William D. & Barbara Lang Hacker Wildlife Sanctuary

Thanks to the generous bequest of William D. Hacker and Barbara Lang Hacker, the Harwich Conservation Trust was able to purchase and preserve forever 8.7 acres of wooded pondshore offering views of sun-spackled waters through tall pines and oaks. In their honor, the woodland, wetland, and 600 feet of shoreline on Katie's Pond was named the William D. & Barbara Lang Hacker Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary also provides 791 feet along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a regional bicycle path ranging 22 miles from Dennis at Route 134 to Wellfleet. The Sanctuary's trail is accessible to walkers from the Cape Cod Rail Trail at mile marker four. Bicyclists are asked to leave their bicycles at the rail trail and proceed into the Sanctuary on foot.

The land preserved by the William D. & Barbara Lang Hacker Wildlife Sanctuary helps protect the water quality of Katie's Pond. The Sanctuary fits naturally with the Trust's Priority Ponds Project under the Save Land - Save Water Initiative. Put simply, the goal of the overarching Save Land - Save Water Initiative is to save critical lands which help save water resources like coastal and drinking water resources. The goal of the Priority Ponds Project is to provide landowners with land conservation options that help protect pond water quality and wildlife habitat.