Brownfield Woodlot – Oxford County SWCD Demonstration Forest Project

A 211 acre parcel of land located on the Brownfield /Hiram town line has belonged to the SWCD since it was donated in the late 1940’s to the district after the “Great Fire”.  The parcel was replanted with white and red pine and is managed according to a forest management plan written in the 1980s.  It has long been the goal of the OCSWCD to turn this parcel into an educational resource to demonstrate wise forest management principals.  The site is very diverse and would be ideal for demonstrating the many different ways and purposes of managing a forest as well as techniques for enhancing wildlife habitat.  It is bordered by a pristine free-flowing stream on one side and a freshwater marsh/lake on the other side.  The habitat diversity here is amazing for such a relatively small forested land tract. 

Some of it’s notable features are:  beaver built marsh wetland, riparian stream habitat, a glacier formed “kettle hole” bog,  several vernal pools, red and white pine plantation, pitch pine/scrub oak habitat, mixed hardwood (Oak/Beech) forest.  There is evidence of abundant upland wildlife species such as: deer, moose, fox, bear, coyote, beaver and mink.  The Ten-Mile Stream is part of the Saco River tributary system and prime brook trout habitat.

Some of the forest management objectives that could be demonstrated here:

·         Timber stand improvement- plantings and thinning

·         Wildlife habitat improvement – early successional  habitat, wetlands habitat, bird       habitat

·         Special habitat protection- pitch pine scrub oak

·         Water resources protection- buffer development and protection

·         Passive Outdoor  recreational opportunity development- interpretive nature walks, bird watching, geocaching, cross-country skiing/snowshoeing trails

    For more information about this project email:  michele.windsor@me.nacdnet.net or call 1-207-743-5789 ext 101.