CONTACT:
Jim Oehler: (603) 271-0453
September 8, 2026
Concord, NH — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) has completed the conservation purchase of 1,308 acres in Marlow and Alstead, formally establishing the Theodore W. Walski Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Named in honor of longtime Fish and Game Wildlife Biologist Ted Walski, whose decades of work advanced the restoration of wild turkeys and their habitat across the state, the new WMA protects an ecologically rich landscape and ensures public access for wildlife‑based recreation.
This large, contiguous property includes diverse forest types, wetlands, and the ecologically important Grassy Brook Corridor, supporting upland game birds, waterfowl, furbearers, and large mammals such as deer, bear, and moose. Roughly 98% of the acreage is identified as important habitat in the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan. The land has been carefully managed for wildlife for decades, creating a mosaic of habitat types that benefit species dependent on both young and mature forests, a practice NHFG will continue.
Of the acquisition, NHFG Executive Director Stephanie L. Simek stated that the acquisition reflects both ecological importance and public value. “Protecting the Theodore W. Walski Wildlife Management Area honors Ted’s extraordinary legacy as a champion of New Hampshire’s wildlife,” Simek said. “This project conserves one of the region’s most important habitat complexes while guaranteeing public access for activities such as hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife watching. We’re proud to protect a landscape that reflects Ted’s lifelong dedication.”
The purchase was made possible through a strong partnership with The Conservation Fund (TCF), which, with financial support from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), acquired the land in 2024 as an interim owner, giving NH Fish and Game time to secure federal and state approvals for the project. “We were honored to help make this conservation vision possible,” said Sally Manikian of The Conservation Fund. “By stepping in early, we ensured that this exceptional property could be permanently conserved and enjoyed by the public—a result very much in keeping with Ted Walski’s conservation legacy.”
The project was primarily funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Program, whose funding is derived from an excise tax on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment that has been in place since the 1930s. Remaining costs were covered by funding from LCHIP, private fundraising by The Conservation Fund, and the value of lands donated to NHFG in the past. The Nature Conservancy in New Hampshire also provided financial assistance that supports NHFG staff who worked on this project.
With the acquisition complete, NHFG will manage the Walski WMA to maintain and enhance its wildlife habitat values while allowing compatible public uses. An existing snowmobile trail will continue to offer access, and nonmotorized recreation such as hiking, snowshoeing, and wildlife viewing will remain welcome.
LCHIP is an independent state authority providing matching grants to New Hampshire’s municipalities and nonprofits, helping to preserve the state’s most important natural, cultural, and historic resources and ensure their contribution to the economy, environment, and quality of life in New Hampshire. LCHIP grants are funded by a $25 fee assessed when deeds, mortgages, and plans are recorded at the state’s ten registries of deeds. Since 2001, LCHIP has awarded 646 grants totaling over $68 million to nearly 350 communities and nonprofits across 210 New Hampshire communities. As of July 2025, the Program’s investment has helped to conserve more than 247,000 acres of land and rehabilitate 192 historic structures. To learn more about how LCHIP is helping to preserve and protect New Hampshire’s heritage, visit LCHIP.org.
