Town Council approves $100,000 to help Barnstable Land Trust preserve Little River

Town Council Approves $100,000 to Help BLT Preserve the Little River

The Barnstable Town Council has approved Barnstable Land Trust’s request for $100,000 from the Community Preservation Act to help preserve the five-acre Baker Property along the Little River in Cotuit. BLT must still raise $33,000.

Located off Sampson’s Mill Road, the Baker land is the last vacant parcel along the Little River. It has been on Cotuit’s “watch list” since 1985. There is a narrow window of opportunity. BLT must record the Baker purchase before June 30, 2008 in order to receive the State’s Conservation Partnership Grant of $60,000. In addition to the State’s grant and the CPA funds, BLT has also been awarded $10,000 by the Cape Cod Five Charitable Foundation and $7,000 by the Fields Pond Foundation. The total cost of the project is $210,000.

The Baker Property is significant because it:

• preserves water quality of the adjacent Cotuit well fields;
• connects with 800 acres of protected open space;
• enhances the waters of the Little River, which feeds freshwater to the Cotuit Bay;
• completes the acquisition of vacant land along the Little River, a major corridor in Barnstable’s “Open Space Plan;” and,
• protects varied wildlife habitat.

One house with the requisite septic system could be “shoehorned” onto the upland portion of the property, even though it is a sensitive area that is an important filter for water quality. The area is home to several mammals, including fox and coyote. Osprey nest nearby and Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks and Wild Turkeys have been confirmed in the area.

In 2007, BLT completed 11 land-saving initiatives, protecting nearly 70 acres. BLT, which marks its 25th Anniversary in 2008, is now the steward of over 740 acres of land held in perpetuity for the community’s benefit.  Support comes almost entirely from local businesses and individuals through sponsorships, donations and special events.

Contributions to help save the Baker Property may be sent to:
Barnstable Land Trust
P.O. Box 224
Cotuit, MA 02635 

To learn more about Barnstable Land Trust and to view the catalog of properties it has helped preserve forever, go to www.blt.org.