USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Connecticut

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Connecticut Highlands Conservation Values Assessment USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry CT Highlands public meeting, May 26, 2010

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Connecticut & Pennsylvania Highlands Regional Study 3. 5 million acres total; 678, 000 acres in CT USDA Forest Service Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service Highlands region in Connecticut § 677, 664 acres § Parts of 3 counties § 28 municipalities State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry History of Forest Service in the Highlands § 1992: Completed original NY-NJ Highlands study § 2002: Completed update of NY-NJ Highlands study § 2004: Passage of Highlands Conservation Act, authorizing CT-PA Highlands study § 2010: Completed CT-PA Highlands study § Future: Ongoing technical and financial assistance for sustainable forest management

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Highlands Conservation Values Assessment Purpose: Identify areas of high conservation value in the Highlands of Connecticut in 5 resource categories. Process: Study team ranked and mapped data layers based on their relative conservation value. § Water Resources § Forest Resources § Biological Resources § Agricultural Resources § Recreational & Cultural Resources

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Highlands Conservation Values Assessment Study Team members: § University of Connecticut Extension § Housatonic Valley Association § Connecticut Dept. of Environmental Protection § Regional Plan Association (public input)

USDA Forest Service Water Resources Source: U Conn Extension State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Water Resources in the Conservation Values Assessment § High values regionwide; areas important as water supplies for Hartford, Waterbury, and Bristol ranked highest. § Valleys significant for ground water recharge ranked high. § Areas that provide direct benefits to local and municipal wells ranked high.

USDA Forest Service Forest Resources Source: U Conn Extension State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Forest Resources in the Conservation Values Assessment § Large, unbroken forest tracts ranked highest. § Canaan Mountain, the Cornwall area, and sections along the Farmington River ranked highest.

USDA Forest Service Biological Resources Source: U Conn Extension State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Biological Resources in the Conservation Values Assessment § Northwest Highlands have highest values. § High value areas influenced by wetlands and special soil types scattered throughout region.

USDA Forest Service Agricultural Resources Source: U Conn Extension State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Agricultural Resources in the Conservation Values Assessment § Northwest and central Highlands have several active high value farming communities. § Smaller high value farms are scattered and under increased pressure for conversion.

USDA Forest Service Recreational and Cultural Resources Source: U Conn Extension State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Recreational and Cultural Resources in the Conservation Values Assessment § Highest value areas on protected State and municipal lands. § Map highlights opportunities for conservation.

USDA Forest Service Composite Resource Values Source: U Conn Extension State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Composite Resource Values in the Conservation Values Assessment § Areas of high value overall also ranked high forest, biological, and recreational resources. § High value areas coincide with large, unbroken tracts in northwest Highlands and area around Barkhamsted Reservoir. § Agriculture is a significant regional resource but did not rank high on the composite map.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Public Input for the Conservation Values Assessment § Interested citizen workshop– Preparation for listening sessions; 1, 100 postcards mailed. § Listening sessions– 3 meetings with approximately 75 people. § Wall map exercise– located places of importance on large maps.

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Public Input for the Conservation Values Assessment– Key findings § Greater interest in open space and ecosystem protection than active recreation. § Special habitats and locations elicited more concern than overall resource protection. § Sprawl and development threat seen as a critical problem.

USDA Forest Service Special places identified through public input State and Private Forestry

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Next steps: Highlands Regional Study § § Draft for public comment – May–June 2010 Public presentations – May 24 & 26, 2010 Public comment period closes – June 18, 2010 Final report ready for distribution – August 2010

USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Contact: Martina Barnes Regional Planner martinabarnes@fs. fed. us 212 -637 -3863 http: //na. fs. fed. us/highlands/