House Republican Press Release

October 11, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Alberts Lauds Open Space Preservation Grants for Eastford, Pomfret and Woodstock

Governor M. Jodi Rell Announces $9.9 million in Grants for 39 Towns

A 96.8-acre Chamberlin Property including three parcels in Woodstock and Eastford will be preserved through the Nature Conservancy with a state grant of $250,000.

A 52-acre farm known as the Buttner Property in Pomfret will be protected from development with the help of the Wyndham Land Trust and a state grant of $225,000.

State Rep. Michael Alberts, R-50^th District, Brooklyn, Eastford, Hampton, Pomfret and Woodstock, today hailed Governor M. Jodi Rell and her administration for including nearly 150 acres of northeastern Connecticut properties in the latest round of open space and watershed protection grants to be awarded by the state of Connecticut.

These properties in Eastford, Pomfret and Woodstock are included in the 13^th round of open space grants approved by the state and authorized by the state legislature in recent years. Gov. Rell made the announcements on Oct. 11.

“Preserving open space, protecting farmland and maintaining a rural quality of life are among the major issues facing our area,” said Rep. Alberts. “It is a pleasure to see that our area continues to benefit from the state’s program to protect 20 percent of Connecticut’s land area by 2020.”

The Chamberlin Property consists of three parcels: two on Old Turnpike Road in Woodstock and one parcel in Eastford of approximately one acre. The first parcel of approximately 50 acres, dominated by freshwater marsh, is 85 percent wetlands with 3,478-foot frontage on Still River. The parcel abuts portions of the 7,800-acre Yale University Forest. The second 47-acre parcel is 35 percent wetland, bisected by Lost Pond Brook, with a forest of mixed hardwoods and white pine. Both parcels provide an important habitat for waterfowl and endangered or special concern species. This property is part of the DEP Natchaug River Greenway, the Quinebaug Highlands Project Area and the Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor.

The Buttner Property in Pomfret is almost entirely abutted by sanctuary and protected land. Protection of this property is critical to the core sanctuary system and wildlife habitat. The property contains three fields used for crop production (corn and alfalfa.) The soil type (Charlton-Chatfield Complex) is one of the types recognized as “Farmland of Local Importance.” Twenty percent of the site contains healthy inland wetlands. The surrounding Audubon Society Sanctuary has nestings of American Kestrels (threatened) and Brown Thrashers (special concern), which also may be using the Buttner Property.

Mike Alberts serves the 50^th Assembly District of Brooklyn, Eastford, Hampton, Pomfret and Woodstock in the Connecticut House of Representatives.