The Nature Conservancy Protects Nearly 600 Acres on Eightmile River
Project with Connecticut Farmland Trust preserves nearly three miles of river corridor and 121 acres of farmland, and connects to 7,500 acres of protected lands.
SALEM, CONNECTICUT — March 20, 2009 — One year ago, in an effort to preserve an important link in the Eightmile River watershed, The Nature Conservancy entered into an agreement to purchase conservation easements from the Salem Valley Corporation (SVC) for $2,000,000. The Conservancy had one year to raise the funds.
Yesterday, The Nature Conservancy in partnership with SVC, Connecticut Farmland Trust (CFT), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), announced that it has just completed protection of nearly 600 additional acres of SVC land in the Eightmile River watershed.
“Keeping the watershed’s forests and river corridors in or near their natural condition is the key to maintaining the ecological services that the Eightmile system provides, such as clean drinking water, natural flood control and wildlife habitat,” said Lise Hanners, PhD, state director for The Nature Conservancy in Connecticut.
The acreage is the accumulated total of two properties, one of which – at 550 acres – is among the largest unprotected parcels remaining in the watershed. The properties connect to 7,500 acres of conserved lands, including Devil’s Hopyard State Park, the Nehantic State Forest, and numerous Conservancy preserves. Preservation of these lands also adds nearly three miles to the existing ten miles of protected river corridor, located chiefly along the East Branch of Eightmile River. The lands also add to the watershed’s protected farmland, which includes several farms preserved by the CT Department of Agriculture, CFT, and NRCS.
In addition to funds raised by the Conservancy, the Connecticut Farmland Trust facilitated obtaining a $450,000 grant from the NRCS Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program. Earlier in the year, the Conservancy was awarded an Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection.
“The Connecticut Farmland Trust is extremely proud to a part of this exciting project,” said Henry Talmage, Executive Director of CFT. “This collaborative effort demonstrates that partnerships between conservation-minded landowners, government, and like-minded conservation organizations can result in quality projects with diverse yet compatible conservation objectives. We’re very pleased to have worked with NRCS and the Conservancy to protect this important farmland.”
“Agricultural landscapes are important to protecting the ecology, economy, and culture of the watershed,” said Kip Kolesinskas, State Soil Scientist of NRCS. “Both current and future generations will benefit from the protection of these parcels.”
Currently, the two properties are in managed forest and in agriculture. The farmland is used for hay production and pasture, and leased by area farmers. The farmland includes 121 acres of prime and statewide important agricultural soils. CFT and NRCS will hold the primary easement and TNC a secondary easement on the agricultural lands, which will remain working farmland. The Conservancy will hold a forest easement on the remaining 370 acres of forested and wetland acres. Eventually the easements will be transferred to the State of Connecticut as part of receiving the open space grant award.
“We are thrilled to be working with the Conservancy," said Lucretia Bingham, Acting President of the SVC, a family owned corporation. "These lands have been in our family for over 250 years. It's wonderful to think of our pastures, woods and streams being protected. When I walk through the woods alongside the stone walls and bridges built by my ancestors, I’m proud to think that, in hundreds of years, others will still walk those very same trails."
In addition to the purchased easements, the SVC last year donated to the Conservancy a 34-acre parcel adjacent to the Walden Preserve. The Conservancy is also working with SVC to protect a 118-acre property. Completion of this fourth project would bring the size of SVC’s protected lands to 730 acres.
About the Eightmile River Watershed
The Eightmile River meanders through 40,000 acres of forests, farms and tranquil river towns. From its cold, fast-flowing headwaters to its confluence with the Connecticut River at Hamburg Cove’s freshwater tidal marshes, the Eightmile remains in remarkably good condition with high water quality and rich aquatic life. The watershed also provides important wildlife habitat for migratory birds, interior forest nesting birds such as the Cerulean Warbler and Worm-Eating Warbler, and roaming mammals such as bobcat and river otter. Last year, the Eightmile River was designated by Congress as a Wild and Scenic River.
For more information on the watershed, visit www.nature.org/Connecticut.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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