Conservation Commission Agenda (linked)

November 18, 2024 
 
Commissioner Katie Dykes 
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection 
79 Elm Street 
Hartford, CT 06106 
 
Re: 
Letter in Support of Avalonia’s Application to the  
Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program 
 
 
Dear Commissioner Dykes, 
 
I am writing to express the Town of Waterford’s support of the Avalonia Land Conservancy’s initiative to 
obtain Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) grant funding to purchase and conserve 
170 acres of land at 36 Butlertown Road in Waterford, CT.   
 
The property contains a large expanse of intact upland and riparian forested communities that are part of a 
core forest area in the northwest portion of Waterford.  The land is part of the Oil Mill Brook watershed 
area, a Class A stream tributary to the Niantic River.  A perennial tributary known as Willys Meadow 
Brook flows through this land. Town-wide biannual surface water monitoring conducted by the Waterford 
Conservation Commission shows this brook to consistently have the lowest coliform and nutrient loading 
concentrations within the Town’s surface water resources.  Preservation of this land will help preserve the 
headwater tributary of Willys Meadow Brook and serve to protect the water quality of Oil Mill Brook and 
the Niantic River.  
 
Two large forested swamps are also contained within this property, one of which supports a great blue 
heron rookery.  The wetlands and riparian corridors in this watershed are ranked high on the Conservation 
Priority Index developed as part of the Niantic River Watershed Protection Plan (2006).  The Town of 
Waterford is a contributing member of the 4-Town Niantic River Watershed Committee, which 
implements the goals of the watershed protection plan.   
 
The riparian corridors on this property are identified in the Town’s Plan of Conservation & Development 
as potential greenbelt buffer areas.  Protection of these lands is consistent with the Town’s goals of 
preserving open space that “contribute the most to the Town’s open space and greenbelt system” and that 
“protect important natural, scenic or other resources and improve wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors, 
especially stream corridors”.  The preservation of these riparian and forested upland communities is 
consistent with these goals and will serve to protect existing intact ecosystems and maintain the 
ecological integrity of Oil Mill Brook. 
 
We appreciate your consideration of this request to help preserve this important resource area. 
 
 
Respectfully, 
 
____________________________ 
Richard F. Muckle, Chairman 
Waterford Conservation Commission