Stonington, partners close deal on 232 acres of protected land
Stonington — The town has announced that its purchase with its partners of 230 acres of farmland and forest off Al Harvey Road is complete.
On Monday the town announced the closing on the property took place last week after a two-year effort led by the Trust for Public Land.
The Avalonia Land Trust will manage 130 acres of the site, while the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will oversee an adjacent 102 acres as part of its Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge.
The town contributed $270,000 from its Open Space Fund toward the purchase, the Aquarion Water Co. contributed $289,000, USFWS spent $532,000 and there were $59,000 in private donations to the Trust for Public Land. The land was purchased from trustee Katherine Anne Brewster-Duffy.
The land known as the Brewster property sits over an aquifer and contains Copps Brook, which provides water to the Aquarion Water Co. reservoir. It also is contiguous with other preserved lands, is a habitat for the once-threatened New England cottontail rabbit and sits within the boundaries of the Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge. Aquarion Water Co. will hold a hold a conservation easement on the 130-acre portion of the land.
Both sections will be open to the public.
The town and Avalonia are creating a plan to have trails and parking for 10 to 20 cars in place by the end of the year, and the 130 acres will be open to the public for passive recreation such a hiking. USFWS has announced that on its 102-acre section it will allow archery hunting for big and small game as well as birds Monday through Saturday from September to December. Also allowed will be wildlife observation, photography, environmental education and interpretation.
In statement Tuesday, Walker Holmes, the associate vice president and New England director for the Trust for Public Land, said, "The land along Copps Brook has been an important part of Stonington's history, from agriculture to recreation to water quality, and to see this property permanently protected is a great benefit to the community. Future generations will forever be able to hike these trails, threatened New England wildlife will have a permanent safe haven, and the entire community can count on safe drinking water."
"This property has been a conservation priority for the Town for decades. We are so grateful to have been a part of this incredible partnership," First Selectwoman Danielle Chesebrough added. "We hope this property will be a source of mental and physical health benefits for generations to come."
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