The Pascommuck Conservation Trust
Preserving our past. Protecting our future.
The Pascommuck Conservation Trust acquired its first parcel for preservation in 1982. That was the year that the Pascommuck Conservation Area was established. Since then we have acquired a total of 16 properties, comprising approximately 190 acres of land. This is land that will remain in a natural state, providing habitat, scenic vistas, and recreation as the City of Easthampton continues to grow and thrive. PCT has generally pursued the option of acquiring and holding property, rather than obtaining conservation easements or restrictions from other landholders.
PCT’s latest project was featured in the March 9th edition of the Daily Hampshire Gazette. There was an interview with Marty Klein, board member and major force behind the project. Interviews with several other community leaders also touts the project’s benefits for those with physical difficulties.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of April and a dedication ceremony is planned in May.
On October 23rd at 3 pm members of the Pascommuck Trust as well as those from the community gathered to officially break ground to begin phase 2 of the Mutter’s Field accessible trail which will be the actual construction of the trail itself, a parking lot off of East St and an adverse weather shelter. The no groundbreaking aspect of the ceremony is explained in the YouTube video below.
Phase 1 of Pascommuck Conservation Trust’s latest project, Mutter’s Field Accessible Trail has just been completed. We had to do an expensive repair to the culvert at the East Green St. entrance and this is what it looks like. This will be an entrance for the trail and will provide access for us to maintain the site. We expect to begin soliciting contractors to construct the East. St. parking area and the trail itself in the near future.
PCT is still seeking additional funding in the amount of $25,000 from donors such as yourself to reach our ultimate fundraising goal!! 
October 25, 2016
“A Place in Nature for Everyone”
In 2012, PCT acquired a 6 acre parcel of land, located between E. Green and East Streets, consisting of a large meadow, surrounding woodlands and two small brooks, adjacent to its most visited property, the Brickyard Brook Conservation Area (11 acres). After considerable deliberation, the Board decided that, given the mostly flat terrain here and other factors, the property would be an ideal location for an accessible trail, designed for visitors of all abilities to use and enjoy.
The Mutter’s Field Accessible Trail (MFAT) consists of an 1800-foot loop skirting a 2-acre meadow, with a connection to our non-accessible, Brickyard Brook trail. The trail offers a quality, passive outdoor recreation opportunity for people of all abilities, in a tranquil setting with striking views of Mt. Tom. Along the trail, we’ve installed seven, beautiful accessible benches and picnic tables, built by Easthampton carpenter and PCT supporter, Kevin Mulligan.
Some of the features you will find here include:
In the fall of 2016, we will be installing five colorful, interpretive signs, created to educate visitors about some of the natural features found at the trail. In addition, PCT will begin the process of controlling/eradicating non-native plants that have invaded much of the property. Over the next several years, we hope to restore it to a place where native plant species can flourish.
It is expensive to maintain a property like Mutter’s Field. PCT, an all-volunteer non-profit organization, has limited resources to keep this property looking beautiful. Therefore, we hope you will support us by donating to our MFAT maintenance endowment fund. We are also seeking volunteers to help out in a variety of ways. Please contact us if you’d like to contribute your time and skills to this most worthy cause.
Thank you to all who have helped make this dream a reality for all of us to enjoy!
Description:
At 35 acres this is the largest of the Pascommuck holdings. It features a well marked and well maintained set of trails that enter from a parking spot alongTerrace View Road. The trails go along the Manhan River and through a White Pine Mixed Hardwood forest. The property also includes two other cover types: a Major River Floodplain Forest that occupies the area northeast of the entrance trail, and a “Red Maple Swamp” in another section near the river.
The floodplain forest is made up of nearly all silver maple. The central section of the conservation area is made up of a White Pine Mixed Hardwood forest. This area has a high enough elevation to be flooded rarely if at all. In addition to the white pine other trees such as black and red oaks, sugar and red maples, black birch, and hickory form a closed canopy.
The stretch of the Manhan River here has a silty bottom with no riffles. It is about 40 feet wide and 18-24 inches deep, although this fluctuates greatly depending on rain. The banks are about 5-10 feet high, undercut and muddy. The overhanging trees make good perches for kingfishers, and the logs protruding into the water which collect debris create microhabitats for turtles, fish, and invertebrates.
Assets:
The floodplain forest is the most interesting part of this conservation area. Nearly the whole conservation area is included within BioMap Core habitat because it is part of an extensive riparian corridor along the Manhan River.
Accessible: Yes
Trails: Yes