The state has rejected a proposed 10-year forest management plan for the Connecticut Lake Headwaters Forest property as submitted by owner Aurora Sustainable Lands.

Aurora was seeking to significantly reduce the amount of timber cut and let the forest grow, in order to generate carbon credits to sell. At hearing the announcement earlier this month, local municipalities and business owners expressed concern about the loss of timber tax revenue and jobs in the region.

N.H. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Commissioner Sarah Stewart and Division of Forest and Lands director and state forester Patrick Hackley, in a letter to Aurora president Blake Stansell dated April 15, stated the plan was received on January 19 and went through a multi-agency review by the Department of Justice, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and the N.H. Fish and Game Department.

"The overarching concern shared by all state agencies involved in this review is the proposed plan's clear intent to significantly reduce timber harvest and forest management activities which is inconsistent with the terms, purpose and intent of the Connecticut Lakes Realty Trust Conservation Easement," the letter states. "The decision to reduce the timber harvest is clearly based on an economic decision to increase carbon stocks rather than the ecological needs of the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Forest. Furthermore, this decision directly conflicts with the Connecticut Lakes Steering Committee's vision for the property as referenced in the easement."

The vision, as stated in the easement, is that "these lands will remain as a large block of largely undeveloped, productive working forest while continuing their substantial contribution to the local and regional culture and economy."

The legislative finding that made funds available in 2002 for the purchase of the easement also states that the land should remain as a "largely undeveloped, productive working forest." The letter states that Aurora's proposed plan would have cut the timber harvest volume by 30 to 60 percent, and would have violated the terms, vision and intent of the easement.

The currently approved 2021-31 stewardship plan calls for an estimated 35,000 gross cords per year, and the proposed 2023-32 plan would have cut the number to between 10,000 and 20,000 cords annually. Prior to 2013, when the forest was enrolled in the carbon credit program, the 10-year average was approximately 40,000 cords a year, and from 2013-22, when it was purchased by Aurora, the annual harvest was 30,000 cords.

"While this level of timber harvest caused a decrease in the timber and timber products industry, it still supported viable logging businesses, regional sawmills and many other factions of the local economy," states the letter from Commissioner Stewart and Director Hackley. "The proposed plan's projected decrease in timber harvest of between 30 to 60 percent would not only result in critical negative consequences for the local and regional forest products industry, but also the local municipalities deriving much needed income from the forest products economy and timber taxes. Simply put, the projected 10-year harvest plan of 10,000-20,000 cords is inconsistent with historical use, not economically viable, nor representative of a sustainable tract of land for the production of timber, pulpwood and other forest products."

The letter also states the proposed plan's annual allowable cut is based upon questionable and unproven data. "The discrepancy between the proposed plan's growth rate [0.6 cords/acre/year], the current plan's growth rate [0.46] and the United States Forest Service's growth rate [0.35] is significant, and there is no reliable data upon which the state can rely to verify the information provided," the letter states. "Until the state is provided with a detailed methodology regarding how the new growth rate was calculated and is able to obtain subsequent field verification by its own forestry experts, it can only conclude that the proposed plan contains seriously flawed and inaccurate information."

The letter also states that the plan contains "concerning implications for ecological impacts on the property," and highlights inconsistencies in the composition and structure of the forest and the related goals, discusses aspen and birch stands on the property, and notes inaccurate wildlife population estimates.

The suggested plan of action advises that Aurora "must reassess the 10-year harvest plan in the proposed plan and find an optimal harvest volume that meets the requirements of the purpose and stewardship goals contained in the easement, supports a sustainable and viable forestry and forest products industry, and addresses the social and economic concerns of the local communities and municipalities...provide the state with detailed information regarding the methodology it relied upon when calculating the new growth rate in the proposed plan...[and] reassess its proposed plan to better reflect how it intends to adjust its management of the property."

"Aurora's plan is to extract maximum value from this property without maintaining the promise of economic benefit to the local community," Commissioner Stewart said in a statement. "Perhaps one can try and argue that carbon credits are simply a different type of forest product...the difference is that the fee owner is the sole financial benefactor. Extracting value for itself is very different than maintaining economic opportunity for the greater community that has been protected by the easement with the agreement of continued timber harvesting at a level we have seen throughout the history of the property."

The statement says the state remains open to negotiations with Aurora to adjust the plan so that it is "both an economically viable and sustainable working forest that allows Aurora to capitalize on carbon credit revenue while also providing economic stability to the local citizens and regional partners relying on timber harvested from the property."

"Responsible forestry plays a large part in New Hampshire's long and proud tradition of environmental stewardship," New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu said publicly last week. "As proposed, the plan would have detrimental impacts on sustaining traditional forest use, conservation of wildlife habitats, and take a serious economic toll on the North Country. In rejecting this plan, New Hampshire is protecting our treasured outdoors and its traditional use for future generations of Granite Staters."

"We have just received the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources' initial response to our proposed stewardship plan and are thoroughly reviewing their comments," Aurora president Blake Stansell said in a statement on Wednesday. "Aurora and DNCR have a shared goal of ensuring the Connecticut Lakes Headwaters Working Forest continues to support local timber harvesting and forest products industries, wildlife, recreation and related businesses as it has for more than a decade. We look forward to the next step in the process, which includes additional meetings with DNCR and N.H. Fish and Game."

The start of the Main Street project is the highlight of what will be a busy construction season in Colebrook, with a number of different projects in the works.

The Main Street project was originally expected to take one year, but it will now be a two-year endeavor, according to town manager Tim Stevens. This year, utilities will be buried under the street from Colby Street to Bridge Street, with the conduits going in first, followed by the wires. Mr. Stevens said Eversource will do its own work first because they are dealing with live wires, and the other utilities will follow behind. He said work will be done in small portions, likely 100 feet or so a day.

