CLC’s Earth Day 2024 Book Donation

In honor of Earth Day 2024, the Colebrook Land Conservancy
is pleased to announce its annual book donation
to the Colebrook School library.

These yearly donations have been made possible through the Robert B. Lisle Memorial Fund, which was established by Elizabeth Lisle in memory of her husband, who was particularly fond of reading.

147 Acres Preserved in North Colebrook

Pristine woods and streams as well as stunning scenic beauty have been permanently protected by the Colebrook Land Conservancy in its latest acquisition: 147 acres in North Colebrook to be known as the Sandy Brook Forest Preserve. Fronting on Phelps Flat, Beech Hill and Sandy Brook roads, the land was recently acquired from Colebrook’s Ed Lord at a price greatly reduced from its appraised fair market value.

Funding for the project came from grants awarded by the State of Connecticut’s Open Space and Land Acquisition Program, administered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; the federal Highlands Conservation act; the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation; and the Farmington River Coordinating Committee. Protection of this open space was also made possible by the generosity of trustees, members and friends of the Colebrook Land Conservancy.

The Sandy Brook Forest Preserve has outstanding conservation values. It adds to a large protected wilderness corridor that includes the Algonquin State Forest, the Phelps Research Area, and Aton Forest. Its protection also will help mitigate the effects of climate change. The Nature Conservancy has identified the property as “part of a large resilient landscape in Northwest Connecticut” because the land has varied terrain and elevations that will help it adapt and maintain function in the face of external stresses such as climate change.

Significant plant and animal habitats benefit by conserving the property. The Preserve has more than 120 acres of unfragmented core forest, which is important because it provides for the highest level of wildlife diversity. The property also has exceptional water resources, with frontage on Sandy Brook and North Brook, as well as 24.6 acres of upland wetlands, 60 acres of riparian buffer habitat, and extensive hemlock and ravine habitat. Its river and riparian habitats and high-quality wetlands protect aquatic species, fisheries and water quality not only in Colebrook but also downstream in the Farmington River.

The property will have a public hiking trail that will take you along Sandy Brook and North Brook, through diverse woodlands and up to a summit offering views of rural Colebrook.

The New Deer Hill Trail is Open & it’s Awesome!

You’re invited to take a walk on the Colebrook Land Conservancy’s new trail on its recently acquired Deer Hill property. The Deer Hill Trail features both a 1.3 mile loop trail and a .6 mile spur trail that gradually climbs to the northwest summit of the property. A roadside parking area at the trailhead is .3 mile up from Route 8 on the north side of Deer Hill Road.

Along the loop trail you’ll see such natural features as a huge 36” diameter oak tree, several springs, a walk along a pine forest ridge overlooking a winding ravine, and many varieties of tree and plant life, all thanks to the trail’s diverse elevations and soil types. The trail also takes you past historical charcoal pits. Climbing the spur trail will reward you with spectacular views to the east as you walk north along the side of the slope, and you’ll cross a trickling stream as you make your descent. Both trails are categorized as Medium to Difficult.    

Deer Hill 74 Purchase Completed

Seventy-four acres of undisturbed upland forest featuring scenic ridgeline, varied wildlife and plant habitat, and important wetland communities have been permanently protected by the Colebrook Land Conservancy, which recently purchased the land from Richard Chase and his family.

Funding for the acquisition came from the State of Connecticut’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program administered through the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Highlands Conservation Act grant program.

Protection of this open space also was made possible by the generosity of trustees, members, and friends of the Colebrook Land Conservancy.

Located north of Deer Hill Road, the Deer Hill 74 is part of the continuous forest and mountain ridgeline that runs from Deer Hill Road to Sandy Brook Road and beyond. It connects to other open space, including land protected by the Conservancy, and forms part of a larger wildlife corridor that benefits wider-ranging animals.

Lying within the Sandy Brook Conservation Corridor and the Farmington River Watershed, the land protects natural wetland communities, including headwater streams and seeps within it. Acquisition of this land also protects historic stone walls and charcoal pits from the area’s iron-producing days.

The property will have a public trail that provides hiking and birding opportunities.

Voters Say YES to Better Protecting Public Lands

On November 6th, 2018, Connecticut voters were clear: they want a say in what happens to public lands. Ballot Question 2 passed comfortably, amending the State Constitution to ensure there will be a public hearing before the General Assembly could give away, swap or sell public lands. If land is held by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection or the Department of Agriculture, two-thirds of each house of the General Assembly must also approve a transfer.

The Colebrook Land Conservancy had joined more than 135 organizations in endorsing this important initiative to protect Connecticut public lands – like the Algonquin State Forest right here in our own backyard.