December 10, 2003

Connecticut DEP Wins Federal Grant to Acquire Coastal Property In Stonington

Plans Expansion of Barn Island Wildlife Management Area
Illustrated Map

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced the receipt of a $1 million National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to purchase 144 acres of coastal land adjacent to the 869 acre Barn Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Stonington. The USFWS grant will allow Connecticut, in partnership with the Town of Stonington, the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center and other leading local land conservation organizations, to permanently protect this property.

The property is currently being held by The Nature Conservancy, another key project partner, which acquired it in July 2003, while DEP arranged financing for state acquisition and its incorporation into the Barn Island WMA. Once the DEP’s incorporation of this property is complete, the Barn Island WMA will become Connecticut’s largest permanently protected coastal land holding.

"This is a win-win situation. Receiving this grant allows the DEP to protect valuable coastal resources and assures the integrity of future scientific study of the area, while at the same time expand recreational opportunities for the public," said Arthur J. Rocque, Jr., Commissioner of the DEP. "Intense development pressure and existing transportation infrastructure along Connecticut’s coast make it very challenging to assemble large, contiguous tracts of protected critical coastal wetland-forest habitat such as this. DEP has been pursuing acquisition of this property since 1989. Opportunities like this are rare and demonstrate that State partnerships with federal natural resource agencies, municipalities and the private non-profit conservation community can conserve extraordinary examples of our coastal heritage."

"It’s great to know that the U.S. Department of the Interior shares our high opinion of this property, which conservation biologists have been talking about for three decades," said Dr. Lise Hanners, executive director of The Nature Conservancy Connecticut Chapter. "DEP has shown real tenacity and leadership at Barn Island, and today it’s paying off."

The late Dr. William Niering, an internationally recognized conservation biologist, referred to the Barn Island WMA as Connecticut’s finest wild coastal area. Four federally-listed or recently de-listed, and 14 state-listed threatened or endangered bird species are known to occur at or use the Barn Island WMA, which is being nominated as an "Important Birding Area" by the National Audubon and a "Connecticut Coastal Birding Trail Site" by the DEP. The WMA’s tidal marshes, currently being restored by the DEP, are the most studied tidal marshes on the eastern seaboard, and are used extensively by area schools, colleges and non-profit conservation groups for outdoor and natural science education.

DEP’s purchase of this parcel provides a critical "missing link" in protecting the Barn Island WMA by preventing a golf course development on the site. The necessary approvals were already in place for development of the 144-acre site into an 18-hole golf course, the construction and operation of which would have directly impacted the adjacent 40-acre wetland complex on the existing Barn Island WMA. The acquisition will protect an additional 36 acres of tidal wetlands, 108 acres of coastal forest, 4 large vernal pools, and inland wetlands from development. It will preserve significant biological diversity, protect wildlife habitat, and prevent pollutant loading downstream at the Barn Island WMA, as well as increase coastal recreational opportunities for the public.

The Barn Island WMA is one of 88 WMAs in the state. Wildlife Management Areas are land and water areas having unique or outstanding wildlife qualities that are managed primarily for the conservation and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and to provide opportunities for fish and wildlife-based recreation. WMAs, managed by DEPs Wildlife Division, are open to the public year-round for hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, hunting and trapping.

DEP’s partners for this acquisition include Town of Stonington, Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, Connecticut Corporate Wetlands Restoration Partnership, Connecticut Waterfowl Association, Hartford Audubon Society, and New Haven Bird Club.

For more information about the acquisition, contact David J. Kozak, at 860-424-3034 or email david.kozak@po.state.ct.us. For information about selling or donating properties to the DEP, contact Elizabeth Brothers, from DEP’s Land Acquisition and Management Division at 860-424-3086 or email elizabeth.brothers@po.state.ct.us. For information about Wildlife Management Areas, contact DEP’s Wildlife Division at 860-295-9523 (Eastern CT), or 860-675-8130 (Western CT).

High resolution images:  Project Locator Map  |  DEP Barn Island Acquisition

Click Here To Return To The Previous Page