11th Hour Racing Awards $30K to Barrington Land Conservation Trust

The oxygen we breathe, the food we eat, and the stability of our climate all depend on our ocean, and ocean health starts on the land. That’s the inspiration behind 11th Hour Racing’s philanthropic activities, which help many small organizations improve conservation of natural places and promote public engagement in environmental issues.

11th Hour Racing has awarded $30,000 to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust to support a range of improvements at Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve and PIC-WIL Nature Preserve over the next two years.

“This support is a game changer for our little land trust,” says BLCT Executive Director Cindy Elder. “This will enable us to improve access to these sensitive conservation lands and provide educational opportunities for students of all ages to learn about coastal habitats. The grant will boost our ability to reduce the spread of invasive plants on the property and increase planting of native plants, which are so essential to our ecosystem.”

This support enables the creation of safe trails, bridges and walkovers, a need that has become more urgent with rising tides and increasingly violent storms. There will also be new informational signage to improve the experience of guided walks, educational groups, and self-guided events. With significant volunteer support, the Land Trust will also introduce more native plants and remove invasive plants.

“These two properties are home to a number of research activities conducted by universities and environmental organizations,” says Elder. “These improvements will facilitate the work of researchers as we seek to understand and respond to the changes taking place in our climate and
environment.”

Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve

Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve is a 32-acre preserve owned and managed by the Barrington Land Conservation Trust. The preserve is part of 100 acres of contiguous undeveloped marsh and upland in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

The Land Trust acquired the preserve in Rhode Island in 1990 for $650,000, with funds from RI Open Space Bonds administered by the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM), Town Open Space Bonds and Land Trust donors.

The DEM chose to fund the acquisition because it was deemed one of the most valued saltmarsh complexes in the state, with significant scenic and wildlife value and protective value to the Palmer River from floods and stormwater runoff. DEM holds a conservation easement on the property.

Johannis Farm Wildlife Preserve features a diverse habitat, with open fields, deciduous forest, vernal pools, and salt marsh. Four plants at the preserve are designated as “state threatened” or “of concern” in the RI Rare and Endangered Species list: Colic Root, Leafy Bulrush, Seaside Gerardia, and Slimspike Three-awn. The preserve also provides a habitat for resident and migratory birds, an anadromous fish run (for fish that migrate up rivers from the sea to spawn), and state-endangered Diamondback Terrapin turtles.

PIC-WIL Nature Preserve

PIC-WIL Nature Preserve is a 23.9-acre expanse of forest, field, salt marsh, and coastal dunes on the east shore of the Providence River. The property was donated to the Nature Conservancy byCatherine Picerelli in December of 1986 and deeded to the Barrington Land Conservation Trust in 1987, to be preserved in perpetuity as a nature preserve. The Audubon Society has a conservation easement on the property.

The donation was made in memory of the families of Peter J. Picerelli and Clifford M. Wilson: thus, the name “PIC-WIL.” The property was once home to a bottling facility owned by Deep Water Rock Company, located on the south field, which closed in 1958. The north field was an organic farm until 2001. One-third of the property is covered by a mix of deciduous and conifer trees. It also has a tidal salt marsh that separates it from the abutting property to the west, which the Land Trust also owns.

Common birds of the marsh and tidal creeks include Mallards, American Black Ducks, Snowy and Great Egrets, Green-backed Herons, Great Blue Herons, and Osprey. Sharp-tailed Sparrows, Belted Kingfishers, and various shorebirds are other likely visitors of the wetland. Nesting birds of the forest and its shrub border include Song Sparrow, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Flicker, Cardinal, Goldfinch, Robin, Red-eyed Vireo, Mockingbird, Catbird, Brown Thrasher and others. Three plants at PIC-WIL have “special interest” status in the state of Rhode Island: Creeping Spikerush (Eleocharis rostellata), Maritime Seablite (Suaeda maritima) and Robust Bulrush (Scirpus robustus).

11th Hour Racing Ambassador
The Land Trust credits its success in securing this support to 11th Hour Racing Ambassador Andy Green of Warren, RI. Andy also served as the ambassador for the Warren Land Trust’s grant a few years ago. “We’re grateful to Andy and our colleagues in Warren for opening the door to this opportunity,” says Elder.

Inspired by the dynamics of sailboat racing and the urgency for climate action, 11th Hour Racing is committed to the health and resilience of ocean systems. Supporting innovative, sustainable solutions in the maritime industry and beyond through sport, storytelling and grantmaking, 11th Hour Racing works to build healthy planetary systems and strong communities.

“It’s an all-hands-on-deck moment,” says Elder. “We need to work together to tackle the challenges that threaten our land and water. We’re grateful to have 11 th Hour Racing as a partner in this effort.”

Header image credit: Barrington Land Conservation Trust