|
Podunk Woods Biodiversity Initiative |
||||
|
Opacum Land
Trust Properties
within Herve & Mary Jane Gaumond
|
|
featured project: A summer day's vista from Perry's Point, located in Opacum Woods, the latest acquisition within the Podunk Woods focus area. If you are interested in volunteering at Opacum Woods, e-mail or call (508) 347-9144. |
||
| In the spring of 2000, the Massachusetts Executive
Office of Environmental Affairs provided special funding to the Natural
Heritage & Endangered Species Program of the Division of Fisheries and
Wildlife to develop BioMap.
The BioMap Project was designed to identify areas crucial to the survival
of Massachusetts’ rare and common species, exemplary natural
communities, and to facilitate strategic land protection. BioMap
illustrates areas that, if protected, would provide suitable habitat over
the long term for the maximum number of Massachusetts’ terrestrial and
wetland species, as well as the habitats that these species depend on.
BioMap visually shows "Core Habitats"; areas that represent the
highest priority for biodiversity conservation and protection in the
state.
Within Opacum Land Trusts’ area
of interest are several large Core Habitats. One runs north from the
Connecticut line through Wales, Monson, and Brimfield. In this Core
Habitat are The Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary, Wales Wildlife Management
Area and Brimfield State Forest, totaling over 8000 protected acres.
Another runs north from the Connecticut line through Monson and Wilbraham.
Map 1: Opacum Land Trust towns and Biomap areas A third Core Habitat runs north from Connecticut, through Sturbridge, to East Brookfield. The protected areas within this Core Habitat include Wells State Park, McKinstry Brook Wildlife Area, Breakneck Wildlife Area, Leadmine Wildlife Area, and TTOR’s Tantiusques (Leadmine) property. The East Brookfield and Sturbridge sections of this Core Habitat cover slightly more than 5,000 acres of roadless unprotected habitat around Wells State Park. This area is bounded by Podunk Pike (Rt. 49), Putnam Road, West Sturbridge Road, and New Boston Road. In January 2002, Opacum Land Trust publicly launched the Podunk Woods Biodiversity Initiative that will seek to protect this Core Habitat. This is a large, long term project that will involve cooperation among numerous private and public agencies and area landowners. Map 2: The Podunk Woods Biodiversity Initiative. Most importantly, we need you, the membership of Opacum Land Trust, to participate. There are many ways you can be a part of the Initiative. Your time and support are very important to this project. For more information, e-mail or call (508) 347-9144 What Opacum Land Trust has accomplished in Podunk so far: Opacum Woods was donated to Opacum Land Trust in June of 2003 by Robert Moss & Brendon Properties. It contains 266 acres of forested land including woodland ponds, swamps, vernal pools, historic and prehistoric sites, and habitat for some rare and some not-so-rare species. It is a true gem, and a recreational asset for the community. We will be working over the next few years to map & mark the existing trails on the property (our progress will be reported here). A small parking area will be completed as part of the Preserve Subdivision by 2005, at which time we plan to install a kiosk at the trailhead. If you would like to volunteer for this project, drop us a line, There's lots of work to be done and we would love to hear from you. Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (formerly DEM), holds Conservation Easement on the land.******** In 2002, we received a 30 acre donation along New Boston Road in Sturbridge. The Herve & Mary Jane Gaumond Memorial Sanctuary contains upland woods and vernal pools providing critical habitat for 2 state listed rare species. This parcel is contiguous with Opacum Woods. ******** In 2001, Opacum purchased 26.77 acres abutting Wells State Park on Bushnell Road in Sturbridge, which we have named First Acres Swamp as it was our first land protection project. This land is a beautiful wetland that could have turned into house lots, but now is a haven for a rare turtle. It is also the headwaters of a tributary into Walker Pond. Protecting First Acres protects the water quantity and quality of this watershed. If you are a landowner within the Podunk Woods, and you are interested in speaking with someone about how to protect your land, please e-mail Opacum Land Trust. There are many ways to protect your land and meet your needs, development isn't the only answer. Thank You for your Continued Support!
|
||||
|
|
We are currently fundraising to purchase additional land within Podunk Woods, pay legal fees, and create an essential stewardship fund to see that this property remains as it is in perpetuity. Donations can be earmarked for Podunk Woods, and sent to: Opacum Land Trust,
Inc.
|
|||
