CONNECTICUT Woodlands

ROADKILL: ANIMALS’ ENCOUNTERS WITH ASPHALT

The Magazine of t he Connecticut Forest & Park Association Summer 2007 Volume 72 Number 2 CONNECTICUT Woodlands

The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association

The Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Inc.

Officers PRESIDENT , Richard Whitehouse, Glastonbury VICE -P RESIDENT AND TREASURER , Gordon L. Anderson, Glastonbury

VICE -P RESIDENT , Eric Lukingbeal, Granby VICE -P RESIDENT , David Platt, Higganum SECRETARY -F ORESTER , Adam R. Moore, Durham

Directors Mark Ashton, New Haven Richard A. Bauerfeld, Branford Russell L. Brenneman, Westport George M. Camp, Middletown Starling W. Childs, Norfolk Ruth Cutler, Ashford Laurence Diamond, Coventry Caroline Driscoll , New London Astrid T. Hanzalek, Suffield Jean Crum Jones, Shelton David Leff, Collinsville James W. Little, Hebron Geoffrey Meissner, Southington Karen Mignone, Fairfield Thomas Mongillo, North Branford Courtesy of Eric Bengtson Randall Miller, Hamden A Connecticut Forest & Park Association trail volunteer, Mary Kaley, helps clear the Brian O’Connor, Westbrook blue-blazed six-mile Aspetuck Valley Trail, which was dedicated on June 1 by state offi - Stephen C. Parsons, Cheshire cials, CFPA, and the Nature Conservancy. The trail in Redding, Newtown, and Easton Donald L. Snook, Westport is in the Centennial Watershed State Forest set up in 2002 after the state of Connecticut David Sullivan, Haddam and the Nature Conservancy bought and obtained conservation easements for Aquarion Colin Tait, Norfolk Water Company land. For another photo, see page 5.Aspetuck Valley Trail. Sally L. Taylor, Quaker Hill Conserving Connecticut Annual Membership Honorary Directors Harrol W. Baker, Jr., Bolton The Connecticut Forest & Park Association is a Individual $ 35 Richard F. Blake, Milford private, non-profit organization dedicated since Family $ 50 Clyde S. Brooks, Glastonbury 1895 to conserving the land, trails, and natural Supporting $ 100 Ann M. Cuddy, Lakeville resources of Connecticut. Benefactor $ 250 Samuel G. Dodd, Mansfield Center The Connecticut Forest & Park Association is Mrs. Reynolds Girdler, Stamford affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation, Life Membership $ 2500 John E. Hibbard, Hebron the National Woodland Owners Association, Philip H. Jones, Jr., Shelton George M. Milne, Hebron the American Hiking Society, and Earth Share. Corporate Membership Edward A. Richardson, Glastonbury Club $ 50 David M. Smith, Hamden Connecticut Woodlands Nonprofit $ 75 L.P. Sperry, Jr., Middlebury Published quarterly by the Sustaining $ 100 Henry H. Townshend, New Haven Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Landmark $ 250 Middlefield, 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall, CT Stewardship $ 500 Staff 06481-2961. Leadership $1000 Executive Director, Adam R. Moore, Durham Trail Conservation Coordinator, Ann T. Colson, Clinton Indexed in the Connecticut Periodical Index, Development Coordinator, Starr Sayres, East Haddam ISSN 00106257. Administrative Coordinator, Teresa Peters, Durham Telephone: 860-346-2372. Land Conservation Coordinator, Katherine D. Winslow, Middletown Fax 860-347-7463. Education Coordinator, Lori Paradis Brant, Beacon Falls E-mail address: [email protected] Administrative Assistant, Linda Cunningham , Portland World Wide Web site: http://www.ctwoodlands.org EDITOR , Christine Woodside Printed on recycled paper GRAPHIC DESIGNER , Karen Ward

2 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT Woodlands

The Magazine of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association Summer 2007 Volume 72 Number 2

Contents FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

11 Roadkill: Animals’ Encounters with 4 Executive Director’s Message. Considering Asphalt. Animals cannot safely cross the what the 1950s left behind. By Adam R. 3,732-mile road network of Connecticut. Moore. Many studies show that for many species Thoughts on green roads are major predators. By Christine 5 President’s Message. Woodside. living. By Richard Whitehouse. 6 Trail Mix. Congress considers National 15 Wildlife v. Pavement. Selected statistics on Scenic Trail. A new Blue-Blazed Hiking the struggles of mammals, reptiles, and Trail in Fairfield County. Reports of trail amphibians to live with roads. maintenance workshops. Identify the mys - tery photograph.

18 Connecticut’s ‘temperate’ forests actually 21 Try This Hike. Mount Pisgah on the resemble tropical ones. Old European Mattabesett Trail in Durham. principles often don’t work in managing these woodlands. How young trees grow 22 Tree Page. The white ash. up beneath the older ones. By David M. Current prices for stand - Smith, professor emeritus of silviculture. 25 Stumpage Report. ing timber.

26 Book Review. Colin Tudge’s encyclopedic book The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter. By Robert Ricard.

27 From the Archives. In the depths of the Great Depression, a conservation publisher sets a course.

28 Essential Facts of Life. It’s not safer indoors: naming and dealing with risks in nature. By Lori Paradis Brant.

30 From the Land. The history and wonder of the tomato, from a self-proclaimed tomato fiend. By Jean Crum Jones.

32 Programs

33 News of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. Environmental issues CFPA is following at the statehouse. Lori Brant On the cover: receives honor. New Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail opens. No animal travels far in 39 CFPA Store. Buy books, T-shirts, and hats. Connecticut without running into one of the roughly 3,732 miles of 40 Development News. Recognizing CFPA roads. donors.

Istockphoto.com 42 Profile: Heritage Society donor was the first man to hike the entire Appalachian Trail in the winter.

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 3 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

CONSIDERING WHAT THE 1950 S LEFT BEHIND

Cuddled up as a family, at the drive-in

By ADAM R. MOORE “Runaround Sue” spun on let us acknowledge the environmental mistakes the turntable and in that we are making in the present decade, and o get an evening started off right, between them the theater’s let us strive to retain what was good about the you can’t beat the Big Bopper. So it announcer, a woman with a 1950s. Thappened at dusk on the Friday of pleasant Willimantic voice, In the category of what was good and worth Memorial Day weekend. The Moore family – said things like, “Take the retaining, I count a sense of national optimism. or the S’Moores, in Great Park Pursuit game family and come early, let I count the music. On the landscape, I count parlance – pulled off of Route 32 in Mansfield, the kids play on our play - roadside restaurants such as Shady Glen and tuned the radio to 88.1 FM, and at once heard ground.” Or, “Don’t for - Guida’s. And I count the drive-in movie the - the Big Bopper singing the jolly, 1950s rock Ann Colson get to visit our snack bar – aters, at least the two Connecticut has left, in Executive Director and roll tune “Chantilly Lace.” My wife and I how about a chili dog? Or Mansfield and Pleasant Valley. Adam R. Moore exchanged smiles, the children put their hands a cup of chili?” This must When Melissa and the girls returned, we up and wiggled under their seatbelts, and I be the only movie snack bar moved the minivan to a spot with a slightly bet - merged into one of the lanes of cars in front of that serves clam fritters. Of course, at the drive-in, ter view. We unfolded lawn chairs and set them me. We were out for a classic American evening you can also bring your own: we brought two up behind the car. We opened the tailgate and – a drive-in movie. bags of popcorn we’d made at home and some sat the 3- year old and 6-year-old on the fold - That evening was one of our two or three iced tea. ed-down rear seat. We dug into the paper bag ventures a summer to the Mansfield Drive-In. The drive-in movie theater is a remnant of the of popcorn. We watched the sun dissolve into The Mansfield Drive-In is one of two remain - 1950s, a decade that most conservationists lament. the western horizon and a waxing gibbous ing drive-in movie theaters in Connecticut, the It was a decade that produced horrible, box-like moon shine through a veil of clouds. The other being the Pleasant Valley Drive-In. architecture. It created the sprawling suburban movie began, and we tossed blankets over our Recent accounts in the Hartford Courant indi - subdivision. Car culture. The interstate highway legs and huddled together, a family. cate that both are doing well, either in spite of system. The decade began something else in our or because of the closure of every other drive- culture, a throwaway, disposable mentality, some - in in the state. The six, or maybe eight, lines of thing I have heard described as a Kleenex culture. cars filing in demonstrated that this particular Paper napkins instead of cloth, disposable diapers, drive-in is thriving. paper tissues instead of handkerchiefs, etc. Food We were in line beside a Jeep with the top off came pre-processed and mass-marketed, trends and a little girl in the back, a guy on a shiny red Jean Jones describes so well in her “From the scooter with a folding chair slung over his back, Land” column in this magazine. The consumer a van – not a minivan like ours, but a real van, culture that began then turned thrift into a vice the eyebrow-raising kind with curtains on the rather than a virtue. The good inclination to save tinted windows – and dozens of other vehicles and reuse items became twisted, resulting in clut - full of families like ours. We were already cheer - ter, because so many items, so much stuff, is ful due to the Big Bopper, and our mood dumped upon us. Prodigal purchasing became the improved when the attendant didn’t charge us virtue, and an engine of our economy. for the two youngest kids. We drove through Fortunately, these trends seem to be turning, the vast dirt parking lot, following the signs to and our culture seems to be changing. The Screen 2, found a parking spot, backed in, and effects of the 1950s and the decades that fol - parked. Each screen shows a double feature. lowed are what conservationists endeavor to Our son was asleep in his car seat, so I stayed in undo with “smart growth,” greenways, walka - the minivan while Melissa took our three daugh - ble communities and the like. These efforts are ters to the playground to pass the time before the beginning to work, but they will take time. movie. Yes, there’s a playground, the old steel Yet lest we believe that our society has final - kind, with a swingset, a slide and the like and mos - ly achieved environmental wisdom, and lest we quito bites galore. I kept the radio on. Songs like try to undo everything that the 1950s left us,

4 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

THOUGHTS ON GREEN LIVING AND PLANNING

By RICHARD WHITEHOUSE In the last issue my Alan Weisman. See www.orionmagazine.org. message was to “buy HERE AT CFPA we are in the process of n early May, I left Connecticut’s cool, local.” The recent scare completing an update of our strategic plan. wet, late spring for a few days in with pet food imports This has been an effort from the ground up, ICanada. When I returned I found sum - now is reported to have and the ideas put forward by the various mer, with temperatures in the 80s. All kinds spread to the food con - committees have been amazing. They are lay - of flowers were in bloom, not in the normal sumed by us humans. ing out an exciting future. The plan shows seasonal sequence but in a seldom seen mix - This brings home the great confidence in our organization. The ture of early spring and late spring blooms, fact that local products plan should be ready for our annual meeting giving us a glorious display. One day I even CFPA President whose source we know — to be scheduled for September 20 — and Richard Whitehouse came across a trout lily in bloom. Suddenly I may be best for us all. to make it work we will need the involvement had to get out to mow my lawn, taking some And think of all the of all of you. I am certain that is something of the joy out of that mixture of seasons. Is energy saved by not we can count on. global warming upon us? The National transporting food from all parts of the globe. Wildlife Federation (CFPA is the state affili - One other item concerning plastic bags, so ate) has published a Gardener's Guide to common to hold our purchases from stores: Global Warming that we will make available You may want to read an informative article in soon. Orion magazine, “Polymers Are Forever” by

TRAIL MIX

Six-Mile Aspetuck Valley Trail Opens in Fairfield County Trail advocates and state offi - cials dedicated a new Blue- Blazed Hiking Trail in Fairfield County on June 1, just in time for Connecticut Trails Day the next day. The Poverty Hollow section of the trail is pictured here.

Ann Colson

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 5 TRAIL MIX: NEWS OFTHE BLUE-BLAZED HIKINGTRAILS

Congress Considers National Scenic Trail from Connecticut to New Hampshire Border The Metacomet and Mattabesett trails in Connecticut and the Metacomet-Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts would become a National Scenic Trail if the bill introduced in March in both houses of Congress becomes law. U.S. Rep. John Olver of Massachusetts and U.S. Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts introduced the New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act. The New England National Scenic Trail would be only the ninth National Scenic Trail in the nation and the first such designation since 1983. The House bill is H.R. 1528, introduced on March 14, and the Senate bill is S. 923, introduced on March 20. Connecticut Forest & Park Association Executive Director Adam R. Moore testified in favor of H.R. 1528 in May. See his testimony on page 9. A national scenic trail on these blue-blazed paths means an adjustment in the dealings of the volunteers for CFPA who man - age these trails. Mr. Olver said that local volunteers would continue to be important in caring for the trails. “Designation as a National Scenic Trail would provide an infusion of federal resources that will help further all their efforts.” The Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails pass through four out of the five Congressional districts in Connecticut, and all four of these Representatives have co-sponsored the House bill. Senator Lieberman has co-sponsored the Senate bill, and at press time the Association was asking Senator Dodd to co-sponsor the Senate bill as well. The combined trails that would become the New England National Scenic Trail cover 220 miles from Guilford, Connecticut to the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border in Royalston, Massachusetts. The trails are often called the MMM Trail, because they include the Mattabesett, Metacomet, and Metacomet- Monadnock trails. History of the scenic trail effort miles of the trail. Such demographics enable a New England The National Park Service studied the trail route and met with National Scenic Trail to meet a key policy goal of the National landowners in a three-year-long feasibility study authorized by the fed - Trails System Act of 1968, namely to establish walking trails eral government in 2002 after Congress passed the Metacomet- “primarily, near the urban areas of the nation.” Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail Study Act, first introduced by Mr. Mr. Moore said that CFPA was delighted that Mr. Olver had Olver. President Bush signed the bill into law on December 16, 2002. introduced the bill, and thanked the Connecticut delegation for The bill and its companion Senate version enjoyed the co-spon - its support to make this trail system part of the list of National sorship and strong support of the Connecticut delegation. CFPA Scenic Trails (which include the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Trail Conservation Coordinator Ann Colson testified in its favor six Crest Trail). years ago. The study, from 2003 to 2006, concluded that the “pre - “The Association established the Metacomet and Mattabesett trails in ferred alternative” was the designation of the Metacomet- Connecticut in 1931,” Mr. Moore said, “and through the hard work of Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail System as a National Scenic Trail, with our volunteers and the good will of civic-minded landowners, we have a significant reroute to occur in the Belchertown-Leverett area of maintained these trails as open-to-the-public hiking trails ever since. We Massachusetts, where one landowner asked to move the trail. strongly support the designation of these trails as a National Scenic The study revealed that about 2 million people live within 10 Trail.”

continued on page 7

6 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 Photo at right Connecticut Trails Day From left, Bill Vendetta, J. Beth Baldwin, and Arnold Daly on the Mattabesett Trail in Middletown on June 2, 2007. Christine Woodside

continued from page 6 Extending the Trail to the Sound The National Scenic Trail proposed for Connecticut and Massachusetts will include an extension of the Mattabesett Trail from Guilford to Long Island Sound. In May, CFPA’s Trails Committee heard the latest news in the work by volunteers and local and state officials to establish the roughly 14-mile route. Ann Colson, CFPA’s trail conservation coordinator, along with trail volunteers Paul Mei and Joe Hickey, have scouted a A Roomful of Trail Workers: CFPA Winter Workshop Report route covering the first 7.8 miles of the The fourth annual CFAP Winter Workshop was held on Saturday January 27, at the CFPA new section in North Guilford. The pro - headquarters in Middlefield. The workshop was once more filled to capacity. Executive posed path leaves the existing Mattabesett Director Adam Moore began the session with a warm welcome to all the attendees. Trail at Broomstick Ledges and proceeds The first session was a presentation on writing trail and hike descriptions, co-presented by south on Guilford Land Trust property, CFPA Trail Conservation Coordinator Ann T. Colson and Christine Woodside, who is the through the Genesee tract owned by the editor of Connecticut Woodlands and also Appalachia journal. A lively and wide ranging dis - Regional Water Authority, then continues cussion ensued on what made for good (and bad) descriptions and maps. A question and to Cockaponset State Forest and into the answer period had Mrs. Colson and Ms. Woodside fielding a wide and varied number of ques - town-owned Timberland forest. Mrs. tions, which they ably answered. Colson, along with Guilford Environ- Taking the podium once more, Adam Moore gave a talk targeted at land trusts and simi - mental Planner Leslie Kane and Charles lar type conservation groups titled, “So You Have Open Space … Now What?” Mr. Moore Tracy of the National Park Service, have discussed both the problems and opportunities facing organizations involved with land pro - met with each of the landowners and tection. received tentative approval for CPFA to Next, CFPA Volunteer Trail Manager Elaine LaBella gave her always-enjoyable tool safety locate the trail extension along this route. demonstration. Ms. LaBella’s energetic and humorous presentation was well received and They also have met with First Selectman appreciated by all. Carl Balestracci, Jr., and many of the town CFPA Trail Volunteer Birge Dayton presented a slide show illustrating various types of trail boards and commissions, all of whom bridges, from simple hewn log bridges to ones made of structural steel. have expressed overwhelming support for I gave a talk on work party management. I discussed all the aspects of successful work party extending the trail to Long Island Sound. management, from planning through execution to completion. Similar meetings will be held throughout During the lunch recess, many took advantage of the sunny (though cold) day to enjoy a the summer as CFPA continues to explore brisk hike through the Demonstration Forest Trails outside the building. options for the remainder of the route. Following the lunch break, Joe King, a volunteer trail manager and chairman of CFPA’s Trail construction is expected to begin in Universal Access sub-committee, gave an update on the CFPA approach to implementing early September. Universal Access requirements. —Rob Butterworth, CFPA Trails Committee member, Cockaponset Trail volunteer manager

