Critical Habitat Protected in Mattapoisett

November 24, 2004

CONTACT:

Mark Rasmussen, Executive Director

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay

(508) 999-6363 x201

Gary Johnson, President

The Mattapoisett Land Trust

(508) 758-7849

MATTAPOISETT, MA—Elizabeth and William Field in Mattapoisett have completed a deal that will forever protect their 64 acres on Brandt Island Cove.  The protection will come from a conservation restriction to be placed on the property.  The Field Family has sold the development rights to the land at a bargain sale to ensure that it will be permanently protected from development.

The land that supports a 37-acre managed forest, more than 20 acres of salt marsh, a number of small fields and pastures and 1,550 feet of shoreline along Brant Island Cove, nearly the entire eastern shore of the Cove. 

Mark Rasmussen, Executive Director of The Coalition for Buzzards Bay noted,  “The Field Conservation Restriction will protect a highly scenic landscape visible from the shores of the Cove and Buzzards Bay, water quality in Brandt Island Cove, and habitat for a variety of land and marine wildlife.  What a wonderful legacy.  We are all indebted to the Field family for their vision and stewardship of this very special place.”

This parcel has been in the William Field family since 1900, and was once part of a 350-acre tract known as Antassawomock, the personal property of then Governor of Massachusetts, John Hancock.  The Fields possess the 1791 deed with his famous signature!

The spotted turtle, a Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program state-listed species of special concern, resides on this property.

The 4th, 5th and 6th generations of Fields live and work on the property, and manage a shellfish aquaculture grant.  Seeding of quahogs, scallops and oysters in the Cove’s waters in recent years is about to produce commercial harvests.  The Field family also raises sheep and guinea hens on the property.

The Coalition for Buzzards Bay and the Mattapoisett Land Trust worked together to raise the funds necessary to purchase the conservation restriction on the Field Farm.  Funding came primarily from private individuals, but also included a grant from the Fields Pond Foundation of Waltham, Massachusetts.

Gary Johnson, President of the Mattapoisett Land Trust commented, “We are helping to protect the quality of water and scenic aspects for all residents in Mattapoisett to benefit from and enjoy.  I am also thrilled that we are protecting critical habitat.  The entire 64 acres lie within the area that has been designated as ‘core habitat’ by the Massachusetts BioMap Project.  This means that we are protecting threatened species that live in the area.”   The BioMap Project was developed to identify the areas most in need of protection in order to protect the native biodiversity of the Commonwealth.

Mr. Field commented, “I saw this as an opportunity to protect not only my way of life, but also the environment and community that I love.  I can continue to use my land for agriculture, forestry, and pasture and live happily knowing it will all be protected from development – forever.  Many of the species that we see in Buzzards Bay develop and grow in the marshes of Brandt Island Cove – and now their habitat will be protected.”

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The Coalition for Buzzards Bay is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of Buzzards Bay and its watershed.  The organization works to improve the health of the Bay ecosystem for all through education, conservation, research and advocacy.

The Mattapoisett Land Trust is a private, non-profit, all-volunteer organization with the mission of preserving land in order to enrich the quality of life for present and future generations of Mattapoisett residents and visitors.