ALT, NBS Announce Conservation of 5.4 Acres in Middletown

The Aquidneck Land Trust and the Norman Bird Sanctuary have announced the preservation of 5.4 acres of land in Middletown owned by the bird sanctuary through a perpetual conservation easement.

It’s the second time ALT and NBS have teamed up to place a perpetual easement on NBS owned property.

The Norman Bird Sanctuary property, located on the corner of Green End Avenue and Third Beach Road, abuts several other ALT conserved properties in the area, and is part of the Nelson Pond watershed. The conserved property includes 800 feet of frontage on Paradise Brook, and is primarily wetlands.

The wetlands serve as a critical buffer to the brook, protecting drinking water and filtering pollutants. If the property were developed with a single family home, which is possible under a hypothetical subdivision plan, polluted runoff from the house and impervious pavement would drain directly into the water resources and have a detrimental effect on water quality, the ALT said in a release.

Conservation of this property also ensures that the wetlands on site will continue to filter pollutants draining from neighboring parcels and roads, a positive impact on water quality.

Beyond the benefit of water quality improvement, the NBS property serves as existing and potential habitat for a variety of bird and mammal species. The location of the property within a short distance of other ALT conserved lands within the Sakonnet Greenway enhances the connectedness of habitat in the region, providing protected habitat corridors for wildlife. The property also offers scenic vistas from Third Beach Road and Green End Avenue.

“The Aquidneck Land Trust is strategically focused on protecting the land and water resources of Aquidneck Island forever. If the river runs through it we want to protect it! We are even more pleased to be doing it in partnership with our brethren environmental organization on Aquidneck Island.” said Chuck Allott, Executive Director of the Aquidneck Land Trust.

Natasha Harrison, Executive Director for NBS said “The Norman Bird Sanctuary is so pleased to be partnering with Aquidneck Land Trust in adding another layer of protection to this important parcel of land. The two organizations share a deep commitment to conserving open space and preserving the watershed on Aquidneck Island. The property was donated to NBS by the Kenny Family in 2000 and has since been identified by ALT as a crucial part of our watershed. We are very grateful to the family for the opportunity to steward this piece of land and look forward to working closely with ALT to ensure its health in perpetuity.”

The conservation easement on the NBS land is a perpetual legal agreement that will ensure the property is not further subdivided or developed. ALT will be responsible for ensuring that the terms of the conservation easement are upheld with current and future owners of the property.

If you would like to support ALT in our time-sensitive mission by becoming a member, click here. Your membership affords us the ability to continue saving open space and protecting the quality of the drinking water on Aquidneck Island.

ALT’s time-sensitive mission is to conserve Aquidneck Island’s open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of our community. The organization has conserved 2449.79 acres on 72 properties across Aquidneck Island since its founding in 1990. ALT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and the first land trust in Rhode Island to have received national accreditation.
To become a member of ALT click HERE.
For more information, visit www.AquidneckLandTrust.org