The Connecticut General Assembly recently passed legislation authorizing an agreement with Trust for Public Land that will transfer a vast majority of “The Preserve” to the State of Connecticut and the Town of Old Saybrook for joint ownership and management.
As a result, the 1,000-acre Preserve property in Middlesex County is getting closer to becoming permanently preserved.
926 acres of the property are located in Old Saybrook, 71 acres in Essex, and four acres in Westbrook, all near the Long Island Sound.
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The property was once the subject of various development proposals, including plans to build more than 200 homes and an 18-hole golf course. Those proposals were met with opposition and lawsuits from conservation groups and residents who defended the last, large unprotected coastal forest between New York and Boston.
A recent press release from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), who manages the state’s parks and forests, stated that the state intends to be an owner of the property and contribute $3.3 million towards its purchase and management with $1.4 million coming from federal funds for open space acquisition and $1.9 million for acquisition and management from the State Bond Commission.
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The release stated that “the property is rich in natural resources, wildlife, and habitat areas and will offer hiking and other passive outdoor recreational opportunities. The Preserve, which also provides an important coastal buffer against storm waters, connects to 500 acres of existing parklands in adjoining towns and miles of hiking trails.”
“We will take action to make funds available for the state’s participation in the purchase of the property and to address issues concerning joint ownership and stewardship of the land with the Town of Old Saybrook, which will also be making a significant financial contribution,” said Governor Dannel Malloy. “The permanent protection of The Preserve has been a goal of the land conservation community across our state for more than 15 years and it’s time to act to achieve this important goal.”
The state hopes to obtain a grant through the Essex Land Trust, an applicant for matching funds for the acquisition and protection of the 71 acres of The Preserve located within the Town of Essex. The application is pending under the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program administered by DEEP. Additionally, the Town of Westbrook is discussing options to facilitate the preservation and public use of The Preserve.
Old Saybrook is expected to contribute $3 million and TPL hopes to raise $2-$3 million in private funding.
TPL was instrumental in reaching an agreement to purchase The Preserve from River Sound Development LLC in July 2013 at a price of $8.09 million.
“The Preserve is one of Connecticut’s special places and this support from the state will allow us to move forward and forever protect from development this land,” said Alicia Sullivan, Connecticut State Director of TPL. “Our mission is to protect land for people, and I can’t think of a better example of protecting land for all the people who live in Connecticut, and visit here.”
The release states that “the Preserve includes 38 vernal pools, 114 acres of wetlands, more than 3,100 linear feet of watercourses, high quality coastal forest, and an Atlantic White Cedar swamp. The dense canopy of forest and the Pequot Swamp Pond act as a critical refueling stop for many migratory birds, and the many freshwater seeps on the property are home to amphibian species such as the northern dusky salamander, spotted turtles, and box turtles. In all, more than 100 species of amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and birds thrive on this property, some of which are state-listed species of special concern and others of which are declining in other areas of the state.”
“The Town of Old Saybrook is grateful for the state’s support as we move forward to protect The Preserve. We now have a chance to put to rest once and for all the question of what will happen with The Preserve,” said Old Saybrook First Selectman Carl P. Fortuna, Jr. “I look forward to launching a public process in Old Saybrook that will conclude with a referendum to approve the town's financial support for this important land acquisition.”
“We appreciate the strong interest that the residents of Old Saybrook have in protecting this property and the willingness of the town to make funds available to help us accomplish this goal,” Governor Malloy said. “The agreement we envision will allow for a positive and productive partnership between the state and the town that will provide lasting benefits for everyone.”
Other parties supporting the preservation of The Preserve include the Old Saybrook Land Trust, the Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound, The Alliance for Sound Area Planning, Audubon Connecticut, and The Nature Conservancy.
“The purchase of The Preserve will ensure that these unique and environmentally valuable and sensitive lands will be protected in perpetuity,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee. “Connecticut is fortunate to have an active and effective land conservation community that has played a key role in preserving thousands of acres across our state and paved the way for action on The Preserve.”
“For years, this fight was a long and lonely one, a seeming endless uphill battle for citizen activists dedicated to preserving this true treasure,” Senator Richard Blumenthal said. “Governor Malloy is demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting pristine, environmentally significant land in Connecticut. I have fought development of The Preserve for many years and commend the state’s aggressive action to permanently stop any development of this unique asset.”
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, said, “The Long Island Sound is a regional and a national treasure and protecting The Preserve will ensure this pristine and vibrant ecosystem is available for future Americans to enjoy. I applaud the Town of Old Saybrook and Governor Malloy for prioritizing the future of this beautiful area.”
Attorney General George Jepsen said, “Open space preservation not only conserves critical habitat and environmental features, it also contributes to the character of our state. The Preserve is an important and unique area of our state, and I commend Governor Malloy and all the partners involved for crafting a proposal to protect it for future generations.”
“After a long battle to protect The Preserve, it’s heartening to see the pieces falling into place to finally conserve this extraordinary resource once and for all,” said Don Strait, President of Connecticut Fund for the Environment. “An opportunity like this comes along once in a generation. This state funding will join with support from citizens who value The Preserve’s miles of woodland trail and the habitats it provides to bobcats, hawks, and rare amphibians. It’s an amazing example of what ordinary people can do when they band together to protect the land they love.”
Bill Arnold, President of the Kent Land Trust, said, “I thank Governor Malloy and commend him for his commitment to protecting The Preserve. As the Governor well knows, this is a unique natural area with a long list of features which are important to conserve. Acquiring it for public benefit will help protect habitat and water quality as well as provide excellent outdoor recreation opportunities for all Connecticut residents.”
In addition to recreational and habitat resources, the Preserve provides important water quality benefits for residents as surface waters drain to the Oyster River, Mud River, and Trout Brook. The release states, “The protection of The Preserve will ensure that stormwater on the site is recharged to local aquifers. An aquifer protection area is located just east of the Preserve and supplies an average of 200,000 gallons per day of drinking water to Old Saybrook and surrounding communities.”
The release also states that “The Preserve also offers benefits for coastal resiliency in the face of climate change, and conservation of it will ensure lessened stormwater impacts from hurricanes and other intense storms. It is located in the area designated by FEMA’s Hurricane Sandy Impact Analysis as having experienced “high impact” from Superstorm Sandy. The Preserve acts act as a sponge for stormwater, releasing it slowly into the tributaries and rivers that lead to the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, protecting downstream property owners from flooding.”
