Forested wetlands are important habitat for many species, including the marbled salamander.

A North Branford man has donated to the Guilford Land Conservation Trust 17 acres that include part of the headwaters of the Branford River. Dan Troiano made the gift to the land trust on December 29, 2011. ”This was a very generous and thoughtful act that will help to preserve an important watershed for future generations,” said Sarah Williams, President of the Land Trust. “We are grateful for the support of the many landowners in Guilford who have chosen to include our organization as they plan for their land.”

The property lies between Route 80 and open space on County Road purchased by the Town of Guilford from the Dudley family in 2003. To the north of the Town-owned land is a significant corridor owned by the Guilford Land Conservation Trust and the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. Streams and wetlands on the newly acquired land flow west through North Branford and eventually into the Branford River. “I am pleased that this wonderful property will be able to be preserved,” Troiano said. “The Land Trust made the whole donation process as easy as it could be, and I appreciate their efforts.”

The Guilford Land Conservation Trust is an all-volunteer charitable organization founded in 1965. Williams noted that many transactions with the land trust can lead to substantial tax advantages, in addition to enabling landowners to control future uses of their property. “We are investing in Guilford for the long term,” she said. To learn more about the Guilford Land Conservation Trust, please visit www.guilfordlandtrust.org.

Known for her unmatched efforts to protect open space in Guilford, Carolie Evans was honored on October 9 with a surprise gathering of 100 of her friends, family, and biggest fans as the Guilford Land Conservation Trust (GLCT) launched an endowment fund in her name. The group was treated to a dinner of local foods created by Drew McLaughlin, co-founder of the Dinners at the Farm. Speakers honoring Evans at the event included: David Kozak, CT Department of Environmental Protection Office of Long Island Sound Programs, David Sutherland, Government Relations Director, Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Sate Senator Ed Meyer, State Representatives Pat Widlitz and Deb Heinrich, former Guilford Environmental Planner Leslie Kane, Red Erda, Chair of Land Acquisition for the Guilford Land Conservation Trust, and, Evans’s daughter, Sally Harold, Director of the Saugatuck River Watershed Project for the Connecticut Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. This event raised over $14,000 toward the Endowment and GLCT has also committed $70,000 from its general fund to launch the fund.

Carolie Evans has played a leading role in the protection of most large open space properties in Guilford. Her most recent major achievement, as a member of Guilford’s Land Acquisition Commission, was the successful negotiation and acquisition of the East River Preserve. In January of 2009, voters approved the purchase of the 624-acre property with a 5 to 1 margin. Evans is a past-president and long-time board member of the Guilford Land Conservation Trust, former Director of Land Protection at the Connecticut Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, and currently serves as the Chair of the Guilford Land Acquisition Commission.

“The Carolie Evans Stewardship Endowment honors Carolie’s decades of work on open space and will support the long-term management and protection of land trust properties,” says GLCT President, Sarah Williams. “Sometimes people take natural places for granted but the acquisition of these properties is achieved only after years of strategic planning, dedication, and community outreach. Carolie is gifted at pulling it all together.”

GLCT, a volunteer-run non-profit founded in 1965, currently owns over 3,100 acres of publicly accessible open space in Guilford. The Trust maintains many miles of trails in areas such as Bluff Head, Nut Plains, and Guilford’s beloved Westwoods. The Trust relies on the support of its members as it continues to purchase critical lands. For more information on GLCT, its programs and walks, and for a complete list of properties to hike in Guilford, visit: www.guilfordlandtrust.org.

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