Environmental groups celebrated Hooksett’s first-ever purchase of conservation land on Tuesday, Jan. 26.

Steve Couture, vice chairman of the Hooksett Conservation Commission, participated in a Town Hall ceremony through Skype, a live Web cam service, because he is a Concord-based National Guardsman currently serving in Iraq.

“It’s a great accomplishment for the community,” Couture said. “There was a lot of work and cooperation done over the past three years.”

The Hooksett Conservation Commission worked with the Deerfield-based nonprofit organization Bear-Paw Inc. and other groups to raise about $850,000 to purchase 500 acres of land adjacent to Bear Brook State Park.

Couture, 39, of Hooksett, works for the state Department of Environmental Services and was awarded the “Conservationist of the Year” award during the ceremony.

“It’s really gratifying,” Couture told the crowd by laptop after his wife, Debbie, accepted the award. “I grew up in this town. We’re doing something that will be there for our children and their children.”

“Seeing all these people here, I’m glad we have the support of the town,” said Tim Johnson, commission chairman.

Daniel Kern, executive director of Bear-Paw, said the group’s area of focus does not typically include Hooksett, but they took on the project at Couture’s urging.

“This was spearheaded by Steve,” Kern said. “He took on a project that was very unlikely to happen.”

The land that was purchased stretches from Granite Street in Allenstown to Route 43 in Candia, with the vast majority within the borders of Hooksett. The conservation advocates initially wanted to purchase 200 acres of land but that amount grew to 500 acres after they raised more money than expected.

The town of Hooksett VOTE2O1Ocontributed $400,000 of taxpayer money in the early stages of the project but the money was not used because fundraising was extremely successful.

“We got twice as much land as we intended with $400,000 left over for future purchases,” said state Rep. David Hess, who is on the Conservation Commission.

The conservation land encompasses Clay Pond, where environmentalists say there is a vast amount of nature to be enjoyed.

“If you want to look for moose in Hooksett, go to this site,” said Mark West, a wetland biologist who works with Bear-Paw.

In addition to the forest area, which is known for black bears, West said there is a vast amount of small water ways and wetlands surrounding the pond that are home to Blanding’s Turtles, including one he saw that was about 50 years old.

Debbie Couture said her husband’s award is “very special” to him. While Steve Couture is stationed in Iraq, where he maintains medevac helicopters, he communicates with his wife and three young children by Skype at about 6 o’clock every morning.

“Steve’s from Hooksett and the fact that he could be a part of this is really great,” she said.

Major contributors of funding included grants from the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program and DES.