Wood and Water, Sand and Stream Celebrating 30 Years of Land Protection in Rensselaer County Albany NY Permit No 403 US Postage Paid Nonprofit Organization

FALL 2017 NEWS EVENTS • OUTINGS 2016 annual report

415 River Street 12180 NY Troy, Welcoming New Leadership Celebrate with Us November 12

Return Service Requested By Kristina Younger, President By John Winter, Executive Director As we usher in our This year marks the 30th anniversary of the fourth decade, the founding of the Rensselaer Land Trust. Thirty Rensselaer Land Trust years ago a group of forward-thinking citizens (RLT) is pleased to in- from our area saw the need to conserve key troduce John Winter lands for open space, for wildlife habitat, and to our community. We to maintain our quality of life. Three decades are blessed to have an later that vision has protected over 1,300 acres experienced land trust of land in Rensselaer County, including eight professional on board nature preserves and fifteen conservation ease- as Executive Director ments. as we chart the course for our next decade of RLT is accredited by the Land Trust Alliance land conservation in Rensselaer County. I hope te m ent and, in fact, was among the first land trusts a that you will make a special effort to come to accredited when the program was established. ou ch our Annual Meeting on November 12 at Revo- We are also a member of the Berkshire-Taconic lution Hall to meet John and to celebrate our Regional Conservation Partnership, a collab- • F oun d e in 1987 30-year history. orative effort among area land conservation r s ard of Di r e c to aff in T ay Thank you for your support! groups to deliver landscape scale land protec- Conserving Land • Protecting Resources Mission S t open the conserve to is Trust Land Rensselaer the of mission The County, Rensselaer of habitats natural and watersheds spaces, for the benefit of our communities and future generations. organization. nonprofit 501(c)(3) a is Trust Land Rensselaer The donations are our primary funding source. Your B o Alm Fred Bogan Lynn Treasurer Bob Crowley, Carl Cipperly Nick Conrad, Executive Committee Member Joseph Durkin David Gaskell Eric Keil President Sally Lawrence, Vice Scott Morley Thomas Phillips Secretary Paul Schroeder, President Younger, Kristina St Executive Director John Winter, Associate Admin. & Comm. Julie Moore, S t E-news: e-mail [email protected] www.facebook.com/RensselaerLandTrust www.meetup.com/Rensselaer-Land-Trust www.renstrust.org E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (518) 659-LAND (5263) tion. Continued on page 2.

