By Kathy Brown
The Haddam Land Trust has been around since 1964 with the purpose of preserving Haddam’s natural, scenic and historic resources while educating people about the importance of natural resources. It was set up as a non-profit corporation [501(3)c], and their all volunteer board meets the first Tuesday of each month (except July) at 7:00 p.m. at the Community Center on Candlewood Hill Road in Higganum. In total, they own 770 acres. Some might say that we already have state forests/ parks in town, such as Cockaponsett, Eagle Landing State Park, and Haddam Meadows, which are also considered open space, but unfortunately, state forest and park lands are not technically permanently preserved. Though it is unlikely, the state reserves the right to sell or develop its lands.
According to the Haddam Plan of Conservation and Development that was adopted in December 2017, “roughly one-third of Haddam’s land area is in conservation.”
We talked to Gail Reynolds, the current Secretary/Treasurer of the Haddam Land Trust to find out more. Gail has been a member since the late ’80s, and has been a member of the board since 2003.
Except for the Margaret Bigelow Dunham Wildlife Preserve, which is a dedicated wildlife preserve and not open to the public, all the other preserves are open to the public. The Haddam Land Trust also holds three conservation easements on properties they do not own; these do not allow public access. An easement, according to Ms. Reynolds, is “a legal document filed in the land records that details what can and cannot be done by the owner. The holder of the easement enforces the easement language by doing an onsite evaluation annually.” Three of the properties owned by HLT have conservation easements held by other organizations, which is considered the best way to ensure that a parcel remains in conservation: The Nature Conservancy holds an easement on the Pine Brook Preserve, the Connecticut Forest and Park Association holds an easement on the Bamforth Preserve, and the CT DEEP holds an easement on Beaver Ledges, according to Ms. Reynolds.
There are trails in some of the preserves; more information can be found HERE. Burr Preserve at Cedar Hill has a short trail with picnic tables and a view of the Connecticut River! Volunteers are also in the process of putting a trail at their newest preserve, Beaver Ledges. Beaver Ledges was the first property that the HLT purchased at market value, Gail told us. “Often when a desirable property comes up for sale, we don’t have the necessary time to raise the funds or apply for a state grant to purchase the tract.” In the case of Beaver Ledges, a combination of grants and private donations funded the purchase.
“Conserved land provides ecosystem services (e.g., filtration of pollutants, groundwater recharge, flood overflow) that most people do not have awareness of,” said Gail. “So you can never have too much conservation land.”
Current Preserves held by the Haddam Land Trust (detailed maps and information can be found on their website):
- Dickinson Preserve (8 acres between Route 9 and Cedar Lake Road in Haddam)
- Carpenter Preserve (2 acres located on Meetinghouse Road in Haddam)
- Craig Preserve (4 acres located on Route 154 just north of the first intersection with Walkley Hill Road)
- Boynton Preserve (15 acres that may be accessed via a right-of-way from Jacoby Road in Higganum)
- Schulte Preserve (6 acres located on Mario Drive in Higganum)
- Ferguson Preserve (1 acre located on Foot Hills Road in Higganum)
- Hidden Lake Preserve (8 acres located on Hidden Lake Road in Higganum, just south of the lake)
- Ern Preserve (12 acres near Valley Ridge Road, Higganum)
- Saraceno Preserve (15 acres located on Route 154 in Tylerville)
- Margaret Bigelow Dunham Wildlife Preserve (164 acres; not open to the public)
- Fenwood Preserve (7 acres located on Old Ponsett Road in Haddam)
- Wright Preserve (2.5 acres located near Gulf Quarry Road in Haddam)
- Myers Preserve (13 acres near Clarkhurst Road in Haddam Neck)
- Glass Preserve (2 acres between Jail Hill and Gulf Quarry Roads in Haddam)
- Nedobity Preserve (36.4 acres located on Nedobity Road in Higganum)
- Burr Preserve (12 acres located near Morris Hubbard Road in Higganum)
- Fenwood Extension Preserve (11 acres; access from Fenwood Preserve or from Walkley Hill Road)
- Pine Brook Preserve (21.4 acres located on Pine Brook Road in Haddam Neck)
- LaRosa Preserve (.75 acres located at the junction of Pine Brook Road and Route 151 in Haddam Neck)
- Ponsett Ridge Presrve (135 acres; access from frontage on Bartman or McTigh Roads in Higganum)
- Bamforth Wildlife Preserve (33 acres located on Bamforth Road in Haddam; dogs must be leashed)
- Margaret Clark Preserve (4.3 acres located on the Connecticut River in Haddam Neck)
- Washburn Hill Preserve (50.75 acres located on Route 81 adjacent to Burr School)
- Autumn Brook Preserve (37 acres located off Hidden Lake Road in Higganum)
- Miazga Preserve (1.5 acres located on the Connecticut River on Route 154)
- Flag Rock Preserve (8 acres located by Flag Rock on Candlewood Hill Road in Higganum)
- Murray Preserve (6.9 acres located on the southern side of McTigh Road near the Jackson Road intersection)
- Eugene O. and Mabel Clark Burr Preserve at Cedar Hill (15 acres located at Route 154 Higganum Dike outcropping near Higganum Center)
- Beaver Ledges (136 acres located on Ruth Hill Road)
Aside from acquiring and maintaining land in the Trust, they also hold educational programs such as mushroom walks, a spring birding walk, a fall canoe/kayak event, nature photography workshops, hikes, and wildflower walks. If you want to volunteer, you can attend a meeting, contact them through their Facebook page or their website, or contact a board member. There are many different roles one can play: serve on the board of directors, work on membership, manage other volunteers, manage finances, be a steward for a preserve (as in, keep an eye out for things like blocked paths, dumping, or riding quads in the preserves), perform trails maintenance, manage invasive plants, manage a fundraiser, manage a program or other educational activities, and more.
The current Board of Directors consists of: Bill Cowan, Gail Reynolds, Peter Smith, Cindy Sullivan, Susan Bement, and Marc Crayton.
If a resident wants to donate land, you can contact the board of directors (via the website or through a board member), and they will then evaluate the proposed donation and determine if the property meets Haddam Land Trust criteria. (The trust no longer accepts parcels smaller than 5 acres as fragmented tiny parcels are nearly impossible to manage for education and trails.)
Check out an upcoming program or meeting! (All programs will be listed on haddamnow.com). “Share your thoughts with us! We want to hear from you.”
Photos with permission from Haddam Land Trust
