The Buzzards Bay Coalition recently conserved two properties that together comprise nearly 200 acres of contiguous watershed lands in the Mattapoisett River Valley.

These conserved lands, surrounding Tripps Mill Brook and spanning the towns of Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, and Acushnet, provide permanent protection of drinking water resources while preserving forests and wetlands that are critical to the health of Buzzards Bay benefiting wildlife and providing access for outdoor recreation to the public.

These properties abut other lands previously protected by the Coalition in partnership with the Towns of Fairhaven and Mattapoisett spread across the 355 acres.

There is a tremendous diversity of watershed lands, including upland forests, swamps, and marshes. Also included is a retired cranberry bog that will be transitioned to natural wetlands as part of a restoration project on the site. Winding through is Tripps Mill Brook a stream flowing from its headwaters in Acushnet to the Mattapoisett River.

This land protection effort was the result of a partnership between the Bay Coalition and the towns of Mattapoisett, Fairhaven the regional Mattapoisett River Valley Water Supply Protection Advisory Committee and assisted by the Mattapoisett Land Trust.

It started with about 100 acres of land protected in spring of 2010 and an additional 60 acres in the spring of 2011. The Bay Coalition is now working with the Towns and other partners to protect additional contiguous lands in order to benefit a variety of natural resources.

In December 2011, the Bay Coalition protected 125 acres of land that include the retired cranberry bogs along Acushnet Road. The bogs were retired by Decas Cranberry Company, who granted a conservation easement to the federal government and committed to undertake a wetland restoration that will improve water quality for drinking water drawn from with the Mattapoisett River Valley.

About 24,000 people from Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, Marion and Rochester derive their drinking water from this source.  The Bay Coalition has helped guide the protection of nearly 1000 acres of critical watershed lands throughout the Mattapoisett River Valley over the past decade.

On February 28, 2012, with assistance from the Mattapoisett Land Trust, an additional 63 acres was protected in Mattapoisett along the Fairhaven town line.

That property is now owned by the Bay Coalition and includes extensive forests of pines and oaks with trails as well as beautiful shrub swamps and marshes that are home to an array of waterfowl and other wildlife.
In addition to providing critical protections for drinking water and for Buzzards Bay, the entire 355 acres will have trails for passive public outdoor recreation.