HAMDEN - Over 25 people attended the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) easement roundtable, an educational discussion, on Mar. 13th.
Attendees heard about WAC’s Conservation Easement Program. WAC representatives report the mission is “to promote the economic viability of agriculture and forestry, protect water quality and the conservation of working landscapes through strong local leadership and sustainable public-private partnerships.”
A conservation easement is a legal agreement a landowner enters into with a land trust to protect a property's natural resources by restricting future land use. Easements can differ depending on geography or the landowner's wishes.
WAC easements aim to restrict uses such as subdivision, development, and commercial pursuits. Landowners remain the owners and can live on, sell, or use the property. The property is evaluated twice annually to ensure compliance with easement agreements. Agricultural and forestry activities are permitted.
Landowners are compensated for entering a WAC easement agreement. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection pays a portion of the land tax on WAC easement properties.
WAC currently protects 33,051 acres and holds 180 easements.
“WAC's easements differ from other land trust organizations in that WAC actively encourages and supports agricultural production,” said Rebecca Morgan, WAC land protection coordinator. “WAC's easements maintain the rural and agricultural heritage of the region while continuing to advocate for advancements in agriculture - new markets, new technologies, expanded production - that contribute to the economic viability of the region via farming.”
Key takeaways from the event include: how to obtain an easement when being approached by solar or wind companies, future initiatives to bring landowners and new farmers together for land lease agreements, and how large land transfers for development, climate change, and other factors contribute to maintaining a focus on the region's agricultural production to support food security locally and regionally.
To obtain an agricultural easement, the property must be 50 acres or more with 7% surface water. Qualifying forest easement properties must be 100 acres or more with 70% forest cover. Other qualifications and information on easements are outlined on the WAC website at nycwatershed.org.