The first meeting of 2020 welcomed a total of 42 members and guests to the North Conway Community Center. It was a cold winter day of about 20+ degrees which was preceded by an unseasonably rainy and windy weekend.

Hospitality set out a beautiful winter themed table filled with a scrumptious spread of treats and goodies.

President, Laurie McAleer reported on the activities and projects that the club is currently involved in and future projects.

We had a short break, raffle prize drawing and then jumped into our featured program by USFS Ranger, Jessie Dubuque.

A riparian buffer or stream buffer is a vegetated area near a stream comprised of grasses,herbaceous flowering plants, shrubs, trees and other vegetation growing along streams. These buffer strips are often found in forested areas, and help shade and protect the stream from the impact of adjacent land uses.

Scientific research clearly documents that riparian buffers, particularly forested buffers and those along headwater streams, deliver tremendous benefits. Through the interaction of their soils, hydrology, and biotic communities, riparian buffers play a key roll in many important physical, biological, and ecological functions. This is important in increasing water quality of our streams, rivers, and lakes. Jessie will be presenting some local benefits and ways landowners can incorporate buffers into their land management.

It was a wonderful presentation and very educational for everyone in attendance.