The town is in the final planning stages, and once the state approves the plan, the utility companies will put out bids for contractors to perform the work. The project is expected to last most of the summer and into early fall. He said the contract will include a provision to have the area cleared for Moose Festival in late August.

Next summer, the street and sidewalks will be redone and the utility poles and above-ground wires will be taken down, with power switched to the underground utilities. Because the street lights are currently on the utility poles, the town will install new poles with LED lighting and space for hanging different things, such as flags, Christmas decorations and flower pots. He said the project is one part of a reenergized Main Street that has seen new businesses and owners pop up. "The project is going to have a huge, positive impact to the town," he said.

Work is also scheduled to repair a bridge above the Mohawk River on East Colebrook Road and to work on the wastewater treatment facility, to include cleaning the lagoons for the first time in over 20 years.

The town is continuing to search for a new freshwater well location and is getting ready to put in eight-inch test wells on two sites--one in the southern part of town and the other centrally located--to determine the quality and quantity of water that each site can produce. Once testing is done, the town will determine which site to use, factoring the water quality, amount available, and the cost to connect it to the system. The wells currently in use at the back of the municipal lot will serve as backups.

The Route 145 sewer project is set to go out to bid, with work to take place over the summer. According to Mr. Stevens, the project involves rerouting wastewater from Corliss Lane away from the overworked Edwards Street pump station.

Aldrich Road took a hit from the heavy rains last year, and the metal netting holding up the side of the road along the brook gave way. Mr. Stevens said the town is exploring options on keeping the road passable while avoiding any wetlands impacts.

The town put solar panels on the town garage and turned them on late last year, and since then, the electric bill for the garage has been $0 every month. The town is looking at other potential town-owned locations to install a solar array to benefit taxpayers.

The start of a baseball season brings optimism and hope. It signals the end of a long winter and the beginning of a journey as another season unfolds. It's a journey that starts in a gymnasium and, with hard work and a little luck, ends up in Manchester.

Every team has the same goal, but only a handful have a chance. The weeks leading up to the first scheduled game are crucial in team-building as a coach implements the drills and concepts needed to win.

For the past 33 years, Colebrook Academy baseball head coach Tim Purrington has provided his knowledge and a steady hand to the many players who have graduated from his school of baseball. They leave his program as better athletes and, more importantly, better people. They appreciate the game because their coach appreciates the teaching aspect and the dedication it takes to succeed.

Since 1991, Purrington and his assistant coaches have strived to put players in the best possible position to succeed, and with success comes milestones. In defeating Moultonborough last week, Purrington quietly achieved his 400th win in his Hall-of-Fame career. After the game, out in centerfield with his team, his primary thoughts centered on topics that needed addressing, not individual milestones. He is always looking forward. There would be time to look back and reflect after his coaching days end, but not now. The focus must be on improving and who's next on the schedule. Attention to detail is the constant factor in his formula for success.

The baseball program in Colebrook is viewed by others as a group that plays the game the right way, regardless of skill level, and positively represents their community.

Littleton Crusaders head baseball coach A.J. Bray started coaching in 2013, and he viewed Colebrook as the gold standard in the North and all of Division 4.

"I can't remember the number of Final Fours he has been to, but it's a crazy number," he said. "I could ask Tim for advice, and he would happily give it, even to the coach of a division rival. I've always respected the way Tim's team played. You could tell they were well-coached. Colebrook Academy is lucky to have a coach of Tim's caliber running their baseball program for 33 years."

The way opponents perceive Purring-ton's team is a source of pride, more valued than any record. To attain 400 victories, one must possess both longevity and consistency. Colebrook has averaged 12 or more wins per season under his watch. From the late 1990s to the mid-2010s, Colebrook was dominant in Division 4. They reached the final four 12 times, played in four championship games, and won the title in 2008. During this period, they accumulated numerous wins. Tim commented, "The last ten years have been more representative of the cyclical nature of a small school." The wins may be harder to come by, but what still matters is that the product on the field meets the standards of the Colebrook coaches.

Butch Ladd, a former long-time assistant, enjoyed his time working alongside Tim. He liked his old-school approach and how he is a stickler for details. "His practices are well organized and keep players busy," Butch said. "He is also a great game coach. He sometimes knows what the other team will do before they do. He expects all the players in the game or on the bench to be focused."

He also mentioned Tim's willingness to help his players improve by taking extra fielding, batting, or throwing. "You don't win 400 games without that work ethic," Butch said. "He respects the game, and seeing his former players return to touch base after graduation is fun. It's a well-deserved achievement."

To have longevity as a head coach requires someone to lean on and learn from. Although he has learned from many iconic coaches in the North Country, Purrington benefited the most from his relationship with his athletic director, Buddy Trask. Purrington spoke of the countless hours spent in Buddy's office, venting and asking questions, with Trask joking about how his advice was going unheeded, but in reality, it was sinking in and starting to make sense.

Some lessons learned were that coaching isn't a popularity contest and isn't just about winning games. He figured out that a coach can maintain high expectations while treating his team fairly and staying authentic to his values. Purrington said of Mr. Trask, "I probably haven't thanked him enough for all he's done for me."

Even though the seasons change, come springtime in Colebrook, the one thing that doesn't change is the coach standing in the third base coaching box. He was there when a gallon of gas was $1.14, a first-class stamp went for 29 cents, and "Dances with Wolves" won the Oscar for Best Picture. After decades of coaching, his record of 400 wins and counting shows his enduring enthusiasm and ability to instill a love of the game in his players, leaving a lasting impact on yet another Colebrook roster.