July 6, 2015
IN THIS ISSUE...
CLCC EVENTS CALENDAR
Roundtable
Accreditation:  Truth or Dare!
Rockfall, CT
Info coming soon

August 24
Model CE Series
Amendments, Administration & Discretionary Consent
Rockfall, CT
Info coming soon

August 26
Regional Land Trust Summit
Prospect, CT
Info coming soon

September 11
GPS Training Series: Smartphone GPS/On-line Mapping
Haddam, CT
June Photo Sampler
Flanders Field & Forest 5K Run
June 16
Colchester Land Trust Annual Meeting & Accreditation Celebration with Rep. Ziobron
June 21
Goshen Land Trust Annual Meeting
June 26
Avalonia Land Conservancy "Brunswick"  Film Screening
a documentary by Nate Simms
June 28
Connect With Us
Executive Director's Message
2015 Special Session Re-Cap & Final Messages
The 2015 Special Session ended early last week, providing some good news for the conservation community as we headed into the holiday weekend.

Community Investment Act: No Further Cuts
The budget implementer passed by the legislature did NOT include any further diversions from the Community Investment Act (CIA) beyond those already approved under the budget for FY16 and FY17. Emerging from the special session without any further sweeps reflects a strong recognition by the legislature of the importance of this source of funding for open space, farmland/dairy, historic preservation and affordable housing programs.

Conservation Funding: Bond Authorizations Approved 
The General Assembly approved a bond package that included authorizations for the following funding over the next two fiscal years:
  • $16 million for the Open Space & Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program for land trusts, towns and water companies.
  • $15 million for the Recreation and Natural Heritage Trust Program, which is essential to DEEP's ability to acquire land for conservation and recreation -- another significant victory in light of the fact that the original biennial bond package had proposed completely eliminating funding for this program.
  • $10 million for the Recreational Trails Grant Program for construction, maintenance, and improvements to bikeways, pedestrian walkways, greenways, and multi-use trails.
  • $25 million for State Park infrastructure alterations and renovations.
  • $40 million for two new resilience and green infrastructure funds. 
State Land Conveyances: Three Sections of Concern Dropped
Neither the 2015 Conveyance Act (the annual bill that allows the General Assembly to transfer public lands to towns and private parties), nor the budget implementer (a vehicle often used to revive bills that did not survive in the regular session) included proposals to transfer a portion of Silver Sands State Park to the City of Milford for parking (Section 3) and to permit access across parts of the Quinebaug Wildlife Management Area in eastern CT for gravel and sand extraction (Sections 13 & 14).

Other Good News
Pro-environment blls passed through the budget implementer included better controls over use of pesticides, including a ban on the use of lawn-care pesticides on municipal playgrounds, and restriction on the use of microbeads (a source of water pollution) in personal care products starting in 2018.

Final Messages
From you ... Please thank your State Legislators and Governor Malloy for their support of these programs and initiatives -- all of which truly make a difference for the economic well-being and overall quality of life in our communities.

From us ... we've said it before, we'll say it again, and we can't say it enough: Thank you! Your active engagement with your State Legislators was key to successfully protecting these programs from further cuts, restoring those that had been eliminated completely, and helping to pass a number of pro-conservation and environment bills during a particularly difficult legislative session.

With appreciation for all you do -
Amy

With CLCC Steering Committee Chair Alicia Sullivan
June 6, 2015
Peach Island Paddle
CT Trails Weekend.   MORE HERE
CLCC News
Announcing the CT Land Trust Listserv
We are excited to announce the CT Land Trust ListServ, the first statewide conservation listserv for land trusts.  A service of CLCC in partnership with the UCONN Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR), the CT Land Trust listserv is intended to be used  by members of Connecticut's land trust community for discussion of land conservation, land stewardship and land trust organizational questions.  We look forward to your participation! It is easy to join! 

Visit the ListServ page HERE for more details on how to subscribe along with guidelines and general information or contact CLCC ED Amy B. Paterson at abpaterson@ctconservation.org.
CLCC Training & Education Events
Regional Land Trust Board Summit
Northwest CT
This Wednesday!
RSVP Today!

Date: July 8
Time: 7:00 - 8:30pm
Location: Housatonic Valley Association, 150 Kent Road, Cornwall Bridge, CT
Cost: Free

CLCC regional roundtables are free and open to all who are interested. Click HERE for more information. Find notes from previous regional summits HERE. To RSVP or for further information, contact CLCC ED Amy B. Paterson at abpaterson@ctconservation.org
 
Summer Focus Group Series
Stewardship Coordinators
This Friday!
Register Today!

