FORESTS IN CONNECTICUT
ALT the most wonderful walking spot (dogs welcome).  Saugatuck Reservoir looking south to Weston (photo by Joan Lewis).  Marking the BHC's trail (plans done in late '80's)


TROUT BROOK VALLEY CONSERVATION AREA TRAIL MAP
A DOZEN OF THE ASPETUCK LAND TRUST'S WESTON PRESERVES - WALK MAPS, CLICK HERE


NEWS:  It never gets old - TROUT BROOK VALLEY IS A MUST-WALK THIS SUMMER!!!  Numero uno walk, in my opinion!  Woof!!!






Trouble at Trout Brook: What to do when dogs, bikes and nature collide
Weston FORUM
Written by David Brant, Aspetuck Land Trust
Monday, 14 June 2010 00:00

Trout Brook Valley provides its visitors with tranquil vistas, challenging trails, seasonal beauty and abundant nature experiences.

The Aspetuck Land Trust, which owns and manages Trout Brook Valley, has welcomed dogs and mountain bikers and the general public — whether members or not — into this open space preserve since its acquisition more than 10 years ago.

Consistent with the land trust’s mission of environmental conservation and preservation, policies have been put into place over the past couple of years to facilitate usage by these groups. Unfortunately, repeated disregard of and non-compliance with these rules may endanger future privileges for both bikers and dogs.

Aspetuck Land Trust owns and maintains 42 trailed nature preserves on more than 1,700 acres of open space in Weston, Easton, Westport, and Fairfield. Among these, Trout Brook Valley is considered a crown jewel.

Acquired in 1999 with a combination of private and public funding, it is contiguous to the Crow Hill and Jump Hill preserves. Together these three preserves comprise more than 1,000 acres and provide almost 21 miles of trails.

One of eight Connecticut “Class A” native brook trout streams runs through Trout Brook Valley, the preserves’ woods are home to beautiful wildflowers and rare native plants, and their trees and marshes provide nesting areas for many varieties of birds, including important hawk habitat in the orchard. Preserving and maintaining these natural resources while providing access to growing numbers of visitors is challenging and requires cooperation.

Within the Conservation Area of Trout Brook Valley, Crow Hill and Jump Hill, mountain bikers are given access to ride trails designed for biking from May 1 to Dec. 31 of each year. Mountain bikers are permitted to ride on 15.2 miles, or 73% of the total trail miles in the conservation area.

The land trust asks that bikers avoid riding on muddy trails. No off trail riding is allowed.

Despite these limited restrictions, mountain bikers have been riding in the preserve during closed winter months, frequenting closed trails, and riding off trail. Additionally, signs indicating a recently closed trail that was closed to bikers due to excessive run-off and wet conditions while the trail is improved and rested have been removed.

Sometimes the land trust must close trails due to negative impacts from both bikers and hikers. Aspetuck Land Trust’s first responsibility is to be good stewards of the land.

Dog owners are asked to leash their dogs in the parking lots and to/from the indicated release points. They are also expected to have their dogs within sight and under control, to carry a leash with them at all times, and to leash their dogs when horses are on the trail or when asked to by another hiker or dog owner.

Dogs are not allowed in areas of Trout Brook where trout spawning may occur or in certain bird nesting areas. These areas are posted with signs.

Some dog owners consistently disregard these policies, which raises both safety and preservation concerns.

Although it is a minority of bikers and dog owners who ignore the few requests made of them, the entire biking and dog owning community is at risk for being increasingly restricted in their access to Trout Brook Valley.

Aspetuck Land Trust is appealing to the public to obey the following rules, which are clearly posted at the preserve:

• Mountain bikers are permitted access to bike designated trails only from May 1 to Dec. 31.

• Off-trail riding and riding on muddy trails is prohibited.

• Dog owners must keep dogs on leash in parking lots and to and from designated release points on the trail system.

• Dog owners must carry their leashes with them and leash dogs when horses are on trails or when asked to do so by others

• Dogs are not allowed in posted areas of Trout Brook when trout are spawning or in areas where certain birds are known to be nesting.

• Mountain bikers may not be accompanied by dogs.

If these rules are not followed, it may become necessary for the land trust to implement stricter leashing regulations or, possibly, to completely ban dogs and/or mountain bikes at the preserve. However, with everyone’s help and cooperation, the land trust hopes to continue to be able to accommodate a variety of users in the preserve for many years to come.

