Welcome to the November edition of #LoveYourCTLandTrust eNews, with exciting stories of land trusts successfully leveraging support for their projects at every level, from local and federal funding to DEEP's Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Program, a priority of CLCC's advocacy work.

Local engagement and partnerships are key: A fifth grader's testimony in support of Avalonia Land Conservancy's ongoing efforts to conserve land in Norwich; Bethany Land Trust's successful request for the town's contribution of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds; and Easton citizens' vote to support Aspetuck Land Trust.

Please read on, and be prepared to be inspired!

P.S. Please keep those #LoveYourCTLandTrust stories and photos coming. Drop them here and we'll take it from there!

Silas Hess, fifth grader, St. Patrick's Cathedral School

Avalonia Land Conservancy (ALC) is working on a project to purchase 101 acres of forested lands in Norwich. Near Old Canterbury Turnpike in Occum, the property includes the Benson Tree Farm. If successful, ALC’s acquisition would increase open space in Norwich, an economically distressed and highly developed municipality. After hearing from local supporters, including ten-year-old Silas Hess, the Norwich City Council unanimously voted to support funding the purchase through an OSWA grant...

It's been an exciting year of land conservation for Bethany Land Trust (BLT). In September, with support from the Zdru Family Fund, the land trust acquired the Three Sisters Preserve, a 20-acre property at the Naugatuck border, from Connecticut Water. More recently, it expanded the Van Epps Preserve, a 20-acre property by Beacon Falls, thanks to the generosity of Cathy and Dan Van Epps. In addition to funding from many committed individuals, BLT supported the Van Epps Preserve's expansion using a portion of the Town of Bethany’s ARPA funds, an action that CLCC encouraged land trusts to take...

Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT) has plenty of good news to share, starting with its recent purchase of a 19-acre parcel from the Town of Easton. The property on South Park Avenue is a Class 1 wild trout management area and will add to ALT's Green Corridor in Fairfield County. The sale of the South Park Property was the first time Easton citizens could determine the outcome of a town property through a referendum after the Town passed its Land Use Ordinance in 2021. The project was partially funded through a $188,000 CT DEEP OSWA grant...