Rivers & Coastal
A Unique And Mighty Regional Ecosystem
Photo: Old Saybrook Land Trust
SAVE THE DATE | Lower Connecticut River Land Trust Summer Meeting 2024 Information
Date: Thursday, August 15th
Time: 5:30PM Dinner and quick business meeting, Presentation @ 6PM,
Meeting Type: Hybrid – Zoom & in person at the RiverCOG office, 145 Dennison Rd., Essex
Presenter: Hank Gruner
Vernal Pool - Forest Ecosystem Stewardship: The Importance of Considering Multiple Scales and Multiple Roles
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Hank Gruner is a herpetologist, and retired Vice President of Programs for the Connecticut Science Center. Over the past 40 years he has scoured the forests, fields and wetlands of New England studying and promoting the conservation of amphibians and reptiles. He is co-author of Conservation of Amphibians and Reptiles in Connecticut, a book recently published by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Hank is a member of the Andover, CT Conservation Commission where he is coordinating a natural resource inventory project that includes mapping and surveying vernal pool-forest ecosystems.
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The presentation will provide a brief overview of vernal pools and their ecological context within forest ecosystems, and will focus on the importance of considering multiple landscape scales for their conservation under climate change scenarios. The critical roles of land trusts, municipal commissions, and landowners for the stewardship of these natural resources will also be addressed.
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Please RSVP by August 9th to elopresti@rivercog.org if you plan to attend dinner in person in the RiverCOG office at 145 Dennison Road, Essex
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.
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)
In case you missed it! The November 14, 2024 Annual Meeting held at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Click Here for more Info
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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
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As the most ardent supporter of the Land Trust Exchange (LTE) since its inception and the guiding voice to the transformation and growth of the LCRLT from a conservation tool of the Lower Connecticut River Gateway Conservation Zone to a broader geography that encompasses the 17 communities of the RiverCOG region the annual award is named in Melvin Woody’s honor. Melvin has been a member of the Connecticut River Gateway Commission since 1973 and served as its Chair for many years. The Commission is responsible for protecting over 1,ooo acres within the Gateway Conservation Zone and supported many environmental studies and restoration projects.
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2023 Recipient | Torrance Downes
Torrance dedicated his career to promoting and protecting the beauty, health and significance of the LCRR through his work with CT DEEP, the Lower Connecticut River Council of Governments (RiverCOG) and other affiliations. His efforts have resulted in the preservation of many acres of open space and will continue to do so through plans and regulations that he has helped to develop. Torrance's many roles have directly benefited Old Saybrook.
Torrance has always made himself available to lend his expertise to his community and has been involved in countless efforts to preserve and enhance the natural and historic qualities of not just Old Saybrook but the greater LCRR. As a long-time resident who raised his family in Old Saybrook, Torrance and the Downes crew have volunteered in many community service projects. We are grateful for his many contributions.