To learn more about the Aspetuck Land Trust or to become a member, visit www.aspetucklandtrust.org.

David Brant is the executive director of Aspetuck Land Trust and may be reached at dbrant@aspetucklandtrust.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 203-331-1906.


Saugatuck River becomes more fish-friendly, one dam at a time
CT POST
By John Burgeson, STAFF WRITER
Updated: 12/23/2009 07:42:58 PM EST

Just about every American has seen film clips of salmon leaping over impossibly tall waterfalls.

But not all species of fish are as athletic as salmon. Most, in fact, can't negotiate a knee-high dam.

This is a problem for fish trying to swim up the Saugatuck River, which flows from Ridgefield to Westport's shoreline. Sally Harold, director of the Nature Conservancy's Saugatuck River Watershed Project, said the river has several major dams, most of them dating back to Colonial times, and each makes life difficult for the blueback herring and alewife heading upstream to spawn.

There are more than 100 small dams in the entire Saugatuck watershed, which has more than 200 miles of tributaries that cover 56,000 acres in 11 communities in southwestern Connecticut.

"The colonists were particularly active in this watershed, building dams," Harold said. "This was a problem, because the fish that frequent this river aren't particularly big jumpers."

Ideally, she said, the dams should be removed, but property owners along the river view them as historic, even though they degrade the habitat. For example, she said, they boost water temperatures, making the Saugatuck less attractive to fish.

"They see the dams as having a lot of historical value, but they forget that there was a lot of history before the colonists arrived," she said. "To this point, we haven't had one property owner on the Saugatuck willing to pull out a dam."

The alternative is to construct fish ladders and other bypass devices. One technique is to install a "pool and weir" system that consists of a series of steps ---- each only a few inches tall ---- with pools in between. In some places along the Saugatuck, electronic fish counters have been installed to track the progress of the fish restoration efforts.

Although the Saugatuck has been cleaned up since the 1960s, thanks to stricter environmental laws, it's still viewed as a place where homeowners can dump leaves, which is bad news for the stream environment.

There's also the problem of lawn fertilizer runoff, which not only degrades the river, but Long Island Sound as well, Harold said.

There are six major dams along the Saugatuck River, and five have fish ways, according to the Nature Conservancy. The sixth, and most northerly dam, at a place called Hasen Pond, doesn't, but the conservancy hopes to rectify that in the coming years.

Harold said it's difficult to get permission to build a fish way. Often, months and years of negotiations are wasted when riverside property is sold, meaning that talks have to start at square one with the new owners.

The Nature Conservancy will apply a portion of the $88,000 in grant money that it recently received from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund for the Hasen Pond project.

The Futures Fund grant was also used to construct a passageway for mature eels heading downstream at the Aquarion Water Co.'s Hemlock Reservoir water-treatment plant in Fairfield. This "eel siphon" was also funded in part by Aquarion, company officials said.

If the Hasen Pond fish passage becomes a reality, it would mean that three miles of stream habitat would be open to migratory fish. And the farther fish can travel, the more fish will use the river, experts say.

"The dams do a lot to the river," Harold said. "There is a cumulative impact -- one dam might not do a lot of damage, but all taken together, they do have an effect. We know that many species, like brook trout, are sensitive to the thermal effects from these dams."



State DEP to host forum on 5-year plan for forests
DAY
Article published Apr 18, 2010

The state Department of Environmental Protection will host a forum on Wednesday, April 28, to discuss ideas and recommendations for the five-year Forest Resource Assessment and Strategy being prepared for the state.

The forum will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. at DEP headquarters at 79 Elm St., Hartford.  The basis for the forum will be the results of a series of roundtable discussions in February and March.

The forest assessment is being done because a 2008 federal farm bill requires each state to complete this work to receive U.S. Forest Service funds.
A report on the roundtable discussions can be found at www.ct.gov/dep/forestry.

People can speak during the forum, or submit written comments by May 15 to the Department of Environmental Protection Division of Forestry; 79 Elm St., Hartford CT 06106. Comments can also be submitted to dep.forestry@ct.gov.


Connecticut forest-land forum looks at state's wooded assets:  Diverse ownership, varied uses make quantifying a challenge
The Day
By Judy Benson
Published 11/26/2009 12:00 AM
Updated 11/26/2009 02:10 AM

Storrs - With woodlands covering nearly 60 percent of this relatively small state, Connecticut's forest resources are a vital part of the state's economic, environmental, cultural and aesthetic resources.

