Westchester/Connecticut Conservation Initiative Will Protect Watersheds
Bedford Hills-based Westchester Land Trust announced the formation of the Hudson to Housatonic Conservation (H2H) Initiative last week to protect rivers, water supplies and wildlife habitats in the greater cross-boundary region of southern Westchester and lower Connecticut as they empty into Long Island Sound.
Recognizing the fast pace of development in lower Westchester and Fairfield Counties, WLT funded by a two-year US Forest Service grant, will be joined by Highstead Foundation (on behalf of Fairfield County Regional Conservation Partnership), Mianus River Gorge, and Housatonic Valley Association in the H2H Initiative.
The initiative recognizes the greater northeast watershed, including the Housatonic River, which travels approximately 139 miles in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut. It flows south to southeast, and drains about 1,950 square miles of southwestern Connecticut into Long Island Sound. Its watershed is just to the west of the watershed of the lower Connecticut River.
The convergence of water flow and supply in the lower Westchester and Connecticut regions is obvious as Westchester’s Mamaroneck, Sheldrake and Byram Rivers also flow into the Sound as part of the same regional watershed.
The main purpose of the H2H initiative will be to identify and collaborate with landowners identified as pivotal in 13 focus areas that straddle town or state lines and contain land with streams that drain into reservoirs or habitats that are likely to adapt to climate change in the future.
“H2H furthers landscape scale conservation by fostering collaboration across town and state boundaries. By drawing together a robust group of partner organizations and agencies under a single marquee, we can not only collectively share resources offered across the northeast community but we can better engage landowners and communities about the conservation values of their properties,” said Lori Ensinger Westchester Land Trust President in announcing the new program. “Through conversations and activities with peers and specialists, landowners will learn about their land and gain a better understanding of their vital role in sustaining the critical natural resources that support people and wildlife.”
Roderick Christie, Executive Director of Mianus River Gorge added: “We know that wooded landscapes are essential in ensuring clean drinking water and resilient habitat in the face of climate change and increasing development pressure. In our region, private property owners hold the majority of forested land. The key to connecting and conserving our region’s woodlands is in successful landowner outreach and engagement.”
The activities funded by the H2H grant are designed to appeal to land owners eager to act, leading to both long- and short-term tangible conservation and stewardship gains. The partner organizations will evaluate the results and effectiveness of the outreach to gain insight about how to best meet the challenges of sustaining regional conservation resources going forward.
According to its website, Westchester Land Trust has protected land in 28 communities with 4,872 acres on 179 conservation easements; 641 acres on 26 preserves it owns; and over 2,000 acres protected in cooperation with other organizations and municipalities.
Conservation Partners for H2H in New York State are: Bedford Audubon Society, Bedford 2020, Friends of the Great Swamp, Lewisboro Land Trust, Mianus River Gorge, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, North Salem Open Land Foundation, Pound Ridge Land Conservancy, Putnam County Land Trust, Somers Land Trust, Teatown Lake Reservation, The Invasives Project – Pound Ridge, Yorktown Advisory Committee on Open Space, Yorktown Land Trust, Watershed Agricultural Council, Westchester County, Westchester Land Trust.
