Degradation Description
Known as the Fort Hill Farm in the 1800s, this site was used primarily for grazing by young cattle. Today, the mostly wooded Merritt Property has concentrations of non-native invasive plants in its forested and meadow areas. Species include Russian olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), bittersweet vines (Celastrus orbiculatus), and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora). The nearly 80-acre Merritt Property had also been under very strong development pressure by a private developer for more than 5 years prior to the purchase by GOSA.