Celebrate with Us––continued Outings and Workshops Special Thank You to Red- She led RLT in being one of the first land After 30 years there are many people to thank fin for their sponsorship of trusts to be awarded national re-accredi- Co-sponsored by the Rensselaer Land Trust and tation. RLT owes much of its success and for land conservation in Rensselaer County. Rensselaer Plateau Alliance. our 2017 Outings and Workshops Series. We’ll do so at our Annual Meeting and 30th growth these past eight years to Chris- More details can be found online. tine’s leadership. As she has said, she didn’t Anniversary Celebration on November 12th at www.renstrust.org Brown’s Revolution Hall in Troy. An Anniversary Request as think of RLT as a 9 to 5 job, but rather as Wreath Making Workshop “her own personal business.” Thank you, RLT Turns 30 Christine, for a great eight years! We’ll take time to honor our donors, volun- November 11 • 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Thirty years ago a group of forward-think- teers, and current and former board members Make a fragrent balsam wreath with a variety of ing people came together to conserve the and staff. We will hear from outgoing County fresh greens. Enjoy good company and lunch. special places in Rensselaer County. Since Welcome New Board Members Executive Kathy Jimino and Troy Mayor Pat- Supplies and lunch included in $20 fee. then, thousands of people have contributed Lynn Bogan, Cropseyville rick Madden. We’ll pay tribute to our found- Registration: Francille Egbert (518) 674-3214. in so many ways to ensuring our lands and ers and our past RLT presidents, board mem- Lynn joined the waters are protected for us, our children, board in 2017 and bers, and staff including Christine Young, our and our grandchildren. As we celebrate 30 former executive director, who guided RLT so is excited to be part years of land conservation we’d like you to of the Land Trust be- ably for nine years. And we will welcome our consider a special gift befitting the occa- new Executive Director, John Winter. cause of its mission sion – $30 per month for 30 months. Your to conserve natural We will also honor our 2017 William Niemi tax-deductible commitment to the future communities and na- Conservation Leadership Award winner Da- will be used to protect land for people and tive biodiversity, as well as to provide op- vid Hunt and our Volunteer of the Year Award the animals and plants we share it with and portunities for people to get outside and winner Marcy Steinberg for their inspiring help make sure the water is clean. Thank enjoy nature. She is the Environmental conservation work. Winter Snowshoe/Hiking Series you for caring for these 30 years and for Stewardship Coordinator for NY State supporting us as we begin our next 30 Parks, where she works to balance envi- “We are thrilled to be welcoming old friends December 30 • 10:00 a.m. years together. ronmental conservation and recreation. and new to celebrate our 30th anniversary. It Celebrate the beginning of winter at RPA’s Her professional interests are in land use Grafton Forest. Register with is the vision and hard work of so many people Appreciation for Christine and biodiversity conservation, and she Fred DeMay, [email protected]. that we are commemorating this special day.” received her B.S. in Environmental and said Kristina Younger, RLT’s Board President. Young’s Service to the January 6 • 9:00 a.m. Rensselaer Land Trust Forest Biology with a concentration in As a special treat, George Wilson, local re- Taconic Crest trail. Register with Michael Ecology from SUNY Environmental Sci- nowned fiddler, multi-instrumental virtuoso, Jensen, [email protected]. The Executive Director ence and Forestry and her M.S. in Bio- and singer will perform a variety of traditional position in any small diversity, Conservation, and Policy from January 27 • 10:00 a.m. and folk styles. George has mastered nearly nonprofit organization the University at Albany. The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance Albert Family requires a very broad 500 tunes from New England, Quebec, Cape Community Forest in East Nassau. Register Eric Kiel, Troy Breton, Scotland, Ireland, and Shetland. range of talents from with Peter Wood, fundraising and culti- Eric grew up in West- [email protected]. Please join us as we celebrate at Brown’s Brew- vation of donors to of- ern New York and moved to Troy, NY after ing Company’s Revolutionary Hall at 417 February 3 • 9:45 a.m. fice management and stuffing envelopes. graduating from SUNY River Street in Troy. Parking is available at the RLT’s Kinderhook Creek Nature Preserve. Throughout her eight and a half years of site. Register with Marcy Steinberg, [email protected]. service to RLT, Christine has been an en- Brockport with a degree thusiastic and dedicated advocate, going in Communications Broadcasting. He is Tickets $30 per person, February 17 • 10:00 a.m. way beyond the boundaries of her job de- an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys cycling, Plated dinner included. RLT’s Robert Ingalls Nature Preserve. Register scription. hiking in the summer and snowshoeing with Peter Wood, [email protected]. in the winter. RSVP at www.renstrust.org Christine has done an admirable job of ad- March 3 • 10:00 a.m. vancing RLT’s mission. Over 50% of the An avid cyclist, Eric enjoys riding his bike Grafton Forest. A serious snowshoe/hike current protected acreage has been accom- throughout Rennselaer County. He is al- through different places in this almost 1000 plished during her tenure as Executive Di- ways excited to find new routes and pleas- acre recent Rensselaer Plateau Alliance acquisi- rector, with the Ingalls, Kinderhook, and ant rest areas. Once Eric found out about tion. Register with Peter Wood, Staalensen preserves being the most recent the Rennselaer Land Trust, he was excited [email protected]. and the best known. to help educate and preserve land in 11his 2 2 3 backyard.

