Timber company seeks county support for conservation easement to National Park Service

Brett Matushak, senior real estate manager for Lyme Great Lakes Timberlands, briefed the committee on a multi‑year proposal to transfer a conservation easement to the National Park Service to protect a trail corridor across Lyme‑owned lands. “What NPS will actually acquire is a conservation easement,” Matushak said, explaining Lyme would continue to own and manage the property as working forest timberlands and that the easement is designed to protect trail access in perpetuity rather than establish a narrow right‑of‑way.

Matushak said the easement covers whole 40‑acre parcels and estimated a 200‑foot management buffer on either side of the trail where logging practices would be altered to preserve a trail‑like experience. Board members asked whether the easement would reduce county tax revenue; Matushak said it would remain in the same tax class (remains in CF) and would not reduce county tax receipts. The board expressed no opposition and agreed by consensus to provide a letter of support for the easement request to the National Park Service.