Welcome to the Pascommuck Conservation Trust

The Pascommuck Conservation Trust (PCT) is a 501(3)(C) non-profit, charitable organization, formed in 1982, which protects important land and other natural resources in Easthampton for the public benefit.  PCT has no paid staff and relies on volunteers, donations and the support of the community to carry out our mission.  Our membership is approximately 125 people.  A 13-member Board of Directors guides the organization’s efforts and meets monthly.

“Pascommuck”, a Native American word of unknown origin, was Easthampton’s earliest known settlement in the late 1600’s, near the oxbow of the Connecticut River.  It means “where it bends,” referring to the shape of the river there.

Our Work

One of the earliest priorities of the Pascommuck Conservation Trust included the establishment of a river greenbelt along Easthampton’s Manhan River.  The Manhan River continues to be a significant focus area for the organization, as it is the major tributary from Easthampton flowing into the Connecticut River.  A number of PCT properties are situated on the banks of this regionally important natural resource.

At present, the Trust controls a total of 16 properties in Easthampton, comprising approximately 190 acres.  Thirteen properties are conservation areas, one is a public park, and two are conservation areas with Agricultural Preservation Restrictions (APR).  We welcome and encourage you to explore many of these special places.  Trail maps for many of our properties are available by clicking the image in the sidebar to the left.

Collaboration

The involvement of the community has always been vital to the success of the Trust’s land stewardship work.  Throughout its history, PCT has drawn from a diverse constituency in the local community to assist in its work.  Volunteers and contributors have included local Boy and Girl Scout troops, inmates from the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction, high school students, AmeriCorps youth, local business people and numerous citizens of all ages.

PCT has worked with many other organizations to fulfill it mission in the past and will continue to do so in the future.  Some of these include:  the Easthampton Conservation Commission, the Manhan Rail Trail Committee, the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee, the Barnes Aquifer Steering Committee, Mass Audubon Society, The Trustees of Reservations, the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, the Valley Land Fund, the Trust for Public Land.  We gratefully acknowledge the support of several private foundations who have enabled us to achieve many successes over the years.

In 2003, the Easthampton Chamber of Commerce designated the Trust as its 2002  non-Profit Organization of the Year:  “In recognition of your outstanding service and contribution for the preservation of land and other natural resources, which will benefit Easthampton for generations to come.”