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Project Updates
The Land Protection team always has many projects in the works, at various stages. This is where you can find out the latest status on these projects.
Southeastern Mass, Cape and Islands
Great Neck, Wareham, MA.
$320K in Wareham CPA funds approved for Great Neck Conservation Partnership Initiative:
This wonderful project is now a big step closer to being a reality, following the approval of $320,000 in Community Preservation funds by town meeting voters in Wareham in October. This completes most of the funding needed to move forward with protection efforts, which are expected to be wrapped up sometime in the first quarter of 2010.
More Protection for Cape Cod-Barnstable Great Marsh: Mass Audubon is currently working with a Barnstable family that has been a long-standing supporter of land and wildlife conservation to protect additional acreage to be added to the Barnstable Great Marsh Sanctuaries.
Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club, Sharon: We have good news to report after the August newsletter update on Mass Audubon’s efforts to assist the town of Sharon with a land exchange and conservation plan involving land owned by the Massapoag Sportsmen’s Club (MSC). Successful completion of the project depended on a key town meeting vote and would protect an additional 90 acres of land near the Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, creating a 200-acre corridor of open space and trails. On November 10, the residents of Sharon ratified the land swap agreement, securing the protection of additional land using conservation restrictions held by Mass Audubon.
Fuller Conservation Restriction, Norfolk: We are working with long-time Mass Audubon friends John and Janet Fuller on a conservation restriction on their property adjacent to Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. The CR, which should go to record by year’s end, will permanently eliminate a potential house site opposite the sanctuary’s entrance, as well as adding pine upland and a red maple swamp next to one of the sanctuary’s main trails.
Greater Boston and North Shore
Increasing Plum Island Great Marsh Ecosystem, Rowley: Fast on the heels of the 125-acre Chandler land gift success story mentioned previously, Mass Audubon is currently working with a local landowner to protect a substantial area of additional marshland and wildlife habitat to be added to the Rough Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary.
Central and Western Mass
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Bob Wilber, Director of Land Protection, with Mason Phelps at Whetstone Wood Wildlife Sanctuary, Wendell, MA |
220 acre Conservation Restriction at Whetstone Wood Wildlife Sanctuary Approved:
A large Conservation Restriction, covering 220 acres of land in Wendell owned by longtime conservationists, Mason and Ina Phelps, was unanimously approved earlier this month by the Board of Selectmen in that town. This will be one of the largest CRs we hold, and may end up our 100th overall.
Bachand Property, Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Worcester: Mass Audubon is partnering with a local developer to acquire a small, but very strategic, one-acre property adjacent to the sanctuary entrance. The large rear yard will be added to the sanctuary as buffer, and a house on current Mass Audubon property will be moved next to the existing Bachand house, preventing the former’s demolition while giving us much-needed space to reconfigure the sanctuary entrance.
Updates From August, 2009
Southeastern Mass, Cape and Islands
Great Neck Conservation Initiative: Mass Audubon has been working with several partners to protect an amazing 300+ acre mosaic of properties fronting on Buzzards Bay. We are currently awaiting final notice on nearly $2 million in federal grant funds for this exceptional land — home to the eastern box turtle and numerous other rare species.
Lakeville, Assonet Cedar Swamp: Mass Audubon is currently negotiating the terms of a conservation restriction with the town of Lakeville to protect 20 acres of important rare species habitat, part of a critical potential link between our wildlife sanctuary and hundreds of acres of other protected land to the southwest.
Greater Boston and North Shore
Massapoag Sportsmen's Club, Sharon: Mass Audubon is currently assisting the town of Sharon to protect 90 acres of land adjacent to Mass Audubon’s Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary and town conservation land. We are providing key technical assistance and will ultimately hold conservation restrictions on the property. This project rides on the heels of the recently completed Arguimbau Farm protection project, also in Sharon.
Great Marsh, Rowley: Mass Audubon is working to protect an extensive area of tidal wetlands on the North Shore which represent a significant link connecting the Parker River Wildlife Refuge, Plum Island Sound, and other protected areas. The land contains habitat for several rare and endangered species, serves as critical migratory bird habitat, and would help accommodate salt marsh migration as the sea level rises in response to climate change.
Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary |
Rocky Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, Groton: Mass Audubon is actively working with landowners on key additions to this new sanctuary (currently not open to the public) to provide extended frontage on Long Pond, protect scenic vistas, and protect rare and endangered species habitat.
Bald Eagle habitat along the Merrimack River: Mass Audubon is in early discussions with the owners of a 120-acre parcel of land along the Merrimack River, adjacent to other open space. The land contains important rare and endangered species habitat and nesting areas for the Bald Eagle.
Hamilton: Soon we’ll be acquiring from the town of Hamilton several lots in and adjacent to Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary. Some of these parcels are islands in the Great Wenham Swamp, and their acquisition will eliminate the threat of incompatible uses in the heart of this ecologically sensitive area.
Central and Western Mass
More Wildland for Whetstone Wood: Agreement reached to protect 15 acres adjacent to the 2,500-acre Whetstone Wood Wildlife Sanctuary in Wendell. This sanctuary is managed as a wildland, and serves as important habitat for native species, including moose, black bear, and bob cat.
Somewhere in Worcester County: We are working with several conservation partners to explore conservation alternatives for a landowner with almost 300 acres adjacent to one of our sanctuaries. We recently shared appraisal numbers with the landowner, and discussions are continuing.
West Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary near Dubuque State Forest
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Additional Land in Plainfield for Dubuque State Forest near West Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary: Mass Audubon has been working with state and local conservation partners for more than a year to secure a significant parcel of land for addition to the Dubuque State Forest. The land provides excellent forest habitat and would bring together a portion of the forest corridor that is currently divided by a road.
Dickinson Farm Woods, Hampden. As part of our continuing partnership with the Minnechaug Land Trust to protect land near Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, Mass Audubon’s guarantee of a loan from the Norcross Wildlife Foundation enabled the land trust to close in June on the purchase of a 50-acre conservation restriction on Dickinson Farm Woods off Chapin Road, part of a greenway linking hundreds of acres of forest, fields and river corridor.
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