After more than three years and with approximately $6.2 million raised, the Buzzards Bay Coalition has secured the first 140 acres of its 400-acre Nasketucket Bay Land Conservation Project.

“It’s the largest coastal land protection deal we’ve done and the largest we know of on the [Buzzards] Bay,” said President Mark Rasmussen.

On Friday, the Coalition announced completion of Phase 1, which took place June 4.

The preservation project spans Mattapoisett and Fairhaven and was made possible through funding from federal, state and private sources. Both towns also contributed $200,000 each, including funds voted on at Town Meetings and a donation from the Mattapoisett Land Trust.

The newly acquired and soon to be acquired land connects to the existing Nasketucket Bay State Reservation located off Brandt Island Road. This first phase of land acquisition includes forest areas on Brandt Island Road, a farm field in Fairhaven near the Mariner Soccer complex and a wooded island called Quahog Hill where the Nasketucket River and Little Bay in Fairhaven meet.

Forest areas become state forest property while the farmland will remain privately owned but has a conservation restriction, preventing development.

“This has been a little hidden gem,” said Rasmussen. “It’s an amazing asset.”

But it almost became a major development. In the 90s, developers proposed a condo and golf course for much of the land before the state purchased land for the park.

Rasmussen said the area was one of the most well protected and preserved on the bay and the Coalition wanted to keep it that way. The land has a thriving wildlife and shellfish population as well as eel grass meadows and other rich plant life.

“That’s our best chance of keeping Nasketucket protected,” said Rasmussen. “This is going to make it much more a part of the community.”

Trails to connect the property to the existing state park and to the bike path are already underway.

“The public will be able to walk from the bike path all the way down to the coast across one farm,” said Rasmussen.

The final 220 acres are expected to close by the end of the year, according to Rasmussen. He said all but $225,000 has been raised.

“We’re almost there,” Rasmussen said. “We are looking anywhere and everywhere to close that gap.”