•November, 2007•

"Forests in Peril" article (from the New York Times 10/7/07)

Towns Work Together to Acquire Patrell Property

The Town of Lyme and the Lyme Land Trust worked together to acquire 5 acres of the Patrell property, located in Lyme near the East Haddam border. The town of East Haddam, working with their Land Trust acquired an adjoining 45 acres, after a town vote unanimously favored the purchase. The Nature Conservancy played a critical role in negotiating the terms of the purchase as well as providing 15% of the overall funding. The closing took place on August 27th and all concerned acknowledged the generosity of the Pattrell family in agreeing to a bargain sale to make preserving their land possible

New Water Control Gate to Enhance Fish Passage

This past June the water control gate that supplies water to the Moulson Pond fishway was replaced. A gate that opened up from the bottom was replaced with one that pivots vertically. The old gate blocked the upper part of the water column, while the new gate leaves the entire water column available for fish passage.

The project started several years ago when Linda Bireley, Lyme Fishways Coordinator, discussed the blocked water column with Connecticut DEP Fisheries. Both agreed that the solution would be to replace the gate. A local engineering firm, Kleinschmidt, engineered, designed and estimated the cost to replace the gate. The estimated cost to manufacture and replace the gate was over $100,000 and the CT DEP and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation were able to financially support the project. No permits were needed, so last fall another local company; Machnik Bros. procured the 4 x 8 ft, 3000 lb gate from Rodney Hunt.

In April, Ben Gahagan helped set up a recording video camera to capture fish swimming through the existing gate between the hours of 7 pm and midnight; the recording continued through May. Valinn Ranelli is currently reviewing these tapes and counting the numbers of fish passing through the gate. This video recording will be repeated during the spring of 2008. In June 2007, the water canal was drained and 2-3 feet of mud and debris removed by a group of volunteers. Machnik prepared the canal, installed the new gate, tested it and removed the old gate. The new gate will ensure the Eightmile River remains free flowing and supports the passage of migratory fish.

Financial support enhance this fishway, ensuring its continued ability to pass migratory fish in and out of the Eightmile River watershed, was provided by:

• Long Island Sound Study and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with funding support from United States Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Shell Marine Habitat Program
• Long Island Sound Fund administered by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through the sale of Long Island Sound license plates and contributions
• Individual donors

Forest Stewardship Plan in the Works for the Eno Preserve

The Stewardship Committee of the Land Trust recently reviewed proposals from several consulting firms for development of a 10-year Forest Stewardship Plan for the 101-acre Chan Eno Preserve. The firm EECOS (Ecological and Environmental Consulting Services, Inc.) was selected for the work, based on experience and costs. These costs will be partially offset by a grant from the Forest Land Enhancement Program, sponsored by the state.

The aim of the plan will be to conduct a basic forest inventory and, in consultation with the Preserve’s owners and stakeholders, to set goals and objectives for its management over the next ten years. An important focus will be the intersection of natural resources and proposed land use and how land use can be informed by the natural resources in a way that protects these resources.

The plan will include information about general forest health, habitat, and site conditions. Objectives will be developed for management of timber, alien species, and wildlife, including deer. It will also examine wetlands resources, forest diversity, and public access.

As board members noted during the discussion, Lyme is fortunate to have considerable expanses of unfragmented forest. The Eno parcel is in a strategic location with respect to other open space parcels in town, and functions in relationship with them. This proposal will provide important knowledge to foster these interconnections.

•August, 2007•

Birds in Pleasant Valley Preserve 2006, by Ginger Bladen

During 2006, fifty-four species of birds were observed and recorded in the Pleasant Valley Preserve. This considerable diversity is due to the health and variety of habitats in the Preserve: there are vernal pools, wetlands, running water, meadows, woodlands and a small patch of pines, where a pine warbler sang until very late in the summer.