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 7 TRAIL MIX: NEWS OFTHE BLUE-BLAZED HIKINGTRAILS

Spring Trail Workshop Attracts 40 to Macedonia Brook State Park More than 40 people ventured out on a beautiful sunny day on April 21 at Connecticut’s largest state park, Macedonia Brook, to the Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s annual spring workshop. There was some competition for parking spots since the date coin - cided with the opening day of fishing season. CFPA Administrative Coordinator Terri Peters, courtesy of CFPA, provided beverages and snacks. CFPA Trail Conservation Coordinator Ann Colson wel - comed everyone and explained the CFPA organization, its functions, and the many benefits of membership. Weezie Perrine, chair of the CFPA Trails Committee, also welcomed the workers. Joe King explained the charter for the newly formed CFPA Universal Access Trail committee and offered handouts. I explained the facilities, the agenda for the day, and the location and nature of the trail maintenance projects. Elaine LaBella explained the various tools that are used in trail work and how to use them safe - ly. The participants were assembled into groups, each with a leader for the project. During the day, participants were free to move to other sites according to their interests. Thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of the participants and their leaders, all projects were successfully completed. The one exception was the cedar pole handrails on the bridge project. The measure of success was best expressed in the words of the park unit supervisor, Gary Nasiatka: “Thank you, thank you, thank you! You folks are the greatest! The work you did at Macedonia is wonderful and much appreciated! Your dedication, expertise and hard work are a magnif - icent testament to the value and high-caliber quality of trails volun - teers in Connecticut and throughout the country.” Bob Davis led a project to build a timber bridge on concrete block supports across a small stream on the blue-blazed Macedonia Ridge Trail. The bridge has hand rails made from cedar poles. Roland Sabourin provided the drawings. CFPA purchased the materials. Elaine LaBella led a project to dig a drainage ditch on the green- blazed trail. Workers lined it with rock to drain spring water off the trail. Chuck Sack and Joe King led a relocation of the blue trail to near - Mysterious carvings on the Mica Ledges by higher ground to avoid a continuously wet segment of trail. The Robert Pagini photographed this rock, carved with the letters group cleared and removed brush on the new segment, painted “AMC,” near the Mattabesett Trail in the area of the Mica blazes, and blacked-out the blazes on the old wet section. They Ledges. “It looked as though a piece may have been broken off placed debris on the closed section. because it appears there is the numeral 1 carved into it near Harry and Weezie Perrine led a project to use rocks to solve a wet the edge following AMC, which could have been and proba - trail problem on the blue trail. bly was a date,” Mr. Pagini told us. While it’s uncertain Bob Schoff led a project to remove Japanese barberry, an invasive what the initials “AMC” signify, CFPA Trail Conservation Coordinator Ann T. Colson suggested that they could be species, on a section of the green trail. The group used grubbing and related to the “selectmen’s stones” she studied in this area, cutting techniques using pick mattocks, shovels and weed wrenches. marking the spot where the borders of Durham, Guilford, Rob Butterworth led the project to solve an erosion problem and Madison meet. (See her article, Connecticut Woodlands, on the green trail using log waterbars. He demonstrated tech - summer 2005, page 17.) To mark boundaries, town selectmen niques to fell trees, remove bark, and install the log bar. The carved their initials and a date into the rock that they car - group secured the logs with steel rebar. — George Arthur, work - ried to the site. shop coordinator, Roving Trail Crew chief

8 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 Adam Moore’s Testimony on the National Scenic Trail Designation Act

n May 15, CFPA Executive improve the potential for willing-seller land opportunity to testify. Director Adam R. Moore gave conservation. In this rapidly developing area In the written testimony to follow, I will Othis testimony on HR 1528, the of Connecticut, designation will help to keep present information on the Connecticut House of Representatives' version of the bill these trails intact far into the future. Forest & Park Association, a detailed descrip - to declare the Metacomet, Mattabesett, and The Association strongly opposes the use tion of the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails Metacomet-Monadnock trails in of takings for trail purposes and strongly and their operation, information about the Connecticut and Massachusetts as a National opposes using trails to restrict private proper - National Park Service feasibility study, and the Scenic Trail. ty rights. We are most pleased that this legis - reasoning behind our support of HR 1528. lation bars federal takings and allows land Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails Introduction and Summary acquisition from willing sellers only. We are equally pleased that respect for private prop - The Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails are Chairman Grijalva, Representative Bishop, erty rights has been a guiding principle of the part of the 800-mile Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail and Members of the Subcommittee on trail study and will remain so if National System established and maintained by the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, Scenic Trail designation occurs. Connecticut Forest & Park Association. The thank you for the opportunity to offer testimo - National Scenic Trail designation will leave Blue-Blazed Hiking Trail System is a network ny on HR 1528, the New England National intact the fundamental nature of this trail sys - of about three dozen hiking trails that traverse Scenic Trail Designation Act. I am the tem. That is, a trail that is primarily a footpath, the hinterlands of many Connecticut towns. Executive Director of the Connecticut Forest existing through the good will of landowners, All of these trails are open to the public, free & Park Association. I am pleased to offer our and maintained by volunteers. If a landowner of charge. The trails are overseen by the strong support for this bill. If designated, the asks us to close a trail, we honor that request, Association’s Trails Committee and are main - New England National Scenic Trail would be and will continue to do so if designation tained by Association volunteers. For over 75 only the ninth National Scenic Trail in the occurs. Though it is essential that this funda - years, each of the trails within the Blue-Blazed nation and the first trail designated since 1983. mental nature will remain so, it is also clear that Hiking Trail System has been blazed with Founded in 1895, the Connecticut Forest with National Scenic Trail designation, every paint that is a distinct shade of light blue. Rev. & Park Association is a private, non-profit con - type of positive trail-related activity will Edgar Heermance, first chairman of the servation organization and is the oldest conser - increase and improve – maintenance, mapping, Association’s Trails Committee and founder vation organization in Connecticut. The signage, wholesome use, land conservation, of this trail system, chose the color of light Association’s mission is to conserve the land, tourism, educational opportunities, economic blue because he found it to be the color that trails and natural resources of Connecticut. In development and more. was most visible at dusk. 1931, the Association created the Metacomet With its miles of sheer, striking trap-rock Both the Metacomet and the Mattabesett and Mattabesett Trails, two of the footpaths cliffs, a New England National Scenic Trail Trails were established in 1931 by the that would be designated part of the New most certainly is scenic. From some vantage Association’s Trails Committee. Each trail is England National Scenic Trail by HR 1528. points along the trail, one can see clear across divided into sections, and to each section the We have maintained these trails for 76 years Connecticut: the distant profile of Mt. Tom Trails Committee assigns a volunteer Trail through the good will of civic-minded over one shoulder, and the shimmering blue Manager. The Trail Manager blazes and main - landowners and the hard work of generations waters of Long Island Sound over the other. tains the assigned section. He brings any con - of Association volunteers. Yet a New England National Scenic Trail cerns to the attention of the Association and sub - We strongly support the designation of the offers something more. In its Statement of mits an annual written report of his hours and Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails in Policy, the National Trails System Act states efforts. He may work independently or may be Connecticut, and the Metacomet-Monadnock that “trails should be established… primarily, assisted by additional Association volunteers. The Trail in Massachusetts (with a section rerouted near the urban areas of the Nation.” The fea - Association replaces Trail Managers that volun - in the Belchertown-Leverett area), as the New sibility study revealed that some two million tarily step down from their posts, and removes England National Scenic Trail. National people live within ten miles of the proposed Trail Managers when necessary. Scenic Trail designation will enhance the long- New England National Scenic Trail. Two The Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails tra - term viability of these trails as a continuous, million people within ten miles. A New verse the trap-rock ridges that, along with the open-to-the-public resource. Designation will England National Scenic Trail clearly meets Connecticut River, are the defining features of result in improved mapping and maintenance, this primary policy goal behind the National central Connecticut. Trap-rock is basalt, an better coordination and communication Trails System Act. igneous rock that extruded from the surround - between landowners, towns and trail maintain - I urge you to join with me in support of ing landscape millions of years ago as massive ing organizations, and a more enjoyable expe - HR 1528, the New England National Scenic sheets of magma. As the magma cooled, it crys - rience for walkers. Designation will greatly Trail Designation Act, and I thank you for the continued on page 10

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 9 continued from page 9 such as chestnut oak, pitch pine, and red tuity, these instances are very few. For the tallized and fractured into great, step-like cedar characterize the cliffs, the trees’ forms majority of its length, the trails exist entirely columns of basalt. The trap-rock ridges run stunted by an ever-present wind. A number through the good will of the landowner. through central Connecticut from the town of of rare and endangered plants find their The Association has been able to maintain Suffield, on the Massachusetts border, south to habitat atop trap-rock cliffs. Beneath the the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails for New Haven. In many places, the ridges run for cliffs lie talus slopes, piles of broken basalt 76 years without the need for any takings. If miles, with sheer drops of several hundred feet. that have accumulated over the years. takings were used to protect trails, such Though the Metacomet Ridge is essentially one Among the talus are found “cold vents,” actions would severely hinder the creation of geologic feature, it does consist of several dis - shafts yielding air much colder than the new trails and would jeopardize the integri - ambient temperature. Near these cold vents tinct sub-ridges, each one bearing its own name ty of the existing trail system. The grow plants that are generally found only (Talcott Mountain, Ragged Mountain, etc.). Association also opposes using the trail – or further to the north. The Metacomet Trail measures 57 miles in National Scenic Trail designation – as a The trails pass near a number of historic sites. length. From its northern terminus in Suffield, means of restricting the private property The Metacomet passes near a feature known as the trail runs south along the trap-rock rights of trail landowners. Landowners have Hospital Rock, a rock upon which those quar - Metacomet Ridge from Suffield to the always been free to manage their properties antined for smallpox inoculation inscribed their Hanging Hills of Meriden and Berlin. The as desired, and when quarrying or forestry names in handsome script. There are towers Metacomet follows a north-south direction operations have come too close to the trails, along the trail, such as Castle Craig in Meriden along what is generally a straight line. The we have moved or closed the trails on a tem - and the Heublein Tower in Penwood State Mattabesett Trail measures 53 miles and porary or permanent basis. Park. The Mattabesett Trail crosses the route of exhibits the shape of a horseshoe. The The Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails George Washington in several places, with Mattabesett Trail begins along Lamentation cross the properties of a range of different bronze markers in Durham and Wallingford Mountain in Berlin and Middletown, runs types of landowners. The types of properties marking Washington’s passage. The trails pass south atop ridges to Durham, turns southeast, crossed by the trails include state parks and through quintessential New England villages, and reaches its southernmost point around state forests, lands of electric utilities, munic - with white-steepled churches, town greens and Bluff Head in Guilford. Turning northeast, the ipal water utility properties, land trust prop - clapboard-sided colonial homes. Mattabesett crosses the Broomstick Ledges and erties and other private conservation lands, Since 1937, the Metacomet and a number of rugged hills, and terminates at the quarries, municipal lands, other corporate Mattabesett Trails have been mapped and Connecticut River in Middletown. As it turns lands and lands of private individuals. Some described in the Connecticut Walk Book. 13.6% of the overall length of these two to the northeast, the trail leaves the igneous For many years the trails were depicted in trap-rock and travels upon metamorphic gneiss, trails is located on the lands of private indi - the Walk Book on elegant maps drawn by viduals, yet these individuals constitute schist and pegmatite. talented volunteers. Now, the trails are The Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett 74.5% of the total number of landowners. mapped by volunteers with Global For the most part, these properties are Trail Study Act of 2002 that authorized the Positioning System equipment, assembled National Scenic Trail Study of these trails rugged, wooded backcountry properties, by staff into a Geographic Information although no property is ever very far from a called for the Mattabesett Trail to be extend - Systems computer database, and mapped for ed to Long Island Sound. The New England population center. the Walk Book by a professional cartograph - Certain sections of the trails are located National Scenic Trail Designation Act calls for er. The Walk Book is now in its 19th on roads. In some places, these road walks this extension to be made through the Town Edition and is divided into two volumes, occur on earthen woods roads, which are of Guilford. The Town of Guilford, the East and West. As the Metacomet and not undesirable for hiking. In other cases, Association, and the National Park Service Mattabesett Trails are in central road walks occur on paved local roads and have found a route that takes the trail south Connecticut, they are described in both East state highways. Certain road walks are through most of the town, and these parties and West volumes. unavoidable. For example, roads provide the are actively working on completing that only connection between the Metacomet direct connection to Long Island Sound. and the Mattabesett Trail, and walking the This connection would add an additional 14 Ownership, Roads and Use road is the only means of crossing a thor - miles to a New England National Scenic The Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails oughfare known as the Berlin Turnpike. Trail. exist by permission of the landowner. The Other road walks have occurred in more The trails are often located near the edges Association seeks permission to establish new recent times due to trail closures by of trap-rock cliffs. The cliffs create an envi - sections of the trail and to reroute existing sec - landowners. In Suffield, the Metacomet ronment that is quite unique. As the cliffs tions. If a landowner requests that the Trail is located along a state highway as it form sheer walls of rock, stretching hun - Association close the trail on his property, the makes its way to the Massachusetts line and dreds of feet into the air, they create updrafts Association honors that request and closes the its junction with its sister trail, the upon which soar vultures, hawks and other trail. Although there are a few cases in which Metacomet-Monadnock Trail. This road birds of prey. The vegetation on ridge tops the Association or other parties hold ease - walk occurred because a landowner at what can also be quite different from that of the ments that allow the Metacomet or surrounding forest. Drought-tolerant trees Mattabesett Trail to remain in place in perpe - continued on page 34

10 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 ROADKILL: ANIMALS ’ E NCOUNTERS WITH ASPHALT Cars and trucks on 3,732 miles of roads kill or hurt thousands of animals each year

By CHRISTINE WOODSIDE

he two crows heard the roar of a downshifting car trying to About 18,000 deer avoid hitting them. They looked up, as if bored, then flapped die on Connecticut roads each year, Taway to the side of the road. As soon as the car passed, they the state has esti - were back at the freshly killed squirrel, pecking at the flesh. mated.

