2025 Land Preservation Projects
This year we have the opportunity to preserve 130 acres of open space across Westport, including a new public access property in Central Village, an island in the West Branch, and a Sodom Road Farm. These three projects represent the significant conservation values our community seeks to preserve:
- critical natural habitat and water resources
- working farmland
- public access to the outdoors
Snell Creek Conservation Project
WLCT seeks to acquire a 34-acre property from the Szaro family off of Main Road. This property has many unique features, including a tributary to Snell Creek–a designated cold-water fishery resource supporting native brook trout, rare species habitat (including Eastern box turtles), and the ability to become a public access property. The property abuts existing conservation lands. WLCT will partner with the Buzzards Bay Coalition to open a new trail network extending 1.5 miles and preserve the property in perpetuity with a Conservation Restriction (CR).
WLCT is under agreement to acquire the property by December 2025 and complete stewardship startup preparing the property for public use in 2026. WLCT must raise $665,000 to acquire the land, prepare it for public use, and contribute to our Founders Stewardship Endowment for long-term care.
We’re offering site visits for this property! Join us for a walk through a portion of the property and a conversation about the future of this public access gem.
Cory’s Island
We are collaborating with the Messier Family who is graciously donating Cory’s Island, a 13-acre land mass in the lower West Branch. Many know the island as a key navigational feature north of Cherry & Webb Beach and Boat Beach. There was once a house on the island, but more recent inhabitants include a litany of shorebirds who feast on its undisturbed habitat. Habitat loss on the New England shoreline continues to threaten key shorebird species. By acquiring this island, WLCT will have the opportunity to preserve this strategic land for shorebirds to explore free of disturbance.
We anticipate receiving the donation in 2025. WLCT must raise $66,000 to complete stewardship startup and contribute to our Founders Stewardship Endowment for long-term care.
Silvia Farm
The Silvia farm located off of Sodom Road contains 84 acres of prime, working farmland. This land has been farmed for decades and is located in the heart of 6 other protected farms in the Adamsville/Sodom Road corridor comprising several hundred acres of land. The family currently partners with an abutting farm to grow feed for a local beef herd. The Silvia family is now working with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) to encumber the property with an Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) preserving the farm in perpetuity. In preserving this farm, we are supporting the continuation of the farm, and ensuring its role in the larger farm context into the future.
WLCT is the main partner with MDAR on the project. MDAR and WLCT must purchase the restriction from the family for $2,000,000.
We’re offering site visits for this property! Join us for a walk through a portion of the property and a conversation about the future of this family farm.