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About CLCC
The mission of the CT Land Conservation Council is to advocate for land preservation, stewardship and funding, and ensure the long term strength and viability of the land conservation community.
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May 13
NRCS Info Session
Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) Program
10am - Noon
Norwich, CT
May 14
Alliance Webinar
NRCS ALE Program
10am - Noon
May 15
WLA Pizzapalooza Fundraiser
5:30pm
Hamden, CT
May 17
State Parks Appreciation Day
Statewide
May 21
CLEAR GPS Training
9am - 4:30pm
Haddam, CT
June 7-8
Trails Day Weekend
Statewide
June 20
CLCC Model CE Workshop
9:30am - 1:00pm
Rockfall, CT
June 27
CLCC/Land Trust Alliance
Standards & Practices Stewardship Fundamentals
9:30am - 2:30pm
Hartford, CT
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Executive Director
Amy B. Paterson, Esq.
Steering Committee
Tim Abbott
Litchfield Hills Greenprint
David Bingham
Salem Land Trust
Hunter Brawley
Brawley Consulting Group
Sandy Breslin
Audubon Connecticut
Margot Burns
Lower CT River Council of Governments
Kevin Case
Land Trust Alliance
Stephanie Clark
Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust
Jim Gooch
Connecticut Farmland Trust
Eric Hammerling
Connecticut Forest & Park Association
Mary-Michelle Hirschoff
The Garden Club of New Haven
Elaine LaBella
Housatonic Valley Association
Connie Manes
Kent Land Trust
Tom ODell
CT Association of Conservation & Inland Wetland Commissions
Alicia Sullivan, Chair
The Trust for Public Land
David Sutherland
The Nature Conservancy
Humphrey Tyler
Lyme Land Conservation Trust
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Executive Director's Message
The 2014 Legislative Session Ends ... CLCC Training & Education Events Begin
Dear Friends -
Is there ever a slow time of year for CLCC? Not really!
Successful land conservation and stewardship requires dedication every day, all year round. Your work in the field all across the state is proof of that!
Starting each year with the Connecticut Land Conservation Conference in March, CLCC is committed to providing you with the tools and information that you need to be successful in achieving your conservation goals.
In addition to our annual Regional Directors' Summit Series, Summer Focus Group event, and Standards & Practices trainings, we will be offering an exciting line-up of four workshops as part of our Model Conservation Easement Project, each one including a facilitated discussion on a different topic of interest. Our line-up of instructors is equally exciting and includes national conservation easement expert Attorney Stefan Nagel, who will lead a Model CE workshop focused on "Tax Loopholes".
Read on for more information about our June workshops and watch for a full calendar of training and education events coming soon!
We look forward to seeing you at these and other upcoming events throughout the rest of the year.
With warmest regards,
Amy
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State Policy News - Legislative Session Re-cap
The Legislative Session ended on May 7 and we are pleased to report that we were successful in achieving most of our 2014 Conservation Agenda priorities. The following is a brief summary of the status of the bills and funding initiatives which were priorities for CLCC. Please take a moment to thank Governor Malloy and your legislators for their support of conservation initiatives this session.
And thank you! Connecticut's conservation community continues to exert a major influence on state land conservation policy and funding - and while we make sure that your voices are heard loud and clear in Hartford, it continues to be your actions that make a difference!
Good News for State Lands Protection
SB70 - An Act Concerning the Grant of Property Interests in Property Held by the Departments of Agriculture and Energy and Environmental Protection and the Establishment of a Public Use and Benefit Land Registry, authorizes state officials to designate, identify (through an on-line registry), and protect (using conservation restrictions) lands that provide public use and benefit, including lands used for conservation, public enjoyment, or recreational purposes. Agricultural lands may also be permanently protected pursuant to the bill.
HB5419 - An Act Concerning the Preservation of the Savin Farm in Lebanon authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture to permanently protect Savin Farm with a conservation restriction.
Good News for Open Space, State Parks and Farmland Preservation Funding
- Bond package includes authorization to fund open space grant and farmland preservation programs at the same level of funding as last year ($10 million in FY14 and FY15, for each program respectively)
- Bond package includes $2 million in funding towards the purchase of The Preserve, the 1000 acre coastal forest in Old Saybrook and neighboring towns.
- The budget provides State Parks with funding to support 9 new parks positions and the ability to use cabin rental revenues for cabin maintenance.
- The Community Investment Act fund emerged unscathed!
