2013 Monthly Open Space Reports
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79 Elm Street • Hartford, CT 06106‐5127 www.ct.gov/deep Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer Open Space Report to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the State Bond Commission January 2013 Overview Section 22a‐6v of the General Statutes of Connecticut requires the Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding and to the State Bond Commission each month. The report provides information on the acquisition of land or interests in land by the state, a municipality, water company or nonprofit organization using funds authorized for the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program established under Sections 7‐131d and the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program established under Sections 23‐73 to 23‐79 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program provides grants to municipalities and private nonprofit land conservation organizations for the acquisition of open space land and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II watershed land. The State of Connecticut receives a conservation and public access easement on property acquired to ensure that the property will be protected and available to residents of Connecticut as open space in perpetuity. There were no open space and watershed acquisition grants closed in January 2013. Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program The Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program is the State of Connecticut’s primary program for the acquisition of lands for the beneficial use and enjoyment of the public as additions to the State’s system of parks, forests, wildlife, fisheries and natural resource management areas. The program acquires land that represents the ecological diversity of Connecticut, including natural features such as rivers, mountainous areas, coastal systems and their natural areas, in order to ensure the conservation of such land for recreational, scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic purposes. The following acquisition was closed in January 2013. Additional information on this project follows. Property Location Cooperator Match Fee Easement State Purpose of Name Share Acreage Restrictions Purchase Acquisition or R.O.W. Price Griffin Suffield ‐‐‐ ‐‐‐ 74.936 ‐‐‐ $0 Mitigation for Land & Meadowood Project, Nurseries Simsbury Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. Property, Babbs Road, Suffield Donation This 74.936 acre donation will complement the Suffield Wildlife Management Area, satisfying an Inland Water Resources Division Water Quality Certification for the Meadowood Project, Simsbury. This area will become a potential nesting habitat for several documented, state‐listed avian species such as the American kestrel, Eastern meadowlark, Bobolink and Savannah sparrow. It will provide additional options for management of grassland species within an established grassland system. The 74.936 acre addition is easterly of the existing Suffield WMA. 79 Elm Street • Hartford, CT 06106‐5127 www.ct.gov/deep Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer Open Space Report to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the State Bond Commission February 2013 Overview Section 22a‐6v of the General Statutes of Connecticut requires the Commissioner of the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding and to the State Bond Commission each month. The report provides information on the acquisition of land or interests in land by the state, a municipality, water company or nonprofit organization using funds authorized for the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program established under Sections 7‐131d and the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program established under Sections 23‐73 to 23‐79 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program provides grants to municipalities and private nonprofit land conservation organizations for the acquisition of open space land and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II watershed land. The State of Connecticut receives a conservation and public access easement on property acquired to ensure that the property will be protected and available to residents of Connecticut as open space in perpetuity. The following grant was closed in February 2013. Additional information on this project follows. Sponsor Project Acres Town of Groton Spicer Tracts, Thomas Road, Groton 24.63 Town of Groton Spicer Tracts Thomas Road, Groton Fee Acquisition This 24.63 acre acquisition protects 4,000+/‐ linear feet along Birch Plain Creek at the head of Baker Cove and its tidal estuary, creating a 200+/‐ acre greenway. The Town plans to construct a ten foot wide, paved multi‐ use trail along Thomas Road, extending a public bikeway to the north and south which will include an environmentally sensitive bridge over Birch Plain Creek which can also be used for fishing and crabbing. In addition to the extensive tidal wetlands, the property contains a vernal pool, freshwater wetlands (including a 5 acre pond) and upland buffer areas forested with mature trees. The buffer provides good habitat and cover for wildlife, principally birds common to coastal estuary environments including osprey and egrets. Dock(s) for recreational (kayaking/canoeing) and educational purposes are also planned. Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program The Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program is the State of Connecticut’s primary program for the acquisition of lands for the beneficial use and enjoyment of the public as additions to the State’s system of parks, forests, wildlife, fisheries and natural resource management areas. The program acquires land that represents the ecological diversity of Connecticut, including natural features such as rivers, mountainous areas, coastal systems and their natural areas, in order to ensure the conservation of such land for recreational, scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic purposes. There were no Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program acquisitions closed in February 2013. 2 79 Elm Street • Hartford, CT 06106‐5127 www.ct.gov/deep Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer Open Space Report to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee and the State Bond Commission March 2013 Overview Section 22a‐6v of the General Statutes of Connecticut requires the Commissioner of the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to finance, revenue and bonding and to the State Bond Commission each month. The report provides information on the acquisition of land or interests in land by the state, a municipality, water company or nonprofit organization using funds authorized for the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program established under Sections 7‐131d and the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program established under Sections 23‐73 to 23‐79 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program provides grants to municipalities and private nonprofit land conservation organizations for the acquisition of open space land and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II watershed land. The State of Connecticut receives a conservation and public access easement on property acquired to ensure that the property will be protected and available to residents of Connecticut as open space in perpetuity. The following grant was closed in March 2013. Additional information on this project follows. Sponsor Project Acres Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc. Bell Cedar Swamp, N. Stonington 58.16 Avalonia Land Conservancy, Inc. Bell Cedar Swamp, North Stonington Fee Acquisition This rare, intact Atlantic White Cedar swamp is listed as a Connecticut Imperiled Natural Community. Its preservation will protect critical natural resources; including ground water supply recharge areas, forest land, and amphibian spawning areas. In addition, Bell Cedar Swamp will provide opportunities for hiking, birding, and other forms of passive recreation. The area being preserved figures prominently in the State’s attempt to protect threatened and endangered species and significant natural communities. Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program The Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program is the State of Connecticut’s primary program for the acquisition of lands for the beneficial use and enjoyment of the public as additions to the State’s system of parks, forests, wildlife, fisheries and natural resource management areas. The program acquires land that represents the ecological diversity of Connecticut, including natural features such as rivers, mountainous areas, coastal systems and their natural areas, in order to ensure the conservation of such land for recreational, scientific, educational, cultural and aesthetic purposes. There were no Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program acquisitions closed in March 2013. 2 79 Elm Street • Hartford, CT 06106‐5127 www.ct.gov/deep Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity