Haverhill and Greenbelt Move to Conserve 88 Acres Around Crystal Lake

HAVERHILL — February 14, 2023 — Essex County Greenbelt and Haverhill's City Water Department are partnering to conserve 88 acres around Crystal Lake, a primary drinking water source in the city's northwestern corner. The initiative involves Greenbelt acquiring an 18.6-acre parcel outright from the Meserve family and placing a conservation restriction on roughly 54 additional Meserve acres, with the city contributing a $250,000 grant to cover half the cost of the restriction. The protected land would adjoin an existing cluster of nearly 400 city-owned conservation acres — Crystal Gorge, Crystal Point, and Crystal Shores — maintained by the Haverhill Trails Committee. A Greenbelt representative said the campaign has already exceeded its goal of 100 local donors but that fundraising remains open to close the remaining project balance; donations are accepted at ecga.org.