At the March BRASS Board meeting, the Directors unanimously supported The Nature Conservancy's effort to protect a 1,234-acre Mt. Discovery property in the Town of Lewis. The property features two entire mountains, 1½ miles of Boquet River frontage, and one of the best forests in the Champlain Valley. The Conservancy hopes to use a conservation easement as the protection mechanism.
In requesting BRASS' support, Chris Maron, The Conservancy's Champlain Valley Program Director, explained how a conservation easement can keep the property in private ownership yet ensure public access, restrict development, provide for sustainable forestry practices and continued property tax revenues.
It is believed BRASS support might help secure a commitment from the State to purchase the easement from The Conservancy. Then The Conservancy can apply the funds to other important sites in the Champlain Valley.