Sen. Miner Applauds Land Preservation Grants in Northwest Connecticut

Hartford—State Sen. Craig Miner today applauded the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) awarding over half a million dollars to help acquire and preserve parcels of land in Cornwall, Salisbury, and Sharon. The grants are made through the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program. Specific details of the grants are included below.

“This is a win for conservation in the Northwest Corner,” said Sen. Miner. “It’s our duty to be good stewards of the land and to preserve it for future generations. These open space parcels will protect fragile species and preserve our region’s natural beauty. Conservation, besides being the right thing to do, is also an asset for communities. People want to visit and live in places where they can interact with nature. I would like to thank the Cornwall Conservation Trust, the Salisbury Association, and the Sharon Land Trust for applying for these grants. I would also like to thank the Governor Lamont and DEEP Commissioner Dykes for continuing to invest in conservation.”

Sen. Miner has long been a champion of land preservation and conservation. He is the ranking member and former co-chair of the Environment Committee in the legislature.

Town: Salisbury

Project Name: Pope Property

Sponsor: Salisbury Association

Grant: $136,500

Total Area: 78.99 acres

Description: This project is the acquisition of 79 acres of Wetauwanchu Mountain. The property abuts the Appalachian Trail on U.S. Route 4 in Salisbury and is part of 2,000 acres of undeveloped land. The property is within an aquifer protection zone and protects the headwaters of several brooks including 685 linear feet of Spruce Swamp Brook, a Class AA stream. The water of Spruce Swamp Brook flows into the Salmon Kill which drains into the Housatonic River. Approximately 18 acres of the property contain prime and statewide important farmland soils. The property is located within the Appalachian Trail and the Housatonic River greenways. Important habitat types are on the property and include, dry oak forest, Laurentian-Acadian Meadow/Shrub Swamp, and a Circumneutral Maple/Ash Basin Swamp. Hiking and fishing opportunities will be made available to the public. The Pope Property is close to Torrington (24 miles) and Winsted (25 miles) which are distressed municipalities.

Town: Sharon

Project Name: D’Alton Property

Sponsor: Sharon Land Trust

Grant: $240,000

Total Area: 70.37 acres

Description: Located on West Woods Road in Sharon, these 70 acres of undeveloped land consist of core forest, bedrock outcrops, open wetlands, and a ridgeline visible from Connecticut Route 4. The property abuts Skiff Mountain Wildlife Preserve and is part of a 15-mile wildlife corridor. Guinea Brook, a headwater trout production stream that drains to the Housatonic River, is located close to the property. There is a trail system already developed on the site. A pond can be accessed from Westwood 2 Road and will allow fishing. The D’Alton Property is close to Torrington and Winsted which are classified as distressed communities.

Town: Cornwall

Project Name: Red Mountain (Gallucci) Preserve

Sponsor: Cornwall Conservation Trust, Inc.

Grant: $225,000

Total Area: 72.5 acres

Description: This project is the acquisition of 72 acres of core forest on Johnson Road in Cornwall. The property is almost completely surrounded by protected land and makes up a forest block of 2,350 acres. The headwater stream of Birdseye Brook is on the property and provides 2,500 linear feet of headwater stream for the Housatonic River. The preserve is a dry oak forest. The property is accessible from Johnson Road, which is just off Connecticut Routes 4 and 43. A section of the Connecticut Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System runs along the northern boundary of the property. The Cornwall Conservation Trust will construct a public trail to Birdseye Brook which will connect to the Mohawk Trail. The cities of Torrington and Winsted, which are distressed communities, are within 15 miles of the preserve.