Governor Signs Open Space Trust Fund Bill

HARTFORD — A bill that will enable preservation of watershed land of the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company and other utilities around the state was signed into law last week by Governor John G. Rowland, said State Representative John E. Stripp, R-135th district, a cosponsor of the legislation.

“Irreplaceable watershed land around reservoirs owned by Kelda, the British purchaser of Bridgeport Hydraulic Company, could be threatened by development in the years ahead. I cosponsored this bill because it will help preserve these lands as a legacy for future generations,” Rep Stripp said. “This new law will establish a ‘Charter Oak Open Space Trust Account’ within the General Fund, which will fund two new open space acquisition programs.”

“This new law is specially designed to protect watershed lands as well as open space,” Rep Stripp said. “It could not have been signed into law at a better time. The thousands of acres of watershed properties throughout Fairfield County could have been sold to developers by the new owner. When the Charter Oak Open Space Trust Account is up and running, funding should be provided through both of its land acquisition programs to help protect the former BHC watershed properties.”

“Securing increased funding from these programs to protect these valuable properties from inappropriate development will be one of my top legislative goals next year,” Rep Stripp said. “If this acreage is sold and developed, it will be lost forever. Preserving this land is essential from both an aesthetic and recreational standpoint – and to ensure that the people of Fairfield County have an adequate supply of drinking water in the years ahead.”

The open space programs that would be funded through the Charter Oak Open Space Trust Account include the Charter Oak Open Space Grant program and the Charter Oak State Parks and Forest Account. The Charter Oak Open Space Grant Program will receive 60 percent of the funds, with the other 40 percent going into the Charter Oak State Parks and Forest Account.

The open space program would provide matching grants to municipalities and land conservation groups to acquire watershed lands or lands that protect a water supply. The state parks and forest program would enable the state to acquire land for open space and watershed protection.

“This funding will allow the present land owners to work cooperatively with the state, municipalities, and open space groups to protect this legacy in perpetuity,” Rep Stripp said.