Northeastern Area Forest Legacy Program
The Tract Record
Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2009
Random Comments Reveal State Stewardship Committees Dedication to the FLP
The State Forest Stewardship Coordinating Committees (SFSCC) of the Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry (NAS&PF) states were busy meeting during the summer months in response to the instructions for NAS&PF states to submit Forest Legacy Program (FLP) projects for the FY2011 funding cycle. The SFSCC for each state is responsible for reviewing the applications for FLP funding, deciding as a committee if the project is appropriate for the FLP and then organizing the projects into a priority order. The committee members ask in-depth questions and make strong comments about the projects during the meetings. Some questions asked and comments made at recent committee meetings include:
- Why is fee contemplated on this property rather than a conservation easement?
- What is the significance of the property to the local forest products industry?
- Why isn't the game commission that owns adjacent land pursuing acquisition of this property?
- If the proposal does not provide the type of information needed by the state to make a compelling proposal to the FLP, perhaps we should not spend our time considering the project.
- Not sure we should move forward until the township goes on record as supporting this acquisition.
Conservation Easement Monitoring Roundtable Rolls On
The Large-acreage Conservation Easement Roundtable is an initiative launched in 2008 by the NAS&PF to provide a forum for the conservation community to share and discuss issues, tools, techniques, and stories related to the unique challenges of monitoring large-acreage forest conservation easements. NAS&PF FLP Specialist Neal Bungard proved that with good planning and preparation, even the most challenging technological obstacles can be overcome. Nearly half of the participants in the roundtable participated remotely. Perhaps more notable is that half of the presenters delivered their presentation remotely. Representatives from 17 States, including Idaho and Alaska, were in attendance. Multiple land trusts also participated.
When asked what they thought of the roundtable, several remote participants responded with a single word—“excellent.” Deirdre Raimo, NAS&PF FLP Manager, declared, “This roundtable is a continuing discussion of the challenges of large-acreage forest conservation easement monitoring. Unless another party steps in to provide a better forum, we will continue to host the roundtable discussion.”
Recently Completed FLP Projects
Six Connecticut Skiff Mountain Landowners Generously Protect their Forest Land
Six properties owned by six different landowners totaling 705 acres on Skiff Mountain in the northwest Connecticut towns of Kent and Sharon are now protected through conservation easements funded by the FLP. The conservation easements are held by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The properties establish important linkages to more than 7,000 acres of protected local, state, and Federal forest and recreation lands, including Macedonia Brook State Park, the Appalachian Trail, and land trust managed lands. The Skiff Mountain properties provide important habitat for large mammals, including black bear, bobcat, and coyote, that require large tracts of unbroken forest. The culmination of this project, shepherded by The Trust for Public Land and the DEP, occurred with the closing on the last property on August 21, 2009 and the release of the FLP funds on September 2, 2009. The six conservation easements, valued at $8,445,000, were purchased with $1,733,000 in FLP funds. The significant nonfederal cost share was made up by the generosity of the landowners through bargain sales.
Massachusetts Town Residents Capitalized on an Opportunity to Protect Largest Privately-owned Landscape
Town residents, whose rural landscape has been severely impacted by new residential development, took advantage of its environmentally important features to protect part of the largest privately owned landscape. Westminster, MA, located in north-central Massachusetts, acquired conservation restrictions on two separate tracts from one family totaling 123 acres of working forestland, the remaining 303 acres of ownership will be protected with an FLP conservation restriction in October 2009. For the two completed tracts the FLP provided $23,290, Westminster contributed $232,754, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provided the remaining $379,756 for the two acquisitions during the fourth quarter of FY2009. The protected land is adjacent to the town’s 440-acre Muddy Pond Conservation Area and the state’s 2,000-acre High Ridge Wildlife Management Area. The Southern Monadnock Plateau FLP project is a collaboration of the North County Land Trust, the Town of Westminster, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and the U.S. Forest Service.
Vermont’s Chittenden County Uplands Addition Has Landowner Who Provides Recreation and Education
A conservation easement was purchased on a 125-acre property in the Chittenden County Uplands FLP project located in Bolton, VT, on August 4, 2009. The Jericho Underhill Land Trust that purchased the property at the same time the conservation easement was put in place also owns other properties in the area that are successfully managed for recreational access and educational purposes. The goal for this parcel is to be managed in a similar manner and will enhance existing trails on the Preston Pond parcel owned by the town. An abundance of wildlife habitat exists on the property including vernal pools, beaver wetlands and rich northern hardwood woodlands. Sustainable harvesting of forest products will be an important activity on the property. The easement was purchased with FLP funds for the appraised value of $369,000. Other tracts acquired without FLP funds in the 16-tract Chittenden County Uplands project are being used as the non-Federal cost share.
