
42
College Woods has nearly 12 miles of footpaths and roads available to recreation. The
highest concentration of use is in areas closest to campus, centered on the Natural Area. There
are seven main entry points, listed below in descending level of popularity and shown on Map
11, Recreation features.
A – Main (from campus via Library Way and Colovos Road)
B – Mill Road (southeastern entrance across from West Foss Farm)
C – Main Street (just west of Boulder Field)
D – Channel 11 (through Channel 11 parking lot)
E – Mill road -- pipeline entrance
F – Wind Tunnel entrance (off Water Works Road across from Roads and Events facility)
G – Mill Road – southwestern entrance
A kiosk is found at entrance A (Map 11), while at all other locations than F, signs are
posted at the entrance that acknowledge UNH ownership and request users to refer to
information at major trailheads. Maps are also
provided at locations B and at the trail junction
shown as H. In addition, an exit and entrance
sign, acknowledging that the trail is passing onto
non-University property, is posted at location I.
Although the property to the north of the
river sees the most use, two bridges (marked J
and K on Map 11) create a popular loop trail that
links the northern and southern sides of College
Woods. These bridges also open up a wide array
of long distance trips by linking Mill Road to
campus and other extensive trail systems on
Figure 8. The lower bridge.
UNH’s West Foss Farm and Thompson Farm
properties. Bridge J was refurbished in the summer of 2011. Bridge K was built on the
framework of the Oyster River pipeline in 2007. This bridge (K) replaces an older bridge about
100 feet downstream that was resurfaced in 2005, only to be washed away shortly thereafter.
Detailed information about the intensity and nature of recreational visitation to College
Woods was initially obtained through a collaborative project with UNH Campus Recreation. This
collaborative assessment was approached in two ways, trail registers and a field survey. In
addition, Dr. Nate Trauntvein provided the results from a trail use survey conducted by his RMP
711 class.
43
Map 11. Recreation map, showing entrances to College Woods and trails
C
9
D
H
8
1
6
5
I
7
A
2
F
J
K
4
3
G
E
B
44
Trail registers
Trail registers were placed at three entrances to College Woods: the main (campus)
entrance (off Colovos Road, 1 on Map 11), the Main Street entrance, west of the Boulder Field
(3 on Map 11), and the Mill Road entrance (2 on Map 11), opposite Hemlock Way and just west
of the Arsenault Memorial. A posted sign requested trail users to register. Information
requested included: name of visitor, number in party, frequency of use, purpose of visit, mode
of travel, and UNH affiliation. Registers were in place at all three sites by early October and data
were collected in mid-November.
Estimating visitation using trail registers has advantages and disadvantages. Registers
collect data at all times and under any conditions. On the other hand, not every visitor uses the
register and there may be bias in who signs the register; students and runners are probably less
likely to sign than walkers and those not affiliated with UNH.
As those signing in at registers were asked to indicate frequency of visitation (times per
week), it was assumed that these visitors did not sign in for each visit. Stated frequency of
visitation was thus used to estimate the overall number of visits for that person during the time
period of the study. The resulting estimate of total visitation at all entrances over the roughly
one month study period was 2324 visits.
The Mill Road register recorded the greatest number of visits (53% of all visits) with
Main Street recording the fewest (17% of all visits) and the main (campus) entrance recording
an intermediate value (30% of all visits), a pattern that differs dramatically from the field survey
(see Table 6), where the campus entrance had greatest visitation. Assuming that community
members comprise a larger fraction of visits at the Mill Road entrance, the discrepancy might
be expected if community visitors were more likely to sign registers than UNH students and
staff.
Over all three entrances, about three quarters of visits were for purposes of
undesignated recreation, with dog-walking, exercise, and class use each making up 12% or less
(Table 7). Forty-two percent of registering visitors were from the community, and apparently
not affiliated with UNH, with fifty-one percent representing UNH students, staff, faculty, and
alumni (Table 8). The vast majority (92%) of visitors traveled by walking, but as noted above,
those running or biking might be less likely to take the time to sign a register.
45
Table 6. Purpose of visits to College Woods based on data from
trail registers. Time period = October 8-November 18, 2011.
General recreation
Dog Walk
Exercise
Class
Other
Not Provided
TOTAL
ESTIMATED
NUMBER OF VISITS
1728
287
245
43
18
3
2324
PERCENT OF
VISITS
74
12
11
2
1
0
Table 7. Affiliation of visitors to College Woods estimated by data
from trail registers. Time period = October 8-November 18, 2011.
Alumni
Community
Faculty
Staff
Student
Visitor
Other
Not Provided
TOTAL
ESTIMATED NUMBER
OF VISITS
136
966
300
79
664
5
1
173
2324
PERCENT OF
VISITS
6
42
13
3
29
0
0
7
Table 8. Visitor mode of travel estimated by data from trail
registers. Time period = October 8-November 18, 2011.
Walk
Run
Bike
Handcycle
Not Provided
TOTAL
ESTIMATED NUMBER