On a small-town state road, a mother squirrel and three babies raced istockphoto across, just missing a car, and then stopped. A fourth baby squirrel remained on the other side. It then skittered across to the mother, who started chattering as if to scold the straggler.

continued on page 12

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 11 Roadkill “Except for a few selected scavengers, it’s hard to think of a case where continued from page 11 a species would benefit from the presence of roads.” These two stories are true so far as they go — told as witnessed by humans, who tend to apply human-like emotions and reactions to – Paul Rego, furbearer biologist for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection animals. The incidents do not prove that animals learn to cross the 3,732-mile road network of Connecticut. The biologists who weasels to fishers, bobcats, black bears, they all path of a car or truck going full throttle? It’s very watch animals every year, and the studies on cross roads, and sometimes unsuccessfully, ” he likely that most amphibians, reptiles, and mam - roads and wildlife, show that most species said. mals react to asphalt with panic, confusion, or, don’t understand roads, which are death Another way to see the impact of roads is at best, oblivion. In the 90 or so years roads traps for them in almost all cases. to examine the numbers of injured animals began to dominate the Connecticut land - “Except for a few selected scavengers, it’s taken to wildlife rehabilitators each season. scape, animals have not evolved to understand hard to think of a case where a species would In the most recent season with complete the cues that would save them on roads. benefit from the presence of roads,” said Paul data, rehabilitators received 685 birds, 461 “There are probably deer that just run Rego, furbearer biologist for the mammals, and 83 reptiles (most of them across the road and they don’t have any con - Connecticut Department of Environmental turtles), according to Laurie Fortin, a cept that that’s a motor vehicle and it’s driv - Protection. Mr. Rego, in his job to monitor wildlife technician for the DEP. ing 60 miles per hour and, ‘If I run across it the mammals that are hunted or trapped for These numbers rarely include dead ani - will hit me,’” said Howard Kilpatrick, a deer their fur, sees evidence that roads compete malss. “If an animal is killed, a rehabilitator biologist for the Connecticut Department of with hunters as weapons that kill. While the is unlikely to get involved at all,” Ms. Fortin Environmental Protection who has tracked numbers of dead animals reported to Mr. said. Also, animals hurt near roads might not thousands of deer-vehicle deaths each year. Rego’s office are low, he said that they prob - have been in the road at all. But ultimately, Other people have said they’ve watched a ably represent a fraction of the actual road “This probably underrepresents the number doe come up, watch the traffic, and when deaths. of animals hit by cars,” she said. there was a gap in traffic, they crossed.” But “The animals I deal with, almost all of The state’s deer biologist has a more def - this is rare, he said. All of the evidence sug - them cross the roads once in a while. From inite idea of the huge role cars play as animal gests that the opposite is true: something muskrats and predators. Howard Kilpatrick, who works about cars inspires panic in animals. Whether for the DEP’s wildlife division, set out to traffic is moving or not, the animals come to tally roadkilled deer reported to three differ - the edge of the road and just run. Or, if they ent state agencies. He found that the num - are snakes, they begin to move, usually slow - ber of deer killed on roads is higher than the ly and, if they hear an engine, they freeze— number killed by hunters. a response they use to fool predators into thinking they are dead. No traffic-savvy With the exception of the oddly savvy instincts squirrel family—actually witnessed one day What is going on Route 148 in Chester—most animals through the mind move along routes and in patterns that don’t of a wild animal take into account cars and trucks. They when it runs don’t know what to do to avoid them, and, into the so far, Connecticut roads have none of the experimental animal tunnels, culverts, over - passes, and fencing tried in some states, such as Massachusetts and Florida, to help reptiles cross, and Canada, to help moose. The statistics on roadkill, while spotty, show that roads are a major predator of numerous species in Connecticut.

12 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 Turtles

Roads have reduced the numbers of female turtles in several terrestrial and aquat - ic species, because females must move over - land to nest. Scientists James P. Gibbs and David A. Steen of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse concluded in 2005 that the proportion of females in freshwater and terrestrial turtles has declined from 1928 to 2003. The U.S. turtle population was about 45 percent males and 55 percent females in the 1930s. Today, they are on average 60 percent males and 40 percent gesting that immobi - females. They drew a connection between lization is generally a this fact and the expansion of road surfaces momentary reaction.” They also said that the timber rat - in the United States over that 75-year span. tlesnake, an endangered species Roads now cover 20 percent of the coun - in Connecticut and many other try’s land mass; in states with more roads, states, often remained immobilized they found that the turtle populations were for up to one minute or more after more skewed toward males. “Our results the vehicle had gone by. suggest an ongoing depletion of breeding females from wild turtle populations over Large mammals the last century because of many factors, Expanding populations of bear inevitably including, and perhaps chiefly, road mortal - take them onto the highways. Road deaths ity,” they wrote. each year usually are in the single digits. In Whitfield Gibbons of the University of the 2005-06 season, Mr. Rego of the DEP In the 90 or so years roads Georgia reported sobering observations of reported, six bears died in road accidents in 193 snakes representing nine species they Farmington, Hartland, Middletown, began to dominate the released near roads. Between 25 percent and Suffield, Sharon, and Wallingford. more than 60 percent simply avoided cross - That same year, 17 bobcats were reported Connecticut landscape, ing the road. This means that a road can act killed on roads in 16 towns, including as a limit to a snake’s range. The longer, Farmington, Enfield, Norfolk, and Plainfield. animals have not evolved to thinner snakes crossed faster than short, fat Moose, like bears, have reestablished species, they wrote. themselves in Connecticut, particularly the understand the cues that would Some snake species froze for a period of northeast and northwest corners, but save them on roads. up to several minutes every time a car or because the population is so low (106 sight - truck came near them. The denser the traf - ings of moose in 45 towns over a 10-year fic, the longer it took the snake to cross— period), road fatalities average fewer than and the higher chance of dying in the road. one per year, according to the DEP. “The majority of snakes become immobi - continued on page 14 lized at the instant the vehicle passed rather than before or after,” they wrote. “Additionally, the majority resumed move - ment shortly after the vehicle passed, sug -

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 13 Roadkill In 2005, University of Connecticut doc - Oppossums die by the thousands on toral candidate Scott C. Williams and three American roads each year. One way to get an continued from page 13 colleagues from Juniata College in idea of how many die on Connecticut roads Deer Huntington, Pennsylvania concluded in a is to consider the findings of University of study that more deer-vehicle crashes happen Massachusetts researchers L. Lean Kanda, In 2004, trying to answer definitively how at dawn and dusk and that during breeding Todd K. Fuller and Paul R. Sievert. Using an many deer died on the road each year, the season, male deer die in larger numbers. army of volunteers who recorded every Connecticut DEP examined reports of dead Attempting to map the “hot spots” where roadkilled opossum they saw while commut - deer from three sources: reports to the DEP, more deer encounter cars, the researchers ing in the Connecticut River Valley of the number of dead deer the Connecticut showed that in most regions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, they documented 93 dead Department of Transportation collected deer died on the roads at greater rates dur - opossums in one season (2000) and 64 two from the roads, and the number of deer- ing the breeding months of September years later. vehicle accidents to which the state police through December. Tallies the rest of the Connecticut’s opossum counts are only of responded. Mr. Kilpatrick, the DEP deer year were lower. roadkilled animals reported by trappers who biologist, concluded that the numbers of collected them and of road-injured opos - Small mammals roadkilled deer are much higher than sums taken to rehabilitators. The counts are thought at the time. No complete tally of roadkilled small telling. Over one decade, trappers claimed For every one roadkilled deer reported to mammals exists, but the DEP keeps track of 67 opossums they found dead on the road. his department, he found that an additional road deaths in species that trappers or But rehabilitators or a nine-year period han - five deer were killed by cars or trucks. trucks, hunters collect for fur, and rehabilitators dled 2,022 that had been injured. for a total of 18,000 killed on roads. From track all animals hit by cars and reported to The Massachusetts study found that these the state police accident reports, Mr. them. The tallies, while merely a snapshot plump animals with the rat-like tails favor Kilpatrick also concluded that for every deer into the full reality, show that all species suburban landscapes, forest “edge” habitat, found dead at an accident, three more deer wander into roads on a regular basis. and that they can find water in places like had been hit by vehicles but weren’t found In 2005-06, for instance, 17.5 percent of bird baths and storm drains, so they don’t at the accident scenes. (Most of them prob - the reported harvest of fisher had been killed require open water. In other words, opos - ably ran off, but no one knows.) by cars or trucks—or 21 animals. Beavers sums thrive in all aspects of the built envi - This suggests a total of about 27,000 deer and mink apparently rarely go onto roads, ronment except one – asphalt. hit each season, out of a population of at but red fox, gray fox, and coyote do. In Amphibians least 68,000 deer. Because hunters kill about 2005-06, trappers reported 19 gray fox 12,000 deer each year, these numbers show killed on roads (14 percent of the total gray Several scientific studies implicate roads in that roads are the number one predator of fox harvest that year) and eight red fox killed amphibians’ mortality rates, said Hank deer in Connecticut. on roads (16 percent of the total harvest). Gruner, a herpetologist who is interim direc - Eight coyotes were reported killed on roads tor of the Children’s Museum in West by trappers—only 7 percent of the coyote Hartford. harvest. A European study (Kuhn 1987) found that a traffic intensity of 24 to 40 cars per hour resulted in 50-percent mortality in For every one roadkilled deer migrating toads. A study of spotted salaman - ders in Massachusetts calculated an average an additional five deer were road-crossing time of 11 minutes. Based on this, another study calculated that roads with killed by cars or trucks. a traffic intensity of five to 10 cars per hour during the evening salamander migration could kill a significant portion of them. (Windmiller 1996). In 2000 Mr. Gruner studied salamanders’ speed and how they reacted to two different types of curb on a brand-new residential road near a vernal pool in Granby. Most of the houses had yet to be

continued on page16

14 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 WILDLIFE V. P AVEMENT IN CONNECTICUT Deer Mammals

Number of deer killed annually by cars and trucks: About 18,000 *Includes 3,000 reported to the Department of Environmental Number of roadkilled animals Protection and 15,000 retrieved from roads by the Department salvaged by trappers, 1998-2006 of Transportation Muskrat: 90 : About 9,000 Number of deer injured by cars that flee the scene Raccoon: 466 About 12,000 Number of deer reported killed by hunters: Gray fox: 43 Source: Howard Kilpatrick, deer biologist, Connecticut DEP, 2004 Red fox: 58 Mink: 65 Moose Beaver: 42 River otter: 35 9 Car-moose accidents, 1995-2004: Coyote: 77 $6,000 per moose Cost to relocate a moose out of state: Skunk: 23 *State officials say that the web of roads in Connecticut Opossum: 67 make many regions bad territory for wide-ranging moose because they’ll be hit by cars. *These low numbers don’t reflect actual totals of animals Source: Howard Kilpatrick, deer biologist, Connecticut DEP, 2004 killed on the road, but only those trappers who went to the trouble to collect and report. For most of these species, many Snakes more are hunted or trapped than collected on the road. Foxes killed on the road and collected represented up to 48 25 percent to 60 percent of snakes avoided crossing roads percent of the total fox harvest in some years. according to a study of 193 snakes representing nine species in the southeastern United States. Of those that did cross, almost Source: Paul Rego, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection all of them perished. Wildlife Division Source: Kimberly M. Andrews and J. Whitfield Gibbons, “How Do Highways Influence Snake Movement? Behavioral Responses to Roads and Vehicles,” Copelia No. 5, 2005. Wildlife Injured by Cars and Taken Amphibians to Rehabilitators, 1996-2005 3,608 Traffic of 24 to 40 cars per hour killed half of the toads trying to Birds: 407 cross in a 1987 study. Rabbits: Gray squirrels: 1,006 2,022 Spotted salamanders required an average of 11 minutes to cross Opossums: 233 the road in a 1996 Massachusetts study. Light traffic, only five to Deer: 12 10 cars per hour, could kill much of a salamander population dur - Snakes: 3 ing migration. Salamanders: Turtles: 428 Data interpreted by herpetologist Hank Gruner, interim director of the (Hit and taken to rehabilitators in lower numbers were Children’s Museum in West Hartford. red squirrels, flying squirrels, mice, woodchucks, bats, muskrat, beaver, chipmunks, otter, mink, weasel, fisher, porcupine, frogs.)

(Bird species included mute swans, waterfowl, seagulls, songbirds, raptors, wild turkeys, and more. )

Source: Laurie Fortin, Connecticut DEP Wildlife Division rehabilitators’ reports

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 15 Roadkill continued from page 14 sold, so the empty road offered him the unsual chance to follow most of the individ - ual salamanders. Further, half of the curbing on the road was a Cape Cod style, which are lower and not as steep as normal curbs, which made up the other half. He followed about 50 spotted and Jefferson salamanders during their evening migrations to reach the vernal pool. “I would time them from the time they dropped onto the road coming out of the forest … how long it took them to cross.” He also kept track of how many made it over the standard curbs versus the Cape Cod- style curbs. Only 27 percent of the salaman - ders could make it up and over a standard curb, while 91 percent could get over a Cape Cod-style curb. Also, salamanders spent much more time crossing when they had to deal with standard curbs. Even with the help of an easier curb, it’s rough out there on the roads for salaman - ders. “Anecdotally, I’ll tell you that just looking at the roads … the mortality is pret - ty significant. Even in places where you have moderate traffic, it’s significant,” Mr. Gruner said.

Bears in Cities Further Information:

On May 21, a 155-pound black bear was spending some time in Hartford and The Humane Society’s suggestions West Hartford. On May 8, a 200-pound black bear wandered into Hamden, near for watching for wildlife, and other Lexington and Dixwell avenues, a congested residential neighborhood. articles can be found at: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection staff members tranquilized http://www.hsus.org/wildlife/issues_f acing_wildlife/. and moved the animals and warned residents that bears are out looking for food, territory, and mates in the warm months. In Massachusetts, some groups advo - Paul Rego, a DEP wildlife biologist, said that the only factor limiting the cate for wildlife overpasses or under - growth of the bear population is their being hit by cars. passes to widen their territories, argu - The state’s bear population is about 300, or six times that of the late 1980s. In ing that more damaging than dying 2006, people reported seeing bears more than 2,000 times in 125 of the state’s on roads is fragmentation of habitat. 169 towns.The DEP does not normally tranquilize and relocate bears unless they are a nuisance or in a heavily populated area. The department advises people to For an article on this, see the National avoid these animals: take down bird feeders until the fall; store garbage in a shed Wildlife Federation magazine National Wildlife, available at: or garage; don’t store pet food outside; remember bears might be attracted to the www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/arti - grease in grills or the compost pile; and do not ever intentionally feed bears or lure cle.cfm?issueID=75&articleID=1091. them to the yard. Make loud noises when you encounter a bear and it will usual - ly run away. The DEP Wildlife Division monitors the black bear population through sight - ing reports received from the public. Report sightings on the DEP’s website at www.ct.gov/dep or by calling DEP Wildlife Division’s Sessions Woods office at 860-675-8130 (Mon.-Fri. from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). For emergencies after hours, call 860-424-3333.

