Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Sunday, November 20, 2016
photos/EverythingWestport.com except as
noted
Local conservation group to create
wildlife sanctuary in Westport.
|
Local conservation group
to create wildlife sanctuary in Westport. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, November 20, 2016 The
Westport Land Conservation Trust will create a wildlife sanctuary in
Westport.
Inset: Richmond Pond at Acoaxet. Photo courtesy of Alexey
Sergeev Fall River Bishop
Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V was joined by WLCT President Trip Millikin,
Land Protection Specialist Steve Sloan and others to sign documents
transferring ownership at Attorney Dorothy Tongue’s office in Westport,
followed by a visit to the scenic, ocean-front property. They were met
by Carol Schene, Anne Gardner Barnes and Walter F.
Barnes who have worked tirelessly alongside other project ambassadors Spinner
and Linda Findlay, Ricardo and Susan Sanchez, John and Carolyn Kaiser, and
others, to protect this globally rare habitat forever. Preserving the
property was truly a neighborhood effort with ambassadors emailing and hand
delivering letters informing residents of the project and what was needed to
protect this unique stretch of the Westport coastline. “Everyone feels
really good about this being a community endeavor,” said Ms. Schene. “Many people worked hard to preserve this special
place and it is nice to get closure on protecting a
property that has been enjoyed by the neighborhood for years.” Richmond Pond
Wildlife Sanctuary will be managed to protect this ecologically significant
coastal wildlife habitat. Richmond Pond is one of two coastal salt
ponds in Westport, and is a haven for the globally threatened and endangered
Piping Plover. A variety of significant shorebirds are seasonal residents of
the property including: commons Terns, Semipalmated
Sandpipers, and American Oystercatchers. The Sanctuary will limit public
access to walking, beach combing, bird watching, nature observation and
leashed dog walking with an eye on protecting the fragile wildlife
habitat. The property can be entered on by foot but parking is
unavailable.
Above: Richmond Pond Photo | EverythingWestport.com Bishop da Cunha
summed it up best by saying “For us it is a good feeling to know that the
land will be preserved for wildlife. We are very happy to be part of
this endeavor with the Westport Land Conservation Trust. We want to see
the species that live here continue on as they have for generations. We
want people generations from now to be able to enjoy the wildlife that lives
here.” WLCT has also secured
the right to purchase the Saint Vincent DePaul Camp which is another property
owned by the Diocese of Fall River. The property is 82 acres on
Adamsville Road with wooded uplands and just over 10 acres with buildings
that constitute the Camp core. WLCT is
excited to be working closely with the Diocese, the Town and the community to
preserve an icon of Adamsville. © 2016 Community Events of
Westport. All rights reserved. EverythingWestport.com |
