Conservation Commission

March 23, 2024 4th Saturday Hike is canceled due to fair weather hike leader.  Enjoy your day!
April 11, 2024 Meeting
- Milford Town Hall BOS meeting Room - 7:00PM   
Granite Town Rail Trail/Armory Rd crossing  Improvement Project Update:   The first stage has been completed in the two part site work needed to prepare for the improved crossing of the rail trail at Armory Rd.  The trees have been cut and chipped.  The regrading of the surface will begin once the ground and weather conditions permit.
As many know, this is a difficult crossing with steep transitions from the Trail to Armory Rd. After years of research and engineering evaluations, the Commission decided to improve the crossing rather than replace the bridge which was there until the early/mid 1900's. The bridge replacement is too costly at this time, but is the best solution for the future after years of fundraising. In the meantime, the Trail will be regraded from 120% to a more reasonable 12% slope to the road. The regrading will require the removal of the trees that are encroaching on the edge of the Trail.  This will create a visual change to the Trail, which we know will be offset by the crossing improvement.  After the necessary site work, solar powered remote sensing signaling will be installed at the roadside.  The signaling will be triggered by motion detecting sensors on the Trail by trail users. 
The funds for this project come from the Milford Kaley Foundation which purchased the equipment.  The site work costs will be covered by savings from the annual Ghost Train Trail Races.  The registration fees from the AMAZING ULTRARUNNING COMMUNITY have been saved for a few years to accumulate to a sufficient level to pay for the site work.

Ghost Train Trail Races - October 19-20, 2024.  This is the 15th running of the annual Ghost Train Ultra Race on the Granite Town Rail Trail.  Our first go at this event was in 2009 with 25 runners.  We now register 400 runners who run distances from 30 to 105 miles within the 30 hour event.  The Conservation Commission hosts an aid station to support the runners; we serve lots of potatoes, grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. We are always on the lookout for volunteers!  This event is a major fundraiser for the Milford and Brookline Conservation Commissions who partner in this event.  The revenues from the race are used for rail trail improvements, most recently and visibly is the new tunnel under Melendy Rd. The trail is open to the public, please come and cheer on these amazing runners.

Mile Slip Town Forest (MSTF) - The MCC is working with Eric Radlof, Licensed Forester, to re-estabish the early successional wildlife habitat on the 8 acre Stand 3, which surrounds the parking area on Mile Slip Road.  This is a recommended action in the MSTF Management Plan.  Most vegetation that exceeds 1" diameter (dbh) will be removed.  Exceptions will be made for the vegetation that supports wildlife, including snags, food species, and others that provide shelter.  The flagging will be done in the next week with a review by the MCC before the clearing begins, sometime in early March.  The MCC applied for and was awarded an Habitat Restoration Grant from New Hampshire Fish and Game which will help pay for some of the costs for this work.  The remaining costs will be covered by the Milford Town Forest Fund.

New Trees at Keyes Park!!  Thankyou, Bill Widmer and Milford DPW!Trees planting at Keyes Skate Park


Tucker Brook Town Forest Timber Harvest
The MCC hopes that you visit Tucker Brook often and remember to bring your camera so that you can document the early stages of the regeneration of this part of the forest.  It is essential to the health of the forest and the ecosystem to have a multi-aged forest that provides resources to a wider range of wildlife species. You can walk to the southern part of Tucker Brook, easily accessed from Boulder Drive to see how the forest has regenerated from the 2014 timber cut.

The Town of Milford Tucker Brook Town Forest is composed of about 288 acres from the north side of Mason Road to the north side of Whitten Road. This harvest is on the section of the town forest located to the north of Tucker Brook and bordered by Whitten and Savage Roads.

A Tucker Brook Town Forest Management Plan was prepared in 2008, recommending a harvest be done on this section of the town forest in 2018. The Milford Conservation Commission has discussed this proposed timber harvest during the last two years and met with a wildlife biologist and a certified Professional Forester to discuss impacts and outcomes to timbering this section of the forest.
Goals of Harvests:

  1. Wildlife – Create large openings to provide early successional habitat for many of the less common southern NH birds and animals, while maintaining a diversity of forest types.
  2. Forestry - Improve the long-term quality and productivity of the timber resource. Remove trees that are mature or because of defect will not grow into quality sawtimber. Create large openings that allow full sunlight to reach the ground which will stimulate rapid re-growth of trees from the germination of seeds and from hardwood sprouts.
  3. Recreation – Maintain and minimize damage to the existing trails. Create early successional habitat near the trails that will provide opportunities to view birds and other wildlife.

The result will be a more open forest which will naturally regenerate into seedlings and saplings providing habitat for many varied wildlife species, which can be viewed by hikers on the trails. The MCC asked the logger to either leave, or return the slash ( unused woody material) to the forest floor.  This slash will return nutrients to the soil, provide shelter for wildlife and protect regeneration of the forest.


The Milford Conservation Commission members honored Hub Seward on August 6, 2020 at the bridge in Emerson Park. Hub has served the Town of Milford in many ways, but most notably, with his 30 years on the Conservation Commission; serving twice as Chair of the Commission. He has shepherded many projects, among which are: the protection of Mile Slip Town Forest, the permanent protection of Hitchiner and Mile Slip Town Forest, the enhancement of MayThe Milford Conservation Commission members honored Hub Seward on August 6, 2020 at the bridge in Emerson Park. Hub has served the Town of Milford in many ways, but most notably, with his 30 years on the Conservation ComHub Seward installed plaquemission; serving twice as Chair of the Commission. He has shepherded many projects, among which are: the protection of Mile Slip Town Forest, the permanent protection of Hitchiner and Mile Slip Town Forest, the enhancement of Mayflower Hill and Tucker Brook Town Forests, the establishment of the highly effective Trails Committee which produced a standards manual for trail design and maintenance, and has been a font of institutional history as the Conservation Commission members have served the Town these many years.
The dedication took place at the bridge in Emerson Park. Hub and Rodney Dellafelice were the designers/constructors/installers of this well-used bridge. A plaque commemorating Hub’s years of service was unveiled at the honor event. Judy Gross, a former MCC member, wrote for the dedication, “Hub is a man of less than a few words”, which sent Hub’s shoulders bobbing in his trademarkable silent laughter. His few words were always measured and used wisely to advise our decisions. Thank you, Hub. We will miss you.

Contact Us
The Milford Conservation Commission was established by Town vote in 1968 and functions under the authority of NH RSA (Revised Statute Annotated) 36:A. 

Our Mission
Milford Conservation Commission promotes the conservation, protection and sound management of Milford’s natural resources for current and future generations. The Commission seeks to balance the community’s immediate needs and desires with responsible long-term use and protection of the environment. As appointed stewards, we educate and encourage the public to make wise decisions about land use.

Staff Contacts

Name Title Phone
Chris Costantino Conservation Coordinator 249-0628

Chair; Full Member

2025

Andy Hughes

VChair, Full Member

2027

Rodney Dellafelice

Full Member

2026

Kim Rimalover

Full Member

2026

Anita Stevens

Full Member

2026

Marie Nickerson

Alternate

2027

Andrew Seale

Full Member

2026

Rich Elliot

Full Member

2026

Alternate Member

2027

Board of Selectmen's Representative