In 1948, Judith LeBaron Brewer’s parents purchased 200 acres of land along Waukeena Lake and used it as a summer retreat for the family. Judith’s parents transferred the property to Judith and her husband, Tom, a geologist, in 1981. Today they live there full time, paddling, gardening, raising chickens, cutting firewood and searching the woods for artifacts from times gone by. They’ve invited foresters, wildlife biologists and soil specialists to help them manage the land, knowing that someday the Brewer children would inherit the property.

In 2011, the Brewers contacted Ausbon Sargent as they considered the future of their land. On May 21, 2014, they closed on a conservation easement with Ausbon Sargent. The LeBaron/Brewer Conservation Easement includes two-thirds of Severence Hill in Danbury with over 0.5 mile of shore frontage on Waukeena Lake. There is a public boat launch on the opposite shore that offers the opportunity to fish or paddle on the lake and see a wide view of the entire conservation easement. The property protects important wildlife habitat for the abundant moose and the loons on Waukeena Lake. According to the NH Wildlife Action Plan, loons prefer water bodies with clear water and irregular shorelines that create coves.

This acreage adds to the more than 1,000 acres of other conserved land nearby. Although there are no formal trails at this time, the property will never be posted against public access.

Funding support for the survey of the 159.2-acre easement came from the Quabbin to Cardigan Partnership.

Read the Summer 2014 issue of Chatter to read more about this property.