– Sources: Connecticut DEP press release; The New York Times

16 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 WORKING WITH THE LAND Managing Land As a Re newable and Profita ble Resource

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Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 17 CONNECTICUT ’S ‘TEMPERATE ’ FORESTS ACTUALLY RESEMBLE TROPICAL ONES

Old European principles often don’t work in managing these woodlands How new stands of mixed trees grow up beneath old ones

By DAVID M. SMITH A tropical forest ecologist, P. W. Richards (in 1952), put some order into the chaos when he ilviculture has traditionally been dominated observed that the tropical species often sorted them - by principles derived from centuries of selves naturally into different horizontal strata. In SEuropean experience with even-aged planted these stands, categories of species with similar ability stands of single species that dependably develop in to endure shade develop just above those of succes - ways predictable in yield tables fitted to them. Where sively greater ability. Thus stands with this structure natural stands consist of many species, foresters are have come to be called “stratified mixtures” in this often bewildered by what seems a state of unmanage - country. able chaos. This commonly dictates complete What this means is that new stands of mixed clearcutting of such stands to replace them with species can often start beneath old stands if suitable stands of simpler composition that come close to the sources of seeds are overhead or nearby. The little monocultural plantation model. replacement trees may grow slowly but persist until The climate of our region is called temperate but is the old trees above them are killed by windstorms, mainly the result of striking an average between hot insects, disease or cutting. Even though the little humid summers that are quasi-tropical and winters seedlings or saplings may be decades in age, many that are almost Siberian. The trees do their growing species of this so-called “advanced regeneration” can in the warm season but are dormant in the winters. respond with much more rapid growth This develop - As a result, the natural forests are almost as chaotical - ment has been so commonly recognized with mixed ly diverse as tropical rain forests and can seem hope - stands of eastern United States hardwoods that less to foresters imbued with the centuries-old princi - foresters often replace old stands by what are too ples learned from simple stands composed mainly of loosely called “clearcuttings“ in which the pre-estab - one species. lished seedlings and saplings are mostly reserved. The new crop may be supplemented by stump sprouts or new seedlings of species that do not grow rapidly in shade that start on little spots of bare soil created by

18 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 logging. The chief problem with creating new mixed ly maintained, thus protecting soil and aesthetic values stands from advanced regeneration is browsing by as well as reducing opportunity for invasive exotics to deer. This is usually quite selective but can be mitigat - establish themselves. Their constituent species devel - ed by hunting to reduce deer populations to about 15 op at different rates and push up to sunlight at a broad per square mile. enough range of times that they can sustain continu - Stratified mixture may develop in other ways. ing stream of harvests that are mistakenly reputed to Connecticut has many good stands that arose from come only from truly uneven-aged stands. sprout growth after the heavy fuelwood cuttings or This range is often expanded at the time of the ini - bad fires that were common before the 1920s. They tiating removal cuttings by reserving scattered trees of can be started by planting. For example, the late desirable species such as white pine and red oak that Eugene Winch, who was in charge of the State Forests nave been slow to emerge but continue vigorously of eastern Connecticut, planted a random mixture of and economically rewarding growth to large size. If single seedlings of European larch, red pine, white some such trees are, for example, 100 years old when pine, and Norway spruce in 1934 that now stands finally harvested, it will help achieve sustained yield to close to US Rte. 44 on the Nye-Holman State Forest plan to start the cycle again on a hundredth of the for - in West Willington. The four species rank from tallest est area annually or a tenth each decade. to shortest in the order listed. When he planted it, the The harvests during the cycle can be in the nature prevailing orthodoxy held that mixed planting had to of thinnings. These can be guided as if one were man - be small patches of single species, so he hide his exper - aging an investment portfolio. Trees that are earning iment behind some rows of pure red pine. His results compound interest at an acceptable rate or can be were so good that planting random mixtures became released enough to do so are kept. Those that can’t, standard with many Connecticut foresters. but have become merchantable, are removed. These ideas are nothing new and are so logical that foresters have been applying them in management for generations. In fact, the idea seems to have emerged from efforts to deal with natural mixed stands in In New England, stratified mixtures of hardwoods Central Europe centuries ago but were thought to such stands have almost invariably developed after the require uneven-aged stands. harvest of pure stands of white pine that colonized grassy fields after agricultural abandonment. Converting the new mixtures back to pure white pine David M. Smith is professor emeritus of silviculture has been frustratingly difficult and costly but any scat - at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental tered white pines that ultimately emerge in untreated Studies. He is an honorary director of CFPA. stands are usually straight and fine, especially if they are pruned and kept free of side-crowding afterwards. Stratified mixtures created from mixed advanced regeneration have many advantages. They preserve biodiversity and do not necessitate expensive planting. Nearly complete cover by woody plants is continuous -

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20 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 TRY THIS HIKE

Rocks and pines on the summit.

Christine Woodside

THE ROCKS AND PINES OF MOUNT PISGAH

ount Pisgah is one of the Directions and Parking Continue north, descending gradually and small peaks that – if only passing along the bottom of a rock ledge. As M Traveling north into Durham on Route the trail swings south, cross Chalker Brook everyone knew about it – 79, watch for Sand Hill Road on the left and might find itself on the state seal or a spe - (at 1.8 miles) and follow the brook turn onto it. Immediately turn left again cialty car license plate advertising the beau - upstream. At 1.9, bear right and cross an onto Pisgah Road and park in a designated unimproved section of Cream Pot Road. At ties of Connecticut. The open, rocky sum - pull-off. From here, the blue-blazed this point, a blue-and-red-blazed access trail mit with its pitch pines and view of the dis - Mattabesett Trail coincides with Pisgah begins; it would lead back to the road in .3 tant Hartford skyline and Coginchaug Road for a .5 mile, an easy, flat walk. mile. Valley inspires reflection and appreciation of Join and cross several old roads, traveling Description of the Route the natural wonders of the ridges along west. Turn left and pass a huge boulder which the Mattabesett Trail runs. Follow Pisgah Road on foot for .5 mile, known as The Pyramid and an orange- Distance and Time until the trail enters the woods on the right. blazed trail (not maintained by CFPA). The trail climbs steeply to a false summit at Climb steeply through hemlocks to the top This hike to the summit and back from .8 mile. It descends and turns left onto an of the ridge and the beginning of the Mica Pisgah Road covers a 2-mile round trip. old road at .9 mile, and the open summit at Ledges, which offer three viewpoints spread Most hikers could complete it in an hour or 1 mile. over the next few tenths of a mile. so, but the summit is so beautiful that you If you choose to continue on to Mica Trail description from the Connecticut wouldn’t want to rush down. Ledges, from the summit, the trail turns Walk Book , edited by Ann T. Colson and To reach the beginning of a series of right off the old woods road into the trees Cindi D. Pietrzyk. The Mattabesett Trail is overlooks known as the Mica Ledges, walk and soon begins a steep descent to the west. included in both the east and west editions another 1.3 miles beyond Pisgah, or a total It then turns north and (at 1.3 miles from of the book. To buy a copy, see the CFPA Store in this issue. (from the road) of 4.6 miles round trip; add your original starting point) passes a spur another hour and a half to the round-trip. trail, blazed with orange dots, to a vista.

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 21 TREE PAGE

White Ash (Fraxinus americana)

The White Ash is found throughout this region, but grows to best advantage in the rich moist soils of mountain coves and river bottom - lands. It reaches an average height of fifty to eighty feet and a diameter of two to three feet, though much larger trees are found in virgin forest. The bark varies in color from a light gray to a gray-brown. The rather narrow ridges are separated with marked regularity by deep, diamond-shaped fissures. The leaves of the White Ash are from eight to twelve inches long and have from five to nine plain - ly stalked, sharp-pointed leaflets, dark green and smooth above, pale green beneath. Except for the Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo), which has paired, winged fruit, and usually three leaflets but occasionally more, the Ashes are the only common trees of the region with opposite, pinnate - ly compound leaves with five or more leaflets. The flowers are of two kinds on different trees, the male in dense reddish-purple clusters and the tapered cylinder, searching for just the right grip. He has female in more open bunches. stared nervously at the wavy, striped grain while waiting The fruit of the Ash is winged, one to one and on deck. He has cocked the ash over his shoulder, wait - one-half inches long, resembling the blade of a ing for just the right pitch. He has swung with all his canoe paddle in outline, with the seed at the handle might, and every so often that elastic ash has sent the ball end. The fruits mature in late summer and are dis - sailing over the outfield fence. tributed effectively by the winds. White ash is an easy tree to recognize. Along with The wood of the White Ash is extremely valu - maples, dogwood and horse chestnut, it is one of the few able on account of its toughness and elasticity. It is opposite-leaved, opposite-branched trees in the preferred to all other native woods for small tool Connecticut forest. Its bark is truly ashen in color, and its handles, such athletic implements as rackets, bats deep fissures make it distinctive. The leaves of the white and oars, and agricultural implements. It is also used ash are pinnately compound, meaning that many leaflets extensively for furniture and interior finish. make up one leaf, with the leaflets opposite each other on That familiar “thwack,” that sound of spring, that a central petiole. Ash prefers rich soils, often growing in distinctive sound of bat striking ball – that is the wetlands. sound of the white ash. Each native tree has its place As those who heat their homes with wood know, ash in American culture, and no tree is more connected makes the best firewood. Ash will even burn green, and to our national pastime than is the white ash. Valued should be the most sought-after species in any woodpile. for its elasticity, white ash is the wood of the baseball Ash is also the wood of tool handles and other athletic bat. Many an American child has communed with implements. Its lumber can be fashioned into furniture

white ash. He has run his hands up and down the continued on page 23

22 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 continued from page 22

and cabinetry. The Camp-Ellsworth library at CFPA headquarters is, in fact, entirely furnished of ash. The library’s handsome tables, chairs, bookshelves and cabinets are made of ash cut from the Jones farm in Shelton. White ash is also a tree to be concerned about. Those who get about in the woods know that a number of ashes are dying. This has been referred to as “ash decline,” and I have not read a good explanation of why it is occurring. In my view, these ash trees are simply dying of old age. The more serious threat, though, is the emerald ash borer. The emerald ash borer is an exotic, introduced pest that is spreading from the Midwest and bearing down on Connecticut. To date, no one has devised a way of controlling the emerald ash borer, and the only way of containing its spread has been to cut every ash tree in great concentric circles from observed outbreaks. –A.R.M.

This page is modeled closely on CFPA’s classic book Forest Trees of Southern New England . If you would like to buy a copy, con - tact the office at 860-346-2372 or see the CFPA Store page in this issue. The cost is not prohibitive.

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Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 23 Hull Forest Products Inc. Serving The Needs of Forest Landowners Since 1972. Providing Numerous Forestry Services: Four Certified Foresters On Staff Forest Management Planning Tree Farm Certification Wildlife Habitat Management Timber Stand Improvements CT Forestland Property Tax Classification Purchasing Standing Timber.

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24 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 STUMPAGE REPORT

EAST OF CT RIVER WEST OF CT RIVER Current prices for standing timber SPECIES no. of median range no. of median range reports reports This table summarizes 81 voluntary reports by Red oak 39 220 120 - 400 11 250 120 – 355 foresters, loggers, and sawmills of prices paid White oak 28 98 50 - 150 7 100 70 – 236 for timber between January and March 2007 Other oaks 26 118 50 - 250 5 100 50 – 230 in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Prices are Ash 26 51 40 - 140 14 100 45 – 275 in dollars per thousand board feet using the Cherry 11 200 200 - 415 10 450 220 – 900 international quarter-inch scale. Pulpwood Sugar maple 12 250 160 - 400 15 305 200 – 525 and fuelwood are reported in dollars per cord. Red maple 26 50 25 - 100 14 68 25 – 150 The Cooperative Extension Services of the Tulip poplar 2 119 50 - 187 3 60 0 – 105 University of Connecticut and the University Yellow birch 6 50 50 - 60 11 50 35 – 125 of Massachusetts compile these quarterly Black birch 21 55 50 - 115 9 50 40 – 155 reports, warning that these prices offer only a Paper birch 4 50 -6 28 0 – 50 Beech 1 20 -8 25 20 – 50 guide to prices, which can fluctuate due to Pallet hdwd 10 33 20 - 50 9 20 10 – 30 many factors. See the Web sites Other hdwd 12 33 10 - 100 2 88 20 – 155 http://www.canr.uconn.edu/ces/forest/price White pine 33 90 50 - 185 15 60 50 – 100 sht.htm, or http://forest.fnr.umass.edu/snes - Red pine 4 20 20 - 80 1 75 - tumpage.htm. Hemlock 7 25 20 - 60 12 20 0 – 160 Spruce 4 20 20 - 25 4 75 50 – 75 Other sfwd 3 20 -0 - - Poles, hardwd ($/lin.ft) 0- -0 - - Poles, sftwd ($/lin.ft) 0- -0 - - Fuel wood ($/cd) 29 7 0 - 10 950 – 20 Pulpwood ($/cd) 30 -2 0 - Biomass ($/ton) 0- -0 - -

Contest Winner

This photo by Kim Kretvix, of a rainbow over Horsebarn Hill, won second place in the recent Environmental Expressions contest at the University of Connecticut. For more winners, see page 37.

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 25 BOOK REVIEW

EXHAUSTIVE TREE HISTORY COVERS TAXONOMY TO THE BEST WOOD FOR SEATS

The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, perspective), distinguishing “evergreens” How They Live, and Why They Matter, from “deciduous” (a horticultural lens), or by Colin Tudge. New York: Crown flower structure and function (Linnaeus’s Publishers, 2006. 459 pages. plant sex orientation, and causing many problems with classifying algae and fungi). thesis and carbon sequestration as a key By ROBERT RICARD What this book presents well and deeply is weapon in mitigating climate change. Trees why and how taxonomists developed the use photosynthesis to remove carbon dioxide f you asked a forester, “What is a tree?” schemes they did. For example, Mr. Tudge from the air. Carbon molecules are “fixed” you would get one answer. If you asked delves into what is known of the personal life and become the branches, roots, and, most Ia botanist, you could get another. A of Erasmus Darwin (the grandfather of important perhaps, the stem or trunk. If the plant taxonomist definitely would give a dif - Charles). Apparently Erasmus was a “wild trunk becomes a log, which becomes a board ferent answer but might leave you wishing romantic” who “reveled in sex in all its man - that remains intact for years, then carbon is you never asked the question. Don’t go to ifestations.” This preoccupation influenced removed and stored for longer periods. Mr. the state statutes for a description either; you his translation into English Linnaeus’s classi - Tudge is truly awed by all these practical probably would find the 15-foot, single stem fication scheme, one that, of course, used issues while revering trees’ beauty amid such definition leaving you with more questions flower sex morphology to differentiate practical functions in nature. than answers. Veteran author Colin Tudge species. He is the master of weaving the wonders of tackles this thorny issue – thorns are, of None of these schemes have ever been science besides the fascinating yet little known course, only modified leaves – relying heavi - satisfactory because they did not incorporate products trees provide. He points out, for ly first on the natural history of trees and also evolutionary science into the mix (the sci - example, that elm is favored in the manufac - the latest scholarship on tree physiology, tax - ence was not yet sufficiently developed). Mr. turing of “buttock-molded seats” and that onomy, and evolutionary biology. A master Tudge does discuss post 1980s develop - basswood was the best wood for the front of taking simple questions that require com - ments in DNA science and technology that panels of pulpits. While, “The intricate knowl - plex answers, Mr. Tudge pleasantly integrates is leading to a better understanding of plant edge that our forebears had of each kind of science with tree myth, legend, and folklore origins and relatedness. plant and its caprices and possibilities never in a fine prose style. The outcome is a stout He does not limit himself to plant classifi - ceases to astonish me,” he does have one yet accessible book that should be on the cation. One key tree ingredient, lignin, a lament: “Knowledge now largely lost, or at shelf of anyone interested in knowing about chemical compound that binds together least confined to academic tracts of whimsical trees. wood’s celluloid fibers, particularly fasci - accounts like this one might become common Classification is no more than people’s nates him. He joyously claims this to be place once again. Maybe when the fossil fuels need for a convenient way to make sense of “one of the wonders of the universe.” In an run out and heavy industry has run its course, the universe by organizing it. We can con - age when people are less connected to trees such wonders may be rediscovered.” This fine ceptualize just so much. This is not, of and wood use and more connected to tree book goes far, helping to keep our perspective course, an accurate reflection of the natural preservation (this in spite of our increasing of the natural history of trees more in balance order of things, but it’s a start. In The Tree consumption of wood fiber – a paradox of with much consideration for our health and you will find much more than a plant classi - environmental versus behavioral values), Mr. the health of the planet . fication book; it is much deeper than that. Tudge waxes profoundly on what wood can Trudge does present the history and ration - do and has done throughout history. He ale of plant classification first and well. Many marvels at the biological fact that a tree’s Robert M. Ricard is a senior extension edu - Connecticut Woodlands readers no doubt “living tissue is constantly replacing itself” cator in urban forestry for the University of will already know some classification schemes and that no human invention to date comes Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. like the forestry basis for distinguishing close to replicating this. Contact him at 860-570-9257. “softwoods” from “hardwoods” (a lumber Mr. Tudge correctly singles out photosyn -

26 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 FROM THE ARCHIVES

IN THE DEPTHS OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION, A CONSERVATION PUBLISHER SETS A COURSE

George McLean Milne describes in the 1995 book Connecticut Woodlands how the Connecticut Forest & Park Association dedicated itself to publishing conservation and trail publications during an unlikely time – the Great Depression.

It is our hope that Connecticut Woodlands has lived up to its founders’ goals of publishing environmen - tal articles for members and the general public. Today many people talk about the demise of print journalism. We see a great need, still, for this maga - zine, 71 years after it started.

This excerpt is from pages 46 and 47 of Mr. Milne’s book, published by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association.

