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WILLINGTON CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Fiscal Year July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008
The Conservation Commission is committed to improving the quality of life in Willington by being an advocate and source of information for the wise use of natural resources, by actively working to conserve open space and by providing citizens with opportunities to appreciate, to enjoy and to learn from our natural environment.
FENTON-RUBY PARK AND DROBNEY SANCTUARY
- The Commission continued to plan and carry out educational and maintenance activities in the Park. Educating the public about keeping dogs on leashes for purposes of public safety and wildlife protection is an ongoing effort.
- The Commission’s popular series of educational walks and presentations included: vernal pools, an owl prowl, pond invertebrates, live birds of prey, and an astronomy night.
- Entries in the registration log on the Taylor Pond Trail and conversations with Park users (including many people from surrounding towns) indicate that the Park continues to be a well-used and appreciated facility.
REGIONAL AFFILIATIONS
The Commission continues to communicate and cooperate with organizations such as the Willimantic River Alliance, the Green Valley Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Joshua’s Trust, the Naubesatuck Watershed Council, Connecticut Forest and Parks Association and conservation commissions in surrounding towns in order to promote regional conservation and preservation awareness and actions.
WILLINGTON OPEN SPACE PLAN
“A Natural Resource Inventory and Open Space Conservation Plan” was completed, submitted to Town boards and commissions for comment and suggestions, presented at a public hearing, was revised based on comments from citizens and appended to the town “Plan of Conservation and Development” as Appendix 4A. Sixteen large maps from the NRI&OSCP have been hung in the lower conference room at the town office building.
OPEN SPACE PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION
The Commission:
- Used the criteria being developed in the open space plan to provide recommendations to PZC and IWWC for areas that should be preserved with open space set-asides in new subdivisions
- Continued to monitor land protected through easements or Town ownership for conservation purposes
- Continued to make recommendations to Town finance officials to begin setting aside funds to preserve open space that will help protect some of the resources and rural character that Willington is fortunate to possess
- Began negotiations in Sept. 2007 with the Knowlton Family in Ashford for the possible purchase by the Town of 134 acres of wooded land on Mason Road for open space preservation
- Discussions with town boards, commissions and agencies, and with local and state-wide conservation organizations led to the Commission moving forward with a plan to purchase the property pending the town being awarded a Connecticut DEP Open Space Acquisition grant. A purchase agreement was transacted with the Knowlton family for a conservation sale price of $625,000 and an application for a grant was submitted by the Commission in June 2008.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
The Commission:
- Continued development of a canoe/kayak landing at the site of the historic Peck’s Mill on the Willimantic River as part of Willington’s commitment to participate in the Willimantic Greenway Program.
- Named Rob Daniels as the recipient of the 2007 Raymond K. Daley Environmental Action Award for his instrumental role in developing the resource maps for the Natural Resource Inventory and Open Space Conservation Plan The award was presented during Park Day at Fenton-Ruby Park in October.
- Staffed an exhibit at the annual flea market on the green to promote conservation awareness.
Prepared by Peter S. Andersen, Commission Chairman
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