Conservation Commission

agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

View Most Recent Agendas and Minutes | View Agendas and Minutes From 2014 and Older

Initiatives & Activities

The Westbrook Conservation Commission currently has several Open Space initiatives and different activities, including the following areas.

Open Space Planning

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• Develop an Open Space Plan based on the Plan of Conservation and Development Open Space Vision
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• Identify and prioritize lands essential for protecting water resources, establishment of greenways, and watershed management
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• Link open spaces with greenways and trails, locally and regionally

Open Space Management

• Tom ODell Memorial Open Space

https://www.zip06.com/news/20210930/tom-odell-memorial-open-space-and-meadow-walk-dedication-ceremony

• Control invasive plants
• Restore coastal forest

Beautiful flora and fauna photos of Tom ODell Memorial Open Space link by Corey Leamy on link provided below

https://www.classificationstation.com/tom-odell-memorial-park/

• Salt Island

Salt Island early 1900's.  Photo courtesy of Westbrook Historical Society

https://westbrookct.us/245/Westbrook-Historical-Society

• Protect coastal bird nesting sites
• Stabilize erosion caused by coastal storms

• Horse Hill Woods

https://www.courant.com/hc-news-marteka-horse-hill-woods-20180616-story.html

1. Replace trail markers

• Horse Hill Gorge

• Identify, develop parking area

• Chapman Mill Pond

https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-marteka-chapman-mill-pond-0604-20170602-story.html

• Protect lake water quality
• Protect vernal pools

• Stannard Woods

• A small pox cemetery is located on the property.  You can find the the grave marker of Peter Stannard (10/30/1731- 8/3/1778) who served as a private in Captain Nathan Saltonstall's company of matross as coast guard in 1776.  There are three field stones marking the graves of the children of Peter S. Stannard.  The trail can be found on Peter's Trail off Toby Hill Road.

• Town Forest

• https://www.zip06.com/profile/20211110/making-westbrook-trails-more-traveled
• Interesting article about fungi in Town Forest   /DocumentCenter/View/7604 

• TOBY HILL VII AND VIII
• Create parking areas and install signs
• Create trail system
• Create a forest management plan

Environmental Education

Management of native plantings in Mulvey River Bank Restoration and Environmental Education Project Area, which is located behind the Mulvey Municipal Building at 866 Boston Post Road.

• Sponsor/conduct invasive plant and pollinator pathway workshops

Sustainable CT

Westbrook makes the new year bright

With a resolution of its Selectboard on January 17, 2023, the Town of Westbrook became the 131st Sustainable CT registered Connecticut municipality and the very first newly registered town in 2023.  A coastal community of just under 7,000 inhabitants, Westbrook "embraces an on-going process of working toward greater sustainability," according to the Selectboard's resolution.  Welcome aboard, Westbrook.  You just made the new year brighter for all of us. 

www.sustainablect.org

Research & Advisory 

Perform research and advisory recommendations for Town Land Use Commissions

Partnerships with Other Agencies

• Partner with municipal, state, federal and regional agencies to manage town and regional natural resources; including:
  • Adopt-a-Spot
  • Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG)
  • State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
  • Westbrook Garden Club
  • Planning and Inland Wetland Commissions
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Stuart B. McKinney Wildlife National Refuge
  • https://www.westbrooklct.org/
  • https://www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal/
  • https://seagrant.uconn.edu/#
  • https://essexlandtrust.org/
  • https://westbrookct.us/245/Westbrook-Historical-Society