THE WATCH HILL CONSERVANCY
Programs
Napatree Point Conservation Efforts
CONSERVATION EFFORTS - 2022 WAS THE 17TH YEAR OF THE CONSERVANCY'S INVOLVEMENT IN NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA PROGRAMMING, AND THE 10TH YEAR THAT THE CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN LEAD STEWARD OF NAPATREE, ASSUMING THIS ROLE FROM THE WATCH HILL FIRE DISTRICT IN 2013. THE CONSERVANCY CONDUCTS A VARIETY OF CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE CONSERVATION AREA. IT ALSO CONDUCTS ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ECOLOGICAL PRESERVATION ON NAPATREE. OUR POPULAR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, THE NAPATREE INVESTIGATORS HAD 63 YOUNGSTERS PARTICIPATE IN 2022. OUR NAPATREE CONSERVATION EFFORTS INCLUDE THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE PROPERTIES CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED IN THE NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH THE WHFD, PROPERTY THE CONSERVANCY OWNS UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT WITH RIDEM, AND OTHER PARCELS THE CONSERVANCY OWNS ON NAPATREE POINT. NAPATREE POINT IS THE MOST PRISTINE BARRIER BEACH ECOSYSTEM IN THE REGION AND IS HIGHLY VALUED BY THE PUBLIC WHO VISIT THE CONSERVATION AREA YEAR- ROUND. CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDE THE MAINTENANCE OF OTHER PARCELS CURRENTLY OWNED BY THE CONSERVANCY WHICH ARE OUTSIDE OF THE NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$265.1KPreserving Community Character Initiative
PRESERVING COMMUNITY CHARACTER - AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE CONSERVANCY'S MISSION IS TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY. MOST OF WATCH HILL IS RECOGNIZED AS AN HISTORIC DISTRICT ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AS DESIGNATED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. THE WATCH HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT'S DESIGNATION REPORT LISTS MORE THAN 180 STRUCTURES AS SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTING TO THE HISTORIC VALUE OF THE DISTRICT. THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF WATCH HILL IS UNDER CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM DEVELOPMENT, CHANGES TO STATE AND TOWN BUILDING AND ZONING CODES, SEVERE WEATHER, AND INCREASED FLOODING FROM RISING SEAS. THE WATCH HILL CONSERVANCY HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY BUSY WORKING JOINTLY WITH THE WATCH HILL FIRE DISTRICT LEADERSHIP TO RESPOND TO THESE PRESSURES. IN 2022, THE CONSERVANCY WAS HIGHLY INVOLVED IN MONITORING PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL DECISIONS THAT COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO COMMUNITY CHARACTER OR HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$57.6KLanphear Live Speaker Series
INFORMING THE COMMUNITY - 2022 WAS THE CONSERVANCY'S FIFTH YEAR HOSTING THE LANPHEAR LIVE SPEAKER SERIES. THE CONSERVANCY DESIGNED THE SERIES TO INFORM THE COMMUNITY ON TOPICS THAT ARE INTERESTING AND TIMELY, TYPICALLY COVERING AREAS SUCH AS SCIENCE, HISTORY, NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY. LANPHEAR LIVE IS HELD IN THE CHAPLIN B. BARNES READING ROOM AT THE LANPHEAR LIVERY AND IS PROVIDED AT NO COST TO THOSE WHO ATTEND. THE VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS WE HOSTED IN 2020 IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC WERE SO POPULAR THAT THE CONSERVANCY CONTINUES TO RECORD AND SHARE ITS LANPHEAR LIVE PROGRAMS WITH THE PUBLIC ON ITS WEBSITE AND YOUTUBE CHANNEL. OWNING AND MANAGING THE READING ROOM AS A COMMUNITY SPACE IS A RELATIVELY NEW INITIATIVE FOR THE CONSERVANCY. THE CONSERVANCY ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY IN LATE 2020. CARRYING AND MAINTAINING THE SPACE RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANT COSTS TO THE ORGANIZATION. THE CONSERVANCY IS WORKING TO OFFSET THESE COSTS BY SEEKING OUTSIDE FUNDING (COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING SPONSORS AND GRANT FUNDING) TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING AND BY RENTING THE SPACE TO THIRD-PARTIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONSERVANCY PARTICIPATES IN A COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVE TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS AND DECISION-MAKERS ON SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM SURGE IMPACTING WATCH HILL. OUR 2022 PLANNING FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE WORK FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING MITIGATION PLANS TO REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON BAY STREET AND THE NAPATREE POINT CONSERVATION AREA FOR A 3-5' SEA LEVEL RISE SCENARIO.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2022 – Dec 31, 2022Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$88.1K
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