To date, ALT has raised over $2,500,000 in cash and pledges, from numerous individuals, foundations, governmental partners and its own Land Preservation Fund.

Why We Must Save Swan Farm

Conservation Value – Swan Farm is a strategically important part of the Sakonnet Greenway, a long and critical chain of open space that extend from around the Town of Portsmouth’s main public recreation area, “The Glen,” south to Sachuest Point in the Town of Middletown. The Sakonnet Greenway offers Aquidneck Island residents acres and acres of agricultural corridors, wildlife habitat, long scenic vistas, recreational areas and water resources for the large population of residents and visitors on the Island. Swan Farm is one of the largest parcels of land still available for conservation on Aquidneck Island and will support the continued integrity of the Sakonnet Greenway.

Agricultural Value - Swan Farm represents acres and acres of Prime Farmland and Additional Farmland of Statewide Importance as identified by the United States Department of Agriculture. In addition, it is adjacent to several other agricultural properties. Because development has destroyed critical masses of agricultural land, fragmentation is a significant threat to agricultural viability in New England. Therefore, preservation of Swan Farm as an agricultural site is vital. Farmscapes, the local agricultural enterprise that farms the land, produces grass fed beef and other agricultural products, such as premium hay used by other local farms like Escobar’s Highland Farm.

Wildlife Habitat Value – Swan Farm’s acreage contains a number of important habitat types including vernal pools, open fields and meadows, ponds, and a wooded swamp forest. The 58+/- acre forest on the property is the largest remaining unprotected forest on Aquidneck Island! The farm’s diverse habitats, together with the wildlife edge habitats in between, attract numerous animal species, including important State of Rhode Island listed birds such as the Northern Harrier (State Endangered), Dark-eyed Junco (State Species of Concern), and Blue-winged Teal (State Species of Concern).

Linda A. Steere, President and Principal Wildlife Biologist of Applied Bio-Systems, Inc., said in her January 5, 2006 biological evaluation of the property:

“…provides a high value wildlife habitat through the interspersion of habitat types and the wildlife ‘edges’ they create. The result is a high diversity of wildlife species, avian and mammalian, evidenced by the wildlife list generated during our December site evaluation. Because it contains the largest unfragmented forest on Aquidneck Island and a diverse wildlife population, this site should be preserved.”

Scenic Value - Swan Farm offers community residents and visitors numerous scenic views of the parcel’s beautiful forest and fields from its frontage on Wapping Road and from the completed segment of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail around Newport National’s golf course. When finished, the Sakonnet Greenway Trail will be the longest public walking trail on Aquidneck Island at approximately 7 miles long.

Economic Value - Land conservation is critical for Aquidneck Island’s long-term economic health. Numerous studies demonstrate that a municipality spends between $1.04 and $2 for every dollar of tax revenue it collects in order to provide services to a typical subdivision. Because subdivisions require schools, roads, police, water, rescue and fire department services, storm water management and other municipal support, current taxpayers often subsidize new subdivisions, which bring increased traffic, crowded schools and the loss of a community’s character.

For example, an engineer’s conceptual subdivision plan demonstrated that Swan Farm could support at least 40 residential lots. The Portsmouth Town Planner demonstrated that such a 40-lot subdivision, in net present value dollars, would be a loss to the Town of Portsmouth of well over $1 million. Additionally, land conservation helps maintain Aquidneck Island’s desirability as a place to live and work and as a destination for visitors.

Community Collaboration - In 2005, the Aquidneck Land Trust learned that a developer had offered to buy Swan Farm for $9 million, an amount far beyond the reach of ALT. However, because the property had been identified as one of ALT’s highest conservation priorities on Aquidneck Island, we approached a local philanthropist and leader in conservation and agricultural matters for help. In a wonderful collaboration for the benefit of the Island, the three entities - ALT, the property owner and the philanthropist – worked together to reach a conceptual agreement to preserve Swan Farm. The landowner agreed to sell the farm to the philanthropist for $8 million, a million less than the developer had offered, and the ALTagreed to raise $3 million to buy a conservation restriction on the property from the philanthropist, who will take a loss on the property’s value in order to ensure it remains open space. Now it is time for the Aquidneck Land Trust to follow through on our part of the conservation partnership. We have until August 2008 to raise the $3 million purchase price for the proposed perpetual conservation restriction on Swan Farm.
 

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