The 120 acres on Saltonstall Mountain is a unique piece of open space protected for residents of Branford and North Branford for generations to come. The second largest undeveloped property remaining in Branford, this oak and hickory woodland parcel connects the Town's Pisgah Brook Preserve to the south with several open space parcels in North Branford, creating a contiguous 800 acre natural preserve. The Saltonstall Mountain Property: • protects the ridgeline of Saltonstall Mountain, a component of the Metacomet Ridge System and a significant scenic feature of Branford and North Branford. • provides habitat for birds such as the Ovenbird, Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanager and several species of warbler that require large unbroken woodlands for nesting. • provides an important resting and foraging area for thousands of raptors and other birds during spring and fall migrations. • offers valuable habitat for rare plant and animal species protected by the State. These include the Eastern Box Turtle, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Violet Wood Sorrel. • increases recreation opportunities by adding more than 2 miles of established trails to the Pisgah Brook trail system. • protect our public water supply. Development of this steep rocky site would cause runoff and erosion and contamination of the public water supply of the Farm River. A Broad-based Partnership Numerous organizations worked to preserve Saltonstall Mountain. The Town of Branford was the initial buyer of the property. The Regional Water Authority then purchase 27 of these acres that lie in North Branford. The Branford Land Trust raised $100,000 towards the purchase price in exchange for permanent conservation protection on the Branford portion of the property. The North Branford Land Trust, the Friends of the Farm River Estuary, and the Farm River Protective Association joined in the Branford Land Trust effort. The Foote Family Charitable Trust matched every dollar raised.         (Click on map for larger view.)