The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy enhances the quality of life in the Mohawk and Hudson River valleys by preserving natural, scenic, agricultural and historic landscapes, and conserving habitats, in partnership with landowners, not-for-profit organizations, businesses and governments for the benefit of current and future generations.

Our Business Sponsors:Barrett Associates

Bearing Distributors Inc.Creó Restaurant

Edward JonesFreihofer’s

Interim HealthCareSABIC

Times UnionWhite Management Corp.

THANK YOU

MISSION

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Fall Colors at Restifo by Louis Suarato

* Header Photo by dietrichgehring.com

**http://www.landtrustalliance org/ why-conserve-land/threats/unplanned-development

VIEWPOINTSOPPORTUNITIES ABOUND!

Today, after a long period of reduced activity resulting from the recent economic slump, the pace of development in our region is picking up dramatically. While this helps create jobs and economic activity, we need to avoid the familiar pattern of sprawl from poorly planned development leading to the loss of cherished natural areas. People across the region are calling us, alarmed by the sudden conversion of fields and woodlands to residential and commercial expansion. In many locations across the Capital Region development marches on through farm fields and forests rather than smart growth through infill or redevelopment of previously disturbed areas.The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is your local land resource. MHLC preserves land while providing places to

walk, explore, recreate and reflect. Over our 23 year history, the Conservancy has preserved almost 3,700 acres in Albany, Schenectady and Montgomery counties. More than 1,300 acres are open to the public for hiking, cross-country skiing and an array of educational and recreational opportunities.We are excited to announce that today, MHLC has fourteen priority projects underway that could result in the permanent conservation of nearly 2,000 acres of natural lands in our three counties over the coming Continues on page 3

In the United States, more than 5,000 acres of land are lost to development every day.** In the Capital Region, thousands of acres are threatened right now.

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www.mohawkhudson.orgDecember 2015 Volume 12 Issue 2

MHLC has fourteen priority projects underway that could result in the permanent

conservation of nearly 2,000 acres of natural lands

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Lisa Evans President Christopher Gorka Vice President Cathie Love Treasurer Kim Baker Secretary Carol Ash David Barnet Michael Barrett Tony Belsito Glen Bruening Sarah Carroll Sandra Geisinger Dan Lewis Angelicia Morris Ellie Prakken Dodie Seagle Elliott Shaw Judy Thomson ADVISORY COUNCIL John Abbuhl Matt Bender Charles Buchanan Ginny Carter Jeff Jones Chuck Manning Felton McLaughlin Stewart Myers John Privitera Peggy Sherman Mike Sterthous Peter Ten Eyck Maggie Vinciguerra Val Washington STAFF Mark KingExecutive Director

Lea Montalto-RookDevelopment Director

Lisa AllendorphFinance Administrator

Connie Tedesco Stewardship Director

John Schlepp Stewardship Coordinator

Tina Bateman Program Assistant

PEOPLE

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In the Community

With the help of friends and volunteers, MHLC offered over a dozen hikes and educational opportunities in 2015.Above left: Al Breisch shows off an egg sack found on the Search for the Spotted Salamander hike.Above right: Participants in the Mushrooms of the Northeast class look on as Dave

Muska of Ondatra Adventures highlights characteristics of a mushroom found at the Wolf Creek Falls Preserve.Thank you to our hike leaders, participants and MHLC Hike Coordinator, Dodie Seagle, for making these public outings possible. Look for our 2016 Calendar of Events on the MHLC website in January.

Photo: Tim Roske

From the Executive DirectorMark King, MHLC Executive Director

Maybe I say this every year, but this fall’s colors were simply outstanding. This annual explosion of color is one of highlights of living in the Mohawk and Hudson River Valleys.

I was reminded of this recently by an MHLC member joining me for a donor visit. Rounding the bend on Rt. 443 in Clarksville en route to Coeymans, she gasped. “Look at that ridge – it’s breathtaking!” True, the fiery brilliance of the reds, oranges and yellows was magnificent – it filled the windshield. And I was able to thank her, and now you, for that awesome sight. That ridge – Wolf Hill, where the Keleher Preserve and Gibson Easement are located -- is preserved forever by people. You, her, and hundreds of friends. Preserving and protecting the scenic beauty and natural history of this region is why the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy exists. Your land trust has unprecedented opportunities right NOW to conserve additional lands. From the foothills of the Catskills in Rensselaerville, to the farmlands

