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The annual Connecticut Land Conservation Council Excellence in Conservation Awards are given to recognize the hard work and dedication land trust volunteers and staff put into projects that are helping conserve Connecticut’s landscape. It is the Council’s hope that these stories will inspire other conservationists and serve as a reminder that the work being done in Connecticut every day is essential and appreciated. This year, the awards were handed out by CLCC Steering Committee Members Melissa Spear and Kevin Case.
One award was presented for each of four categories:
- Outstanding Land Acquisition Effort: this awards a completed conservation effort that protects unique habitat, unfragmented landscape or culturally significant lands.
- Exemplary Fundraising or Outreach Project: this awards a successful fundraising or outreach effort that employs a creative or unique approach to new or expanded audiences.
- Successful Collaboration: this awards a significant, collaborative effort to protect land through acquisition, policy or outreach.
- Excellence in Stewardship: this awards continuing or expanded exemplary stewardship efforts.
Congratulations to all 2009 award winners!
I. Outstanding Land Acquisition Effort: The Guilford Land Conservation Trust.
This awards a completed conservation effort that protects unique habitat, unfragmented landscape or culturally significant lands.
The Guilford Land Conservation Trust completed the largest open space protection project in its history with the completion of the 141‐acre Broomstick Ledges purchase in 2008. The spectacular property was a top conservation priority of the land trust for years due to its critical environmental and recreational importance. This $2.15 million dollar project involved major fundraising, a large town bond during difficult economic times, and a complicated state grant process. Protecting the Broomstick Ledges preserves the outstanding view that draws so many visitors to Guilford's Bluff Head Preserve. The popular Mattabesett Trail crosses the property and is part of the newly designated New England Scenic Trail, which runs from New Hampshire to Long Island Sound in Guilford. This land closes a gap in over 18,000 acres of contiguous conserved land.
II. Exemplary Fundraising or Outreach Project: The Land Trust of Danbury
This awards a successful fundraising or outreach effort that employs a creative or unique approach to new or expanded audiences.
During the middle of 2008, the Trust received three grants that dramatically transformed the momentum of the organization. The largest of these awards was a $21,000 grant from the PCLB Foundation to build capacity and take the land trust to the next level. The Board of Directors established key objectives for this grant and decided that most could be met by hiring a part‐time Executive Director. The new Director, Sharon Danosky, led a board retreat that charted the future direction of the organization. The resulting Five Year Strategic Plan reorganized the committee structure and developed work plans for each. This process required exceptional effort and initiative on the part of the land trust. As a result, substantial progress has been made toward capacity-building and toward moving the overall governance and operations to a much higher level.
III. Successful Collaboration: Naromi Land Trust
This awards a significant, collaborative effort to protect land through acquisition, policy or outreach.
The Naromi Land Trust acquired the 81‐acre Towner Hill property in Sherman in December of 2008, after a long and challenging 4-year process of study, negotiation and grant applications. The trust originally worked to get the property funded from the Federal Highlands Act which was created to protect New York City’s water supply. Naromi and the town of Sherman co‐applied for a Connecticut DEP Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition grant and successfully sought funds from town open space bonds, with Naromi slated to contribute or raise the balance of the $1.3 million asking price. While in the midst of negotiations with the seller, Naromi was informed that it was ineligible for both Highlands Funding and an open space grant due to an ambiguity in the Act’s language and therefore the Highlands Funds had be used for another project, leaving a $500,000 shortfall. With the help of Congressman Chris Murphy and state legislators Mary Ann Carson and David Cappiello, Naromi was eventually able to get the Highlands Act rewritten and was awarded Highlands Funding in 2008. The wooded property contains a diversity of high quality wildlife habitats, including two pristine vernal pools. Naromi will develop public hiking trails to the hilltops and to the vernal pool so all can enjoy these special places.
IV. Excellence in Stewardship: Joshua’s Tract Historic and Conservation Trust
This awards continuing or expanded stewardship efforts.
Joshua’s Trust is received this award for two significant accomplishments. The Trust expended significant resoruces and time defending the integeity of the Windham Atlantic White Cedar Bog. When the rare 67‐acre preserve was threatened by commercial development on abutting property, the Trust committed over $25,000 to hiring an environmental engineering firm to develop its case. The firm created an alternative low‐impact design and provided testimony before the Windham Inland Wetlands Commission. The result was a negotiated agreement between the Trust and the developer which ensures that the environmentally sensitive bog will be protected. In addition to the considerable outlay of funds, Trust volunteers logged hundreds of hours on the bog defense.
Secondly, the Trust undertook a project to complete management plans for all 57 of its properties, in response to standards set by the Land Trust Alliance.
Nature picture credits: Photo © Dan Hubbard.
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