Fire Tower Road parcels: CONSERVED ON APRIL 8, 2025
With the amazing generosity of the community, we were fully funded for this purchase! Special thanks to Essex County Greenbelt for their generous contribution toward this effort, and their spirit of cooperation on conservation in Manchester and Essex.
Essex
MECT has protected 12 acres of significant conservation and recreational value off Southern Avenue in Essex, including portions of the gated fire tower road. We are pleased to conserve this area – while securing access to many miles of trails, including trails known locally as Bullseye and Dark Tower. This forested land includes vernal pools, intermittent streams, and stretches into an area known as Wise Swamp.
Ferns, sphagnum moss bog, bald ledges and challenging trails make this a place to experience. We are grateful to the sellers for this opportunity to protect this land forever after many years of discussions.
View of land protected by MECT (light green) and other entities (dark green) The Fire Tower Road parcels are in orange.
Google Earth 3D view of the Fire Tower Road parcel (outlined in white) and existing rugged trails (green).
These parcels are a strategic piece for protecting the undeveloped wilderness corridor stretching from the Gloucester border to the Beverly line. In the 1700’s, ownership of this land was divided up into small woodlots and many of these small woodlots remain under private ownership today. MECT, in cooperation with other conservation organizations, aims to preserve the conservation values of this area through purchase and donations of small woodlots, much like we have done in the Wilderness Conservation Area to the west. Last year we conserved 17 acres to the north in an area known for a large glacial erratic called Tiltin’ Rock and the Fire Tower road parcels expand on this investment.
Conservation Value: The state has designated portions of this land, and adjacent acres for “Vernal Pools of Local Importance” and determined that the area has conservation importance to the state through BioMap Forest Core, Vernal Pool Core, and Wetland Core identifications. Conserving these parcels also protects habitat for known federally and state rare species.
Watershed Value: These parcels hold wetlands, vernal pools, and an intermittent stream – all contributors to the Sawmill Brook Watershed. A stream flows from these parcels, under Southern Avenue to join up with Sawmill Brook near Cedar Swamp in Manchester, then down to the Lincoln Street well where Manchester draws a portion of its drinking water. Sawmill Brook is also a cold-water fishery that supports sea-run brook trout and rainbow smelt.
Many streams and pools contribute to the Sawmill Brook Watershed that stretches to the north of Laurel Lane, Essex, and east of the Gloucester border. Forested wetlands collect, cleanse, and keep the water cool.
Together, we have protected this natural treasure — and ensure it remains a resource for wildlife, recreation, and clean water for the future.
We are quietly working on conservation of additional parcels in this area, and other locations in Essex and Manchester. You can support our future projects with donations to our Save Our Woods Capital Campaign, so that we can quickly act on parcels that become available for purchase or conservation restrictions.