of Montgomery County, to the scarce remaining open space in Colonie, we have 14 priority land opportunities. Of course, (you knew this was coming!) funding is a critical need. One of the challenges for this organization is balancing our conservation opportunities with our human and financial resources. As donors invest in MHLC, we can protect more land, be responsible stewards of that land, and offer additional programs and outreach. And, while financial support is an obvious need, so is sharing your enthusiasm for our work with your neighbors. We ask you to tell people about our organization, take friends to one of our many preserves -- and help build MHLC into the fabric and culture of the place we call home. This is your land trust. We thank you for all you do for MHLC and for making our region extraordinary. We welcome your ideas, suggestions and comments as we continue to accomplish great things together. Stop in, call, email with your feedback. Better yet, join us on the trails!

Opportunities Abound continuedmonths. These landscapes represent a broad swath of properties resulting from our efforts to preserve:

• working farmlands (Montgomery and Albany counties),• wildlife habitat and stunning vistas (throughout the counties we serve),• a site for the possible relocation of the historic Hilton Barn (New Scotland),• and some of the last remaining open spaces in the highly developed areas of our region (Pine Bush and the Mohawk River Corridor).

To complete these historic projects, we must raise $245,000. This is an extraordinary opportunity— to have so many projects coalescing at once after years of preparation and negotiation—and now the funding must come together too! We need your assistance today more than ever— we cannot accomplish great things without you. Your generous donation today will help MHLC act quickly and decisively to save these vital open spaces forever!

Montgomery County FarmlandMuch of New York's Capital Region landscape is farmland, which is also some of the most threatened farmland in America. More than 4,000 farms in New York have been lost to real estate development since the 1980s, a significant loss for our economy as well as a loss of fresh, local food.

MHLC has a great new opportunity to protect almost 500 acres of family farmland in Montgomery County. The project includes nearly a mile of Schoharie Creek frontage and high quality agricultural lands.

Town of Colonie Open Space“There are still significant blocks of undeveloped land in the Town, especially at the western and northern edges including the Pine Bush and the Mohawk River Corridor. It is now a critical time for the community to decide whether and how to conserve some of these remaining lands for this and future generations.” (Town of Colonie Comprehensive Plan page 12)

We are poised to protect nearly 70 acres of open space in the middle of one of the Town of Colonie’s highly developed neighborhoods. The property is located along the Mohawk River, a protection priority for MHLC and very scenic area. We also hope to add several properties to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve in the Town of Colonie – MHLC’s first projects focused on expanding the protection of this globally rare and locally important ecosystem.

Bozen Kill RavineWith the newly opened Bozen Kill Preserve just outside of Altamont, the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy is protecting almost 3 miles of Bozen Kill shoreline. Flowing from the Helderberg Escarpment, the Bozen Kill originates from wetlands in Schenectady County and eventually enters the Watervliet Reservoir, the primary drinking water source for Watervliet and much of the Town of Guilderland. MHLC has long considered the Bozen Kill a protection priority and there are more opportunities to protect this scenic natural area. Today we plan to expand the Bozen Kill Preserve with three acquisitions that will add an additional mile of shoreline along the Bozen Kill stream.

Helderberg Conservation CorridorA new conservation easement, to be completed by year end, will expand the conservation area between Indian Ladder Farms and Thacher State Park. Additional easements underway will preserve scenic vistas and farmland in Rensselaerville as we continue to build a corridor of preserved lands stretching from the foothills of the Catskills across the Helderberg Escarpment.

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To donate today, mail the form located on page 4 or donate online at: www.mohawkhudson.org/donate-now

Fall colors and a farm road in the Town of Colonie.

WE NEED YOU!The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy

has unprecedented opportunities to preserve more than 2,000 acres of natural lands in the Capital Region.

These lands represent a broad swath of historical sites, working farmlands, wildlife habitats, stunning vistas, and some of the last remaining open spaces in the highly developed areas of our region.

We need your help today! We have already received donations from partners and donors totaling $217,500. But we still need to raise $245,000 to be able to complete these exciting projects. This goal is an unprecedented amount for MHLC to raise in such a short period of time.

Your donation will make a significant and lasting impact by...

• protecting local food sources and provide drinkable water;

• permanently preserving historical sites;

• ensuring the protection of shrinking wildlife habitat;

• and providing quality outdoor recreation.

