By Susan Hughes and Jodi Valenti

The wild and scenic Nashua River winds through the heart of our region. For
generations, its quiet strength has shaped the identity of this corner of the state,
nourishing farms, forests, wildlife, and the communities that have sprung up along its
banks.

The wildlife habitats, forests, fields, drumlins and rivers that make this part of
Massachusetts unique and inviting deserve our stewardship for future generations to
enjoy, and next year presents an important opportunity for Massachusetts to do more to
protect them: the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative which is headed toward
the November 2026 statewide ballot.

That’s why the GCT joined the Trustees of Reservations, Trust for Public Land, the Audubon, the Nature for Conservancy and other local land trusts in the Nature for Massachusetts Coalition. We want to help get this initiative across the finish line.

The initiative would generate $100 million annually from the existing state sales tax on
sporting goods and allocate them to protecting and conserving water and nature.
These funds will conserve and restore the lands and waters that define Massachusetts:
our rivers, lakes, forests, farms, and outdoor recreation areas. Two conservation
projects here in Groton provide an example of what Massachusetts could do more often
— in every community — with adequate conservation funding.

Bates Conservation Land, with its welcoming and accessible trails for residents of all
ages and abilities, has become a beloved daily refuge. A recent revitalization returned
much of its meadows to native wildflowers, increasing important pollinator activity. It’s a
place where parents push strollers beneath the shade of mature maple trees, seniors
walk for health and companionship, birders gather at dawn, and families discover the
simple joy of exploring nature close to home.

Just across town, sitting prominently in a 1,500-acre block of contiguous protected open
space, the 360-acre Surrenden Farm and The General Field have a commanding view
of Wachusett Mountain and the Nashua River, dense forests, and scenic rolling
hayfields. The Trust for Public Land worked with the Town of Groton, the Groton School
and the Groton Conservation Trust to acquire the properties, and they tell a different but
equally vital story. They aren’t just scenic; they are a living reminder of our region’s
rural, agricultural roots and forested landscapes. The General Field’s sweeping open
fields, fertile soils, and working landscape help sustain the local farming economy that
has defined this area for centuries. Standing at the edge of the hayfield, you can
appreciate the beauty of the open space and forests that would have been developed
had it not been protected. Now it is a popular site for picnicking, hiking, and winter
sports.

Yet despite their importance, these cherished places are vulnerable. Massachusetts is
losing forests, farms, wetlands, and clean water sources at an alarming rate of more
than 10,000 acres every year. Rivers and streams wait for the restoration and
stewardship they need. Climate change continues to place unprecedented pressure on
our towns and cities. And the federal conservation funding our region relies on remains
uncertain.

With federal funding for land and water conservation under threat and climate change
straining our forests and watersheds, we risk losing the very places that make our
communities appealing and resilient to climate risks. These landscapes keep our
drinking water clean, buffer us from flooding, support wildlife, and bolster our economy.
That’s why next year presents such an important opportunity.

Passing the Protect Water and Nature ballot initiative will help permanently protect
more places like Bates Land, support the agricultural stewardship that keeps Surrenden
Farm and The General Field thriving, and invest in the clean water and healthy
ecosystems that make the Nashoba Valley so extraordinary.

Importantly, this initiative is not a tax increase. It simply directs existing sales-tax
revenue from sporting goods, items like golf clubs, camping equipment, and fishing
rods, toward protecting the lands and waters on which outdoor recreation depends. This
funding could mean more protected farmland, expand trail networks, cleaner
waterways, and stronger climate resilience while improving outdoor access for residents
of every age and ability, regardless of ZIP code.

Local organizations like the Groton Conservation Trust and the North County Land
Trust, along with statewide partners such as Mass Audubon, Appalachian Mountain
Club, The Trustees, The Nature Conservancy, Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, and Trust
for Public Land, are supporting the Protect Water and Nature initiative. Sporting
organizations are on board as well, including REI, New England Mountain Bike
Association, and Waypoint Adventurers.

To learn more, visit Nature for Massachusetts.

The state legislature still has the chance to act on parallel legislation this year. We hope
they do. But if they don’t, voters will have the opportunity next year to take this critical
step themselves and choose clean water, thriving farms, healthy forests, more parks,
and more access to nature for everyone.

Jodi Valenta is Associate Vice President and Massachusetts State Director of Trust for
Public Land. Susan Hughes is Vice President of Groton Conservation Trust.