Other Good News - Bill Eliminating Public Hearings Died
SB405 - An Act Concerning Public Hearings on Subdivision Applications, which would have eliminated a local planning committee's ability to hold a public hearing, was placed at the foot of the Senate calendar and was never acted on.
Bills that Passed that Remain of Concern
HB5550
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An Act Concerning the Conveyance of Certain Parcels of State Lands provides authority to convey (swap, sell or give away) state-owned lands, including property owned by DEEP. Although there were one or two specific proposed transfers which gave us pause for concern, CLCC's testimony focused generally on our issues with Conveyance Act process, which we had hoped to address through SB70. Finding ways to make the Conveyance Bill process more transparent remains a priority for CLCC and our state lands working group partners.
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An Act Concerning a Property Owner's Liability for the Expenses of Removing a Fallen Tree or Limb
provides that if a property owner writes a certified letter to their neighbor stating that the neighbor's tree or limb is "diseased or likely to fall", then their neighbor is liable for the expenses of removing the tree or limb should it fall at some point in the future. There are several unintended consequences of this poorly crafted bill, including the potential for liability for land trusts, large landowners, and others who may have many trees and/or many neighbors. We will continue to provide you with updates on this bill in the coming days as we join the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and other concerned organizations in evaluating options for redress.
If you have any questions about the foregoing summary, please contact CLCC Executive Director Amy B. Paterson at [email protected].
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CLCC June Training & Education Events
Model CE Workshop #1 and S&P Stewardship Seminar
Model Conservation Easement (CE) Training Series
Session 1: The Nuts and Bolts of Conservation Easements
Date: Friday, June 20
Time: 9:30am - 1:00pm
Location: Connecticut Forest & Park Assn., 16 Meriden Rd., Rockfall, CT
Instructors: Attorney Linda Francois & members, Model CE Working Group
Cost: FREE for CLCC members; $25 for non-members (lunch provided)
Experience Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Led by principal drafter, Attorney Linda Francois, and several members of CLCC's Model CE Working Group, this workshop is intended to provide an overview of conservation easements in Connecticut, add more detailed information about the conservation easement process using the Model CE and associated commentary as a guide, and allow plenty of opportunity for questions and answers.
CLCC's Model CE Project was made possible through the generosity of the Geoffrey C. Hughes Foundation.
Standards & Practices Training - presented in partnership with the Land Trust Alliance
Session 1: Stewardship Fundamentals
Date: Friday, June 27
Time: 9:30am - 2:30pm
Location: The Lyceum, 227 Lawrence St., Hartford, CT 06106
Instructor: Rebecca Washburn, Northeast Conservation Manager, Land Trust Alliance
Cost: Free for CLCC & Alliance members; $25 for non-members (lunch provided)
Experience Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Stewardship is arguably the most important component of a land trust's work. Only through taking good care of protected lands can we ensure the perpetual conservation of their natural resources.
The Land Trust Alliance's Standards and Practices address stewardship principles and components of a successful stewardship program. In this seminar you will learn the essentials and strategies for their implementation with respect to both fee-owned and eased properties. Come with questions related to your unique stewardship needs and share successful outcomes with peer organizations.
This training is made possible through the generosity of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. For further information and to pre-register for either or both of these workshops, please contact CLCC ED Amy B. Paterson at [email protected]. On-line registration will open in June. PS: Don't forget CLEAR's GPS Training on May 21. Registration is still open. Click here for details and to register.
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More State News
ERT Program Now Serves Land Trusts at NO COST!
The Environmental Review Team (ERT) Program provides FREE valuable, non-regulatory natural resource/planning information to municipalities and now Connecticut land trusts, in advance of making informed land-use decisions.
New services also include: providing state and federal grant information and grant assistance for open space and natural resource and technical assistance in the form of a referral service in the coordination of meetings with local, state and federal agencies.
If you are interested in learning more about the ERT Program, requesting assistance or in becoming a team member please view the ERT website and contact Elaine Sych, ERT Coordinator at 860-345-3977 or [email protected].
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From the Land Trust Alliance
Enhanced Conservation Easement Incentive Update
This week, the Senate may vote on renewing expired tax items, including a two-year extension of the conservation easement incentive. The House Ways & Means Committee will mark up other expired tax provisions in the next few weeks as well -- at least some of which could quickly go to the floor for a vote.
With Senator Richard Blumenthal recently signing-on, all members of Connecticut's Congressional Delegation are now co-sponsors! Please take a moment to thank them, bring them up-to-date on your conservation work, and urge them to do all they can to see that the incentive is renewed as quickly as possible.
