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September 30, 2011 ~ NEW MEMBERS ELECTED TO NANTUCKET LAND COUNCIL BOARD

Jim Sutherland, Ph.D. and Elizabeth A. Higgins have been elected to serve three-year terms on the board of directors for the Nantucket Land Council. The election took place at the nonprofit organization's 37th annual meeting held at the Coffin School on Nantucket in August. Also elected to serve the Land Council were president Karen Borchert, treasurer Howard N. Blitman, vice president Paul A. Bennett, vice president William Willet and clerk and assistant treasurer Susan E. Robinson.

Dr. Sutherland received an M.S. in Limnology (the study of inland lakes and ponds) in 1969 from the University of Buffalo and a Ph.D. in Aquatic Ecology and Physiology in 1978 from The State University of New York at Albany. Employed for 28 years as a water quality research scientist in the Northern Watersheds Section, Division of Water, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, he retired to Nantucket in 2005. Specific areas of research and investigation included nonpoint source runoff and its impacts on Lake George, New York; the long-term effects of acid rain on the biotic communities of Adirondack region of New York lakes and ponds; and the management of the nuisance aquatic plant, Eurasian watermilfoil, in New York recreational lakes. Dr. Sutherland is a year-round Nantucket resident with his artist-entrepreneur wife, Anne, and is involved in study of the water quality and restoration of Nantucket's ponds.

Until her retirement in June 2011 after a 40 year career, Ms. Higgins served as senior policy advisor and director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Environmental Review in New England. She was EPA-New England's project leader and senior strategist in the agency's review of numerous large scale, environmentally significant projects from the 1970's to 2011. These projects included highways, rail, and airport projects; wind farms; liquified natural gas seaports; Georges Bank offshore oil and gas leases; and commercial and resort developments affecting public lands. Ms. Higgins was considered one of the agency's experts in the National Environmental Policy Act and in developing strategies for project proponents to avoid and minimize adverse impacts to air and water quality, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and drinking water. She led the agency's unprecedented action to halt use of live explosives in military training at the Massachusetts Military Reservation to protect Cape Cod's sole source aquifer. A resident of Concord and Nantucket, Ms. Higgins was also a member of the City of Cambridge's Conservation Commission. She is the third generation of her family to live part of every year on Nantucket.

Sept. 9, 2011 ~ NANTUCKET LAND COUNCIL AWARDS $47,500 RAISED IN CHALLENGE GRANT CAMPAIGN FOR SHELLFISH PROPAGATION FACILITY

The Nantucket Land Council is pleased to announce that a check for $47,500 has been presented to the Town of Nantucket's Shellfish Propagation Facility at Brant Point. The gift was presented to Harbormaster Dave Fronzuto and Shellfish Biologist Tara Riley by Land Council Executive Director Cormac Collier at the Land Council's annual dinner at Straight Wharf on Monday, September 5.

In June the Land Council issued a challenge grant to its membership and the community-at-large to make contributions to enhance the operation of the Propagation Facility, with the Land Council offering to match each dollar contributed up to $10,000. At the same time, the Land Council and the Marine and Coastal Resources Department began educational tours of the facility for adults and children to learn more about the vital shellfish propagation work taking place under the direction of Riley and her staff and also to inform participants about land use practices to help keep Nantucket harbors clean.

"The response from the fundraising campaign and series of tours far exceeded our expectations and as a result, the Land Council board voted to raise the challenge grant goal to meet our donors' generosity by matching $23,750," said Collier. "Though the challenge grant for this year is now completed, we want to encourage Nantucketers to continue to support the facility's year-round operation, which is so critical to the health of our harbor and the island's overall shellfish populations."

For more information about making restricted gifts to the Shellfish Propagation Facility at Brant Point via the Land Council, interested persons can contact the Nantucket Land Council.

August 22, 2011 ~ GREAT HARBOR YACHT CLUB AND NANTUCKET LAND COUNCIL ANNOUNCE NANTUCKET MARINE RESOURCES GRANTS

The Great Harbor Yacht Club and the Nantucket Land Council are pleased to announce funding for scientific projects focusing on Nantucket marine and coastal resources.

Grants are available to local governments, nonprofit organizations and schools to advance research in the areas of water quality investigation in Nantucket and Madaket Harbors and abutting surface water bodies within the Nantucket and Madaket Harbor watersheds, eelgrass and submerged aquatic vegetation investigation, algae bloom investigation, scallop propagation, scallop life-cycle and biology investigation, and pollutant identification and remediation in Nantucket and Madaket Harbor watershed areas.