But quantifying those assets, while potentially tricky, will provide forest landowners, policymakers and state and local decision-makers with an important tool that will help keep the state's forests as forests. The task is made more complex by the fact that 80 percent of the state's forest land is privately owned, divided among as many as 100,000 individuals and private institutions such as Yale University and water companies.

Those messages, and current efforts under way to inventory and value the state's forestland, were the main themes of a daylong forum at the University of Connecticut Tuesday. Titled, "Connecticut Forests in a Changing World - From Global to Local," the conference was sponsored by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association and the UConn Cooperative Extension System and College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

David Kittredge, professor and extension forester at the University of Massachusetts, began the day's presentations with an overview of the place of Connecticut's forests in the global environment. Not only do they help keep the state's air and water clean, stabilize soil and provide local wildlife habitat, the state's forest can also be seen in a global environmental context.
"When you practice forestry in Connecticut," he said, "it helps allow for the preservation of primary forests elsewhere in the world."

Put another way, nurturing more sustainable tree farming in Connecticut can help supply local markets for building materials, and in turn take pressure off forests in places as far-flung as Siberia, so that forests there can be better preserved as habitat for rare and endangered species such as the Siberian tiger. At the same time, sustainable timber harvest helps preserve Connecticut's forests, he said. He noted that as a building material, wood products are very efficient, requiring far less energy to get from source to market than other materials such as steel and concrete.

Douglas Zehner, state conservationist for the Connecticut offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, outlined how the 2008 federal farm bill will affect forestry in Connecticut. For the first time, forestland is eligible for USDA grants for management, but only after the state completes a first-ever statewide forest assessment, he said.

The assessment, which is required of all states and due in May, is currently under way under the direction of Chris Martin, state forester with the DEP. Once completed, it will rate the conditions and threats facing various forest parcels, as well as the state's priorities for better managing and preserving its forest resources. A series of roundtable discussions will take place around the state early next year to gather input from landowners and the public that will become part of the strategy for conserving Connecticut's forest resources and submitted to the USDA. The first of the roundtables took place during Tuesday's conference.

Reaching all the owners of small forest parcels with messages about good forest management, however, is a major challenge, Zehner said. Further complicating the task, he said, is the fact that private owners keep forests for many reasons that have little to do with their value to the larger public. These reasons include privacy, personal enjoyment of natural beauty, and investment and legacy value.

One incentive Zehner hopes will encourage more landowners to practice forest management are federal grants now available through his office to help landowners pay for forestry management plans.

Following Zehner's presentation, Kathleen Segerson, UConn economic professor, described how the tangible and intangible values of a forest might be assessed and quantified. The notion of trying to evaluate all the benefits provided by a natural habitat, including many that are not "priced" or part of any market, is a relatively new idea in environmental economics, she said, and still evolving.

Consideration must be given to direct and indirect values of an ecosystem and how those values would change if it were developed or preserved, she said. Direct values would include products that could be harvested from that ecosystem, plus water and air purification functions, while indirect ones would include the contributions to a region's culture and sense of place as well as spiritual and aesthetic values.


How did they miss Trout Brook?  On my list, it is numero uno (see photos above...)
The top five hikes in Fairfield County

Stamford ADVOCATE
By Thomas Ebersold
Posted: 07/17/2009 10:10:05 AM EDT
Updated: 07/17/2009 10:33:37 AM EDT 

Best of lists are always subjective and this list is no exception, but any of these hikes is sure to please an outdoors enthusiast.

Listed in alphabetical order, the top five best hikes in Fairfield County are: Lillinonah Trail, Newtown; Pequonnock River Valley, Trumbull; Saugatuck Trail, Weston/Redding; Tarrywile Park, Danbury; and Webb Mountain Park, Monroe.

Before heading out on your journey, remember that a key to enjoying any hike is proper preparation. When going on any hike, be sure to have a map of the area and know how to read it. Waterproof boots are also recommended because most hiking areas have wet and muddy sections, and wear wool or synthetic socks to reduce the likelihood of blisters. Don't forget to carry enough water and food to last for the duration of the hike, and take appropriate protection against ticks that may carry Lyme disease...read more about the Saugatuck Trails system here.




This is the first parcel in Weston that the Aspetuck Land Trust received - and it is very quiet and peaceful.

