New Preston, CT– Steep Rock Association (SRA) is pleased to announce the acquisition of an ecologically significant 30.5-acre parcel that will help protect water quality, wildlife corridors, and core forests in Washington, CT and is part of SRA’s Macricostas Expansion Project.
Known as Pinnacle Cliffs, the acquisition is nestled between Macricostas Preserve and the Town of Warren. “Preservation of the Pinnacle Cliffs property protects a surprisingly rich assemblage of unique natural communities that converge within a relatively small area and provide important wildlife linkages to surrounding core forests,” states Brian Hagenbuch, Executive Director of Steep Rock Association. “The property’s mature forest sequesters tons of carbon dioxide, provides critical soil stability to withstand extreme weather events, includes five-acres of undisturbed wetlands and headwater streams that drain into both Lake Waramaug to the west and Meeker Swamp and Bee Brook to the east, which are vital for maintaining water quality.”
In addition to conserving critical habitats, Pinnacle Cliffs enhances the recreational value of the Preserve for hiking, birdwatching, and nature study. “For adventurous hikers, Pinnacle Cliffs offers clues to the region’s geologic history, with spectacular glacial erratic formations, including a 65-foot-high cliff topped by a copse of mature pine trees,” added Hagenbuch.
According to John Santoleri, the SRA Trustee who led the acquisition process, “We are grateful for the support of all those who recognized the significance of this parcel for the preservation of its unique habitats, protection of important watershed resources, and conservation of rare species and biological diversity.”
Funding for the acquisition was provided by grants from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Highlands Conservation Act, the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation, a CT Land Conservation Council Technical Assistance Grant, and private donations.
About Steep Rock Association: Steep Rock Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt land trust whose mission is to conserve ecologically and historically significant landscapes in and around Washington, CT and to enhance the community’s connection with nature through outreach, education, and passive recreation. Since 1925, SRA has preserved more than 5,800 acres of land in perpetuity.
