Connecticut Land Conservation Council      
 March 22, 2012
In This Issue
Executive Director's Message
Policy Updates
Funding Opps
Promote CT Conservation
Job Opportunity

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.

 

To learn more about CLCC, please go to our website:
www.ctconservation.org

Upcoming Events 

 

March 24

CLCC

2012 Land Conservation Conference

Wesleyan University

Middletown, CT 

Walk-in Registration

 
Executive Director
Amy B. Paterson, Esq.

 

Steering Committee

Tim Abbott, Chairman

Litchfield Hills    Greenprint

Alicia Betty 

Trust for Public Land

David Bingham

Salem Land Trust

Hunter Brawley

Brawley Consulting Group

Sandy Breslin

Audubon Connecticut

Margot Burns 

CT River Estuary Regional Planning Agency

Kevin Case

Land Trust Alliance

Katchen Coley
Middletown Conservation Commission

Liba Furhman
Hunt Hill Farm Trust

Ginny Gwynn
Greenwich Land Trust

Eric Hammerling
CT Forest & Park Association

Elaine Labella
Housatonic Valley Association
 

Charles Leach

Farmington Land Trust 

Connie Manes

Kent Land Trust  

Tom ODell
CACIWC 

Chris Randall

New Haven Land Trust

David Sutherland 

The Nature Conservancy

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Director's Message

How exciting! 

 

The 2012 Connecticut Land Conservation Conference is this Saturday and over 230 of you are already registered! 

 

For those of you that would still like to attend, you may register at the door!  Please arrive early!


Keynote speaker, United States Senator Richard Blumenthal, will provide an update on Connecticut's projects as part of the President's America's Great Outdoor Program and the key federal conservation funding programs that are so critical to land conservation in Connecticut.

 

"I am committed to alliances with land trusts and citizen activists in fighting to protect open space and other critical natural resources," said Senator Blumenthal in a recent press release about the event. "Environmental protection is a public trust - and the great work done by citizen advocates is critical to its success."


Jay Mar, State Conservationist for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, who will present a roundtable on The Farm Bill and other opportunities to work with his agency, added, " If I could communicate just one idea to the residents of Connecticut, it would be we are all partners in conservation. Look around at the beauty of our state's natural resources and pristine agricultural landscapes. We are all caretakers of this beautiful place we call home. As citizens, we are all part of the decision making process. It is our responsibility to be stewards of the land and keep Connecticut's resources and agricultural heritage for future generations." 

 

Thank you sponsors!

 

The success of this year's conference would not be possible without the strong support of the following dedicated financial sponsors:
 

PLATINUM:  CL&P - A Northeast Utilities Company --   Eastern Connecticut RC&D -- Land Trust Alliance


GOLD:  Connecticut River Gateway Commission -- Danosky & Associates -- Metropolitan District Commission -- Norcross Wildlife Foundation --The Nature Conservancy -- Trust for Public Land -- USDA- Natural Resources Conservation Service

 

SILVER:  Audubon Connecticut  -- CitySeed -- Connecticut Farmland Trust --
Connecticut Forest & Park Association -- Davison Environmental Consulting
Land-Tech Consultants, Inc. -- Marjorie Shansky, Attorney at Law -- Middlesex Land Trust, Inc. -- Richard McDermott, MAI


BRONZE: Connwood Foresters -- Diana, Conti and Tunilla, LLP -- Stewart Appraisal Services


SCHOLARSHIPS:  Fairfield County Community Foundation -- South Central Regional Water Authority

 

Your support continues a key partnership amongst businesses, government agencies and the land conservation community in Connecticut and is critical to the success of this important annual event.


For a complete listing of workshop selections and the day's schedule of events, please visit CLCC's conference webpage or contact me at 860-685-0785 or at abpaterson@ctconservation.org.

 

Don't miss this once a year opportunity to attend Connecticut's own land conservation rally!


See you Saturday!


Warmest regards,
Amy


PS:  In response to your feedback, we will not be serving individual bottled water.  Please bring your own refillable water bottle (cups will be available if you forget).

Policy Updates

(Note:  Thanks to the Land Trust Alliance,CLCC Steering Committee member, Sandy Breslin (Audubon Connecticut), and Highstead's Bill Labich for providing the information for the following updates on LWCF Funding and the Policy Agenda for Conserving New England's Forests, respectively.)

 

Victory!  Senate Passes Dedicated LWCF & Gulf Coast Funding

By a surprisingly strong vote of 76 to 22, the Senate approved an amendment (#1822) to the Senate Transportation Bill to provide two years of dedicated Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding ($700 million/year) and re-authorize the program through 2022. This amendment also includes the RESTORE the Gulf Coast Act, directing much of the Clean Water Act penalties associated with the 2010 Gulf spill back to the region for long term ecological restoration and economic development.


