The Great Pond Appeal 1999

This is an appeal for funds to purchase the development rights to the last threat to Great Pond.

Located barely 70 miles from New York City, Great Pond straddles the Ridgefield-Redding border less than a quarter mile east of Route 7. It nestles in a steep-sided, undeveloped valley. Its total watershed is about 175 acres. Its surface area is 24.7 acres, with a maximum depth of 41.2 ft. and a mean depth of 24.5 ft. It holds 200 million gallons of some of the purest water in Connecticut and supports a public beach (Martin Park) and a small private beach (The Great Pond Corporation) at its southern end. It has three feeder streams and numerous subsurface springs.

Great Pond was the subject of ecological studies in 1988 and in 1995 by Priscilla W. Bailey, Ph.D. (Marine and Fresh Water Research Service, Guilford, CT). Dr. Bailey found Great Pond to be in very good ecological condition, almost uniquely so in Connecticut, for lakes of its size (among the top ten).

Most of Great Pond’s 175 acre watershed is now protected under the jurisdiction of the Ridgefield and Redding Conservation Commissions. There is one remaining developable lot. Last year this lot received development approval for a five bedroom house and garage apartment. The access to this lot traverses one of Great Pond’s three feeder streams and would disrupt the natural wetlands that now filter salt run-off from Great Pond Road and Great Pond Lane. The lot slopes toward Great Pond. Nitrogen and phosphorus from the approved septic system would eventually leach into Great Pond.

Concern about the potential ecological damage from this proposed development led the Great Pond Corporation to obtain an exclusive purchase option from the developers, which expires June 30, 1999. The agreed purchase price is $300,000. With 110 members and an annual income of $20,000, the Great Pond Corporation needs help.

The Redding Land Trust, which has Section 501(c)(3) status under the federal tax code, has agreed to set up a fund for the purpose of obtaining the development rights to this lot. The Redding Town Assessor has estimated the value for the development rights at $110,000. Purchase of the development rights by the Redding Land Trust would ensure that the lot would remain in its natural state in perpetuity and would reduce Great Pond Corporation’s financial burden by one-third. This would encourage Corporation members to conclude the purchase, which requires a two-thirds vote of the membership, presently far from assured.

The Great Pond Corporation must agree to transfer development rights to the Redding Land Trust for whatever amount of money can be raised between now and February, 2000. This appeal seeks pledges of support through tax-deductible contributions which can be made in 1999 and early 2000. We need pledges of at least $75,000 before signing the agreement with the Trust.

This is a chance to save a truly remarkably pure and beautiful lake (see the following photos and maps, or better yet, visit Great Pond). Contributions are tax-deductible as provided by the federal tax code. Please give this your very serious consideration. Contact one of the following to pledge and receive instructions as to how to donate and when. Thank you for your consideration.

Contacts

or Fax 203-730-8079 or email chromian@chromian.com