Projects are Happening! Our conservation projects across Rensselaer County are keeping our staff, board mem- 2016 Annual Report bers, volunteers, and partners engaged and focused on our mission to conserve the open spaces, watersheds and natural habitats of Rensselaer County for the benefit of our com- munities and future generations. Here is a brief glance at our current projects: Financial Data Gifts Grants Countywide Conservation Plan With analysis by Watershed Assessment Income With support from the Land Trust Alliance, Associates, and the United States Geologi- NYS Dept of Health–administered by Health Member Contributions $64,098 Research Incorporation the Hudson River Estuary Program, The cal Survey, this Hudson River Estuary Pro- NYS EPF–administered by Land Trust Alliance Hudson River Greenway, Rubins Fellows, gram-funded project is being coordinated Other Contributions (gifts & grants) $76,838 The McCarthy Charities and the Royal Bank of Canada, a data-based with Riverkeeper, with results published at The Peter Carmen and Lucia Buck Foundation conservation plan is well underway. A series https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Hudson- Noncash Contributions (land) $0 Royal Bank of Canada Foundation--USA Stewart’s Shops of four public workshops in the spring cap- RiverAccessPlan. The goal of this sampling Interest Income $102 tured the important places that reflect our project is to encourage actions contributing Total Revenue $141,038 Corporate Matching Gifts conservation values, and over 100 surveys to cleaner water. GE Foundation Matching Gift Program have been tabulated. Maps are in production NGM Charitable Foundation that will reflect this data, and you can expect Troy Urban Trails a draft report for review by Spring 2018. RLT board members are active members of Expense Corporate Sponsors & Partners Amazon Smiles the project team to develop a trail system Payroll Expense $60,568 Hudson River Access Plan along the Wynantskill Creek, connecting Brookfield Renewables In cooperation with riverfront communities our Staalensen Nature Preserve to the Bur- Payroll Taxes $6,355 Hannaford Community Cash–CLYNK and the Hudson River Estuary Program, we den Pond, and ultimately, Prospect Park, Professional Services $38,616 Business Members have hired Partnership 4 Places to develop through a ravine and past old mill ponds Land Steward $1,000–$2,999 a Rensselaer County Hudson River Access and waterfalls. Led by the City of Troy and Advertising and Promotion $90 Brookfield Renewables Plan. An inventory of existing access is being Post Contemporary, engineering studies are Office Expense $10,409 Advocate $500–$999 supplemented with a public survey (https:// well underway and construction funding has Boght & Oakwood Veterinary Clinics www.surveymonkey.com/r/HudsonRiverAc- been applied to from NYS Parks. Occupancy $3,995 CSRA cessPlan), local plans, and public outreach Valley Falls Old Thompson Mill Travel $843 Sustainer $250–$499 to outline the many ways that Rensselaer Bovair Real Estate County wants to use and love the river on Conversion to Waterfront Park Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization $335 Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe our western border. The Plan is on schedule The Environmental Protection Agency has Scarano Boat Building, John Scarano Conferences, Conventions and Meetings $172 for release in the next few months. funded a Brownfields Assessment Grant for Trustco Bank the Old Thompson Mill site – the first step Insurance $3,810 Wojeski & Company CPAs. P.C. Tributary Water Sampling towards implementing the Village’s vision of Citizen scientists coordinated by Fran Mar- creating a Hoosic River waterfront park for Printing and Publications $1,528 Tribute Gifts tino of River Haggie Outdoors have been In Memory of Catherine Steele passive recreation. RLT continues to provide Repairs $2,810 Barbara Green sampling 18 sites on Hudson River tributar- technical assistance, with our partner Hoosic Membership Dues $1,150 ies for the presence of enterococci and other River Watershed Association. In Memory of Rosemary Landrigan Gail Landrigan contaminants. Postage and Shipping $1,273 More information on these projects is available at www.renstrust.org. In Memory of Glen Martin All other expenses $1,328 Anthony Garner On September 16, we celebrated the expan- Total Expenses $132,250 In Honor of R.J. Hydorn Young’s Bog Nature Anne Cheeseman sion and renaming of our Mud Pond Nature Preserve Renaming ;<=>/0#"(&0?@A54/5/0 Preserve to Young’s Bog Nature Preserve, a In-Kind Donations !(%"$""" Ceremony 51-acre nature preserve which protects a Fred Alm and Sharon Bedford classic kettlehole bog with a floating mat !(#"$""" Bella Napoli of Sphagnum peat moss and an ecologically !(""$""" Brown’s Brewing Company !'"$""" significant wetland complex. Special thank John Bulmer !&"$""" Nick Conrad you to Christl (Christine) Young for her !%"$""" Cafe Deli-icious

generous donation that has allowed RLT to !#"$""" Chez Mike

expand the protection of this unique eco- !" Bob Crowley )*+,*-./01%2 3-4-,5.5460%2 7849*-:/:4,0#2 Joseph Durkin Photo Credit:Trix Niernberger system. 10 Young’s Bog Nature Preserve was donated in loving memory of Gisela Young (1921-2007), 5 4 Charles Thomas Young (1926-2001) and Nick Young (1957-1976). 3 2016 Annual Report thank you to all of our supporters

Francille Egbert Shirley and Gerald Dunn Priscilla Fairbanks and Owen Goldfarb Joy and Brian Pratt Mariann Molocznik James Gumaer FRA_MAR Farms Alice and Harold Howard Linda Filarecki Nancy Reich Judith and Alex Nardacci Mary and Michael F. 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