In June 2017, the Madison Land Conservation Trust became the proud owners of two new parcels of land in north Madison.
The parcels were purchased from the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority and connect three of our existing properties, creating one large conservation area with over 300 contiguous acres of protected woodlands and watercourses.
The generosity of our donors combined with a grant from the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program made it possible for us to raise the down payment needed to close on this purchase.
Here’s why we’re so excited about this acquisition.
For years, three of our properties—the Bailey Trails Preserve on the Hammonasset River (along Summer Hill Road), the Summer Hill Preserve (just north and east of Route 80), and the Indian Rock Shelters Preserve (a little farther north, and west of Summer Hill Road)—have drawn hikers to discover the wonder of our local woods, rivers, and uplands. At the same time, these beautiful areas provided protection for numerous species of fish, birds, mammals, and plants—some of them species of concern.
But these three properties were separated by parcels that were at risk of being developed—threatening wildlife habitat and water safety.
With this purchase, the Land Trust now owns the acreage that separated them—and the risk of development is permanently eliminated so these uplands and wetlands will remain untouched. From now on, the whip-poor-wills, beaver, and pale green orchids will thrive on the Summer Hill Preserve.
Our efforts will also enable the state’s vision for environmental sustainability and stewardship. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has classified the Hammonasset River and Long Island Sound as areas of high ecological significance.
Our Stewardship Committee is hard at work building a trail on the land that will connect to the existing Bailey, Summer Hill and Indian Rock Shelters trails.