OF VISITS
2138
154
17
1
14
2324
PERCENT OF
VISITS
92
7
1
0
1
46
Field survey
The field survey involved positioning student volunteer observers at the same three
entrances to College Woods with trail registers (see above) on various days and times (Monday
through Saturday) between October 10 and November 11, 2011. Observers recorded each
person entering or leaving College Woods and noted the activity that the person was engaged
in (walking, running, dog-walking, bicycling, academic work, or athletic team activity). As
observers were volunteers, they were allowed to select the time and entrance at which
observations would be taken. We encouraged volunteers to observe at three discrete time
periods: 7-9 am, 12-1 pm, and 4-5:30 pm. At the end of the survey, over 33 hours of
observations were reported, and at least some observations were made at every time period
and at every entrance. During these 33 hours 682 persons were observed entering or leaving
College Woods.
Interestingly, estimated recreational visitation was about three times that of
academic/athletic use; 153 persons were viewed as visiting for academic or athletic purposes,
accounting for only 22.4% of all observations. Of course, some academic or athlete visitors may
have been mistaken for recreational visitors, and academic/athletic activity may be greater at
times other than those we sampled, so academic/athletic use is perhaps underestimated.
The recreational uses assessed were classified as walking, running, dog-walking, and
bicycling. One could describe recreational visitation as the number of person entering the
woods per hour, number leaving the woods per hour, or the average of the two, the “mean
number of persons entering/leaving per hour” (see Table 9). We will use the number entering,
but all three values are shown in Table 9.
At the campus entrance, recreational visits per hour increased from the morning (about
2.4 persons entering per hour), to mid-day (11.3 persons entering per hour), to afternoon (19.2
person entering per hour). Across the three time periods, average visitation was 11 persons
per hour. This overall value was similar to that at the Main Street entrance (12.3 person per
hour) but much greater than the Mill Road entrance (1.3 persons per hour). The latter sites
lacked sufficient observations to compare the different time periods.
Over the 529 persons perceived to be using College Woods for recreation, 32.3% were
walking, 43.7% were running, 13.4% were walking (or running with) a dog, and 10.6% were
bicycling. The frequencies of these uses varied slightly across sites and times; dog-walking for
example dominated the 7-9 am time period at the campus entrance, but was less important
later in the day.
If one adds the overall mean number of persons entering College Woods per hour for
the three entrances, the result is roughly 20 persons entering per hour. Even if half that
number, say 10 persons per hour, entered College Woods for 8 hours per day from May
through October (6 months, 184 days), College Woods would register 14,720 recreational visits.
Clearly, this is a conservative estimate.
47
Winter visitation has not been assessed extensively, but during three hours of
observation on weekends between January 29 and February 5, 2011, when snow conditions
were good-excellent, 9 to 14 persons per hour entered College Woods at the campus entrance
(T. D. Lee, personal observation). About a third was on skis, a third on snowshoes, and a third
were walking. Thus, winter use intensity is likely significant, and when weather conditions are
good, may approach the levels estimated during the fall.
One important issue not addressed by the user survey and trail registers is what sections
of College Woods are most heavily used by recreationists. Once in the woods, where do hikers,
runners and biker go? It is likely that most recreational activities are confined to the trail
system, and so the College Woods trail map (Map 11) provides guidance as to what parts of the
property are most heavily used by recreationists.
Table 9. Recreational use of College Woods. Average (mean) number of persons per hour
entering and leaving by the campus entrance, Main Street entrance, or Mill Road entrance.
Data exclude persons doing academic work or on athletic teams. Percent of persons walking,
running, walking dogs, or bicycling is also given. “#OBS” means number of observation
periods (each 0.5 to 2 hrs in duration).
OBSERVATION
PERIOD
(A)
NUMBER
OF PEOPLE
ENTERING
WOODS
PER HOUR
(B)
NUMBER
OF PEOPLE
LEAVING
WOODS
PER HOUR
NUMBER
OF PEOPLE
ENTERING/
LEAVING
PER HOUR
(average of
A and B)
%
WALKING
CAMPUS ENTRANCE
7-9 AM
12-1 PM
4-5:30 PM
OVERALL (mean)
2.4
11.3
19.2
11.0
1.2
6.8
15.3
7.7
1.8
9.1
17.2
9.3
MAIN ST. ENTRANCE
OVERALL (mean)
12.5
7.5
MILL RD. ENTRANCE
OVERALL (mean)
1.3
1.4
%
RUNING
%
WALKING
DOGS
%
BICYCLING
#
OBS
0
40
35
25
31
44
47
41
68
14
6
29
1
2
12
5
6
8
4
18
10.0
13
52
24
10
6
1.3
7
54
22
17
3
48
Trail Use Survey (contributed by Nate Trauntvein)
In the fall semester, 2011, Nate Trauntvein’s RMP 711 class interviewed users of College Woods
trails. The survey was conducted over a two week period. Due to time and logistical constraints,
sample locations within College Woods, participants, and days or times of day were not
randomly selected. Consequently, there are significant limits to the inferences that can be
made from the data. Even with these constraints, however, the following results are of
interest:

