Date Acquired: 2016 (East), 2021 (West)

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Trails: None

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          The How Project is a 10-hectare preserve named in recognition of donors Ernest and Heather How. Located near the confluence of the North Branch Meduxnekeag River and the Meduxnekeag River, the property protects a scenic section of river valley overlooking Jackson Falls. Together with the nearby Bell Flats and Bell Forest preserves, the How Project contributes to an important wildlife corridor that supports habitat connectivity along the Meduxnekeag River.

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         The preserve is dominated by mixed-wood forest, with a band of softwood cover concentrated along the riparian areas. Common tree species include trembling aspen, sugar maple, eastern white cedar, and balsam fir. Evidence of historical land use remains visible throughout the property, including former barn sites and old clearings. Although these past disturbances continue to influence the landscape, the property is gradually returning to natural forest conditions through ecological succession.

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          The mixture of forest cover and open habitat provides valuable resources for wildlife. Numerous bird species utilize the sheltered forest interior and edge habitats, while white-tailed deer frequently travel between the Howe Project and the adjacent Bell Flats and Bell Forest preserves. The property's role in maintaining habitat connectivity makes it an important component of the broader conservation network within the Meduxnekeag watershed.

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          The river corridor protected by the preserve contains a series of deep pools and runs that provide habitat for fish downstream of waterfalls on both branches of the Meduxnekeag system. Along the river's edge, exposed bedrock and rocky outcrops support a diverse community of mosses and ferns that thrive in the moist, shaded environment despite the limited presence of mineral soil.

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           Written by Devon Bustard