Senator Cathy Cook, R-Mystic, today expressed delight and gratitude at the awarding of a $337,500 state Open Space Grant to the Nature Conservancy to defray the cost of purchasing land in North Stonington that borders Pachaug Forest.

“Pachaug Forest is a wonderful treasure, and I am thrilled that the Nature Conservancy was awarded this open space grant to preserve neighboring property that will now be forever protected as open space. I would like to express my gratitude to Governor Rell and DEP Commissioner McCarthy for agreeing that this is land that should be preserved for future generations,” said Senator Cook.

The Open Space Grant to the Nature Conservancy was one of several across the state announced today by Governor M. Jodi Rell and State Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Gina McCarthy during a ceremony in Norwalk.

The Nature Conservancy will use this grant to defray the cost of purchasing 303 acres of the Noyes Property that borders Pachaug State Forest. According to DEP, acquiring the Noyes property “would emphasize the need to preserve unfragmented forest.”  Furthermore, “approximately one mile of Miller Brook, a main tributary to Brood Brook (a trout fishery) runs through this property. Part of the property contains a section of Lambert Mountain, a predominate hill from which patrons can see to Long Island Sound and portions of the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor.”