up to 65-75% of fair market value

Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition Grant Program

The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) Grant Program provides financial assistance to municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire land for open space, and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II water supply property.

Additional Information:
Awards are granted to projects that offer the highest conservation and recreational value and that leverage the greatest percentage of private and municipal funding. Grants are awarded for the purchase of land that is: - Valuable for recreation, forestry, fishing, conservation of wildlife or natural resources; - A prime natural feature of the state's landscape; - Habitat for native plant or animal species listed as threatened, endangered or of special concern; - A relatively undisturbed outstanding example of an uncommon native ecological community; - Important for enhancing and conserving water quality; - Valuable for preserving local agricultural heritage; or - Eligible to be classified as Class I or Class II watershed land. Land acquired will be preserved in perpetuity predominately in its natural scenic and open condition, for the protection or provision of potable water, or for agriculture.

Funding Agencies: CT DEEP

Frequency Details: Annual

Match Requirement: 25-35%