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At the start of the year, the Metacomet Land Trust announced that it had finally exceeded 1,000 total acres preserve, either through ownership or conservation easements. Metacomet serves the communities of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Franklin, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Norfolk, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, Uxbridge, Webster, and Wrentham.
Two conservation-minded families took the land trust, over the top.
MUMFORD RIVER WATERSHED DONATION IN MANCHAUG
According to the Metacomet web site, some two years ago the trust was approached by land owner Tom Finacom in Sutton who wanted to participate in the Commonwealth’s Conservation Tax Credit program. In exchange for his donation of 4.7 acres of land to a qualified conservation organization, the program would offer him up to $75K in a tax credit. Metacomet board members examined the property and saw its addition as prudent since it has critical habits for key species.
In order to complete the process and take advantage of the state program, a Conservation Restriction had to be be added to the property, which took time. But the property was finally deeded to the land trust on December 28th, 2023.
STOP RIVER WATERFRONT IN NORFOLK AND MEDFIELD
Land owner Steven Clapp reached out to the land trust, again according to the Metacomet web site. His family owned 27 acres in Norfolk and Medfield along the Stop River. It is restricted by an Army Corps of Engineers floodplain easement. This property was also deeded to the land trust on December 28.
Now, Metacomet’s total of protected lands stands at 1,021 acres, including 669 in fee-owned properties and 352 in conservation restrictions on land in private ownership.
In Franklin, Metacomet protects the following properties:
- Reid Memorial Conservation Area on Daniels Road (14.5 acres)
- Dawn Marie Circle (10.5 acres).
- Franklin Woods off Lincoln Street (41.8 acres).
- Lady Bug trail, 1.75 acre parcel off Coronation Drive dedicated to Alfred S. Ferguson in May 2000.
