Going Beyond Boundaries

Cape Cod land trusts tend to work town by town— but watersheds and other ecosystems don’t respect municipal boundaries.

When a landowner approached BLT with a request to conserve her land that spanned both Barnstable and Sandwich, we faced a conundrum. The land was a high priority for conservation, capable of hosting an 11-lot subdivision, and the entire property lies within the zone that contributes directly to our drinking water supply.

BLT legal documents limited our work to the town of Barnstable; yet our conservation colleagues in Sandwich needed our help. At our Annual Meeting in July, our members agreed that in cases such as these, Barnstable Land Trust should be able to work in nearby areas in support of partners. We filed the papers with the Commonwealth, and are on our way. BLT can now help make this boundary-crossing conservation happen.

Saving 15 acres in Marstons Mills

Conservation of the Wakeby Road property will protect critical drinking water and help to maintain the natural and rural character of Marstons Mills. The property’s walking trails include the historic “Five Mile Line” that runs through the property, dividing towns of Sandwich and Barnstable and extending from Sandy Neck to Wakeby Road. The parcels border the Santuit Pond Preserve, which has over 300 acres of conservation land protected by the towns of Barnstable and Mashpee.

Town & BLT Partner on Conservation

The parcel itself is thickly wooded with maples, oaks, and pitch pine and hosts two vernal pools. BLT is partnering with the Town of Barnstable, which will own the land on the Barnstable side and give the conservation restriction to Barnstable Land Trust. The project was also the incentive for the Town to apply for its first-ever LAND grant from the Commonwealth, which if awarded, would provide half the funding for the land. Stay tuned for more news this fall!