Crawford Property - Conserved 2002

Visitors to the Crawford land enter the property along the Wall Trail, which is named after the historic, stone fence that lines the property. The trail begins off of Barnes Hill Road and winds deep into a tranquil forest that makes you feel like you are in a remote place. If you ramble off the trail towards the wetlands, you may sneak a view of a beaver and quite possibly catch a glimpse of a moose. Massive moss and fern covered boulders reflect the geological history of the area and animal tracks remind hikers that they are not alone in the woods. If you head south off the trail you will eventually make your way to the Waterbury Reservoir. The Crawford land is without a doubt spectacular.

Barbara and Howard Crawford and their children donated a conservation easement and a trail easement on their land in December 2002. Barbara said, “Our entire family is concerned about the environment and this just seemed like the right thing to do.” The conservation easement conserves 63 acres, which consists of two areas: 16 acres located in Stowe and Waterbury, and 47 acres located in Waterbury. These two conservation areas are connected by the wall trail, which was conserved by a trail easement that allows only non-motorized pedestrian access to the property.

The Crawford land is mostly forested and contains two Class II wetlands, one of which includes a beaver complex. With the rapid depletion of wetlands in the United States, the preservation of this property is critical also for ecological reasons.

The Crawfords did an excellent job balancing their conservation goals with the future needs of their family. By reserving small, clustered lots family dwellings, they were able to preserve the majority of their land and allow their children the opportunity to develop homes on their land with a minimum impact on the environment.