Date: July 10
Time: 10:00am - 2:00pm
Location: CFPA, 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall, CT
Instructor: Paul Elconin
Cost: Free for CLCC members; $25 for non-members (lunch provided)

We invite you to explore the responsibilities of a Land Trust Stewardship Coordinator, facilitated by Paul Elconin, Director of Land Conservation, Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust. Click HERE for more information. Register HERE.

Communications & Community Engagement for Connecticut Land Trusts 
Presented by CLCC and the Farmington River Watershed Association

Date: July 29
Time: 9:30am - 4:00pm
Location: Simsbury Free Library, 749 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT
Instructor: Judy Anderson
Cost: Free for CLCC members; $25 for non-members (lunch provided)
REGISTRATION AND FURTHER DETAILS HERE 

Come spend a day with national expert Judy Anderson and your land trust peers for a fast-paced interactive seminar. Tailored to volunteer and small land trusts, you'll leave with some concrete ideas on what you can do right away, as well as strategies for next year to enhance your communications and build community engagement.
 
For further information contact CLCC ED Amy B. Paterson at abpaterson@ctconservation.org.  
GPS for Land Trusts:  
Using Smartphone GPS for Monitoring and Mapping Land Trust Holdings
Presented by CLCC and UConn CLEAR

September 11, 2015
9am - 2:30pm
Middlesex County Extension Center 
1066 Saybrook Road
Haddam, CT 06438 
Cost:  $60 for CLCC members, $90 for non-members.

REGISTRATION AND FURTHER DETAILS HERE. 
(Don't wait! Class size is limited to 16 students)

This one-day introductory training will cover the basics of using a iOS or Android phone or table to collect field GPS data for improved conservation easement monitoring and enforcement. Learn how to map property boundaries and specific locations that can be revisited year after year to determine and record compliance with easement restrictions. The skills learned are also applicable to fee property stewardship, including monitoring of boundaries, and mapping trails or areas for management activities. Course participants will be taught how to collect field data using personal mobile devices and upload GPS data to interactive online maps that can be saved, shared and embedded on land trust websites.

Photo credit:  UCONN CLEAR
 Entire 2015 Calendar of CLCC training & education events is HERE  
State News
 
CT Forest Products and Recreation Contribute $3.3 Billion Annually to the State's Economy
From CT DEEP 

A recent study  conducted by the North East State Foresters Association   shows that Connecticut's forests are making a major contribution to the state's economy - in addition to providing scenic beauty, habitat for wildlife, protection of resources, and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors alike. The full study can be found  HERE . Read the full press release  HERE .

Photo credit:  CT DEEP
 
Yale Study Takes In-Depth Look Into CT Private Land Ownership
From CT DEEP

A recent study by the Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies (FES) concludes that private landowners management and ownership has enormous influence on the quality and extent of Connecticut forests. The study entitled "Understanding Connecticut Woodland Owners" is a first-of-its-kind analysis of attitude, values, and challenges of people who own woodlands in Connecticut. Read the full press release HERE. You can access the full report HERE.

Photo credit:  Yale FES
Land Trust Resources
Free Legal Assistance Available from The Pro Bono Partnership

The Pro Bono Partnership provides free legal assistance to nonprofit organizations that need help with business or transactional issues (i.e., not litigation), including those related to environmental or 
conservation work. Legal services are provided primarily through the volunteer efforts of local business attorneys who work in corporate legal departments or in local law firms. The Pro Bono  Partnership also helps with educational programs and operates a resource helpline. For more information visit their website HERE.
Land Trust App Coming Soon to a Smartphone Near You
From Lyme Land Conservation Trust

 Lyme Land Conservation Trust has been working with an app developer to put together an app listing all land trust and town trails. The information is currently available on the My Town Trails website. While the app will be free, there will be an option to pay $500 for an ad-free experience. The app will also feature a map with up-to-date GPS location and SOS feature so a 911 caller could be located in the woods by a first responder with a smartphone. Contact Lyme Land Conservation Trust for more information. 

