CT plea for donations like 'Nam?

[truckboy]

As per usual for me, I was going through Singletracks looking for articles I skipped the first time through and came across something about matching donations, trail access, state agencies...etc. at a particular spot in Connecticut. <Something> Mountain.

Obviously I don't have the article in front of me, but I'm hoping some of you can shed a little more light on the subject. It was a little confusing and seemed similar to the Viet Nam land purchase by Nemba, but there were terms like "conservation easement".

So I guess I'm just asking for a little clarification. I figure there were lots of donations from CT neighbors for Nema to buy the Liner parcel, so I should return the favor for whatever is being planned there. I would just like to know exactly what the plan/proposal/agreement(s) are.

PK?
Anybody?

[pk]

Here's is the article in question:

http://www.nemba.org/digitalnemba/NEMBATreadlines2005.html#Saltonstall

This is a land acquisition being done by the Branford Land Trust It is an area that I gather is popular for cycling.

Donations may be sent to:

Branford Land Trust, PO Box 254, Branford, CT 06405

pk

[truckboy]

This is the confusing part:

"...toward the purchase in exchange for a conservation easement... "

Toward the purchase of what? Some/all/how much of the private land? By the Branford Land Trust? And who will issue the conservation easement? How does that work? Does the Branford Land Trust have jurisdiction over Town Owned Land? What level of involvement does CTNEMBA have? Is there any pledge of keeping these lands open to mountain biking?

There must be a good relationship if the author saw fit to put it in Singletracks, but I wouldn't want my donation to go to some group that suddenly deems mountian biking evil, like my local Friends of the Fells.

Phillip, I don't expect you to know all this. Thanks for your prompt reply.

[pk]

I've asked the CT NEMBA person if he'd help answer your questions since I'm not sure of all the details.

In the meantime, here is the webpage on Branford Land Trust's site which describes the project.

http://www.branfordlandtrust.org/saltonstall/saltonstall.html

best,

pk

[turch]

I am not particularly close to this initiative and will let Scott respond as Philip references. I am however significantly affiliated with the CT chapter board where we will consider a donation to this land preservation cause. Likewise I intend to raise a similar proposal to the regional NEMBA board based on its Land Preservation Fund.

[pitt83]

The way I understand it is: The Branford Land Trust is raising ~20% and having the rest matched in open space funds. Scott (our contact) has been working with the CT-Chapter for letters of support, working for contributions, etc. He's also a NEMBA member.

What this will do is link up to and supplement the Branford Supply Ponds area; a huge need for greater New Haven riders.

The matching gifts request is to make your dollar go further. Most companies will match and they have a specific benefactor who will match every dollar they raise. Hence, your $50 actually could bring $150.

[sborrus]

Sorry for the confusion regarding Saltonstall Mountain....the version i sent in was edited a bit and few key points were lost.
The area being purchased is an area of about 120 acres that
includes property in both the towns of Branford and North
Branford. The property is contiguous with Pisgah Brook Preserve and is part of a larger 600 acre area that usually known as the Branford Supply Ponds. As noted in the article there are lots of good riding trails already in the area and I got involved about 10 years ago in trying to save this trail system when there was an attempt to develope the area with a
golf course and houses......The developers were blocked at that
time but there are still areas that are at risk of future developement.

The SupplyPonds/ Pisgah Brook area is owned by the town of
Branford and is managed by Parks and Open Space...so I
felt the best way to protect these trails was to stay involved and so I've been a member of the Parks and Open Space Authority for the last few years. I have and continue to advocate for multi-purpose trail use with particular intrest in keeping trail open to mountain biking....
The Saltontall property is being purchased by the town of Branford and will be managed by Parks and Open Space.
The Branford Land Trust has agreed to support the purchase
by raising $100,000 toward the purchase.
The easments mentioned in the article are to prevent the town from deciding that it wants to develope the area itself some time in the future.
The Regional Water Authority will actually own the part of the property in North Branford since the Town of Branford can't own property in another town but the entire area will be managed by Branford Paarks and Open Space.

I suppose that at some point in the future there could be trail use conflicts that could lead to restrictions on biking on certain trails but thats part of the reason I plan on continued involvement in both land managment and NEMBA.

I hope this helps
PS...I've tried to attach the original article prior to editing.

[truckboy]

Thanks,
This is exactly the kind of synopsis I was looking for. Where should we send our checks again?

[sborrus]

Contributions can be sent to: Branford Land Trust, PO Box 254, Branford, CT 06405. Please make checks payable to Branford Land Trust and note Saltonstall Mt. on your check.

Thanks