Rivers & Coastal
A Unique And Mighty Regional Ecosystem
Photo: Old Saybrook Land Trust
Lower Connecticut River Land Trust Small Stewardship Grant (2023)
The Lower Connecticut River Land Trust, due to the generosity of GSB (Guilford Savings Bank), is offering a small grant opportunity to help fund stewardship related projects on our member and Land Trust Exchange member land trusts’ and community properties that are protected in perpetuity, accessible to the public, and have an existing management plan.
Awarded $750.00 to East Haddam Land Trust
Forest Management for Ayers Preserve
Awarded $750.00 to The Town of Essex
Tree Removal over Red Trail at Bushy Hill Preserve
The Lower Connecticut River
19 Town Trail Challenge
November 1, 2022 to December 31st 2023
All proceeds will benefit a stewardship fund dedicated to the care of the preserved land of the lower Connecticut River land trusts and communities.
A REMARKABLE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY WITH A PLAN
AND THE CONVICTION TO CARRY IT FORWARD
The Land Trust’s Alliance, Standards and Practices have been adopted as the LCRLT guiding principles.
Explore
Land Trusts of the Lower Connecticut River Valley offer plenty of spaces to relax, exercise, and connect with nature.
Steward
Contribute your skills and interests to further conservation, environmental education, and help care for beautiful preserved properties.
Preserve
Acquisition of land for conservation purposes is critical to protect our River Valley's great natural places.
The Mission of the Lower Connecticut River Land Trust is to conserve, study, steward, and promote the unique values and scientific significance, natural and working lands, and historic, ecologic, cultural, and scenic resources of the communities of the lower Connecticut River Valley Region.
Events and Information Sessions
Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC)
CONNECTICUT LAND CONSERVATION CONFERENCE
held March 25, 2023, Wesleyan University, Middletown
Click Here for More Info and presentations from the meeting.
Wildlands, Woodlands, Farmlands, and Communities
Regional Conservation Partnership Network Gathering - 14th Annual,
Join Other RCP's from across New England and NY
November 9, 2023, UMass, Amherst,
No cost to attend -
East Haddam Land Trust Completes Stewardship Grant
These photographs show work at the Ayers Preserve in East Haddam where, using the funds provided by LCLRT and Guilford Savings Bank, East Haddam Land Trust successfully caged 32 young oak saplings to protect them from deer browse and to promote their future growth. This project was completed July 21, 2023.
The 6- acre Ayers Preserve is located on the banks of the 8 Mile River, in East Haddam, about .75 miles north of Route 82, on Hopyard road. It has 300' of frontage on the 8 Mile River.
The oaks were caged in large clearings that 5 volunteers from the land trust had created on the site of an old Christmas tree farm where the remaining spruce trees, some close to 100 feet tall, had been succumbing to pests and disease. The promotion of native oak at this site will have significant environmental benefits for both climate resilience, native wildlife, and the 8 Mile River watershed.
EHLT is grateful for the grant funding.
News & Announcements
3 of the Region's Land Trusts Awarded:
Town: East Haddam
Project Name: The Saunders Property
Sponsor: East Haddam Land Trust
Grant: $198,250
Total Area: 68.88 acres
Town: East Hampton and Portland
Project Name: Meshomasic’s Rattlesnake Brook Preserve
Sponsor: Middlesex Land Trust, Inc.
Grant: $364,000
Total Area: 147.4 acres
Town: Killingworth
Project Name: Duffy/Greer Property
Sponsor: Killingworth Land Conservation Trust
Grant: $78,000
Total Area: 24 acres
Melvin Woody Lower Connecticut River Conservation Award 2022
Recipient John Hall, Executive Director and Volunteers of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art
​
John's commitment to the continued management of the invasive water chestnut (Trapa natans) in the Connecticut River and her wetlands. We would like to recognize John’s, and the Centers volunteers’ efforts in the fight to combat invasive aquatic species in the floating meadows wetland located between Middletown and Cromwell but in particular for his effort to coordinate needed volunteer efforts in the 2022 collection of water chestnut from the main stem, coves and tributaries of the River following the devastating release of the very invasive plant from a retention pond in Hartford in 2021. His coordination of many volunteers over the summer has contributed greatly to saving the lower Connecticut River from being overwhelmed by this most invasive aquatic plant.
We are inspired by John’s broad conservation commitment to our region. As the Center’s website declares, “The Jonah Center for Earth and Art inspires and organizes the wider “environmental community” in the greater Middletown, Connecticut area to improve the quality of life for all residents – human and non-human.”
We would like to whole heartedly thank John and all the volunteers of the Jonah Center for their commitment to improving the lives of both the citizens and the wildlife of the lower Connecticut River region through their conservation efforts and in particular their efforts regarding elimination of water chestnut from the Connecticut River and her estuary.