New York Finds a Way to Have Working Forest Within the Adirondack Preserve
Purchase of partial interests in land allows New York to assure private land can carry on forest management within the Adirondack Preserve, In December 2008, New York purchased a conservation easement on 83,890 acres of forestlands from Domtar Industries, Inc., on the Adirondack Forest Project. The FLP conservation easement opens more than 47,000 acres of the Adirondack Forest Project for public access for hiking, fishing, hunting, canoeing and a variety of other recreational uses. The remaining acreage is open for some recreational access such as hiking and snowmobiling on designated trails. The property had previously little to no recreational opportunities for the public. The acquisition of the conservation easement also ensures the sustainable use of forest land for forestry, the protection of water quality and the conservation of ecologically significant habitats. The Sable Highlands Easement properties are located in northeastern New York in the towns of Franklin and Bellmont in Franklin County and the towns of Ellenburg and Saranac in Clinton County. The state acquired the easement for $10,068,800 from the State Environmental Protection fund. After all FLP standards were met on August 6, 2009, the FLP reimbursed the state $985,000.
Maryland Forest Legacy Project Produces Budding Conservationists
The Broad Creek FLP property is used by more than 25,000 campers every year, yet is home to a number of rare, threatened and endangered species and unique forest habitats. The property contains a 60-acre old growth hemlock stand which includes the second largest hemlock on record in Maryland. The Broad Creek Memorial Scout Reservation is one of the largest blocks of privately owned forest in Harford County -- a 1,629 acre property owned by the Baltimore Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. The FLP provided $3,255,000 for the appraised value of the conservation easement on August 13, 2009 on 376 acres of the Broad Creek tract. The Harford County Agricultural Preservation Program had earlier acquired a conservation easement on 391 acres of the property and will serve as the non-Federal cost share for the FLP acquisition. The remaining acreage of the Broad Creek property is expected to be placed into an additional conservation easement purchased by the state’s Program Open Space by early 2010.
New Jersey Forest Provides Recreation for People and Clean Water for Fish
The entire Sparta Mountain South FLP property provides public access including access to Warren County’s existing well-used trail along the historic Morris Canal Trail, which runs through the tract. In June 2009, New Jersey purchased an 85-acre wooded tract in Hackettstown with the help of the FLP. Although the forests will be managed by the Division of Parks and Forestry, the overall management of the tract is assigned to the Division of Fish and Wildlife due to its extremely high watershed protection importance. The property contains forested uplands, exceptional value wetlands and three high-quality streams that feed directly into one of the two New Jersey State fish hatcheries. The Charles O. Hayford State Fish Hatchery has been in production since 1912 and is currently raising over 15 species. The property of was acquired by the New Jersey Green Acres Program valued at $3,300,000. After all FLP standards were met on August 19, 2009, the FLP reimbursed the state $1,773,000.
Maine’s Machias River Phase III Project is a Community Forest of International Reach
The 6,628-acre Wabassus Lake property straddles the Machias River – St. Croix River watershed boundary, and strengthens the connections between prior conservation investments in the area that are part of an international landscape extending into New Brunswick, Canada. The acquisition completes protection of Wabassus and the two Getchell Lakes, along a traditional canoe route between the two watersheds. On September 16, 2009, Maine purchased a working forest conservation easement valued at $1,490,000 from Downeast Lakes Land Trust with $1,390,000 from the FLP. Additional non-Federal cost share for the Machias III project will occur in the acquisition of an additional tract sometime in FY2010. The trust had pre-acquired the property in December, 2008 with bridge financing and support from the Land for Maine’s Future Program, North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and private donations. Downeast Lakes Land Trust will manage the property as part of its Farm Cove Community Forest which extends to the village of Grand Lake Stream and supports not only the timber economy, but also crafters of Grand Lake Canoes, sporting camp and lodge operators, and Registered Maine Guides.
Michigan Exhibits Endurance Completing Phase 5 of Multi-phase Project
Tens of thousands of acres in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were added to a larger FLP project forest protection effort on September 25, 2009. Other Upper Peninsula lands were protected in a previous FLP conservation easement in 2008. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), with assistance from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), acquired a conservation easement on 30,343 forested acres. The MDNR has worked extensively with TNC and the landowner, Heartwood Forestland Fund IV in order to complete this fifth phase of the multi-phase deal. The FLP was involved in a previous 36,617-acre easement in 2008. The FLP contributed $3,500,000 towards the purchase of the easement and the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund supplied $1,252,722 toward the total value of $4,752,722. The property will remain as a working forest and allow public to access the land for outdoor recreation. The lands will also remain open for hunting, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, horseback-riding and non-motorized mountain biking along designated trails. Non-motorized boating and canoeing is also permitted.
Indiana Protects Mt. Tea and a Cost Share Tract for Two
Located in the Shawnee Hills of central Indiana, about an hour drive south of Indianapolis, the Mt. Tea tract was acquired as an addition to the Yellowwood State Forest. The state purchased the Mt. Tea FLP tract from landowner Don Foley. On September 29, 2009, Indiana acquired the 490-acre Mt. Tea Ridge Tract for $1,629,000, the Indiana Heritage Trust contributed $364,000, and the FLP contributed $1,265,000. The steep forested hillsides will be managed by the Indiana Division of Forestry for timber, public recreation, water quality, and wildlife management. The project will also provide permanent habitat for the state-threatened timber rattlesnake. Additional cost share for the FLP acquisition was provided through the state’s purchase of a 25-acre tract in November 2007 for $73,000 that was added to the Indiana State Forest system.