Here's what the RESTORE the Gulf Act and the Land Conservation Act will do for conservation:

  • Provide $1.4 billion over the next two years for the Land and Water Conservation Fund for buying precious lands across America.
  • Specifically direct 80 percent of Clean Water Act civil penalties resulting from the oil spill to  restoration of the Gulf Coast environment and local economies.   This could mean as much as $10-20 billion.
  • Distribute resources fairly and equitably to the affected Gulf Coast states, allowing them to launch immediate  recovery efforts .
  • Ensure that the funds are spent responsibly and for their intended purposes.
  • Establish the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council which will develop and fund a comprehensive plan for the ecological recovery and resiliency of the Gulf Coast. 

This isn't a done deal yet. The House and Senate still need to approve their respective transportation bills and reconcile differing language, which could be difficult. The House also approved a RESTORE Act amendment, but did not include LWCF or clearly dedicate restoration spending. This is, however,
a major step towards enacting this important legislation.

 

Please contact Senators Lieberman and Blumenthal to thank them for their support for LWCF in Transportation and Appropriation Bills.
 

For full details on the Amendment, including a fact sheet for further information, please visit the Alliance website.

 

Newly Released Policy Agenda for Conserving New England's Forests

In a new report, eighty-five organizations across the region are urging lawmakers to help meet New England's economic challenges by investing in the region's forests during the next Congressional budget cycle.  The organizations, including CLCC, outline seven critical federal funding opportunities to conserve this vital resource and the green infrastructure it provides.
 
Download the full report here.  Read the press releases for Connecticut (by Highstead) here.

Conservation Funding Opportunities  

Rivers Alliance Watershed Assistance Small Grants Program
Approximately $55,635 will be available this year for funding projects and activities that strengthen river-watershed protection in Connecticut.  Watershed Assistance Small Grants are expected to be between $500 and $5,000, not to exceed $10,000. 
Grants are provided on a reimbursement for services basis.
A non-federal funding match of at least 40% of the total project / activity cost is
required for all proposals.  

 

The deadline for proposals is Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The RFP is will be posted on the Rivers Alliance website.  For further information or to have an RFP emailed, please contact Margaret Miner at 860-361-9349.

 

CT DEEP Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition Program
2012 Grant Round is now open.  Application deadline is June 28.  For all information and to download guidelines and an application click here
 

 

 

NRCS Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

Applications for both programs will continue to be taken on a continuous basis but to be eligible for Fiscal Year 2012 funding, the cutoff date is Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

 

The EQIP Program helps promote farm and forest health by enhancing the environmental quality of soil, water, air, plants, and animals. EQIP provides payments to implement conservation practices on eligible agricultural land.

 

The FRPP Program protects agricultural lands by limiting non-agricultural uses. NRCS partners with approved state, local, and non-profit entities who arrange for the purchase of development rights through conservation easements on private lands. The entity holds and manages these conservation easements in perpetuity.

 

NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative

The initiative is looking to farmers and forest landowners to use innovative approaches to restore and protect habitats for wildlife, including Connecticut's at-risk species:  the New England Cottontail and the Bog Turtle. Under the strategy of the initiative, federal, state, and local wildlife experts will use the best available science to prioritize restoration actions on a large scale to most cost effectively focus assistance. In return for voluntarily making habitat improvements on their lands, the federal government will provide landowners with regulatory certainty that they will not be asked to take additional conservation actions.

 

Landowners may sign-up now; applications within the priority habitat areas will receive highest consideration. Closing date for this year's funding is April 30, 2012; however applications will be accepted on a continuous basis.

 

For more information on NRCS programs, please click here. 

Promote CT & Share Your Conservation Success Stories

To uncover what residents and visitors love most about living, working and playing in Connecticut, the State,  through the Department of Economic and Community Development,  has launched  "What's Your Connecticut Story". The contest, which can be found by visiting MyCTStory.com, asks for a story, along with a photo and/or video, that paints a picture of the best  of Connecticut.

Click here for a link to a power point presentation on the initiative and opportunities.  

 

"My Connecticut Story"  may be a wonderful way to promote your community's conservation success stories.  Entries will be received until May 18, 2012 and the grand prize winner will be announced on June 1, 2012. 

 

Conservation Job Opportunity

Highstead Seeks Operations Manager
Highstead is seeking an experienced and motivated individual to manage its 140-acre landscape,facilities, and local operations in a manner that is consistent with the organization's history and objectives. Highstead is a non-profit organization based in Redding Connecticut dedicated to conserving the New England landscapeand to advancing the Wildlands and Woodlands Vision by partnering withand promoting the efforts of other organizations and agencies. Read the full job announcement on the Highstead website.
Contact Information
 
Amy B. Paterson, Executive Director
CT Land Conservation Council
c/o CT Forest and Park Association
16 Meriden Road
Rockfall, CT  06481
860-685-0785


 
CLCC new 500 pix wide