Conservation Funding -- Get More Money in 2015
House and Senate appropriators are finalizing spending bills for FY15. Though committee markups have not been scheduled yet, there is still time to positively impact funding levels for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), Forest Legacy Program and North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).
We are fortunate in Connecticut to have a Congressional Delegation that is supportive of conservation. But it always helps for them to hear from you with a story that they can share of a project completed with some of these funds.
For a further federal policy news, including updates on conservation funding programs, please click here.
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NRCS Funding News
NRCS Accepting Applications for Agricultural Land Easement Program (ALEP) & Offers Info Sessions and Webinars
New NRCS Conservation Programs
With the passing of the 2014 Farm Bill, the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) and the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) have all been repealed. In their place is the new Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) which has two components: The Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) and the Wetland Reserve Easement (WLE). Learn more here.
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program is a new program with $170 million in Fiscal Year 2014 for which land trusts can apply for projects on a regional scale. Learn more here.
ALEP Applications Due June 6, 2014
Applications are currently being accepted. Applications may be obtained from the NRCS website. Please submit your application to Joyce Purcell, Asst. State Conservationist-Programs, USDA-NRCS, 344 Merrow Rd., Suite A, Tolland, CT 06084-3917
Application Assistance Available from NRCS and the Alliance
NRCS Informational Session
Tuesday, May 13, 2014 (TOMORROW!)
10:00am - Noon
NRCS Norwich Field Office
238 West Town St., Norwich, CT 06360
Alliance Webinar for Eastern Land Trusts
At the request of NRCS, the Alliance is hosting the following webinar specifically designed to answer your question about the new program applications and to get your feedback on what NRCS is asking for.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
10:00am - Noon
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More Upcoming Events
WLA Invites you to Pizzapalooza at Hindinger Farm - May 15
Join Working Lands Alliance (WLA) for its fun and casual (and kid-friendly) spring fundraiser at on Thursday, May 15, 5:30pm. Enjoy delicious pizza from Big Green Truck Pizza, local beer and wine, plus cheese from CT's own Mystic Cheese Company, and great bluegrass music from New Haven-based Five in the Chamber. All proceeds benefit WLA's farmland preservation work!
When: Thursday, May 15, 5:30-7:30pm
Where: Hindinger Farm, 835 Dunbar Hill Rd., Hamden, CT
Tickets: $30/adult, $10/children ages 5-12. Children under 5 are free.
Connecticut's First State Parks Appreciation Day - May 17
CT DEEP has announced the first State Parks Appreciation Day -- a special day for state park enthusiasts to volunteer their time and energy to help prepare more than 20 state parks for the upcoming summer season. A list of participating state parks, information on work that will be underway at each location, and details on how to sign up to volunteer can be found here.
Trails Day Weekend 2014 - June 7-8
The 22nd annual Connecticut Trails Day Weekend celebration will take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, as part of National Trails Day. Invite a friend to join in the fun and take part in one of the 258 trail events, featured in this year's CT Trails Day Weekend Booklet. Click here for further information.
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Reminder: Rally 2014 - Awards, Scholarships & Volunteer Opps!
From the Land Trust Alliance -
Awards
Nominate a conservation hero today! Recognize a volunteer or land trust for their hard work and conservation successes by nominating them for the Kingsbury Browne Award, Land Trust Excellence Award or Ambassador Award. The deadline for Awards nominations is June 18th. For more information click here. Scholarships
We are pleased to offer scholarships to qualifying staff and board of Alliance member land trusts to help offset the cost of attending Rally. Scholarship awards will range from $500 to $1,000. The scholarship application will be posted on May 21st, when Rally registration opens. The Alliance must receive completed applications by Wednesday, July 16th. Please help us spread the word!
Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to assist as meeting monitors on Friday, September 19th and Saturday, September 20th. Volunteers who work one of the two days will be able to attend workshops the other day, and will receive a complimentary basic registration. For more information click here. |
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Accreditation News
Third Edition of Requirement Manual Now Available
The Land Trust Accreditation Commission has released the third edition of the Requirements Manual, recently approved by the Commission after careful deliberation and consideration of feedback from the land trust community. For more information, including a red-line version of the changes, click here. Land trusts in the application process or previously accredited will be contacted individually with this news. Click here to view a schedule of training opportunities related to the Manual and other accreditation topics.
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Thank you!
We count on your support!
Click here to contribute!
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