News
Salisbury, Killingworth, Sharon, and Roxbury Land Trusts receive funding to accelerate protection of biodiversity, water quality, and public access to nature.
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) is excited to announce new LEAP (Land and Easement Acquisition Program) grant awards to the Salisbury Association, the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust, the Sharon Land Trust, and the Roxbury Land Trust. These awards, totaling $466,250, accelerate the permanent protection of 378 acres of land and water, ensuring significant benefits including biodiversity protection, enhanced climate resilience, and expanded public access.
Launched in 2025, LEAP was created to address a critical need identified by our member land trusts: securing new and matching funding for land and easement acquisitions. LEAP grants help land trusts bridge funding gaps, leverage public and private investments, and ensure the timely completion of crucial conservation projects. The grant program is designed to ensure prompt action, as all awarded projects are required to close within 12 months or less.
Congratulations to the Salisbury Association, the Killingworth Land Conservation Trust, the Sharon Land Trust, and the Roxbury Land Trust!
Miles Mountain view from North Canaan by Salisbury Association
Salisbury Association: Miles Mountain Acquisition
The Salisbury Association received a grant of $100,000 to help support the acquisition of the 221-acre Miles Mountain property in Salisbury. This project is part of the massive coordinated effort, the Cooper Hill Conservation Initiative, involving eight organizations working across the CT/MA border.
Miles Mountain features core forest that harbors keystone species (Black bear, Moose, Coyote) and enhances the Berkshire Wildlife Linkage, a regionally important habitat corridor. The acquisition also protects vital water resources, including Class AA freshwater wetlands and two headwater streams that feed the National Wild & Scenic Housatonic River.
The Salisbury Association plans to create a new hiking trail linking to the popular trails at the Trustees of Reservations’ Bartholomew’s Cobble across the Massachusetts border. The property is also part of the scenic Hou-Bike bicycle trail loop.
In addition to CLCC’s LEAP grant, the Salisbury Association received funding from CT DEEP’s Open Space and Watershed Acquisition (OSWA) program, as well as grants from The Nature Conservancy and the Bates Foundation. CLCC also supported the acquisition through a Transaction Assistance Grant (TAG) for the site’s survey.
A brook runs through the Madison First Congregational Church property by Killingworth Land Conservation Trust
Killingworth Land Trust: Roast Meat Hill Preserve
The Killingworth Land Conservation Trust (KLCT) received a grant of $35,000 to help fund the acquisition of the 27-acre Madison Church Property on Roast Meat Hill Rd. This acquisition ensures the property is permanently protected from development, upholding the original owner’s intent for “fellowship and education.”
The property is strategically located, bordering Parmelee Farm and KLCT-owned Welter Woods. The addition of this parcel creates a contiguous open space block of 302 acres right in the center of town, establishing a valuable 1.2-mile wildlife corridor. The land is vital for climate mitigation through carbon storage and water quality. It features a brook that is a tributary to the Menunkatesuck River and is considered watershed property, feeding the Kelseytown Reservoir. Protecting this riparian zone is crucial for filtering water and reducing pollutants.
The property will be open for recreational hiking, connecting to existing popular trails, allowing hundreds of visitors to explore more wilderness.
Aerial view of the Nelson Property by the Roxbury Land Trust
Roxbury Land Trust: Nelson Property
The Roxbury Land Trust (RLT) received a grant of $200,000 to support the conservation of the 66-acre Nelson Property Project. The property is a crucial conservation puzzle piece located just east of the Roxbury town center. It is strategically adjacent to several conserved lands, including the Baldwin Preserve, Gavel Family Farm, and Lilly Preserves. This acquisition unifies existing wildlife corridors and enhances landscape connectivity across the 585 acres of protected land already managed by RLT in the immediate surrounding area.
This land features maturing upland forest that sits uphill of a riparian buffer and contains a coldwater stream flowing into Jacks Brook, a Class AA surface water body. Preserving these forested slopes prevents deforestation, which mitigates runoff and pollution into the water resources and protects important scenic ridgelines.
The RLT plans to create a network of hiking trails that will connect to the existing 4-mile trail network on the adjacent Baldwin, Lilly, and Gavel preserves. Public access will be allowed for passive recreation.
Whitetail Forest with Beardsley Pond by Sharon Land Trust
Sharon Land Trust: Whitetail Forest
The Sharon Land Trust (SLT) received a grant of $131,250 to help purchase the 64-acre Whitetail Forest property. This acquisition will fill a crucial gap between existing SLT preserves.
The property is primarily upland core forest, with exceptional biodiversity that includes three state-listed Species of Special Concern at or very near the property, including the Eastern ribbon snake. Critically, the property’s slopes drain to nearby Beardsley Pond, an important Class AA drinking water reservoir.
The Whitetail Forest parcel is immediately adjacent to several conserved lands, including SLT’s 278-acre Hamlin Preserve, the 268-acre Wike Farm conservation easement, and the 181-acre Mary Moore Preserve. The land is connected to the Housatonic State Forest and the Audubon-designated Miles Wildlife Sanctuary/Housatonic State Forest Important Bird Area. Protection of the forest cover helps mitigate severe weather effects like flooding by filtering water before it drains into the reservoir.
Public access will be provided for passive recreation. SLT plans to create a new section of its Red Mountain trail across the property following a scenic ridgeline. Said Yaw O. Darko, CLCC’s Director of Grants & Programs:
”The first year of LEAP awards has been filled with wonderful projects and strong engagement from land trusts across Connecticut. Of the 13 projects awarded, 7 have already closed with LEAP funding, a testament to our land trust partners’ commitment and readiness to act on critical conservation opportunities. We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026 and continuing to support land trusts in advancing meaningful conservation statewide.”
CLCC’s grant awards underscore its dedication to strengthening land conservation in Connecticut and ensuring the state’s natural beauty and ecological health are preserved for all.
Learn more about each Connecticut LEAP project by visiting CLCC’s StoryMap.