77 total respondents; 35% female, 65% male

74% of respondents currently enrolled at UNH

21% of respondents drove to College Woods

49% of respondents visit College Woods ≥ once a week

Visitors report spending, on average, 48 minutes per visit to College Woods

Most frequently reported activities were Walking/Hiking and Jogging/Running

46% of respondents reported that "improving health and wellness" was the most
important benefit that College Woods provides

35% of respondents reported that the most important benefit of College Woods was
that it "provides a sense of community"

The most important reason that respondents reported for their visit to College Woods
was "to get exercise", followed by "to help release or reduce built up tension”

Only 16.5% of respondents were aware that College Woods had a website

A majority of respondents (56%) reported that they were somewhat or very likely to
visit the website
e) Resource management (timber harvest, wildlife management) (see
Eisenhaure 2012 for more information)
Outside of the Natural Area, within which human disturbance is not permitted, College Woods
has been managed for various forest products. Resource management includes timber stand
improvement (“TSI”; for example, selective thinning to improve economic value of residual
trees) as well as sustainable harvest of trees for sawtimber, pulpwood, pallet wood, and
firewood. The following (Table 10) is a list of resource management activities that have
occurred in College Woods as far back as UNH records allow. Compartments referred to in the
list are shown on Map 12.
49
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Table 10. Woodlands office records show the following resource management activities conducted
within the boundaries of College Woods. (TSI = Timber Stand Improvement, MBF = thousand board feet)
For more information see the College Woods Management Plan (Eisenhaure 2012).
Compartment A-(Designated within this management plan as a portion of stand 1)
1924-1933
White pine and white ash plantings (see Map 11 Plantation locations map)
1933
Jack pine plantings
1937-1938
Red pine planting
1961
Hardwood poisoning (see map 12 Treatment Map)
Pine planting
1971
Harvest – arboretum area
Volume: white pine 126 MBF
Note: summer harvest, volume taken out through board yard)
1979, 1980
Harvest – no data
1982
Shown as “C” on map 25
Volume: white Pine, 70.25 MBF; red oak, 1.4 MBF; Other saw, 1.2 MBF;
firewood, 4 cds; softwood pulp 30 tons
Note: winter harvest class, improvement thinning)
1987/88
TSI (see map 11 Treatment Map)
Compartment B (northern portion of Natural Area) and Compartment C (southern portion of Natural Area
and area between Natural Area, reservoir, and Water Works Road). Together these areas approximate the
“Thompson Lot”, now the College Woods Natural Area
1939-1940
Salvage cutting after 1938 hurricane. Volume: white pine, 539.2 MBF; hemlock, 225.0
MBF; mixed pine and hemlock, 8.4 MBF; and hardwoods, 4.7 MBF (Johnson 1940)
Compartment C (southern portion of Natural Area and area between Natural Area, reservoir, and Water
Works Road) (Designated within this management plan as a portion of stand 1 and 2)
1913-17, 1929 White pine plantings
1937-38
Red pine planting
1942
White pine planting
2008
SHOWN AS “E” on MAP 25
Volume: white pine, 6 MBF; SW Pallet, 1.6 MBF; red oak, 1 MBF; pulpwood, 69
TONS
Note: This is the harvest associated with clearing one acre for the wind turbulence
test facility. This is the former location of what was known as the “board yard”.
Compartment D (Designated within this management plan as a portion of stand 1)
1979