The largest species recorded were the turkey vulture, red-shouldered hawk and red-tailed hawk. The smallest were the blue-gray gnatcatcher, golden-crowned kinglet and, everyone’s favorite, ruby- throated hummingbird. There were eleven species of warblers, a number of thrushes and large and small woodpeckers.

No owls were listed; however, a screech owl flies across MacIntosh Road frequently in the wee hours, and barred and great-horned owls are certainly preserve residents.

The American woodcock did its amazing courtship display in the preserve fields during the spring months. This species needs three types of habitat: wetland in which to feed; meadow on which to display and woodland in which to nest. Like many species, the woodcock is vulnerable to disturbance by domestic animals because it nests on the ground. (We dog walkers should take note.)

If you wish to record a species seen or heard in the Preserve during 2007, there is a CT bird list in a plastic bag near the map at the beginning of the trails.

•May, 2007•

The Lyme Land Conservation Trust truns 40!

This May marks the 40th anniversary of the LLCT. You can read all about it HERE, and see the remarks by Fritz Gahagan at the Annual Meeting.

Rufus Barringer Education Fund Supports Ongoing Projects

The Lyme Land Trust is continuing work on several projects with the support of the Rufus Barringer Resource Education and Protection Fund. Cartographic mapping of Lyme Land Trust trails for use on our website and in a trail map book has been completed. New trail maps for each trail in Lyme will be printed this spring, and will be available at the trailhead kiosks, and at the Lyme Town Hall. A trail book will be available later in the summer, including all trail maps and supplemental information on the trails, including Land Trust, Nature Conservancy, and town properties.

The Rufus Barringer Fund was set up several years ago by Sharlee Barringer in memory of her husband, a conservationist and former Lyme Land Trust president, with contributions from other Land Trust members.

•March, 2007•

Eightmile River Wild and Scenic Coordinating Committee Report

On February 8, 2007, Rep. Joe Courtney held a press conference to announce the introduction of his first bill as a recently elected Federal Congressman – the designation of the Eightmile as a federally recognized Wild and Scenic River. The complete report is HERE.

Dairy Farm Program

At a March 27 meeting at the Lyme Public Hall, a speaker for Congressman Joe Courtney explained some of the problems besetting New England dairy farms and what can be done to save them. A text of the presentation can be seen HERE, and HERE is a report written by Emily Lerner about the farm.

•February, 2007•

Photo Contest Winners Announced

The winners of the 2006 photo contest were announced in a press release which cen be seen HERE. The photos are also posted on our website HERE.

Funds Approved to Support Acquisition of Litsky Land

At the February board meeting of the Land Trust, directors voted to provide $25,000 toward the acquisition of 100 acres of undeveloped natural forest that drains to the Eightmile River. The land, on the Lyme town line, is one parcel away from Hartman Park in Lyme, and is adjacent to two parcels of over 500 acres of undeveloped woodland protected by The Nature Conservancy.
The Salem Land Trust has obtained an option to buy the parcel from the Litsky family for $400,000. The SLT is providing some of the funding, and has also obtained a matching grant from the Open Space grant program from the State of Connecticut; they are now in the process of raising the remaining $180,000. As our charter permits such acquisition support for properties contiguous with Lyme’s border, Lyme Land Trust Board members felt that this project was especially important both because it borders high priority conservation land in Lyme, and because it serves to protect the Eightmile River watershed.

•January, 2007•

A "Fly-Away" Social...

Young and old gathered – 26 in all - came to watch the family-friendly movie "Fly Away", at the Hadlyme Public Hall on Saturday, January 13th. It wasn't like going to the multiplex cinema...and that was the point. The snacks were much better, with offerings from local farms and businesses: Maple Kettle Korn popcorn from Bureau's Sugarhouse, coffee from Ashlawn Farms, bread from Howard Kaplan, apples from Scott's Orchard and a selection of cheeses from Sankow's Beaver Brook Farm. The film and food were enjoyed by all, and the company couldn't have been better.

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