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 27 ESSENTIAL FACTS OF LIFE

IT’S NOT SAFER INDOORS : Naming and Dealing with Risks in Nature

2007 close to By LORI PARADIS BRANT of several species of ticks found in 20,000 new cases Connecticut. Ticks, which prefer grassy, of cancer will be “Unlike television, nature does not steal shrubby areas, are arachnids – related to spi - diagnosed in Con- time, it amplifies it. Nature offers heal - ders. They grasp onto a blade of grass or necticut. An ex- ing…reinterprets fantasies…inspires cre - other low vegetation with several of their tremely rare, but no ativity. In nature, a child finds freedom, eight legs and hold out their remaining legs in less serious disease the air, attempting to grasp the fur or cloth - fantasy, and privacy…” transmitted mostly ing of a host as it walks by. While a tick usu - by bird-biting mos - —Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving ally grabs onto a person’s leg, it may take sev - quitoes, is eastern Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder eral hours before it finds itself a place to attach equine encephalitis. on another part of the body. According to the To date, there have Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station umm er is the perfect season for chil - not been any record - in New Haven, the longer an infected tick is Education Coordinator dren to get outdoors and explore ed cases in humans in embedded, the higher the likelihood of Lyme Lori Paradis Brant Snature’s treasures and secrets. Connecticut. The Ag disease being transmitted: after 24 hours, Whether on a hiking trail, in a city park, or in Station coordinates there is a 0 percent risk; after 48 hours, 12 the backyard, children and their parents can mosquito trapping and testing, and to date, all become adventurers. We can experience the percent; after 72 hours, 79 percent; and after trapped mosquitoes have tested negatively this fresh air and—unfortunately—the itch of 96 hours, 94 p ercent. Infected ticks in their year. mosquito bites or a tick that has attached nymph stage, akin to their teenage years, are most Running barefoot through the grass is itself to our skin. It is a season of enjoyment associated with Lyme disease as they are only almost synonymous with summer. The cool and risk. Risk is a part of our daily lives. Each about the size of a pinhead and not as easily blades of grass seem to gently tickle the day we take risks through our decisions, detect ed as the adult. undersides of bare feet. What risks can there whether business or personal choices. We are An evening outdoors in the summer does - be in this carefree delight? If the grass has n’t seem complete without some pesky constantly identifying risks, weighing our been treated with lawn chemicals to kill options, and practicing risk reduction mosquitoes buzzing in the ears. As we insects or weeds, plenty of them. through our actions . exhale, mosquitoes find us by the carbon Environment and Human Health, Inc., a Should we allow our children outside to dioxide we release. Female mosquitoes need nonprofit organization of doctors and explore and experience the many lessons of to bite because they require the protein experts in public health and policies conducts nature, knowing that this exposes them to found in blood in order to produce their research to identify environmental harms ticks that might carry Lyme disease, as well eggs. They aren’t only annoying for the affecting the human population and pro - as other dangers? Is it better we keep them itchy welts their bites leave. A more serious motes public education about the connec - indoors, where we may increase their risk of hazard in this region is that a small number tion between environmental and human childhood obesity and loss of appropriate of them can carry West Nile Virus. Infected health. The organization warns that lawn creative stimulation? How do we find the mosquitoes transmit this viral infection chemicals are toxic and can cause a plethora facts and identify the appropriate amount of when they bite. In areas where infected mos - of ailments, including cancer, birth and risk? How do we do what is best for our quitoes have been found, fewer than one out reproductive defects, neurological disorders, children? of 500 mosquitoes will be infected, accord - and more. Children and pets playing in the ing to the Connecticut Department of lawn that has been treated with chemicals are Naming the risks Public Health. As of September 2006, the at risk. Many of the chemicals found in lawn One of the concerns people express most Connecticut Mosquito Management care products also can contaminate ground frequently is exposure to Lyme disease-car - Program announced that nine people in and drinking water sources. rying ticks . According to the Connecticut Connecticut had been infected with West While this information can easily frighten Department of Public Health, our state has Nile Virus that season. Those are very low us, knowing it can help us ascertain the risks the highest rate of Lyme disease in the odds of infection when compared with the and examine ways to reduce them. We then nation. Lyme disease is transmitted to risk of being diagnosed with cancer. The can take action so that we may enjoy time humans by the black-legged or deer tick, one American Cancer Society projects that in outdoors without surrendering to fear.

28 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 Kids and Nature

ǠThis past April, PBS Parents added a Connecting Kids to Nature feature to their Reducing Risks program. This site offers caregivers simple things to foster children’s natural curiosity This is a crucial and simple step to reduce the risk of Lyme dis - Check for Ticks Daily. about nature, includes information on some ease. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station reports that Lyme disease is most of the benefits of getting your family out - likely transmitted after an infected tick has been attached for more than 36 hours, and doors, and suggests age-appropriate chil - most likely to occur after it has been attached and engorged in the skin for two to three dren’s literature – great for bedtime stories days. An infected, but not engorged (flat in shape) tick does not transmit the bacterium after a day of outdoor play. Visit their website: that causes Lyme until it ingests the blood of the host. This means that a daily tick check http://www.pbs.org/parents/special/earth is an excellent and widely recommended method to preventing and lessening the risk of day.html. Lyme disease. The Ag Station expresses that this is the most effective means of preven - tion. By making this part of a daily routine, such as part of the nightly routine of brush - ǠVisit the Children & Nature Network for ing the teeth, washing the face, and checking for ticks, we are more likely to remember to current research and studies on the benefits check every day, even if we’ve only been outside for a little while. By adding a tick check of outdoor interaction with children and the to our habits, we are accepting the fact that Lyme disease is a risk but that prevention, not consequences that are related to the lack of fear, can reduce our risk of contracting it. these experiences. www.cnaturenet.org. Ward off Mosquitoes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends using prod - ucts with DEET to repel these flying insects, but to use it sparingly as it can absorb through ǠA recent study found that American chil - the skin. This chemical works by confusing the carbon dioxide receptors in a mosquito so it dren plug into some type of electronic can’t find the source of the CO 2. device for 44 hours each week. (That is, TV, In a 2003 report released by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the maximum con - computer, digital games, etc.) The National centration of DEET recommended for use on children is 30 percent. The report recom - Wildlife Federation initiated a Green Hour. mends using it sparingly, applying it no more than once a day, washing treated skin after Green Hour recommends one hour of going indoors, and buying the product with the lowest concentration that will be effective unstructured outdoor play a day for chil - for the amount of time you spend outside. dren and provides tips and inspiration to do A 10-percent DEET concentration provides approximately two hours of protection from so. See www.greenhour.org. mosquitoes. The American Academy of Pediatrics cautions against using products that combine DEET with sunscreen, because sunscreen tends to be reapplied over a day and ǠZero to Six: Electronic Media in the DEET should not be applied that often. Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers The Connecticut DEP recommends reducing mosquito bites by making sure door and – Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, window screens are fitted properly and in good condition; limiting outdoor time at dawn www.kff.org. and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active, using products with DEET according to the product’s label, and reducing mosquito breeding habitats of standing water (empty bird baths and wading pools frequently). Information on Health Risks Alternative bug sprays without DEET containing oil of lemon eucalyptus have proven to Environmental and Human Health, Inc.: effectively ward off mosquitoes. A 2005 Consumer Reports study tested oil of lemon euca - www.ehhi.org. lyptus as a mosquito repellant and found at least one brand warded off aggressive mosq uitoes for up to seven hours and less aggressive mosquitoes for more than 12 hours. Healthy Child National Pesticide Information Center: Healthy World recommends planting marigolds, lemon thyme, scented geranium and other 1-800-858-7378 or see plants to help deter mos quitoes. www.npic.orst.edu. Here are some other recommendations: do not use scented soaps or perfumes; avoid Connecticut Department of Public Health: dark clothing, which may attract mosquitoes; and do not use electric “bug zappers,” www.ct.gov/dph. which operate by drawing insects to light, meaning that many predatory insects which Connecticut Agricultural and Experiment may hunt mosquitoes end up dying. (Remember, mosquitoes are drawn to the carbon Station: www.ct.gov/caes. dioxide we exhale.) The Connecticut Department of Public Health does not recommend Centers for Disease Control’s National limiting outdoor time unless you are in an area with evidence of mosquito-born disease. Center for Environmental Health: Maintaining a healthy lawn is possible without chemicals. Plant Avoid lawn chemicals. www.cdc.gov/nceh. native plants, which are less vulnerable to pests. (Local soil and water conservation districts often sell native plants, usually in annual sales.) Native plants have evolved with Healthy Child Healthy World (formerly Connecticut’s climate and wildlife, so often need less care, water, and nurturing than exot - Children’s Health Environmental ic species. Coalition): www.healthychild.org. Helpful public programs on healthy lawns include the City of Middletown’s Project Green Protecting Children from Pesticides: Lawn and Connecticut College’s Smaller American Lawns Today, or SALT. As the state affil - http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/fact - continued on page 38 sheets/kidpesticide.htm.

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 29 FROM THE LAND

TOMATOES – S UMMER DELIGHT AND AMERICA ’S FAVORITE VEGETABLE

By JEAN CRUM JONES

’m one of those tomato fiends who will eat fresh tomatoes only when they are in Iseason, Connecticut-grown and vine- ripened. There are few summer pleasures as wonderful and satisfying as eating a juicy warm-from-the-vine tomato, either from one’s own garden or from the local farm mar - ket. Fortunately, the last few years have seen a fresh tomato revival, as enthusiasts have started demanding plants and seeds that grow richer, tastier tomatoes in the home garden and on the small farm. People’s passion for a richer, truer, tastier tomato has led to an amazing boom in the acidic. It also did not seem like any vegetable Another explanation is that the rich in the production of heirloom tomatoes. Growers they knew. The berry was the size of a cherry 1500s used pewter flatware, which had a high now sell many old-fashioned varieties. tomato and was golden yellow. (On subse - lead content. Acidic food like tomatoes Fortunately, the abundant tomatoes of sum - quent trips, they discovered a red variety.) would leech the lead into the food, causing mer do not lose their fine flavor if you can Despite their doubts they found the plant poisoning or death. Poor people who ate off them. We now can enjoy canned tomatoes attractive and the Spanish carried it with them of wooden plates or discs of bread did not out of season and then indulge in the unique, to Spain, the Philippines, and the Caribbean. have that problem. unforgettable flavor of local ripe tomatoes The tomato plant spread quickly around the The Portuguese also took to using toma - during summer. Mediterranean basin – to Naples (which was toes in a distinctive sauce. Slave traders car - The tomato pervades American cuisine in under Spanish rule), to Provence, Greece, ried the plant to Africa where it became wide - sauces, soups, and casseroles, in ketchup and Turkey and North Africa – all had a favorable ly cultivated and used in West Africa. The salsa, as well as juice. Nearly every sandwich climate that allowed for its prolific cultivation. tomato arrived in North America in the early has a slice of tomato on it. The average The tomato was found to be delicious cooked 1600s. The Spanish planted tomatoes along American eats almost 20 pounds of fresh in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper the Florida coast, and they gradually spread tomatoes and 70 pounds of processed toma - and other native herbs. It is difficult to imag - northward to the Carolinas. African slaves toes each year. They have become more ine today what Spanish or Sicilian or French brought tomato seeds to America, where the American than apple pie! or Turkish or Moroccan cooking would be tomato became an ingredient in many Explorers balk at yellow fruit like without it. Southern savory soups and stews. French and However, North and Central Europeans Africans also introduced tomatoes into south - One of the most amazing things about the were not receptive to the tomato, except as an ern Louisiana and they became a distinct current prevalence of the tomato in our diet ornamental plant that grew in the gardens of component of Creole cookery. Generally, is that it was practically unknown in this the wealthy. Famous herbalists of the late tomatoes were known and eaten in the country 200 years ago. The tomato 1500s in the Low Countries and England American South during the 1700s by people (Lycopersicon esculentum ) is a native described the plant as unwholesome. Some of modest means, though Thomas Jefferson American plant and was first cultivated in the even thought the tomato was poisonous was growing them in his Monticello garden Peru-Ecuador-Bolivia region of the Andes. (which its pungent stems and leaves are). One in 1780. Spanish explorers first discovered the fruit in theory about that belief is that the tomato, Northern colonists slow to catch on Mexico around 1520, being grown by the which is a member of the Solanacae plant Aztec tribes. This food was totally unfamiliar family, is related to deadly nightshade. Meanwhile, the Northern colonists ate a to them. It resembled a fruit, but it tasted too

30 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 British-influenced diet and would not eat of the Union army and after the war, their restaurants opened during this decade. tomatoes. So, ironically, tomatoes’ first consumption increased. Canned tomatoes Connecticut already had many Italian and major impact at the northern table came were one of the few vegetables available in pizza restaurants that had been established from the English colonists in the form of winter. in the 1930s, but their popularity greatly ketchup. The British loved their condi - increased. A similar tomato revolution Centralized farms, bland taste ments. Ketchups had developed in England occurred in the 1980s when Mexican food in the 16th and 17th centuries after British Concurrently, the hybridization of toma - became nationally available. People began to contact with the East Indies. The original toes was vastly increasing the number of appreciate the affinity of tomatoes with chili sauce was either a fish or soy sauce, heavily varieties available. In the early 1900s, cook - peppers—so much so that salsa now outsells spiced, and its name may be derived from a ing school teachers and cookbooks popular - ketchup as the most popular condiment in Malay word, ke-tsiap. After the Dutch ized the use of tomatoes in “ethnic” recipes, the United States. traders and British sailors bought the prod - such as Spanish rice and Spanish omelets. Unfortunately, with the huge national uct back, European versions were developed They encouraged putting tomatoes in salads appetite for tomatoes and the growth of with such ingredients as anchovies, oysters, and tomato aspic and stuffing them. The national supermarket chains after World War mushrooms and young walnuts, which were Campbell Soup Company introduced con - II, the agricultural nature of growing toma - sweetened and seasoned with aromatic densed soups to Americans in 1905; quickly, toes changed. The suburbs eliminated most spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and the number one seller became tomato soup. of the small truck farms outside of cities and cloves. As cities continued to grow, surrounding the growing of tomatoes began to be con - Somehow, around 1800 in America, farms focused on growing perishable vegeta - centrated in California and Florida. Today, tomatoes began to be used for a sauce to bles that were sold in central markets. In 80 percent of the total production of toma - which vinegar, sugar, and spices were added. Connecticut, many of the truck farmers toes in the United States is in California. This product could be made in August, tended to be Italian and were expert grow - During this period of agricultural concentra - stored, and then used when needed to add a ers of tomatoes. In the 1920s, there were 16 tion, tomato breeders began focusing on taste of complexity to simple dishes of meat major market centers in Connecticut, and tomatoes that could be mechanically har - or beans. By this time, tomatoes were consid - tomatoes became a very profitable crop. vested, shipped easily across the country ered safe to eat if they were cooked for at After World War II began, tins of vegeta - without damage and still be firm enough to least three hours. In the form of ketchup, the bles were scarce and homemakers were sit in a store for a week until sold. The taste tomato became acceptable to mainstream encouraged to grow their own vegetables in of fresh tomatoes became bland and unfor - America. There was a proliferation of tomato “victory gardens.” A small army of home tunately, most of the public didn’t seem to ketchups made in farm kitchens throughout economists with the Cooperative Extension care. We are the only country in the world the 19th century. In 1876, the Heinz Agency was dispatched to women’s groups whose citizens have come to expect and Company produced the first commercially to teach canning, using glass jars that were in demand tomatoes year-round. available ketchup and this product became good supply. Many homemakers learned Hopefully, we are changing. The recent the forerunner of a number of sweetened how to grow tomatoes and how to put up growth of farmers’ markets in Connecticut is tomato preparations – soups, barbecue stewed tomatoes, chili sauce, and tomato bringing back the old-fashioned flavor of all sauces, and salad dressings – all becoming an juice. (As a nutritionist, it is interesting to vegetables. Seek out a farmer’s market near integral part of the American diet. note how healthy Americans were during you and find a passionate heirloom tomato In the 1840s, the tomato experienced a this so-called period of deprivation). Many grower. Eat – better yet, devour – fresh dramatic turnabout – it went from a poison - folks continued growing tomatoes in their tomatoes, and keep that fresh taste in your ous fruit to a popular vegetable. In the gardens after the war, finding tomatoes one mind all year long until you can once again decade from1830 to 1840, snake-oil sales - of the most satisfying and tastiest vegetables delight in the pleasure of Connecticut man promoted tomato nostrums, in the to grow. It is estimated that today 85 per - homegrown tomatoes. form of pills or syrups. Though certainly not cent of home gardeners grow tomatoes. helpful for diseases like cholera or cancer, the Another factor that made the tomato “remedies” were not harmful and gave peo - America’s favorite vegetable was the discov - Jean Crum Jones is a registered dietician ple the impression that tomatoes were a ery of pizza, lasagna, and other Italian who with her husband, Terry, runs the Jones healthy food. Also during this period, seed favorites. Soldiers who had served in Family Farm in Shelton. catalogs increased the number of varieties Southern Italy during the war came home that were available from two in 1830 to wanting to continue enjoying Italian food. fourteen by 1840. In the 1850s, tomato As well, the famous Italian personalities of canning became an important industry with the 1950s, such as Joe DiMaggio and Frank New Jersey leading the way. During the Sinatra, were shown enjoying genuine Civil War, canned tomatoes became a staple Italian food on television. Many pizza

