Six Lots for the Price of One to Protect Pleasant Bay
Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) has secured a rare opportunity to acquire two upland properties totaling 6.3 acres in East Harwich in the Pleasant Bay Watershed by working with two different landowners over the last four years. The parcels to preserve include a 2-acre forested property and an additional 4.3-acre forested property for a total of $350,000. When adding project costs such as engineering survey, title exam, legal work, and other expenses the total land campaign goal is $400,000. To donate, please click here.
Both properties are on an unconstructed road called Lady Slipper Lane off Church Street, located amid the triangle of Kendrick Road, Head of the Bay Road (Route 28), and Bay Road. As the street name of Lady Slipper Lane suggests, these woodlands harbor rare lady slipper orchids and a range of wildlife dependent on the adjacent 50-acre HCT Pleasant Bay Woodlands to the north and 100+ acres of Town-owned land to the south. Preserving this 6.3-acre missing link will establish a vital north-south wildlife habitat corridor.
It’s a sensitive area that provides groundwater flowing south to town drinking water wells serving 10,000 households. Preserving the land from becoming a future subdivision of up to six lots will help protect both the public water supply and Pleasant Bay from additional septic system effluent impacting water quality.
Protect the health of Pleasant Bay
HCT’s Save Land – Save Water Initiative was established over 20 years ago to preserve priority watershed properties. A primary focus area of the initiative is the largest saltwater estuary on Cape Cod: the diverse and productive Pleasant Bay. The 9,000-acre bay, which is designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and its watershed span Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, and Brewster. This 6.3-acre Pleasant Bay Watershed Land Preservation Project is another bold step towards protecting the health of Pleasant Bay for everyone.
Cape Cod and in particular the Lower Cape are facing some of the most intense development pressure in Massachusetts. Over the past two years especially, forested land has been developed at an alarming rate into multiple subdivisions in East Harwich along Route 39 and Route 137. Just a half-mile up the road from these two properties that HCT is hoping to preserve, a stretch of forested land was converted into a five-lot subdivision and another eight lots are slated for development around the corner.
Witnessing the subdivisions being built in the bay’s watershed of East Harwich and hearing the shock of many residents, HCT has been scouting opportunities to pick up properties before they are converted to development with consequent nutrient loading impacts to the bay.
“Harwich Conservation Trust’s purchase of 6.3 acres in the Pleasant Bay Watershed would contribute meaningfully toward two critical resource protection goals. The purchase would advance efforts to protect the Bay’s water quality by removing the potential for additional nitrogen loading from development,” said Carole Ridley, Coordinator of the Pleasant Bay Alliance. “The purchase would also increase the assemblage of unfragmented forest habitat, for the benefit of wildlife and biodiversity in the Pleasant Bay watershed. We applaud the Trust for its far-sighted vision and effective commitment to land protection in the Pleasant Bay Watershed.”
Many ecologically valuable areas have been haphazardly developed over the past decades, depriving the Cape of traditional water views, wildlife habitat, and recreational resources. If funds cannot be raised to purchase this property, it could be subdivided and developed into six lots. Development would negatively impact drinking water quality, wildlife habitat, generate more traffic, and add six more septic systems releasing wastewater into the Pleasant Bay watershed.
Neil and Anna Rasmussen who have a home in Harwich pledged a $200,000 challenge gift if HCT can raise the $200,000 in match.
In this area of town, these types of lots have been selling for around $500,000 apiece. In other words, if HCT is able to raise the remaining $200,000 in matching funds for these 6.3 upland acres, then the local land trust will effectively be removing six building lots with associated contaminants from the Pleasant Bay Watershed for the price of just one lot.
“We tend to appreciate Pleasant Bay for its extraordinary beauty that we see. But beyond what we see is one of the most bio-diverse and important habitats in the northeast and it is seriously at risk from both climate change and overdevelopment. We need to jump at every opportunity we have to protect it while we still can, especially when public water supply is also protected. And thanks to the Rasmussen challenge, every gift is doubled in its impact.” said Tom Evans, President of the HCT Board of Trustees.
“Preserving these parcels in the Pleasant Bay watershed is a critical tool for protecting the water quality and overall health of the Bay. By protecting the Bay, its surrounding habitat and our precious groundwater, this effort enhances the quality of life for all. Friends of Pleasant Bay is happy to lend our support to HCT’s important work by contributing to the match for the Rasmussen’s generous challenge and we encourage others to do the same.” said Allison Coleman, President of the Friends of Pleasant Bay.
“We’re very grateful for the challenge gift from the Rasmussens as well as endorsements from the Friends of Pleasant Bay and the Pleasant Bay Alliance who are longstanding stewards of this fragile estuary shared by Chatham, Harwich, Orleans and Brewster. We’re hoping folks will help us reach the match to permanently preserve these forested properties and protect Pleasant Bay health.” said Michael Lach, HCT Executive Director.
If you would like to learn more about the project, please contact Mike Lach by phone at 508-432-3997 or email: mike@harwichconservationtrust.org. To support the Pleasant Bay land-saving campaign, please click here.
Lady slipper and osprey photos courtesy of Gerry Beetham.