Photo Credit:  Catherine Brooks/New Hartford Land Trust
Photo Credit: Working Lands Alliance
Conservation Options for Connecticut Farmland Guide Now Available
From Working Lands Alliance

The Working Lands Alliance, a project of American Farmland Trust, released its updated educational guide, "Conservation Options for Connecticut Farmland". Produced in partnership with Connecticut Farmland Trust, the guide provides updated information on federal and state farmland protection programs and answers questions landowners may have about protecting their land with an agricultural conservation easement. To obtain hard copies of the guide contact Lisa Bassani at lbassani@farmland.org or contact the Working Lands Alliance at 860-683-4230. You can download the full guide from the CLCC website available HERE.  
Accreditation Program Improvements 2014/2015
From Land Trust Alliance

The Alliance has announced the completion of the "Improving the Journey" project and the full suite of improvements to the accreditation program. This project was launched in the summer of 2014 after the Alliance conducted an extensive evaluation of the accreditation renewal program and released a five-part program improvement plan in September 2014. More information is available HERE.
Alliance Climate Change Site Now Available
From Land Trust Alliance
Climate change can adversely affect our local communities. The Land Trust Alliance has created a website to help guide and inspire land trusts to address threats posed by climate change. The new site is well worth looking at to give your land trust valuable information on the intersection of climate change and land conservation. Visit the website HERE.

Funding Opportunities
CIRCA Matching Funds Program
From the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)  
  

CIRCA is offering up to $100,000 through its Matching Funds Program for projects that will assist, CT towns, NGOs and other entities to adapt to a changing climate and enhance the resilience of their infrastructure.

Address your questions to CIRCA_matchingfunds@uconn.edu. Matching Fund request forms can be found HERE. Matching Funds requests will be accepted on a rolling basis. Requests will be acted upon every two months. 
Photo Credit: National Park Service
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program - Now Accepting Applications for 2016 Projects
From the National Park Service

The National Park Service helps communities create close-to-home recreation opportunities and conserve natural resources. Our Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program is accepting applications through August 1 for help with a wide range of community-led projects. Can we help your community? Find out by first reviewing the application process and exploring current projects in your state. Then call or email a National Park Service staff member near you to discuss your idea, and let them know by July 15 if you intend to submit an application by the August 1 due date.

Do you still need help deciding whether the National Park Service might help you and your community? Check out this short video
Upcoming Events
Photo Credit: Coverts Project 2013 Facebook
Coverts Project Seminar

Date: September 17-20
Location: Great Mountain Forest, Norfolk, CT

The Coverts Project is a volunteer training program in forest and wildlife management. The Project aims to demonstrate that well-planned forest management can improve wildlife habitat along with other benefits. The goals of the project are: 1) to help landowners understand why and how management can enhance habitat and improve forest health and productivity; 2) to inspire and help them pass their knowledge on to their peers.

If you or someone you know is interested in the Coverts Project, contact Thomas E. Worthley at 860-345-5232 or thomas.worthley@uconn.edu.


Register for Rally 2015 
From the Alliance

Date:  October 8-10
Location:  Sacramento, CA

T here's no better time and no better place than Rally to gather with 1,800 of your fellow land conservationists to explore new ideas, connect with each other and grow your land conservation impact.   No matter what conservation hat you wear - from executive director to board member, from fundraiser to communications professional, from land steward to volunteer coordinator - Rally is the only national  gathering that offers seminars, workshops and special events on topics directly related to your everyday work. Each land conservation issue is covered, and all by leading experts in the field! Learn about  something new, share your ideas, successes and challenges, and return to your land trust energized and inspired to make an even greater impact every day.

Information and link to registration HERE.


The Connecticut Land Conservation Council's mission is to advocate for land preservation, stewardship and funding, and ensure the long term strength and viability of the land conservation community. 
Our 2015-16 Annual Appeal is Underway!
Connecticut Land Conservation Council
Steering Committee and Staff
Alicia Sullivan, Chair (Trust for Public Land); Catherine Rawson, Vice-Chair (Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust); Tim Abbott (Litchfield Hills Greenprint); David Bingham (Salem Land Trust); David Brown (Middlesex Land Trust); Margot Burns (Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments); Kevin Case (Land Trust Alliance); Eric Hammerling (CT Forest & Park Association); Michael Hveem (Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust); Elaine Labella (Housatonic Valley Association); Connie Manes (Kent Land Trust); Elisabeth Moore (CT Farmland Trust); Shirley Nichols (Darien Land Trust); Tom ODell (CT Association of Conservation and Inland Wetland Commissions); David Sutherland (The Nature Conservancy); Humphrey Tyler (Lyme Land Conservation Trust

Amy Blaymore Paterson, Executive Director
Cristina Gastador Hayden, Communications Coordinator 
Connecticut Land Conservation Council | 16 Meriden Road, Rockfall, CT  06481 | 860-685-0785
© 2015 Connecticut Land Conservation Council. All rights reserved.