News
Five grants totaling $59,110 to help land trusts advance land acquisitions and permanently conserve 437 acres.
The Connecticut Land Conservation Council (CLCC) congratulates the most recent recipients of its Transaction Assistance Grant (TAG) Program. These grants provide essential financial assistance to land trusts to cover transaction-related project costs, such as surveys and environmental assessments, so that they can advance projects that will protect forests, water resources, and wildlife habitats, while expanding recreational and educational opportunities. By funding these due diligence steps, TAG responds to immediate conservation needs and helps organizations get funding on the ground efficiently to close on significant conservation deals.
Congratulations to the Avalonia Land Conservancy, Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust, Housatonic Valley Association, Middlesex Land Trust, and Norfolk Land Trust!
The Kincaid Property is adjacent to Avalonia Land Conservanyc’s Babcock and Erisman Preserves
Avalonia Land Conservancy: Kincaid Property in North Stonington
Avalonia Land Conservancy was awarded funds to complete a survey for the acquisition of the Kincaid Property, a 100-acre parcel in North Stonington. This acquisition is a strategic priority that connects the property to the existing Babcock and Erisman Preserves, creating a contiguous protected block of nearly 350 acres. The project protects upland hardwood forest, vernal pools, and a tributary to the Shunock River, while aligning with the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development to reduce fragmentation.
The Grzesiak Property connects Flanders Nature Center’s Van Vleck Farm and Sanctuary and the Fleming Preserve in Woodbury.
Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust: Grzesiak Property in Woodbury
Flanders Nature Center & Land Trust will utilize grant funds for a survey of the Grzesiak Property in Woodbury. This 23-acre forested parcel is critical to aggregating two of Flanders’ most active preserves—the Van Vleck Farm and Sanctuary and the Fleming Preserve—creating a continuous 250-acre wildlife corridor. The acquisition will allow for the expansion of the trust’s teaching campus and its popular maple syrup program, while protecting the cold-water habitat of Galpine Brook, which supports native brook trout.
Housatonic Valley Association: Rattlesnake Hill in North Canaan
Housatonic Valley Association (HVA) was awarded funding for a survey of a 106-acre conservation project. Through a combination of purchase and donation, HVA aims to protect 99 acres of core forest, unique geologic features including glacial sinkholes, and historic charcoal mounds. The project enhances habitat connectivity for wildlife, including the federally endangered Northern long-eared bat, and safeguards local drinking water resources.
The Wilkes Road property in East Haddam is adjacent to parts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Pine Brooks Fall Unit of the Conte Wildlife Refuge
Middlesex Land Trust: Wilkes Road Property in East Hampton
Middlesex Land Trust was awarded a grant to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for the Wilkes Road property in East Hampton. Though small in acreage at 2.1 acres, this parcel is strategically vital, directly abutting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pine Brook Falls unit of the Conte Wildlife Refuge and the Land Trust’s “Ghost House” Preserve. Preserving this land prevents habitat fragmentation and protects the riparian corridor of Pine Brook within the Salmon River watershed.
The Betteridge Property connects to Norfolk Land Trust’s Borden Woods and Barbour Woods Preserves
Norfolk Land Trust: Betteridge Property in Norfolk
Norfolk Land Trust received funding to support due diligence for the acquisition of the Betteridge Property, a scenic 178-acre parcel in Norfolk. This project connects existing NLT-preserved properties, including Borden Woods and Barbour Woods, protecting a forested stretch of Loon Brook which feeds into the National Wild & Scenic Farmington River. The property features meadows, core forest, and habitat for the state-threatened Yellow-banded bumblebee, and its preservation will secure a critical link in a large wilderness corridor.
About CLCC’s Transaction Assistance Grant (TAG) Program
CLCC’s TAG grant program seeks to accelerate the pace of land conservation in Connecticut. Grants of up to $20,000 are available to member land trusts to offset costs for appraisal work, title work, environmental site assessments, surveys, and recording fees. Applications are accepted monthly on a rolling basis, enabling land trusts to respond quickly to time-sensitive real estate opportunities.
TAG grants are made possible by donations from individuals and institutions. Since its inception in 2022, CLCC has awarded a total of 80 TAG grants totaling ~$623,000. These grants have helped land trusts acquire and protect more than 7,300 acres across the state.