This holiday season, please give the gift of a green, healthy open spaces to all residents of the Capital Region.

Yes, I/we will make a difference today!

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Mail this form and your payment to: Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy 425 Kenwood Ave, Delmar, NY 12054

or Donate Online at mohawkhudson.org/donate-now

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Thank you Lisa EvansWith the coming of the New Year, leadership of the MHLC Board will change hands and Lisa Evan’s tenure as Board president will end. I want to thank Lisa for her outstanding leadership and guidance over the past three years. She oversaw many changes in the organization and her enthusiasm, drive and steady hand resulted in unprecedented growth for the organization. Though she will no longer be at the helm, Lisa will continue to serve on the board and help conserve more open space across the region. Mark King, MHLC Executive Director

After a year of planning, trail design, and many hours of hard work by tireless volunteers, MHLC hosted a ceremony on October 14 to officially open the new Bozen Kill Preserve! With Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara, Board Members, donors, volunteers, friends, and neighbors looking on, Linda Becker cut the ribbon to open the preserve, and MHLC's new Stewardship Director, Connie Tedesco, led a guided tour of the property. The Preserve currently boasts approximately one mile of trails through the beautiful Bozen Kill stream corridor and surrounding forests. The longer, white trail extends into the property, winding along a ridge parallel to the Bozen Kill. Scenic vistas and wildlife can be seen throughout the year. The shorter, blue trail or stream trail, loops down to the Bozen Kill from the parking area offering close up views of the stream and surrounding rock formations. This new preserve is the culmination of much effort on the part of those who dreamed that this moment would come to pass. We are proud to be able to join forces with our partners, the Open Space Institute and The Nature Conservancy, to preserve these unique historical lands for future generations. MHLC looks forward to expanding both the trails and the footprint of the preserve itself in the years to come.

Opening the Bozen Kill Preserve

Above left: Amy Bennett, Mary Lou Terko, William Bennett, Sue Scofield, Bob Scofield, Susan Bennett, and Keith Bennett at the 2015 Fall Fundraiser honoring Allison Bennett. Above right: The Stewardship Giving Tree waits to greet guests as they arrive at the Fall Fundraiser. The Red Bud sapling was adorned with ornaments representing the stewardship tools needed for MHLC preserves.Right: Lisa Evans, outgoing MHLC Board President, with her husband Tom at the Fall Fundraiser.

On Thursday, October 8th, many good friends and supporters assembled at the New York State Museum to celebrate the accomplishments of the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy and to honor the life and work of Allison Bennett. The event was a tremendous success with sold-out crowds raising more than $50,000 for the Conservancy and its land conservation efforts.Guest speaker, Bethlehem Town Historian Susan Leath, gave a moving tribute to Allison Bennett and MHLC Executive Director, Mark King, presented Allison's family (pictured above) with a framed photo of MHLC's Bennett Hill Preserve. Guests were acquainted with MHLC's exciting conservation efforts, with more than 14 new projects spread throughout the Conservancy's tri-county area.

Guests also enjoyed a select wine tasting, beer brewed with hops from Indian Ladder Farms, memorable cuisine from Creo Restaurant, tango music by Spiral Tango, and bidding on many fabulous auction items. Visit mohawkhudson.org to view event pictures.This incredible event was made possible by the generous support of the Bennett family along with MHLC's Event Committee, Honorary Committee, Board of Directors, sponsors (Creo Restaurant, Interim HealthCare, Barrett Associates, Bearing Distributors Inc., Edward Jones, and SABIC), donors, volunteers and attendees. This support is essential to the success of MHLC and provides vital resources for land protection and stewardship for the benefit of all in the Capital Region. Thank You!

A Forest Fête

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Non Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDPermit No. 203

Albany, NY

HELP MHLC CONSERVE 2,000 ACRESFall Fundraiser You made it a success!

VIEWPOINTS Fall/Winter2015

Mohawk HudsonLand Conservancy 425 Kenwood Avenue Delmar, NY 12054

(518) 436-6346

www.mohawkhudson.org

Albany County is making great progress on the Albany County Helderberg Hudson Rail Trail. Bridge work,

paving and fencing are all underway between Delaware Avenue in Delmar and South Pearl Street in Albany. Drainage and bridge work obstacles have resulted in some delays so it appears that an official opening won’t happen until Spring 2016. Check our website for additional updates and news. www.mohawkhudson.org/railtrail

RAIL TRAIL NEWS