Sen. Tony Hwang Applauds Land Grants in Preservation of Open Space and Watershed Land
Hartford, CT — State Senator Tony Hwang today applauded the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in awarding bond allocation funds to support the regional open space preservation organizations to acquire and preserve two parcels of land in Weston and throughout Connecticut. These grants are made through the state’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program.
The program is intended to protect wildlife habitats, offer recreational opportunities, and serve as a countermeasure to climate change. Recipient projects are required to supplement the state funding with matching funds or other grants, and the land being purchased must be protected by a conservation and public recreation easement that will ensure the property is forever protected for public use and enjoyment.
“This is a win for land preservation efforts,” said Sen. Hwang. “It is good public policy to be conscientious stewards of our fragile and priceless natural habitats in our dramatically changing environment. It is our duty as legislative leaders to embrace our role in preserving precious and priceless natural ecology for future generations to experience, discover, and treasure. I am honored to play a small part in ensuring the preservation and conservation of open space and watershed areas for future generations to come.”
Specific details of the grants in Weston advocated by The Nature Conservancy and Aspetuck Land Trust are included below:
Project Name: Fromson-Strassler Acquisition
Sponsor: Aspetuck Land Trust
Grant: $625,000
Total Area: 85.86 acres
Description: This property is adjacent to the Aspetuck Land Trust’s 118 acre Honey Hill Preserve. The site is part of a forest block assemblage of more than 350 acres. There are 5 wetlands on the property covering 22 acres. The wetlands on the northern end of the property form the headwaters of the West branch of the Saugatuck River. American eel and Black-nosed dace have been collected in the West branch. Migratory bird species and amphibians inhabit the site. A trailhead and parking area at the end of Upper Parish Drive will create a link to the area’s regional trail system.
David Brant, Executive Director, Aspetuck Land Trust said, "This property forms the core of a 711-acre forest block in partnership with the Wilton Land Conservation Trust and is part of Aspetuck Land Trust’s Green Corridor which will traverse 6 towns. The new property, which is adjacent to Aspetuck Land Trust’s Honey Hill Preserve, will provide better public access to the forest block and new hiking trails including a unique opportunity to create a “Fairfield County Long Trail” that connects the Norwalk River Valley Trail which begins at Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to Huntington State Park in Redding. This is an incredible opportunity in our region."
Project Name: Weston Farms
Sponsor: The Nature Conservancy
Grant: $602,000
Total Area: 74.16 acres
Description: The Nature Conservancy aims to purchase 74-plus acres of forest directly adjacent to Devil’s Den Preserve. This is The Nature Conservancy’s largest preserve in Connecticut and is part of 15,300 acres of contiguous forestland with high conservation value. Weston Farms is a mature, mixed hardwood forest that lies within the Saugatuck Central Greenbelt. The parcel lies entirely within the West Branch sub watershed of the Saugatuck River, a Class A stream. A hiking trail will connect to the 20-mile loop trail at Devil’s Den.
Sarah Pellegrino, Land Protection and Strategies Manager for The Nature Conservancy in CT said, “This property has been a top conservation priority for The Nature Conservancy for decades and we are thrilled to add it to Devil’s Den Preserve.”
Senator Tony Hwang represents the 28th CT State Senate District encompassing Fairfield, Easton and Newtown and portions of Weston and Westport. Senator Hwang is a nationally recognized leader in land preservation and the Long Island Sound. Connecticut League of Conservation Voters has named him as Environmental Champion in the areas of Climate Change Reform, Coastal Resiliency and Waterway Protection.
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. They focus on tackling climate change, protecting land and water, provide food and water sustainability and building healthy cities.
Aspetuck Land Trust was founded in 1966, Aspetuck Land Trust is a non-profit membership organization whose mission is the preservation and conservation of open space, including farm and forest land, and the natural resources located thereon, primarily in the towns of Easton, Weston, Fairfield and Westport, for the benefit and education of the public.