To be considered for the funding, applicants must submit a grant funding proposal to Cormac Collier, Executive Director, Nantucket Land Council, P.O. Box 502, Nantucket, MA 02554. The deadline is September 9, 2011. Grant funding is available for work completed by October 31, 2012.

Marine Resources Grant Funding Details (pdf)

March 2011 ~ Conservation Restriction Update for 2011

At year-end 2010, Congress renewed a tax incentive for private landowners—especially working family farmers and ranchers—who protect their land with a voluntary conservation agreement. The increased incentive, which was adopted in 2006 and expired at the end of 2009, helped the Nantucket Land Council work with willing landowners on Nantucket to conserve 335 acres of productive natural areas during that time period. The NLC now holds a total of 75 conservation restrictions on almost 1,300 acres of land throughout Nantucket, Tuckernuck and Muskeget Island.

Conservation-minded landowners now have until December 31, 2011 to take advantage of a significant tax deduction for donating a voluntary conservation agreement to permanently protect important natural or historic resources on their land. When landowners donate a conservation restriction to the NLC, they maintain ownership and management of their land and can sell or pass the land on to their heirs, while foregoing future development rights.

The enhanced incentive applies to a landowner’s federal income tax. It raises the deduction a donor can take for donating a voluntary conservation agreement from 30% of their incomes in any year to 50%; allows farmers and ranchers to deduct up to 100% of their income; and increases the number of years over which a donor can take deductions from 6 to 16 years.

“The entire island wins when thoughtful landowners conserve their land this way, protecting wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, scenic landscapes, recreational spaces, and productive agricultural lands,” said NLC Executive Director Cormac Collier. “Conservation restrictions have become an important tool nationally for protecting our watersheds, farms and forests, increasing the pace of private land conservation by a third—to over a million acres a year. The NLC joins America’s 1,700 land trusts and their two million supporters in thanking Congress for making this important conservation tool available,” he said.

March 2011 ~ Invasive Plant Workshop

October 2010 ~ Organic Landscaping Scholarships

The NLC will be offering 10 scholarships of $1,000 for landcare professionals to attend a 5-day intensive accreditation course offered by the Northeast Organic Farming Association.   Click here for an application.

June 2010 ~ Hummock Pond and Miacomet Pond Reports

In summer of 2009 the Nantucket Land Council and the University of Massachusetts Field Station helped commission a report on the current state of the Hummock and Miacomet Ponds. The work was spearheaded by island resident, Dr. Jim Sutherland, who spent his career researching and monitoring freshwater bodies in upstate New York.  A short executive summary, followed by the full findings are online:  Hummock Pond Click here, Miacomet Click here.

March 2010 ~ Clean Water for Nantucket Campaign

The Nantucket Land Council is announcing a community educational campaign to protect and clean up Nantucket's water.   Beginning with the promotion of organic gardenign techniques and encouraging homeowner's to take responsibility for leaking septic systems, the NLC hopes to educate the public about the connection between our actions and the degradation of our local water bodies.  For information on organic gardening and its connection to our water, read our brochure "Our Gardens, Our Water."

February 2010 ~ Composting Workshop

"Integration of Compost Technologies in Sustainable Land Care" on 9am-5pm Tuesday, March 9th at the Bartlett's Farm Hayloft.  Led by Peter Schmidt of Compostwerks LLC, the course is open to all, but qualifies for NOFA re-accreditation. ADVANCE registration is required.  $35 including lunch.  Limited to 60 participants.

December 2009 ~ Organic Landcare Scholarships Available

The NLC announces its 3rd round of $1,000 scholarships for local land care professionals to become accredited in organic land care practices.  Click here for the press release or click here for the scholarship application.

November 2009 ~ Love of the Land Gallery now online

Works from t he 2009 annual art exhibition are now online.  Click here to see the gallery of works available for sale to benefit the NLC.

April 2009 ~ Free Public Events Series Announced

The NLC will be offering a series of free public events this year, ranging from field trips, to tours, to educational and research adventures. Click here to see upcoming events.

January 2009 ~ Organic Lawn Course Announced

Open to landscapers and anyone who wants to learn more about caring for their lawn organically, the course will be held on Tuesday, March 10, 2009.  Click here for more information and the course description.

January 2009 ~ Organic Landcare Scholarship Recipients

Click here for a list of landscapers that have attended the Northeast Organic Farming Association's 5 Day Organic Land Care Professional Accreditation course.

