Sugar Meadow Island Nature Preserve
In 2004, Farmington River Coordinating Committee (FRCC) actively assisted Barkhamsted Land Trust with a land protection project. The Land Trust became the proud owners of Sugar Meadow Island in the Wild & Scenic Farmington River, just north of the Pleasant Valley bridge. Farmington River Watershed Association (FRWA), with financial assistance from FRCC and Farmington River Anglers Association (FRAA) along with pro bono legal support from Larry Kiel of Murphy, Laudati & Kiel, brokered the acquisition and transferred the 12-acre island to Barkhamsted Land Trust to ensure that it is permanently protected. It continues to be protected with the North Woods Land Conservancy upon the merger of Hartland Land Trust and Barkhamsted Land Trust in 2024.