Weston preserve offers honey of a hike

Greenwich TIME
By Scott Gargan, Special Correspondent
Article Launched: 08/21/2008 01:00:00 AM EDT

Editor's note: This is the latest in an occasional series on area hiking venues.

Just two miles from Cannondale train station, on the northern part of an egg-shaped hill, lies Honey Hill Preserve, a 38-acre open space park that supports an array of diverse plant life within a relatively small area. Owned by the Aspetuck Land Trust, the preserve features three interconnecting loop trails with plants ranging from white pine to several distinct species of fern.

Parking is scarce at the preserve entrance on Wampum Hill Road (just two narrow spaces). If the spots are taken, park along Honey Hill Road or the cul-de-sac at the end of Mayapple Road and head north to the preserve entrance (found just over the Wilton border in Weston).

Walk along the shaded pathway that leads into the park and bear right on the white trail (designated by a white arrow). Follow the path north to the center of the park and pass the entrance to the salmon-colored trail. On the left is a majestic white pine forest - its uniformity and patterned structure offer a striking contrast to the diversity and sporadic arrangement of the park's majority hardwoods.

After crossing through a four-way intersection, head north into the park, while observing the scattered rocks and bright-green ferns that blanket the landscape. Stay on the white trail as it loops around the northeast section of the preserve and south to where it meets the red trail (there are several unmarked trails that connect to private properties). Try identifying the various hardwoods - including oaks, maples, tulip, poplar and black birch - that populate the area.
 
Proceed left onto the red trail, built along a section of old farmland at the foot of a steep slope. Along the beginning stretch, observe the growth of vegetation on each side - on the right, abutting private property and former farmland, there is scant regrowth; on the left, there are large oak trees, suggesting unspoiled terrain. Walk along the red trail and observe the ferns and trifoliate plants surrounded by stone walls.

After the red trail loop, make a left to return to the white trail, which curves sharply to the right before meeting the salmon-colored trail. Proceed on that trail and turn right onto the yellow trail heading west. The terrain, typical of Fairfield County uplands, descends into a murky swamp that forms part of the headwaters of Mayapple Brook (a tributary of the Norwalk River).

The yellow trail continues uphill and crosses into Wilton before looping back around to an opening in a stone wall. Visitors can hang a right on the yellow trail and return to the marshlands (leading back to Wampum Hill Road) or enter one of the two unmarked trails that lead to municipal-use property owned by the Town of Weston.

Follow the trail on the right along a steep ridge that features some impressive rock formations on the left and sweeping views of the surrounding area on the right (portion takes an extra 30 minutes). Proceeding north, the trail eventually comes to rows of humming electrical lines. A distant horn from a Danbury bound train car can be heard echoing against the surrounding woodland.

*

location: Honey Hill Preserve

entrance: Wampum Hill Road, Weston; northwestern portion crosses into Wilton

topography: Rocky, slightly hilly terrain

land area: 38 acres

duration of hike: Approximately 1.5 hours; short, easy hike ideal for families

rules & regulations: Open daily during daylight hours; dogs are allowed off leash; private property surrounding park restricted from access; remain on marked trails



Conservation easements; Tax incentives expire soon
Weston FORUM
Oct 8, 2007

Landowners who are considering establishing conservation easements on some of their land are advised to act before the end of the year in order to qualify for increased federal tax incentives.

Bruce LePage, executive director of Aspetuck Land Trust (ALT), announced that the law passed by Congress last year approving a “tremendous expansion” of the federal tax incentives for conservation easement donations expires on Dec. 31.

The new law, Mr. LePage explained, “raises the deduction landowners receive for such donations from 30% of their adjusted gross income to 50% and extends the carry forward period for donors to take tax deductions for voluntary conservation easements from six to 16 years. In addition, it allows qualifying farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% of their income,” he added.

Mr. LePage warned, however, that the increased tax incentives apply only to easements donated in 2006 and 2007. He pointed out that this legislation applies to donations of easements only, not to land donations.

“ALT and other land trusts throughout the country are working to make these increased tax incentives permanent,” he added.

Those who have questions about the new regulations may phone Mr. LePage at 372-2785.

Aspetuck Land Trust is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and maintaining open space in Weston, Easton, Fairfield, and Westport. Since its founding in 1966, the trust has preserved for public recreational use nearly 2,000 acres of land in the four towns.

For more information, visit www.aspetucklandtrust.org.