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Benjamin-Wing Wetland Restoration Site
The Benjamin-Wing wetland restoration site in Benson is a model of cooperation between willing landowners, the state, and conservation groups. Clean and Clear is providing $39,000 in funding to The Nature Conservancy (TNC) which recently purchased a 65-acre parcel of agricultural (the Benjamin tract) property which borders the Hubbardton River in the Lake Champlain Basin. TNC worked with the neighboring farmer (John Wing) to swap of a portion of the property, securing 50 acres of low utility, wet agricultural land adjacent to the river. This low utility land will be retired from  agriculture and will be restored to wet clayplain forest which is a significant natural community in Vermont. The restoration of this formerly farmed site will eliminate an active source of phosphorus loading to surface waters. Since the farmer was able to trade low utility wet land for usable dry land for agricultural grazing, all parties benefit from the transaction.
This project was a win-win for the farmer and for conservation of water quality and other natural resources. The farmer was able to trade for good, usable dry land for agricultural purposes while at the same time removing poorer quality land from his ownership. The Conservancy retained a significant portion of the original land for restoration of wetland and clayplain forest that also provides a critical buffer to the Hubbardton River, mitigating agricultural inputs of phosphorous.
The Clean and Clear funding will help cover the costs of acquisition of the land, and will provide seed money for planning and monitoring the restoration, and for purchasing restoration materials. A grant agreement with The Nature Conservancy is being finalized, and a separate conservation agreement is being developed which will be recorded in the town land records to protect the state's interest in this property.
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![Vermont Division of Forestry [photo]](../img/top_banner.jpg)
