Over 1,300 acres of Connecticut watershed lands have been granted protection in a major win for conservations in the state, officials said.
Gov. Ned Lamont, along with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the Housatonic Valley Association , announced on Friday the protection of 1,364 acres of watershed lands owned by the town of Winchester.
The protection has been granted after federal funding was secured from the Highlands Conservation Act . The Highlands Conservation Act covers 3.4 million acres in portions of Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania and is one of the most significant sources of federal land protection grant funding available in Connecticut, according to the HCA website.
“Open space is one of the top contributors to our great quality of life here in Connecticut, and the land protected under the Highlands Conservation Act is among the most beautiful land around,” Lamont said. “I thank our Congressional delegation and federal agency partners for their efforts to secure land protection funding for our state, as well as our local land trust and conservation partners. This is a great example of federal, state, and local working together to accomplish big things.”
The town of Winchester is the first environmental justice community to benefit from these federal funds, according to DEEP officials.
“Being one of the largest conservation projects in over a decade, the permanent protection of this land provides numerous benefits to the residents of Connecticut,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “It will enhance the quality of life for Winchester and surrounding municipalities’ residents, who will have access to portions of the property for passive recreation use. It will also protect key watersheds, drinking water supply, and habitats for a diversity of wildlife. This conservation project and others like it also address climate change in a meaningful way by fortifying and preserving forestland. I’m grateful for the partnership with the USFWS, Housatonic Valley Association, the Town of Winchester, and the private volunteers and donors who helped make this project successful.”
Conservation easements will help ensure that the lands remain a source of clean drinking water for the city of Winsted, officials said. In addition, the conservation will provide additional safeguards for wildlife habitat and a planned public access trail for recreational use.
The property has been protected through the Highlands Conservation Act, matched by DEEP’s Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Fund, and additional donations were raised privately through the Housatonic Valley Association’s Greenprint Partners Pledge Fund.
“I am proud that 1,364 acres of land in Winchester are now protected thanks to funding from the Highlands Conservation Act,” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said. “This historic conservation will boost outdoor recreation, supply clean drinking water, and protect wildlife – ensuring that Connecticut’s highlands remain an environmental treasure for generations to come.”
The town of Winchester will still own the land and operate its municipal water company, according to officials.
“The Highlands Conservation Act is a phenomenal tool, allowing state agencies to conserve priority areas across this vital landscape,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region Deputy Regional Director Kyla Hastie said. “We are a proud partner in this effort and applaud Connecticut DEEP and the Housatonic Valley Association for their focus on conservation in historically marginalized communities.”
Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com
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