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 31 SUMMER PROGRAMS

Please call CFPA at 860-346- est Letterboxing: troll bridge, toy box. winning environmental education cur - 2372 for information. Run downhill as fast as legs can go. riculum teaches students how to think, not what to think about their environ - FOR FAMILIES ment. Discover classroom-ready, engag - SEPTEMBER ing activities that use inquiry and criti - WALKCONNECTICUT Saturday, September 29, 10-noon, Case cal-thinking skills to explore the connec - FAMILY GUIDED HIKES Mountain “Charcoal” hike, Manchester, tion between science and the outdoors. Last weekend of every month for ages 10 and older Help your students develop the enthusi - asm, interest and confidence of learning Want to bring your family in the outdoors Let’s discover remains of Connecticut’s science by using the world outside the but not sure what to do? Join us for fun charcoal industry, going back to a time classroom window. Project Learning family hikes on the trails led by educa - when the hills were cloaked in smoke, Tree PreK-8 Activity Guide; 0.5CEU’s; tion staff or volunteer Family Hike and forests were burned to make fuel for $35/participant. Financial assistance Leaders trained by CFPA. Enjoy walking factories and mills. You may have available through CFPA’s Paul F. Pikula in the woods, traipsing through wet - noticed circular mounds in the woods, Education Fund. lands, sensing the coolness of streams and wondered what they are. Come find and fern gullies, and much more! Each out, on this moderately challenging hike guided hike will introduce the beauty of with some steep and rocky areas. PLACES WE LIVE Connecticut’s lands to you and your fam - ily. We’ll learn about safety, how to stay For high school and talented & gifted found and not get lost and find out what middle school educators FOR ADULTS to fill in that day pack. Guided Family Friday, August 24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Hikes are offered at no cost as a public WALKCONNECTICUT’S FAMILY HIKE CFPA, Middlefield Engage your students the signature role service to Connecticut’s children and LEADER VOLUNTEER TRAINING families as part of CFPA’s of Connecticut in the birth of U.S. envi - Saturday, October 13, 9 a.m. – noon WalkConnecticut initiative, creating ronmental history. Bring debate about CFPA, Middlefield healthy families by connecting them to environmental issues into the classroom Do you want to share your enthusiasm the land. and help your students understand the for the outdoors with others? The implications of land policy that is part of Pre-registration encouraged for all hikes. Connecticut Forest & Park Association is our Connecticut heritage. This workshop Locations are subject to change; please offering a training program for adults will illuminate three important historic call us ahead of time to learn the correct interested in connecting children and figures in the conservation movement of meeting place and ease or difficulty of their families to the natural wonders of the 19th century: Theodore Roosevelt, trail. Visit www.ctwoodlands.org for our world. Become a trained family hike John Muir, and Connecticut native, additional family guided hikes. leader and share your enjoyment of the Gifford Pinchot. This workshop will help trails and the outdoors. Family Hike prepare your students for the November Leaders enjoy flexible schedules and are 9, 2007 staged dramatic reading about JULY encouraged to lead just a few hikes a these conservationists at the Bushnell Saturday, July 28, 10-noon, McLean year. These hikes are part of Connecticut Center for Performing Arts in Hartford. Forest & Park Assocation’s Game Refuge, Granby; all ages Places We Live will help students apply WalkConnecticut inititiative, an adven - their knowledge and understanding of A two mile loop of easy trails thru pine ture in fostering lifelong health and con - groves and oak forests to a lava outcrop land use to current issues as responsible nection to the land through a network of citizens. Participants receive: Project for a snack. We will pass by several outdoor trails and programs. Join brooks and a small pond with plenty of Learning Tree Places We Live curricu - WalkConnecticut: the trail to health and lum; CEU’s. Meets the following time to examine rocks and plants. Birds happiness. and other animals are likely at the pond. Connecticut Social Studies Content Bring snack, water and sturdy shoes. Standards: Local, United States and World History and Human and FOR EDUCATORS Environmental Interaction. $35/partici - AUGUST BACK TO SCHOOL WITH PROJECT pant; financial assistance available through CFPA’s Paul F. Pikula Education Saturday, August 29, 10-noon, Webb LEARNING TREE Fund. Mountain Park, for ages 4 and older For K-5th grade educators Wednesday, August 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cross a brook, check out the camping CFPA, Middlefield sites, climb the hill for views of the valley Bring the outdoors into your classroom below, be above the birds, listen for cho - and your students out into the school - rus of frogs, enjoy the cool air of the for - yard. Project Learning Tree, an award-

32 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 NEWS OF THE CONNECTICUT FOREST AND PARK ASS0CIATION

Environmental Matters CFPA Is Lori Brant Named Stewardship Committee for many years and Following at the Statehouse Environmental Educator also chaired the Connecticut Urban Forest of the Year Council. He has been active in the Society BUDGETS: CFPA has urged the of American Foresters and in the Connecticut General Assembly to increase At its annual meeting in March, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, funding for the Department of Environ-men - Connecticut Outdoor and Environmental where he served as a property steward for tal Protection, including $5 million more for Education Association named CFPA the Clemence property in Eastford. Mr. state parks; for the Connecticut Agricultural Education Coordinator Lori Paradis Brant Borman has received a number of awards, Experiment Station, the Connecticut its Environmental Educator of the Year. among them the H. Sharon Ossenbruggen Department of Agriculture, Council on “Lori is a leader: she created the popu - Award for Meritorious Service to the Environmental Quality and the University of lar Forest Forensics program, she is the Connecticut Urban Forest Council, the Connecticut Cooperative Extension System. state co-coordinator of Project Learning Outstanding Forester award from the Tree, she is the president of COEEA and LAND CONSERVATION: CFPA is Yankee Division of SAF, and the Toomey she created CFPA’s Family Guided Hikes encouraging the General Assembly to do award for service to the New England program,” said Adam Moore, the CFPA far more to set aside farmland, open Society of American Foresters. executive director. “Her enthusiastic space, and trails. CFPA congratulates Mr. Borman on his approach causes young people to want to retirement and will miss him. PARK FUNDING: CFPA supports a sig - learn more about their environment.” nificant increase in general appropriations Mrs. Brant has served as CFPA’s to the operation of state parks. The Education Coordinator since 2004. Association also would support supple - Laurie Giannotti Named to mental private funding for the state parks State Trails Position to augment public funding, and it Connecticut’s Trails Day Was Laurie Giannotti, a conservation advo - believes that a private organization, not Again Nation’s Largest cate and CFPA member who leads family the state, should receive and disburse hikes, was named the Connecticut trails those funds. Due to the Association’s efforts, and greenways program coordinator for Connecticut once again hosted the FOREST PRACTICE REGULATIONS : the Connecticut Department of largest Trails Day celebration in the CFPA believes it is important to develop Environmental Protection on May 11. nation, with 130 events scheduled for the a uniform set of statewide forest practice She manages projects to rehabilitate trails weekend of June 2 and 3. Trails Day regulations. and to build new ones using federal and events were coordinated this year by Trail state grant funds. CFPA has received ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE REGISTRA - Conservation Coordinator Ann Colson grant funds for some trail projects. TION: CFPA supports a system to regis - and the CFPA Trails Day Committee. Ms. Giannotti previously worked as an ter and identify all-terrain vehicles and the environmental analyst for the drinking water use of relevant fees for safety and educa - section of the Connecticut Department of tion programs and to help purchase land Fred Borman retires from Public Health. She is the former executive specifically for ATV use. DEP Forestry director of the Pomperaug River Watershed CLEAN WATER FUND: The Association Coalition in Southbury. She lives in Haddam Forester and CFPA member Fred Borman supports restoring this fund, cut drastically with her husband, Rob Butterworth, a vol - retired from the Connecticut Department of in the last two years, with $157 million for unteer trail manager for the Cockaponset Environmental Protection Division of Forestry on 2007. In late April, the General Assembly’s Trail. June 29. On July 9, Mr. Borman was to begin a new Finance, Revenue and Bonding Com-mis - To reach Ms. Giannotti at her DEP position with University of New Hampshire sion recommended $110 million in bond - parks division office, call 860-424-3578. Cooperative Extension as the Rockingham County ing for 2008 and 2009. The Clean Water extension forester. Fund helps cities and towns build and Mr. Borman began his forestry career in 1980 Annual Meeting Set for upgrade sewage treatment plants to reduce at Connwood Foresters, Inc., of Rockfall. IN September 20 high nitrogen levels and other pollution in 1984, he joined the DEP, to work in state lands Long Island Sound. The annual meeting will take place on management and in service forestry. Since 1989, September 20. Watch for an announcement The General Assembly session closed as Mr. Borman had administered the Forestry of this as the summer progresseses. this magazine went to press. Watch for Division's Private and Municipal Lands program. updates in our fall issue. He chaired the Connecticut Forest

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 33 continued from page 10 Mattabesett Trails as designated hiking trails, except development. The Association moved the trail where these trails coincide with woods roads or off of several properties when landowners indi - had been the northern terminus of the multiple-use trails maintained by the Connecticut cated to us that they did not desire the trail on Metacomet Trail asked that the trail be Department of Environmental Protection. On their lands, and also conserved several sections removed from his property. The Association public water supply lands, trail use is governed by of the trail through land purchases, donations, honored his request, and several miles of trail regulations of the Connecticut Department of and trail easements when opportunities arose. to the south had to be closed to avoid a dead Public Health. Better knowledge of the land ownership sur - end at the property boundary. Given that the rounding the trails has also enabled the National Scenic Trail Feasibility trails are often located along the edge of a Association to eliminate certain road walks and Study cliff, and that the cliff edge is often the prop - to find routes around properties on which the erty boundary as well, road walks often result The Metacomet-Monadnock-Mattabesett landowner has closed the trail. The study also from property closures because the cliffs Trail Study Act was signed into law on resulted in the creation of a Management severely constrain reroute possibilities. December 16, 2002. The Association strongly Blueprint for the trail system. Road crossings are also a feature of the supported the passage of this law, and The National Park Service completed the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails. Road Association Trail Conservation Coordinator trail study in 2006. At its final meeting, the crossings are clearly indicated in the maps Ann T. Colson offered supportive testimony Steering Committee expressed its support for published in the Connecticut Walk Book. before this committee in July 2001. Once National Scenic Trail Designation. In the Where the trails cross state highways, the Public Law 107-338 was enacted, the autumn of 2006, the National Park Service Connecticut Department of Transportation Association entered into a cooperative agree - issued an Executive Summary of the findings marks the crossings with distinctive blue oval ment with the National Park Service and helped and conclusions of the study as well as a com - signs bearing the name of the trail. With complete much of the work of the study in prehensive draft report entitled “Metacomet- Association encouragement, the Department Connecticut. I participated in the regular steer - Monadnock-Mattabesett Trail System: has lately installed crossing signals and hiker ing committee meetings and the many meetings National Scenic Trail Feasibility Study and crossing signs at some of the busier crossings. with landowners and municipalities held in var - Environmental Assessment.” The preferred The Association is currently working with the ious locations across the state, as did Ms. Colson alternative of National Scenic Trail Connecticut Department of Transportation and many Association volunteers. Designation, with a significant reroute in the to make safety improvements at certain cross - The study employed a very collaborative Belchertown-Leverett area of Massachusetts, ings along the Metacomet and Mattabesett process. First, a statewide steering committee was endorsed unanimously by the Trails. was created. The steering committee was Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s The Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails are chaired by James Mahoney, Economic Board of Directors and its Trails Committee. footpaths, designed and maintained for hik - Development Director for the Town of Berlin, ing. The Association manages the use of these and the committee met quarterly. Through Support for the New England trails, and indeed all of the Blue-Blazed extensive research in town halls, we identified National Scenic Trail Designation Act Hiking Trails, in accordance with its policy all the landowners on or within 250 feet of the entitled “Use of the Blue-Blazed Hiking trails. Each landowner was contacted, advised HR. 1528 and the identical Senate bill, S. 923, Trails.” Essentially, this policy establishes that about the study, and invited to join the steering would designate the Metacomet and Mattabesett these trails are to be used for walking, and are committee. Each landowner was also invited to Trails in Connecticut and the Metacomet- not established for multiple trail uses. public informational meetings, landowner-spe - Monadnock Trail in Massachusetts, with a signifi - Ultimately, however, the allowed use of these cific meetings, and meetings of the steering cant section rerouted, as the New England trails is determined by the landowner. Some committee. We created a GIS database that National Scenic Trail. The Connecticut Forest & landowners do indeed allow other uses along depicts the trail and the properties that it cross - Park Association strongly supports this designation. the trail or elsewhere on their properties, and es, thus allowing us to quickly identify trail We believe that National Scenic Trail des - it is their right to do so. Yet we, as an organ - landowners and possible alternative routes ignation is the best means of enhancing the ization that maintains a trail that crosses land should a trail need to be moved. We offered to long-term viability of these trails as a contin - that we do not own, must limit what we ask of meet with each of the 20 towns that host the uous, open-to-the-public resource. If the landowners to the trail use of the lowest impact, trail, and did meet with 17 of these 20. National Scenic Trail study offers a glimpse of hiking. Without this policy, a trail user might Landowner surveys were conducted and the some of the benefits that National Scenic conceivably ride from one property where rid - ownership of the trail was analyzed. An ecolo - Trail designation may bring, then National ing is allowed onto one where it is not. This gist completed a detailed ecological study of the Scenic Trail designation will be very beneficial would defy the landowner’s wishes and would trail and its environs. indeed. Through the study, the Association increase the likelihood of trail closure. The interaction between the Association, was able to identify all the landowners on or There are occasionally deed restrictions or con - the National Park Service, towns and near the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails. servation restrictions that limit use. The deed landowners that occurred during the study Although the Association maintains 800 granting Penwood State Park to the State of proved beneficial to the trails. We communi - miles of hiking trails, the only trails for which Connecticut, for example, prohibits equestrian use. cated with all towns, and in some cases were we have identified all the landowners are the In other state parks and forests, state statues, regu - able to have consideration for the trails includ - Metacomet and the Mattabesett, and this lations and policies establish the Metacomet and ed in the town’s plan of conservation and occurred because of National Park Service

