Umbagog Chamber of Commerce

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has acquired, through purchase and conservation easements, more than 16,300 acres where habitats are managed to benefit the rare and unique plant and animal species that exist here. The states of New Hampshire and Maine have acquired an additional 1,000 acres and 1,600 acres receptively, toward this common goal. This combination of ownership and easements protects nearly all of the Lake Umbagog shoreline in New Hampshire and significant lengths of shoreline along the Androscoggin and Magalloway rivers.

Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge contributes to biological diversity through management and enhancement of habitats. Local outdoor enthusiasts, non-governmental conservation groups and government agencies have recognized the diversity and richness of these habitats for many years. In 1979, the Secretary of Interior designated part of the wetlands associated with Lake Umbagog as a National Natural Landmark. This designation recognized the floating bog and wetlands as a significant natural area, one of a very special group of places that illustrated our country's diverse natural history.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency in the Department of Interior, manages Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and water for conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.