SHOWN AS “A” on MAP 25 although exact location is unclear.
Volume: white pine, 15mbf; pulpwood, 10 tons
Note: Winter harvest class shelterwood cut
Unknown date likely between 1970-1980 patch cut harvest in far western section of Compt. D
50
Compartment E (Designated within this management plan as a portion of stand 4 )
1937,38
White pine plantings, blue spruce plantings
1962
SHOWN AS “B” on MAP 25
Harvest. Volume: white pine, 193 MBF
Note: Intent noted to remove poorly formed white pine and regenerate stand) This
area was seeded directly to red pine and white pine; a strip along Mill Road was
planted with seedlings.
1962-64
Direct seeding and planting of white pine
1977
TSI
1991
SHOWN AS “D” on MAP 25
Volume: white pine, 32 MBF; red oak, 1 MBF; pulpwood, 48 CD
Notes from management report: This was a fairly dense stand of white pine until
the harvest in 1991. The soil is moist with a clay component making it a better
eastern hemlock or mixed hardwood site. However the present stand is of fairly
good quality and form. The objective in this stand is for a shelterwood harvest with
at least two stages. This will convert the stand from pine to mixed hardwood over
the next 20 - 25 years (2005). The first stage was completed in 1991 and the
residual stand was left above the B-line to help prevent windthrow. Unfortunately
within a week of harvest completion hurricane Bob hit causing some windthrow.
The tract should be monitored and the next cut should occur after the turn of the
century.
Compartment F (Designated within this management plan as a portion of stand 3 and 4)
(see maps 11 and 12)
1925
Red pine and blue spruce in and around Arsenault memorial
1928,1931,1938
Red pine, white pine plantings
1960
White pine planting
1960, 1962, 1964
Harvest – no data
1962
Hardwood poisoning
1979
Girdling
f) Other uses
Up North Orienteers (www.upnoor.org/) organizes formal orienteering events once or twice
a year in College Woods. Ernst Linder, a UNH faculty member who co-directs these events,
thought that 60-120 participants per year is a “realistic figure”. Sporadically there may also be
an informal orienteering training by a handful of people. The group makes use of a detailed
topographic map drawn by Anthony Federer and published privately. They use the entirety of
College Woods for their activities.
We know that classes from the Oyster River School District also use College Woods for field
trips, but we do not have a quantitative estimate of this. The Oyster River High School and
Middle School track teams occasionally use the trails in College Woods for training.
51
Map 12. Management compartments of College Woods.
C
A
D
E
B
52
5) REFERENCES
Asahina, H. 2004. Establishment of mid-tolerant hardwoods in an ecological reserve. Master of
Science thesis. University of New Hampshire, Durham.
Bruns P. E. 1963. The College Woods Natural Area – university and community heritage. Forest
Notes, Winter 1962-63. pp. 4-6
DeGraaf, R.M., M. Yamasaki, W.B. Leak, J. Lanier. 1992. New England Wildlife: Management of
Forested Habitats. NEFES General Technical Report NE-144, 271 p.
DeGraaf, R. M. and M. Yamasaki. 2001. New England Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History, and
Distribution. University Press of New England, Hanover and London.
Eisenhaure, S. 2012. College Woods Management Plan. Office of Woodlands and Natural Areas,
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
Johnson, W. 1940. Hurricane damage to the University’s virgin white pine and hemlock stand.
In: the Granite State Forester.
Jorgensen, N. 1977. A Guide to New England’s Landscape. Globe Pequot Press, Chester CT.