34 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 assistance. While the Association strives to Committee that was created during the trail Mattabesestt Trails are located in a rapidly know all of its trail landowners and does study to be quite effective. It provide a developing section of Connecticut. Since know many, if not most, land ownership and forum for the discussion of issues, it kept 1985, the amount of developed land in the trail volunteers do change over time. With interested parties informed, and it facilitated 20 Connecticut towns hosting the trail has trails that have been in place for decades, this cooperation between our organization and increased by 14%. Land values have risen, sometimes results in the landowner not others. For the National Park Service, the open land has grown more scarce, and land knowing that the trail is on his land, and the Stewardship Council would be very helpful once marginally suited to development is no Association not knowing whose land the trail as it would continually enable the Park longer so. The study revealed that only 33% is on. For the Metacomet and Mattabesett Service to ascertain whether its work was of the trails in Connecticut are fully protect - Trails, this problem was corrected by the aligned with the public and community ed due to their location on conservation land, study and would be eliminated by National interest. and a further 10% considered “partially” pro - Scenic Trail designation. I believe that a major reason that the New tected. The majority of these trails, therefore, National Scenic Trail Designation will be a England National Scenic Trail proposal has are entirely unprotected. Due to develop - collaborative effort, just as was the study. garnered such public support – and generat - ment, sections of unprotected trails have had Collaboration during the study benefited all ed so little opposition – is that it would not to be routed onto roads. Absent designation, interested parties. Landowners, for example, change the fundamental nature of the trail the long-term future of these trails is clouded learned more about the organization main - system. The trail will remain primarily a foot - with doubt, despite the trails’ decades of exis - taining the trail, expressed concerns and path. The trail will continue to exist at the tence, despite their importance to millions of asked questions. In some cases, landowners good will of the landowner. Private property people. asked that the trail be removed from their rights will be respected. The trail will contin - Yet if a New England National Scenic Trail land, in other cases, landowners asked that ue to be maintained by volunteers of the is created, the future will be bright. Willing- the trail be located onto their land. Connecticut Forest & Park Association and seller land conservation opportunities will Landowners were also able to learn about the Appalachian Mountain Club, the organi - increase. The presence of these trails on a conservation options for their properties and zations that have maintained these trails for property already gives that property a higher- means of protecting the trail. Prompted by decades. Federal condemnation will not be ranking in the Connecticut Department of the study, a Durham landowner gave a por - used to take land along the trail. Although Environmental Protection’s Open Space and tion of his land containing the trail to the the trails are footpaths, even the use of the Watershed Land Acquisition program; we Town for conservation, a Meriden landowner trail is ultimately determined by the landown - expect the presence of a National Scenic Trail entered into a revocable trail license agree - er, and will remain so if the New England on a property to rank that parcel even higher. ment with the Association, and a Middlefield National Scenic Trail is created. Likewise, the With a designated National Scenic Trail in landowner developed part of his land that did trail will still exist at the good will of the town, we expect that land trusts and town not contain the trail and gave the Association landowner, even if designated a National conservation commissions will focus their a permanent trail easement on the part that Scenic Trail. conservation efforts on properties that con - did contain the trail. If a trail is to last, it may not be imposed tain –or could contain – these trails. Although Towns also benefited from this collabora - upon a landowner or a community. If a trail is the acquisition of land by the National Park tive effort. By learning about the location of to last, it must be the result of cooperation Service is not expected to occur for a New the trails and its importance in their commu - between the landowner, the trail maintaining England National Scenic Trail, if it does nity, some towns included the Metacomet organization and the community. The occur, it will be through willing-seller trans - and Mattabesett Trails in their plans of con - Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails have actions only. Even if a trail property is devel - servation and development. By knowing always been cooperative efforts, and the New oped, with National Scenic Trail designation, where the trails are and recognizing their England National Scenic Trail will be a coop - and the better knowledge of the trail system public importance, town planning and zon - erative effort. That the trail will remain a that will result, the local Planning & Zoning ing commissions can place conservation set- footpath, maintained by the hard work of vol - Commission would be more apt to place the asides on the trail when trail properties are unteers and the good will of civic-minded conservation set-aside on the property in a subdivided and developed. If the collabora - landowners, is a major reason that New manner that will protect the trail. tion that occurred in the study yielded such England National Scenic Trail designation Brightened prospects include the potential benefits, the collaboration that will continue has enjoyed support. for greater use of these trails. National Scenic under National Scenic Trail Designation will Though the fundamental nature of these Trail use would increase the wholesome, yield even greater benefits. trails will remain as is, the future prospects for desirable trail use that is welcome. With more The Stewardship Council proposed in the these trails will brighten markedly if the New walkers on the trail, more families enjoying Management Blueprint would prove valu - England National Scenic Trail Designation the scenery, more visitors to the region, able to the trail. With seats for landowners, Act is passed. The prospects will brighten undesirable uses such as destructive, unau - town representatives, the trail maintaining because the amount of positive, beneficial thorized all-terrain vehicle users will decrease. organizations, user groups, agencies and trail activities will soar. In particular, willing- A greater number of walkers in the area will other parties, the Stewardship Council seller land conservation opportunities will also bring an economic benefit to the trail would be a sizeable, yet inclusive, guiding certainly increase if the trail is designated. communities. Trail visitors will stay in local organization. I found the Steering It must be noted that the Metacomet and continued on page 36

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 35 NEWS OF THE CONNECTICUT FOREST & PARK ASSOCIATION

continued on page 6 will improve the Association’s ability to towns and the National Park Service. A New lodging, eat and shop at local establish - maintain it. National Park Service funding England National Scenic Trail will benefit ments, and contribute to the activity of the can leverage additional funding, and can the Metacomet, Mattabesett and community. Tourism already has a large and better enable our organization to seek pri - Metacomet-Monadnock trails and will beneficial economic impact on Connecticut, vate, matching contributions. We will have a greatly enhance their long-term viability. and the presence of a New England National greater ability to post signs, establish trail - We urge you to join the Connecticut Scenic Trail will make this impact greater. head parking sites, make available hand-held Forest & Park Association in support of HR Designation as a New England National maps and the like. We can create guide 1528, the New England National Scenic Scenic Trail can help landowners with liabil - books and maps specific to this trail and post Trail Designation Act. Thank you for your ity concerns. Landowner liability is an issue information at key locations in trail commu - consideration of my testimony, and thank that arose frequently in landowner meetings nities. With additional staffing, we will have you for the opportunity to comment. during the trail study. In 1971, through the a greater ability to coordinate with conserva - efforts of the Connecticut Forest & Park tion law enforcement and search and rescue Respectfully submitted, Association, Connecticut passed a very personnel, thus improving safety and securi - strong landowner liability law. The ty for hikers and landowners. National Adam R. Moore landowner liability law protects landowners Scenic Trail designation will also enhance Executive Director, Connecticut Forest & from liability if they allow people to use their our ability to create universal access oppor - Park Association land for recreational purposes, free of tunities along the trail. charge. While landowners are aware of this Connecticut’s recently completed State law, many still have concerns. We found that Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Plan many landowners had a strong interest in revealed that residents run, walk and hike the protections offered through the more than they engage in any other recre - National Park Service “Volunteers in Parks” ational activity. The Plan also revealed that program, through liability programs in residents greatly desire trails as recreational effect on other National Scenic Trails, par - amenities. If designated, I believe that the ticularly the North Country Trail, and in the presence of a National Scenic Trail in town possibility of creating a fund to defend will become a strong source of civic pride. As landowners from liability claims if need be. a resident of the trail town of Durham, While we have a good law in Connecticut, Connecticut, and one who lives in the shad - landowners would be even better served by ow of the Mattabesett Trail as it crosses the additional options possible through Mount Pisgah, I find it thrilling to think that National Scenic Trail Designation. that familiar trail, the one I hiked as a child The Draft National Scenic Trail Feasibility with my father, the one I’ve hiked with my Study and Environmental Assessment own children, may become the nation’s included a proposed annual operating budg - ninth National Scenic Trail. et of $271,000.00. The budget would cover In conclusion, I return to the National such items as part-time staff, with one half- Trails System Act, which states that “trails time person for each of the two states, a should be established…primarily, near the small grants program, signage and kiosks, urban areas of the Nation.” Two million clean-up activities, mapping and landowner people live within ten miles of these trails. database upkeep, website maintenance, Forgetting even the nearby metropolises of printing and the like. All of these expendi - Boston and New York, the presence of two tures are worthwhile, valuable, and more million Americans within ten miles of these than either trail-maintaining organization beautiful trails is remarkable. With two mil - has been able to devote to these trails thus lion people within ten miles, a New England far. While such funding would be of great National Scenic Trail clearly meets this poli - assistance to the trails, we do not believe it cy goal of the National Trails System Act, would be a major impact on the federal or and does so strikingly. National Park Service budget. Considering We believe that the New England the millions of people living near these trails, National Scenic Trail Designation Act is these federal funds will have a great impact clearly consistent with the National Trails when considered on a per capita basis. System Act. A New England National Scenic New England National Scenic Trail Trail will be a collaborative, cooperative Designation will benefit the trail itself and effort between landowners, trail maintainers,

36 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 ENVIRONMENTAL EXPRESSIONS The following poems were winners in a University of Connecticut environmental writing contest for which CFPA provided some prizes.

1st Place: Earth Sonnet By Brendan Galvin

The Polar Ice Cap is succumbing to Man How something seen by so few eyes, felt By so few feet, touched by so few hands, Something so vast having frosted so few lips can melt Well, I don’t understand. Something foul in the air Has muffled the voice of reason from those in power As it floats up to poke holes in the Ozone layer. One could sigh and admit this is Earth’s final hour. Yet there are those who stand in the face of such facts As rising sea levels and extinct species and say no longer Can we enjoy it while it lasts. It is time to act Like this is our home, like we belong here. It is time to wake up and save ourselves from a permanen t eclipse; A world under water, with no place for frosted lips. Emily Moser won third place in the contest's photo division for this shot taken in the Torrey Life Sciences Greenhouse.

2nd Place: Need your help By Andrew Sholudko

Can’t you all hear what the siren meant But you gotta chance to reverse what’s been done 3rd Place: Gotta start saving the environment All you gotta do is just a little bit for everyone Do a little bit, every little bit that you can Everyday just cleanup your fair share my friend Haiku Cuz we’re cutting down on the human lifespan And we’ll all be better off in the end By Jessica Larocca In the end And I need your help a drying river- In saving this place, that we call home. Now you gotta chance to save this mother of a pearl world where the splash of life And I need your help you’ve been whirling in is drained away. I know that I can’t, do it all alone Now you gotta chance to save this mother of a pearl world Big black smoke goes up in the air, when you burn that stuff, you’ve been whirling in but you just don’t care This poem was prompted by Now we gotta clean up after you, when it’s not nothing that the drying of the Fenton We’ve been destroying our forests, our oceans, and our planet we didn’t do River in 2005. Now we gotta do something quick to stop it and can it But my advice to you, is just do a little bit every day CFC’s in the ozone It’ll be okay We’ve now just cast the first stone But this earth’s got a stone of its own But I need your help Ready to be cocked and ready to be thrown In saving this place, that we call home. And I need your help But I need your help I know that I can’t, do it all alone In saving this place, that we call home. And I need your help All alone I know that I can’t, do it all alone All alone

All alone

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 37 continued from page 29 check for them, we also should stay calm, be “Children who are less restricted in their access iate for National Wildlife Federation, CFPA smart, and keep our scare-o-meters at a low to the outdoors gain competence in moving led a native plant workshop this past spring. setting. We can show children that ticks are a through the larger world. Developmentally, they Join us next spring for tips and information part of life and we can prevent getting hurt should gain the ability to navigate their imme - about native plant gardening, as this will by taking precautions and acting sensibly. diate environs (in safety) and lay the foundation become an annual pro gram. More and more studies are showing that for the courage that will enable them eventually Play outside experience in nature and unstructured free to lead their own lives.” time to explore the outdoors has a wealth of –National Association for the Education of Remember to have fun outdoors. Adults’ positive benefits for our children. Free time Young Children (www.naeyc.org ) fears can frighten children as they watch for outside helps children—and adults— our reactions to insects and other critters and embrace creativity, become physically active, model our actions. The more informed we improve health, and to de-stress. It is up to Lori Paradis Brant is the education coordinator are, the better we can be at assessing risky sit - adults be educated about the risks that go of CFPA.Visit her blog at uations and making sound decisions. While a along with outside play and to use informa - www.ctwoodlands.blogspot.com. child should be aware of ticks and learn to tion, not fear, to make the best decisions.

UPDATE ON PINCHOT-MUIR THEATER PROJECT Playwright Stephen Most visits CFPA to Research Gifford Pinchot

CFPA hosted the playwright Stephen Most for also illuminates the signature role of Connecticut two days in February during his week-long visit in the birth of U.S. environmental history. to the East Coast from his home in Berkeley, Governor M. Jodi Rell will declare November California, to conduct research on Gifford 9 Gifford Pinchot Day. CFPA members will be Pinchot. Last fall, Mr. Most was commissioned invited to attend the performance and a recep - by CFPA to write a play based on the relationship tion afterwards. between two icons of the early American envi - CFPA developing related study guide, ronmental movement, namely John Muir and writing workshop Connecticut-born Pinchot. The play will be per - s s e

r formed at the Bushnell Center for the The Association is coordinating the develop - g n o Performing Arts on November 9, 2007, to ben - ment of a two-phased educational component as C f o

y efit CFPA’s Education Program. part of this project. Phase I will begin this sum - r a r b

i Mr. Most visited the birthplace of Pinchot in mer as CFPA creates a study guide to be used by L John Muir Simsbury, spent a day the Yale School of Forestry adults and students as a tool for learning. A pro - and Environmental Studies, toured Grey Towers fessional development workshop for teachers will - the Pinchot family estate in Pennsylvania - and be held in August with the Study Guide inform - examined the Pinchot papers at the National ing activities. Teachers attending will be invited Archives in Washington, DC. to the performance with their students. A three-character drama that takes place in the Phase II will engage teachers in a creative writ - s s e

r corridors of power, the play exposes the philo - ing workshop that will lead to the development g n o sophical rivalry between Pinchot and Muir, as of a classroom module correlated to both the C f o

y each seeks to gain advantage with President Connecticut Framework K-12 Curricular Goals r a r b i Theodore Roosevelt. and Standards and the National Standards of L Gifford Pinchot “It is our hope that audiences will come away Social Studies and the Arts. from the performance thoughtful of the balanc - The play has been made possible by a grant ing act in the conservation debate and mindful of from the Connecticut Humanities Council and a this balance as they make their own life’s deci - donation from Astrid and Fred Hanzalek. sions and decisions regarding public policy,” said Adam Moore, CFPA executive director. The play

38 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 DEVELOPMENT NEWS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

We thank you for the positive part you play, through your membership, in the fulfillment of our identified public purpose – conserving the land, trails and natural resources of Connecticut. The rewards are yours to enjoy as you tramp the trails, pick your own at a local farm and pass through the country byways of our state. Thank you for joining us.

Includes new members from January 15, 2007 through April 30, 2007

Gavin Anderson and Gail Cameron Bruce Grotta Stephen Most John and Natasha Sheer Kendall Gardiner Lynn Charest Frederick Hashemian Everett E. Newton Mrs. Leslie M. Stophel Carol Ann Anyan Charlotte M. Collins John and Judy Ivimey Larry Niek David Sutherland Barry W. Baker Fred J. Damerau Lynn Kochiss Donald P. Paradis Margaret H. Thomas Dr. Patricia R. Barkman William L. Detlefsen Frank Kromer Leila Pinchot Scott and Ava Tucker Cordalie Benoit Anthony DeVito Jose S. Landin Ed and Denise Poole Marian Wrobel Len Berton Katherine Driscoll Val and Phil LeMontagne Thomas F. Reynolds Norman H. Yeo Eric Bogdan Melissa Emma James McLaughlin Arthur and Melissa Roti Jason Yost Maureen D. Budd Susan Gray Audrey and Greg Meredith Michael J. Schunk Bradford. D. Butler

Special welcome and thank you to new and renewing members in the following categories

Benefactor $250 David P. Dean Janet Marchand Organizations Dr. William D. Breck Daniel F. Donahue, Jr. James McLaughlin* Landmark $250 Club $50 Mr. and Mrs. Peter M. Dr. and Mrs. David M. Nancy and L. John Meyers Dressler Connecticut Valley Durham Garden Club Curry Daniel N. Michael Mycological Society Wayne A. Fenton Federated Garden Clubs of William C. Loughlin* Marlee D. Mooney Connecticut Wayne H. Foote Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Mr. and Mrs. C. Eugene Sustaining $100 New Canaan Nature Moore Ronald and Bonnie Mosher Center* Gingerich Connecticut Agricultural John E. Morris Douglas M. Reid Plainville Conservation Experiment Station, Louis Dr. and Mrs. Richard H. Lawrence Reitman Commission Goodwin A. Magnarelli Supporting $100 Mr. and Mrs. John H. Town of Orange Tree Marshall Hamilton Stearns, Jr. Committee Richard Arndt Susan Calhoun Heminway Karin L. Thelin Nonprofit $75 Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle F. Roger Herriman and Greg Connecticut Returned Peace Barnes Joel and Kate Townsend *Denotes new members Graml Corps Volunteers Joseph S. Berardy Mr. and Mrs. Douglas J. Anne H. Isbister Van Dyke Essex Garden Club David and Nancy Bull Mr. and Mrs. Terry H. Patricia L. Wales Fairfield Public Library Robert H. Caneschi Jones A. L. “Pat” Wasserman, Jr. Friends of the Rose Farm* Tom and Suzanne Chaplik David and Carol Jordan Meshomasic Hiking Club Mr. and Mrs. John M. David and Marcia Kalayjian Shelton Conservation Chapman John Klingenstein Commission* Mr. and Mrs. Belton A. Eric Lukingbeal and Sally S. South Windsor Public Copp King Library

continued on page 40

Summer 2007 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS 39 DEVELOPMENT NEWS DONATIONS In the following lists, we honor those who, through their generosity and volunteer help, have sup - ported the programs and public mission of CFPA. Thank you for your distinct service to and philan - thropic investment in Connecticut conservation. The Annual Fund The Annual Fund reached a new milestone in 2006 topping $95,000 for the first time in CFPA history. To those listed in the spring issue, we renew our gratitude, and to our recent donors listed here, we extend our heartiest thanks for your part in this success.

