The 29-acre Red Hill Woods parcel on the Branford Land Trust's (BLT) wish-list has just received a $91,000 windfall, thanks to BLT's successful application for a grant from the Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition program, administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced the Branford grant among a total of $4.7 million awarded today to protect open space in 17 Connecticut communities.

In a press release, Gov. Malloy stated, "Connecticut's tradition of preserving open space began in the early 1900s and continues today with a focus on land preservation that protects important natural resources and ensuring that our state maintains its natural beauty. Through these grants, we will increase the availability of open space to provide our residents with protected lands to enjoy for outdoor recreation all across our state."

Other local towns receiving grants for open space preservation today include Madison. The Red Hill tract is located just north of 950 acres of open space currently protected by BLT, the Town of Branford and the Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT).

In a press release, State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D- District 12; Branford, Guilford, North Branford, Madison, Killingworth, Durham) joined Representatives Lonnie Reed (D- District 102, Branford), Sean Scanlon (D- District 98, Guilford and Branford - Pine Orchard & Stony Creek), and Noreen Kokoruda (R- District 101, Madison) in hailing the grant awards. Madison won a $715,000 grant to acquire a combined 6,378 acres of South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (CCRWA) undeveloped wood lots.

"These two projects will protect and preserve large plots of open, undeveloped lands for future generations to enjoy," said Senator Kennedy. "The natural character of Connecticut's shoreline communities is what makes them such great places to live. These open space projects will ensure that plants and wildlife will continue to thrive in our communities. The shoreline's legislative delegation has supported funding for projects like this, and legislation that is making it easier for open space to be acquired and protected. Protecting our natural environment is the right thing to do, and an economically important thing to do. I will continue working on these initiatives as we enter the 2017 legislative session."

"This DEEP grant helps expand and protect existing open space assets along the Branford/Guilford border that are enjoyed by shoreline residents of all ages and that also attract visitors to our area who come to explore and stay to shop and dine," said Representative Reed.

"I'm very pleased to have partnered with Sen. Kennedy and local and state environmental leaders to ensure the Warner/Hull Property will remain open and preserved for generations to come. Preservation of this 29 acre property which runs through Guilford and Branford will ensure wildlife habitat, help with water qualify and forest protecting, and enhance public recreation. We value open space here on the shoreline and I'm proud to have been able to help expand protection to yet another nearly 30 acres of land in our beautiful communities," said Representative Scanlon.

The $91,000 grant is earmarked to protect the Red Hill Woods parcel also known as the Warner/Hull property. Visible just south of I-95 along the Branford-Guilford town line, BLT describes the 29.1 acre undeveloped wood lot as part of the Hoadley Creek watershed, contributing to an existing greenway of unfragmented forest and complementing existing preserved open space.  Wildlife habitat, water quality, forest protection and public recreation will be enhanced or permanently protected. The preservation project will be sponsored by BLT. Learn more about BLT at http://www.branfordlandtrust.org

In the statement issued today, BLT president Pete Raymond said, "The Red Hill Woods property has some unique features, including a floodplain forest, and is also adjacent to a large parcel of open space on the shoreline managed by the Branford and Guilford Land Trusts. These larger parcels are particularly important for upland conservation and protecting downstream ecosystems and we thank DEEP, Senator Kennedy and shoreline representatives Reed, Scanlon and Kokoruda for making this possible."

In July 2016, BLT announced the launch of an effort to raise $200,000 to take advantage of new opportunities to purchase and protect two properties: Spectacle Island, a small, undeveloped rocky isle used by seabirds off the shore of Indian Neck, and the 29-acre Red Hill Woods parcel.  See the announcement here