Lyon, C. J. and W. A. and Reiners. 1971 Natural Areas of New Hampshire. Department of
Biological Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover NH.
Lyons, JB, WA Bothner, RH Moench and JB Thompson. 1997. Geologic Map of New Hampshire,
New Hampshire. Department of Environmental Services and United States Geological Survey,
scale 1:250,000
New Hampshire State Wildlife Action Plan. 2005.
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/wildlife_plan.htm
Oyster River Watershed Association with Strafford Regional Planning. 2010. Oyster River
nomination for designation to the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection
Program. Submitted to New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.
Sperduto, D. and B. Kimball. 2011. The Nature of New Hampshire. Natural Communities of the
Granite State. University of New England Press.
Sperduto, D. D. and Nichols W. F. 2004. Natural Communities of New Hampshire. New
Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau and The Nature Conservancy.
53
Stevens, C. L. 1954. A brief history of the College Woods. UNH photocopied document.
Peterson, W. R. and R. Burrows. 2004. Birds of New England. Lone Pine Press.
Vieira, F.J., Bond, R.W., 1973. Soil Survey of Strafford County, New Hampshire. Soil
Conservation Service, USDA, Washington, DC, USA.
54
6) APPENDICES
Appendix 1. Species of concern with known populations near or within College Woods: Principal region of occurrence and habitat
association.
Known Populations of wildlife near CW
Principal
Region
Species
HHP
Shrub
Habitat
Floodplain
Forest
Marsh & Shrub
Wetlands
Vernal
Pool
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Freshwater molluscs
Brook floater E, RC
historic population
South
historic population
Seacoast
Fish
American brook lamprey E,RC
Bridle shiner
T
Southeast
Eastern brook trout
known population in feeder upstream
Statewide
Redfin pickerel
known population
Seacoast
Swamp darter
known population
Seacoast
historic population in nearby town
Statewide
X
historic population in nearby town
Statewide
X
known population in nearby town
Statewide
known population
Southeast
X
X
X
X
known population
South
X
X
X
X
Amphibians
Blue-spotted salamander RC
Jefferson salamander
SC, RC
Northern leopard frog
SC, RC
Reptiles
Blanding's turtle E, RC
Spotted turtle
T, RC
55
Wood turtle SC, RC
known population
Statewide
X
X
X
identified as potential population
Statewide
known population
Statewide
X
Statewide
X
Statewide
X
X
South
X
X
Statewide
X
X
Birds
American bittern RC
American woodcock
Bald eagle (breeding)
RC
Canada warbler
Cerulean warbler
Cooper's hawk
T
RC
known population in nearby town
T
Great blue heron
known population (observed)
Statewide
Northern goshawk
historic population
Statewide
known population
Statewide
Osprey
T
Purple finch
Red shouldered hawk
SC
Veery
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Statewide
X
X
South
X
X
Statewide
X
X
X
Mammals
Bobcat SC
known population (local observation)
Eastern pipistrelle
Eastern red bat
SC
SC, RC
Eastern small-footed bat
Hoary bat
New England cottontail
ident as potential population in nearby town
Statewide
X
ident as potential population in nearby town
Statewide
X
Statewide
X
E, RC
SC, RC
E, RC
ident as potential population in nearby town
Statewide
historic population
Seacoast
X
Statewide
X
Statewide
X
Northern myotis
Silver-haired bat
SC, RC
E = NH endangered
T = NH threatened
SC = NH special concern
X
ident as potential population in nearby town
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
RC = Regional conservation concern
FE = Federally endangered
FT = Federally threatened
56