Charlestown Partners With Nature Conservancy On Preserve Expansion

At the August 14 Town Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to partner with the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to protect a 55 acre parcel of land that is contiguous with TNC’s Pasquiset Preserve on Old Coach Road.

Below are some pictures of the parcel that TNC provided for the Council Meeting

The new parcel is also contiguous with cluster subdivision open space and Pasquiset Preserve is contiguous with Charlestown’s South Farm Preserve. The new 55 acre parcel is labeled “Subject” in map below. The green areas are already protected open space. The new 55 acre parcel connects many of these together.

The Nature Conservancy has signed a purchase and sale agreement with the owner of the land for $220,000. The land has been appraised at $223,000. The town will pay $110,000 and receive an easement over the land that will forever protect the land for hiking access and wildlife habitat. TNC will own and manage the land as part of Pasquiset preserve. The land will now never be developed. The easement will ensure that the town will be involved in decisions on access and trail development.

The town received positive, unanimous, recommendations from the Conservation, Recreation, and Planning Commissions. Reasons given in support of the partnership are as follows:

• It will enlarge and enhance the Pasquiset Pond Preserve, which also links to the town-owned South Farm Preserve to the east and to cluster open space to the south, resulting in a protected area of 431 contiguous acres.
• It contains ecologically significant habitat. The property supports a number of birds listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the RI Wildlife Action Plan, including American Woodcock, Wood Thrush, Veery, and Scarlet Tanager.
• The parcel’s wetland areas, including American White Cedar Swamp, provide suitable habitat for vulnerable amphibians, butterflies, and dragonflies.
• It will provide additional protection, by buffering the adjoining habitat areas of several state species of concern, including the rare ringed boghaunter dragonfly and several threatened plant species.
• It is part of a large unfragmented coastal forest block surrounding and protecting Pasquiset Pond.
• It includes a portion of the historic Narragansett Trail, and will provide options for expanding other trail systems in the preserve.
• It will protect the groundwater recharge area of Pasquiset Pond.
• It protects Charlestown’s scenic, natural, and cultural character. The property is a mix of mature white pines and second growth hardwoods, with a dense under-story of flowering shrubs such as mountain laurel, rhododendron, swamp azalea, and sweet pepperbush. Near Black Bond, a system of massive stone walls, some at least 5 feet tall, suggest the pond was once used for watering livestock.
• It meets the open space acquisition criteria established by the town for use of the open space bond passed by Charlestown voters in 2015.
• It continues the practice of partnering with other conservation agencies, both public and private, including TNC, in protecting open space, conservation and habitat land throughout Charlestown.

The banner image in this post is a view of Black Pond on the acquisition property. Black Pond is a large kettle pond.