THE STOEKE PROPERTY IN WEST HARTLAND

In 2017, Hartland Land Trust (HLT) acquired an Audubon Connecticut Wetland In lieu Fee (ILF) Program grant of $192,000 to purchase approximately 67.7 undeveloped acres of the Stoeke property in West Hartland, Connecticut for the purpose of it being forever held in its natural state.

This acquisition preserves the property’s wetlands and its uplands for water quality as well as for maintaining natural habitat for the rich diversity of plant and animal life on the property. The property drains into both the east and west branches of the Wild and Scenic reach of the Farmington River, essential to the drinking water supply for the greater Hartford region and an important tributary of the Connecticut River.

Preserving the Stoeke property in perpetuity builds on existing conservation lands in countering fragmentation and sensitive habitat loss. The property borders Tunxis State Forest and HLT’s Bassett-Kell Preserve; and is connected to the nearby Audubon Connecticut Pasquariello Property through the Bassett-Kell Preserve.

Acquired: 2017      Project Proponent: The Hartland Land Trust      ILF Funding: $192,000

THE BOSCO PROPERTY IN HARTLAND

The following year, HLT acquired the 46+ acre Bosco Property in Hartland, using ILF funding as well. This parcel was a significant acquisition since it linked the Audubon Connecticut Pasquerello Property to the west with the HLT Preserve creating a 298-acre complex of preserved conservation lands. This preserve complex lies to the south of and adjacent to the Tunxis State Forest expanding the contiguous habitat even further. Large unfragmented blocks of forests are critical to maintaining populations of forest interior bird species.   

The Bosco/Stoeke Preserve Complex contains palustrine forested broad-leaved deciduous wetlands, an interspersed palustrine forested and scrub/shrub wetland system, vernal pools, a riverine intermittent watercourse, and a riverine upper perennial watercourse. The perennial stream that originates on the property contributes to the headwaters of the West Branch of the Farmington River, a Class A Watercourse that sustains a significant coldwater fishery. An intermittent watercourse on the east side of the property is a tributary stream to Saw Mill Brook which flows to the Barkhamsted Reservoir.

The property also is known to provide habitat for numerous forest interior species of Greatest Conservation Need as identified in the Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan. 

Bosco Acquired: 2018      Project Proponent: The Hartland Land Trust      ILF Funding: $108,000