http://digital.vpr.net/post/us-fish...efuge-vermont-and-neighboring-states#stream/0
The WMNF always gets the press in NH but there are two other major federal refuges, Silvio Conte and Lake Umbagog that have been created in the region that have been expanding rapidly since their creation. Unlike the WMNF which has pretty well filled out its declaration boundaries, both refuges don't have "hard" boundaries, they can buy any properties within watersheds. The Silvio Conte gets real close to the WMNF along RT 115 as the Cherry Pond area is definitely a focus area for the Fed.
There definitely is controversy on the growth of the refuges, the lands they buy tend to be along water and that's potentially a big chunk of the tax base in rural towns. Errol NH used to get a lot of tax revenue off of lakefront lots on Lake Umbagog, their tax rate has climbed substantially as the wildlife refuge has bought the lakefront lots, removed the buildings and taken the property off the tax roles. They also used to get timber tax revenue from logging but that also stops once the refuge buys it. The feds appraisal methods seem not to match up with local pricing so many landowners get an offer from the refuge and then list the properties locally for a substantial premium. This distorts the market as these high asking price lots increase the asking price of other lots. Unlike the WMNF, the refuges are very tourist oriented so local businesses don't see a lot of benefits from increased tourism.
One benefit of refuges is that private projects like transmission lines are effectively blocked from crossing over refuge land. This may not block NP but could block future projects.
The WMNF always gets the press in NH but there are two other major federal refuges, Silvio Conte and Lake Umbagog that have been created in the region that have been expanding rapidly since their creation. Unlike the WMNF which has pretty well filled out its declaration boundaries, both refuges don't have "hard" boundaries, they can buy any properties within watersheds. The Silvio Conte gets real close to the WMNF along RT 115 as the Cherry Pond area is definitely a focus area for the Fed.
There definitely is controversy on the growth of the refuges, the lands they buy tend to be along water and that's potentially a big chunk of the tax base in rural towns. Errol NH used to get a lot of tax revenue off of lakefront lots on Lake Umbagog, their tax rate has climbed substantially as the wildlife refuge has bought the lakefront lots, removed the buildings and taken the property off the tax roles. They also used to get timber tax revenue from logging but that also stops once the refuge buys it. The feds appraisal methods seem not to match up with local pricing so many landowners get an offer from the refuge and then list the properties locally for a substantial premium. This distorts the market as these high asking price lots increase the asking price of other lots. Unlike the WMNF, the refuges are very tourist oriented so local businesses don't see a lot of benefits from increased tourism.
One benefit of refuges is that private projects like transmission lines are effectively blocked from crossing over refuge land. This may not block NP but could block future projects.
