Partnership to Protect Lake Monomonac Island
Rindge, New Hampshire — Commodore Island is small, but it plays a big role in life on Lake Monomonac, both for the people and for the wildlife that call the lake home. The tiny landmark island sits near the entrance to the lake’s Coot Bay, on the New Hampshire side of the lake.
The Monomonac Lake Sailing Association (MLSA), which has owned the island since 1978, keeps a flag flying there year-round and puts out a temporary dock every summer to serve as the start and finish of their popular boat races. Lately, the MSLA has been working with guidance from the New Hampshire Loon Preservation Committee to make sure the dock only goes out when it will not interfere with a family of loons, who have been returning to the island to nest and raise young for several years.
“Commodore Island is a well known landmark on Lake Monomonac,” says Jay Tourigny, current Commodore of the Monomonac Lake Sailing Association. “The sailing association Board felt it was important to proactively contact Mount Grace to ensure the island always remains in its natural state. We are grateful for the strong support this effort has received from sailing association members and throughout the broader Lake Monomonac community.”
This summer, the MSLA decided to protect the island permanently. They contacted our conservation team to map out a program for transferring the land to Mount Grace. “We’re thrilled to have a chance to help protect what makes this lake so special.” says Dave Small, Director of Conservation at Mount Grace. “This project is all about making sure the wildlife, memories, and special connection to this place can continue for generations to come.”
The donation builds on a growing effort to protect the forests, waters, and wildlife habitat around Lake Monomonac, which straddles the Massachusetts-New Hampshire state line. Most recently, Mount Grace partnered with North County Land Trust to protect the 194-acre Monomonac Hill Conservation Area on the southern reaches of the lake – a public recreation area that opened in 2024.
Since MSLA plans to donate the island, the partners now only need to fundraise for the costs of the title work and legal fees required for a land transaction. As an accredited trust, Mount Grace must raise a further ~$8,000 to endow annual land stewardship and insurance costs in perpetuity. To help support the project, please consider making a donation today!
Once these funds have been secured, the land will be transferred to Mount Grace. The partners will also draft and implement a legal agreement that retains to MSLA the rights to keep the dock on the island in season and continue to use the site in the same low-impact way it has for years. This final status agreement means that Commodore Island will remain an unspoiled landmark for everyone on Lake Monomonac, forever.