STURBRIDGE- The Opacum Land Trust has increased its conservation holdings fivefold with the donation in June 2003 of 266 acres of land.

The land is bordered by the Massachusetts Turnpike, Interstate 84 and New Boston Road, and though bisected by the Massachusetts Turnpike, this donation creates a large greenway connecting to Wells State Park.

Developers Robert E. Moss of Westboro and Kevin Giblin of Brendon Properties donated the land, which was part of The Preserve, a 70-home subdivision that is being built off New Boston Road.

"It's a gem," OLT President Carol A. Childress said yesterday. "You just don't see land trusts get donations like this. And, it's quite an important parcel because it would still be buildable."

She said the land includes acres of forest, streams, rare and common animal habitat, 20 state-certified vernal pools, old growth forest, historic and prehistoric archeological sites, a beaver pond and a thriving cranberry bog.

The land was donated to the land trust, and the Department of Environmental Management holds the Conservation Restriction. "That guarantees it will never be developed," Ms. Childress said.

It will, however, be available to the public for passive recreation, she said. The property, aptly named Opacum Woods, is slated to be ready within two years for hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Motorized vehicles of any kind are strictly prohibited, which meets Conservation Restriction requirements with DEM.

"We promise: this open space is worth the wait," she said.

Ms. Childress said Mr. Moss wanted the land to be used for recreation as well as to be conserved.

The area will be opened once phase three of The Preserve is finished in about 18 months. OLT Vice President Jennifer Ohop said the group is looking for volunteers to clean and mark the many cart roads and existing trails on the land. Those interested may contact OLT at (508) 347-9144 or by e-mail at info@opacumlt.org.

Ms. Childress said grants would be sought to pay for an information kiosk, which will include a map of the trails and interesting sites on the conservation land, and trail brochures.

She also said the land trust would schedule public tours of the property, probably starting in the fall.

"There is a lot of land protection being done," Ms. Childress said of the work of area land trusts. ""Everybody is realizing that if you don't do it now, in 10 or 15 years these parcels are going to be gone forever. You can't get them back."

The land trust, formed three years ago, now owns 323 acres in the 5,500 acres of roadless, unprotected landscape that is the Podunk Woods Biodiversity Initiative area. The area extends from Seven Mile River in East Brookfield to Route 20 here, and surrounds Wells State Forest.

The trust's holdings also include 30 acres donated by the Gaumond family, called the Herve and Mary Jane Gaumond Memorial Sanctuary, which is directly adjacent to Opacum Woods; and another 27 acres, First Acres Swamp, purchased by the trust in 2001 which abuts Wells State Park.

The Podunk Woods project area is considered a BioMap Core Habitat area running north from the Connecticut line through Sturbridge to East Brookfield, which is land considered most critical to long-term conservation of animal and plant life in the state.

Located in the trusts lands are the endangered species of animals and plants which for long term survival need large parcels of undisturbed forest and water resources, such as this generous donation protects.

The land trust also is negotiating with a Brookfield farmer for a conservation easement to OLT that would protect 130 acres in the Podunk Woods project area. Also, the Nature Conservancy is buying 40 acres of forest land in Southbridge, directly abutting that town's watershed, which it will convey to Opacum Land Trust.

OLT also holds a trail easement on private land, a generous donation from the Roscioli family, which is an integral part of the Grand Trunk Trail. It connects the towns of Southbridge & Sturbridge, with Westville Lake Recreation Area at its heart.

The Opacum Land Trust is a nonprofit, all-volunteer group covering 13 area communities.

"We survive on donations and grants," Ms. Childress said. "We started with just an idea, inspired by other land trusts in the area. We've turned that idea into 323 acres and a trail easement. I think we've done well. This is, though, a long-term project."

Information on the land trust is available at the group's Web site: www.opacumlt.org.

 

June 17,© 2003 Worcester Telegram & Gazette Corp.