May 2024

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The Farmington Land Trust has acquired a grant from the Lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook Wild & Scenic Committee to undertake ecological restoration on the Cowles Property.  As the presence of invasive species lowers biological diversity and ecosystem services, we hope that removal and replacement of woody and herbaceous invasives with appropriate native species will restore this parcel to a more natural state. We are undertaking a multi-pronged approach involving private landscapers, community groups, and volunteers to achieve our goals over several years.  We are beginning this ambitious project with the removal of two invasive species; bittersweet and mugwort, To complete this project, we are hoping to acquire a Connecticut Land Conservation Council Climate Smart grant to pay for a private consultant and landscaper to replace the invasive Reed Canary grass in the meadow with warm native grassland species and to repopulate the streambank with native species that will support greater bank stabilization.

Students from Miss Porter’s School have undertaken the fieldwork required to document the location and size of the mugwort patches, and covered the largest of these patches with a thick plastic tarp that will remain in place for up to three years. In the fall students will count and cut bittersweet vines. The efficacy of the treatment will also be documented by students from Miss Porter's School over the next 3 years. FLT Board Member, Dr. Barbara Nicholson is overseeing the project.