Founders’ Circle Charter Circle Andrew C. May Maureen Bojko Donald E. Marquardt $5,000 and up $500 to $999 Terrence J. McGurk Robert J. Cabelus Edward D. McDonald Mr. and Mrs. George M. Camp Mr. and Mrs. Gordon L. Mr. and Mrs. William O’Neill Joseph H. Cobrain Brian J. O’Connor Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Frederic M. Katharine T. S. Coley John and Jennifer Rannestad Henry D. Lord Richards Centennial Society Mr. and Mrs. William H. Carol Rudert-Lyons Sally L. Taylor $1,000 to $1,894 David W. Robinson Connelly Otto E. Schaefer Richard Blake Margaret B. Taylor George W. Coxeter John E. Scully Mrs. Frank E. Calhoun Patron Philip Yurechko, Sr. David Cronin Judith M. Smith $100 to $249 Grace W. Ellsworth Mr. and Mrs. Claude Zeller Mr. and Mrs. William B. Davis Gerard H. Somma Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Averill Warren A. DeLibro Carol Parker and William Susan J. Beach Sponsor Mr. and Mrs. Knowles Dickey Walters Chandler M. Caton, Jr. Up to $100 Edward J. Dimmock Drs. Elizabeth A. Whalen and Ann Cuddy Arthur S. Abramson Charles E. Drummey Terrence W. Ryan Renee DeSalvatore Eleanor R. Adair Elizabeth W. Fischer Charles E. Whelan Peter G. Dorpalen Walter L. Atwood George J. Gagne Richard A. Whitehouse Virginia B. Murphy King Mr. and Mrs. Deane C. Avery Ruth M. Griffin David J. LaPierre Bonnie Bauerfeld Albert G. Keith The Hibbard Trust for Land & Trails The Hibbard Trust supports the Association’s topmost priority, conserving the land and trails of Connecticut. We extend our gratitude to the following donors who support our guiding purpose in this endeavor..

Ann Wilhelm and William R. Bentley Mike Schumann Mr. and Mrs. John S. Seiler

Other Donations Dr. and Mrs. David M. David L. Reynolds Memorial Gifts Steve E. Wright, National Dressler Christina and Michael Rizzo AT&T Community Wildlife Federation Earth Share Gifts in Memory of Connections Arthur P. Runnels Henry Edmonds J. Stanley Watson Gifts in Memory of Theodore F. Bade Otto E. Schaefer Brian J. Gaffney Patricia A. Brewer Howard Coe Barbara Berry Andy E. Scoville Evelyn B. Goodman Ruth B. Cutler Mr. and Mrs. John E. Hibbard Edward C. Bloom Allyn Seymour, Jr. Patricia A. Grigg Thomas J. Degnan, Jr. Peter H. Borgemeister John W. Shea Alice B. Jansen Daniel F. Donahue, Jr. Honorary Gifts Stephen H. Braciak Waren A. Stone Raymond J. Jarvis, Jr. Dave and Debbie Forrest Diana Hodgson and Randolph Debra A. Tedford Colleagues from CSMC and Salvatore Giuliano and co- GMS at Pratt & Whitney in Brown Paul J. Knierim Joel and Kate Townsend workers, Northeast Utilities honor of Chris Demers Samuel L. Langley Professor William R. Burch United Way of the Capital Mr. and Mrs. John E. Hibbard J. Vinton Lawrence Area Gail Cameron Edith R. Jemiola and Sameh Matching Gifts Kimberly Chagnon Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Mason Matthew Waterman Mansur Audrey and Greg Meredith Dana P. Whitney Aetna Foundation Douglas G. Christie Caroline A. McGrath Aquarion Water Company Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. James Milinovich Jonathan K. Wright Franklin A. Nott Chubb & Son Connolly Dr. Dwight F. Miller David A. Yarochowicz Mr. and Mrs. Paul C. CNA Foundation Linda and John Cunningham Allen F. Petri David A. Zabek O’Connell IBM Pfizer Foundation Donald J. De Bella Jonathan Prial and Family Edward and Marion United Technologies Mr. and Mrs. Chris Demers Erika Reen Richardson Wachovi Lisa Sleszynski continued on page 42 40 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 The Heritage Society: Giving That Lasts Profile: James H. Shattuck, Ardent Hiker and Quiet Supporter

Jim Shattuck was the unique quality and variety.” His other hikes included the Glacial Crest first person to hike the Trail in Canada and the full length of Great Britain. entire Appalachian Trail Mr. Shattuck was a native of Wisconsin. His family co-founded the Kimberly Clark in the winter, in 1966- Company in Neenah, Wisconsin, and one of 67, at the age of 51. his interests was in the work they did to pro - mote sustainability in their forest manage - ment. In 2004, CFPA established The Heritage He left home as a teenager to attend the Society for individuals who envision a better Choate School in Wallingford, from which world and wish to play a role in shaping it. he graduated in 1934. He earned bachelor’s The Heritage Society honors those who, degrees from Tufts University and from Yale recognizing that a sustained effort will and after graduation became the assistant always be necessary to preserve the well- personnel director at Yale, a job he held until being of our land and natural resources, 1966. During one of his breaks from the make a lasting contribution to the Appalachian Trail hike, he was offered his Association in the form of a planned gift. next job, director of personnel at the James H. Shattuck was such a person. University of New Haven, which he held Ardent hiker and lover of the wilderness and from 1968 until his retirement in 1980. the outdoors, Jim Shattuck was the first per - Mr. Shattuck joined the Connecticut son to hike the entire Appalachian Trail in Forest & Park Association in 1988 and the winter, walking from Maine to Georgia became a life member in 1999. A steady and in 1966-67, taking only one or two breaks loyal donor for 17 years, his legacy lives on. for holidays. Mr. Shattuck’s resolve helped In December 2004, the Association learned him survive brutal winter conditions most that it would be recipient of the James H. people associate with dramatic tales of the Shattuck Charitable Lead Trust, represent - Himalayas. In volume one of Hiking the ing a 10-year annual gift totaling over Appalachian Trail (Rodale Press, 1975), $200,000. Mr. Shattuck described his unusual itinerary, On July 3, 2005, Mr. Shattuck died which started, on Katahdin in Maine just as period. So rare were Appalachian Trail hikers peacefully at his home in Guilford. A year the summer was ending, on August 24, when he began in Maine that summer that a later, consistent with his character which, as 1966, continued through the winter of ranger radioed ahead to tell the next ranger we came to know, was modest and unassum - 1966-67, and concluded on Springer to be on the lookout for him. Hauling a can - ing, a check for $435,000 from the James Mountain, in northern Georgia, on May 23, vas tent and snowshoes, falling into the H. Shattuck Trust arrived in the mail, unan - 1967. (Most hike from south to north start - mud, looking bears and moose almost in the nounced. The Association subsequently ing in the spring in order to take advantage eye, picking his way across snow and ice, Mr. learned that the annual contribution from of optimal weather conditions.) He wrote of Shattuck made his way south, often alone. Mr. Shattuck’s Charitable Trust would con - lacing his frozen boots while praying that his Mr. Shattuck wrote: “One can’t walk the tinue for the full 10 years. numb “claws” would do the job. This hap - Appalachian Trail without feeling gratitude Mr. Shattuck’s wife, Martha, died in pened after camping on a ridge in a temper - for the many hours of non-walking activity 2006. His survivors include his three sons, ature of 27 below zero. that others have spent to make it possible. Brad, Alden, and Jonathan P. “Jape” Mr. Shattuck came late to hiking and He added, “My sincere thanks go to all who Shattuck; five grandchildren; three great- approached it cautiously. He was 51 when have made such a journey as mine possible. grandchildren; and two sisters. he set out on the Appalachian Trail, having The planning, the laying out and the main - Mr. Shattuck was described in his obituary experienced only one camping trip in his life, taining of this wilderness footway was origi - notice in The New York Times in the follow - a three-day canoe journey as a child. He pro - nally a labor of love and still remains so to a ing manner: “Of equal importance with his gressed relatively slowly over a nine-month large extent. Therein, I believe, lies its

continued on page 42 continued from page 40 Gifts to the Connecticut Forestlands Council Fund The Association is pleased to accept donations on behalf of the Connecticut Forestlands Council and to make disbursements to meet its needs in promoting forests and forestry in Connecticut. We extend our thanks to the donors listed below. Connecticut Forestlands Ann Wilhelm and William R. East Coast Four-Wheel-Drive Helene and Will Hochholzer Donald H. Smith, Jr. Council Members Bentley Association, Inc. New England Orienteering Connecticut Horse Council, Club Inc. The Camp-Ellsworth Library Collection Donations of Gifts and Services in Kind The Association’s Camp-Ellsworth Library contains an outstanding Ron Gerrity of the Connecticut Woodcarvers Association, for his gift of hand- collection of books and periodicals on forestry, trails, wildlife, crafted birdhouses for sale by CFPA botany, geology, educational curricula, planning and children’s Foundations, Corporations, and Government materials. We are pleased to report that the collection has been re- Grants and Sponsorships organized and catalogued to Library of Congress specifications. A computer catalogue is available to members and friends for their use. American Savings Foundation We extend our deep gratitude to Mal Bochner for his nearly two years Connecticut Water Company of volunteer work on this project, and to the following for their recent Crosswicks Foundation donations to the collection: National Recreational Trails Program of the Federal Highways Administration and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Ann T. Colson, for Burnham Brook Preserve of the Nature Conservancy , 1960 to Tilcon Connecticut 2005, by Richard H. Goodwin USDA Forest Service, Forest Land Enhancement Program William Myers, for Forest Trees Common to Southern New England and Adjacent Areas in New York State , a pocket manual published by CFPA Volunteers Stephen C. Parsons, for a collection of books and materials from the planning For their invaluable assistance in the library and in the office, CFPA library of Kermit C. Parsons thanks the following people: Mal Bochner Sally L. Taylor, for a collection of books on trees, forests, gardens, country walks Jose Landin and tidewaters Maggie Peterson A. L. “Pat” Wasserman and Edward A. Richardson, for a collection of bulletins Alex Turley and maps on Connecticut state geological and natural history

continued from page 40 professional life was the continuous flow of extraordinarily AN INVITATION generous acts of anonymous charity to everyone he met Most of us would like to believe we can in some way leave the world a better who was in need and the organizations that had impressed place. If you cherish Connecti-cut’s wild and natural landscape, you may wish him with their good deeds and value.” At CFPA we came to consider this invitation to make a lasting contribution to the Connecticut to know his quiet generosity, and we are deeply honored Forest & Park Associa-tion in the form of a planned gift. Gifts may be tailored to meet your particular financial requirements and philanthropic priorities. to be among those touched by his benevolence. There can be significant tax advantages to you and to your heirs. You will become a heralded member of The Heritage Society. The Heritage Society We can help you explore the options. Here are some ways in which you can Listing since 2001 secure the future of CFPA for generations to come, and the land we love forever. John R. Camp* ǠName CFPA in your will. Ruth Cutler ǠMake CFPA the beneficiary of your retirement plan or insurance policy. Grace W. Ellsworth Anonymous ǠEstablish a charitable remainder trust and receive income for life while passing Edward and Marion Richardson assets to CFPA. James L. Shattuck* ǠEstablish a charitable lead trust providing income to CFPA while maximizing Katherine M. Stevenson* assets for your heirs. Leon W. Zimmerman* Ǡ Make the gift of a conservation easement or an outright gift of acreage wor - deceased * thy of conservation to CFPA. For more information on how you may become a member, If we may help you in your decision-making process, please feel free to call please contact CFPA Development Coordinator Starr Starr Sayres, Development Coordinator at (860) 346-2372. Sayres at 860-346-2372.

42 CONNECTICUT WOODLANDS Summer 2007 DEPARTMLEimNiT ted Edition Reproduction Commemorative CFPA Store Maps Quinnipiac Trail (1931) $3.25 (plus tax and $4.00 shipping)

Trail Gear Original Appalachian Trail (1934) $3.75 CFPA Logo Hats (plus tax and $4.00 shipping) Two-toned low-profile 100% cotton baseball cap with KHAKI CROWN, FOREST GREEN BILL, embroidered logo. Adjustable strap. (Hat not exact - JUST RELEASED! ly as pictured here). The Connecticut Walk Book, WEST $15.00 (plus $2.00 shipping) This completely updated book, along with the Connecticut Walk Book, East , provide a comprehensive guide to hik - Books, etcetera ing throughout the state. Published by the Connecticut Forest & Park Association, the two volumes are the 19th edition of the guidebook first released more than 75 years ago. Both volumes include the Metacomet and Mattabesett Trails of Central Connecticut. Both volumes include detailed two-color topographic maps that are crisp, clear, and easy to read. Complete trail descriptions accompany the maps.

Each volume $19.95 members (plus tax and $5 shipping)

Each volume $24.95 non-members Forest Trees of (plus tax and $5 shipping) Southern New England, a 56-page A Shared Landscape, paperback publication of the Connecticu t Woodlands, A Guide & History of Connecticut Forest and Park A Century’s Story of the Connecticut Forest & Park Connecticut’s State Parks and Association. This manual is a Association, by George McLean Milne, published Forests, by Joseph Leary, pub - simple description in accu - by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association in lished by Friends of Connecticut The Homeowner's rate and nontechnical terms 1995. A fascinating history, not so much of the State Parks, Inc. in 2004. Richly Guide to Energy of the forest trees common in Connecticut Forest and Park Association as it is of illustrated in four-color with Independence, by Christine Woodside. southern New England. It is the dedicated men and women who have cared maps and photographs, this Lyons Press, 2006. A book intended for the general pub - about Connecticut’s forests and fields, hills, valleys, 240-page guide offers an for ordinary Americans who lic to meet a pressing and parklands. Scattered through these pages are intimate look at Connecticut’s want to move away from demand for a pocket manual inspiring accounts of courageous struggles to pro - public lands and tells you fossil fuels. Learn about the which is easy to use and tect the rich and varied natural environment of the everything you need to know most viable and affordable understand. state . about where to go if you love to alternatives such as solar $2.00 (plus tax and $1.50 shipping) $25.00 (plus tax and $5.00 shipping) hike, bike, camp, fish, swim, panels, wood, hydroelectric, hunt, watch birds, learn about hybrid cars, and more. ecology or cross-country ski. $14.95 (plus tax and $5.00 shipping) Trail Gear $25.00 (plus tax and $5.00 shipping) CFPA Logo T-shirts Hanes Beefy Ts – 100% cotton, heavy weight, double needle hems, taped shoulder-to-shoulder, Sizes: S-M-L-XL, WHITE ON FOREST GREEN / FOREST GREEN ON KHAKI. $15.00 (plus $4.00 shipping) Please send me the following: 6% Sales Item Size Color Qty Price Tax Shipping Total ______

Total amount of check $______Please make Name ______check payable to: Street ______Connecticut Forest & Park Association City ______State______Zip______16 Meriden Road, Phone______email______Rockfall, CT 06481 For credit card orders: Mastercard ______Visa ______# ______860.346.2372 Exp.Date [email protected] Signature ______43 Connecticut Woodlands I Summer 2002 Connecticut Woodlands Summer 2004 Chet Matczak U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, center, led a hike on the Metacomet Trail in Simsbury on June 1 for National Trails Day. Connecticut's guided- hike offerings were the most abundant in the nation.

Non-Profit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Hartford, CT Permit No. 2386

16 Meriden Road, Rockfall Connecticut 06481-2961

Address Service Requested

Conserving Connecticut since 1895