GEORGETOWN — Outdoor recreationalists will soon be enjoying a holiday gift from the state — protection of a 32-acre forest in Georgetown that falls within the town of Newbury's public drinking water supply area.
The state Executive Office of Environmental Affairs late last week announced a $153,000 land conservation grant to purchase Driftway Farm and prevent the loss of the forested property to development.
The protection comes as Georgetown continues to be seen as one of the fastest-growing communities in the commonwealth.
The forest abuts the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game's Crane Pond Wildlife Management Area.
By preserving the property, officials will also establish public access to a planned new section of the Border-to-Boston Rail Trail.
The property, which includes extensive wetlands and BioMap2 Core Habitat, will be open to the public for low-impact recreation.
The grant was part of nearly $2 million awarded by the Patrick-Murray Administration to protect 722 acres of farms, wetlands, forests and wildlife habitat in nine communities statewide.
The Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity grants were announced by Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr.
Georgetown is the only community in Essex County to receive a grant. The money will also fund land conservation projects in Berlin, Bolton, Easton, Framingham, Leverett, Monson, Northampton and Phillipston.
Since 2007, the Patrick-Murray Administration has conserved more than 88,000 acres of land throughout the commonwealth. Through the effort, more than 15,500 acres of pristine habitat have been preserved and more than 150 parks have been created or restored.
The nine grants announced last week will help fund a variety of projects - including one in Northampton that will add to the highly used Mineral Hills Conservation Area. Other grants will fund projects to connect open space and trail networks and protect rare species habitat, key water resources and working farms and forests.
Sullivan said in a press release the governor's conservation efforts in partnership with municipal officials, private land owners and land trusts have produced "some significant results."
"Through partnering with communities, we are leveraging further investment in our local economies, preserving open space for public recreation and protecting vital wetlands and wildlife habitat," Sullivan said.
Since 1961, LAND awards, formerly known as Self Help grants, have helped communities acquire land for conservation and outdoor recreational uses such as hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, hunting and cross-country skiing. Funding for the grants comes from the Energy and Environment Bond Bill signed by Gov. Deval Patrick in 2008.
To qualify for the reimbursement grants, communities must fund projects up front through local, federal or private sources and the protected open space must be open to the public. Municipalities may use grant funds for outright land purchases or partial interests, such as conservation restrictions, and for associated acquisition costs.
Monies from this round of grants will leverage more than $5.2 million in additional non-state dollars raised by Massachusetts cities, towns and land trusts.
Sen. Marc Pacheco, Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, said the grants will ensure the creation of public resources that will remain available for future generations.
"By protecting these important habitats, wetlands and forests, we not only provide the public with additional recreation opportunities, but also help to protect our environmental and public health," Pacheco said. "It is wonderful to see areas being protected that abut other protected properties creating green necklaces in some of the most beautiful areas of the commonwealth."
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