Crystal Lake Watershed

With your help, Greenbelt has conserved 73 critical acres in the Crystal Lake watershed, an important source of Haverhill’s drinking water.

Greenbelt has negotiated the purchase of development rights on 54 acres and the acquisition of 19 acres of land.

Conserving these 73 acres will:

Protect Haverhill’s drinking water 

Preserve threatened wildlife

Expand Crystal Gorge Conservation Area

Grow Haverhill’s public trail system

Ecological Values

• Eight vernal pools have been certified by the state on the CR, an indication of its high habitat quality for two state-listed threatened amphibians.
• All three parcels are mapped as Priority Habitat for Rare Species, and BioMap2 Core Habitat for Species of Conservation Concern.
• Two of the three properties have areas designated BioMap2 Core Habitat and Critical Natural Landscape for least-disturbed wetland complexes. 
• All three parcels are mapped by the UMASS CAPS project as within the top 50% of lands in the Commonwealth with the highest ecological integrity.

Development Threat

The highest and best use of the 54-acre and 19-acre parcels is for residential housing.  The properties are in a desirable, rural neighborhood of Haverhill, with scenic views and access to public trails.  Inventory of available house lots is low, and demand for housing in rural areas is high.