November 2008 ~ School Grants Awarded

Now in its 16th year, the School Grants program received its greatest number of applications yet.  Over $9,000 was awarded this year.  To hear more, visit our grants page.

October 2008 ~ Organic Landcare Scholarships Available

The NLC will be offering 10 scholarships of $1,000 for landcare professionals to attend a 5-day intensive accreditation course offered by the Northeast Organic Farming Association.  Click here for more information and the application.

May 2008 ~ NLC works with Students on Beach Profiling

Click here to see coverage on Plum TV of NLC Resource Ecologist Emily Molden working with Dr. Sarah Oktay and local students on beach profiling.

Earth Day 2008 ~ NLC to Distribute Reusable Grocery Bags

On Tuesday, April 22nd, volunteers for the Nantucket Land Council will distribute over 1,000 organic cotton, USA-made, reusable grocery bags at Stop & Shop, Annye's Whole Foods and Bartlett's Farm.

January 2008 ~ Organic Landcare Scholarships Awarded

Congratulations to Dylan Wallace, Kate Hemingway, Sarah Sylvia, Cora Stover, Scott Waldie, Emily Dutra, Jason Sullivan, Kate Haigh, Ashley Erisman, Sarah Van Lieu, Baranda Wilcox, and David Huehner.

December 2007 ~ Organic Landcare Scholarships Available

The NLC will be offering 10 scholarships of $1,000 for landcare professionals to attend a 5-day intensive accreditation course offered by the Northeast Organic Farming Association.  Click here for more information and the application.

November 2007 ~ NLC publishes first E-Newsletter

In an attempt to further reduce our consumption of paper, postage and energy, the NLC published its first E-Newslettter.  Emailed on a quarterly basis, it will supplement the NLC News which is mailed twice per year.

August 22nd, 2007 ~ Half Mile along Madaket Rd. Protected

The unsung heroes of conservation this summer are Walter and Susan Birge who donated a conservation restriction on their Madaket Road property.  Current zoning would have permitted at least 7 new "Approval Not Required" lots, each with more than one building and driveways cutting into a currently unspoiled section of Madaket Road.  This generous donation completes a protected strip of scenic views stretching from Eel Point Road all the way to Warren's Landing.  We thank the Birge's for their generosity to the Nantucket Community.

July 10th, 2007 ~ Organic Landscaping Scholarships

The NLC is proud to offer scholarships for Nantucket Landscapers to attend the North East Organic Farming (NOFA) Organic Lawn and Turf Course in Marblehead, Mass on August 14th.  To read the course brochure, click here.  To apply for a scholarship, please contact our office. 

April 24, 2007 ~ Loring Restrictions Recorded

The Nantucket Land Council, Inc. officially records the Loring Campaign Conservation Restrictions.  From both the NLC and the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Thank you to the over 1,800 people who donated, volunteered, hosted and participated in making this campaign a success! Read more about the campaign below.

January 2nd, 2007 ~ Loring Fundraising Completed

The Nantucket Land Council, Inc. is very pleased to announce the successful completion of its campaign to raise $14 million to purchase conservation restrictions from Linda Loring and The Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Inc.

The conservation restrictions will permanently preserve 270 acres of environmentally significant land, including upland and wetlands, around the Head of Long Pond and from Madaket Road to Eel Point Road. Three areas, totaling less than 10 acres, are reserved for development of a center by the Linda Loring Nature Foundation to promote its mission to further environmental education on Nantucket.

The Land Council secured the options to purchase the conservation restrictions in the summer of 2004. “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to protect the most coveted piece of property on the island,” said Nantucket Land Council President Larry Breakiron. “The Nantucket community has shown incredible generosity over these past two years, and they all deserve a very large thank you”. The number of individual donors to the campaign totaled 1150 ranging in gifts from $5 to over $1 million. “We had a huge show of support”, said Campaign Manager Linda Holland. “Our Board, staff, and community have worked hard to make this amazing day a reality.”

The Land Council Board of Directors voted to exercise its options, which expired in late January, and to set a closing date for April. Because the Land Council will need to borrow funds for the closing against more than $4 million in outstanding pledges, donors are being asked to pay their 2007 pledges as early in the new year as possible.

The Loring property is the largest unprotected property left on Nantucket. “This is a huge conservation victory for the people of Nantucket,” said Nantucket Land Council Executive Director Cormac Collier. “This expansive area now will be protected in perpetuity, ensuring vibrant plant and animal habitat, unspoiled scenic vistas, clean groundwater and the additional protection of Madaket Harbor.”