Shawangunk WATCH Friends of the Shawangunks and The Shawangunk Conservancy May, 2015 VolumeVolume 2019 NumberNumber 11

SURVIVING WINTER joppenbergh d the basha kill d minnewaska Preserving Open Space in the Shawangunks since 1963 photograph: Renee Zernitsky photograph: well-trained stewardship ranger staff, and WVLT is in need of such staff Good News From The Witch’s Hole skills to oversee and care for our recre- Thomas Nozkowski JOPPENBERGH 2014 ational properties such as Joppenber- Shawangunk THE gh Mountain, and since Mohonk Pre- On April 7, 2015, The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preserva- serve northern lands extend up to the WATCH tion announced a 602-acre expansion of Minnewaska State Park Preserve in Ulster County, Wallkill Valley Rail Trail in Rosendale, which will enhance year-round, trail-based recreational opportunities in the Shawangunks STATE is the publication of very close to the trestle and Joppen- and further protect the Witch’s Hole Conservation Area, a remote and spectacular part of bergh Mountain, it is ideal to have a Friends of the Shawangunks OF THE and its companion organization, the preserve. The expansion consists of two parcels acquired from the Open Space Institute, shared ranger that can assist both or- The Shawangunk Conservancy. our great friend and ally in the preservation of the Shawangunks, for $2.4 million from the MOUNTAIN ganizations during peak seasonal use. This issue was edited and assembled Environmental Protection Fund. If the grant is received, it will allow for a by Susan Erny, John Hayes, The acquisition includes two parcels on the northwestern edge of the preserve in the town Keith LaBudde, and Thomas Nozkowski, Mohonk Preserve Ranger to spend 2 of Wawarsing in Ulster County, which were the last two privately held parcels in the 3,000- to 3 days a week for a 10-month span v acre Witch’s Hole Conservation Area. patrolling, leading trail days, and Friends of the Shawangunks A 363-acre parcel off of Port Ben Road/Towpath Road consists of a lengthy strip of land interacting with the public on Jop- The Shawangunk Conservancy stretching over 2.3 miles into the heart of the park, from the base of the Shawangunk Ridge penbergh Mountain over two years. to near its summit near Napanoch Point and High Point. The parcel contains extensive cliffs, WVLT is very excited about this, and board members waterfalls, deep hemlock ravines and secluded glens, and pitch pine barrens. The parcel also we look forward to working with our H. Neil Zimmerman, president protects one of the most remote areas of the Shawangunk Ridge, a deep ravine, stream and neighboring land trust. Susan Erny waterfalls known as the Witch’s Hole. This land is usually designated The Lawn Parcel after In anticipation of interacting more John Hayes the family that owned the land since the 1970’s. We have described and mapped the trails with users of Joppenbergh Mountain, Steve Jervis here in the two previous issues of the Shawangunk Watch. The second property was formerly Christine DeBoer WVLT installed a kiosk on the prop- Janet Kern part of Soyuzivka, a resort operated by a Ukrainian fraternal organization. The 233-acre par- erty. While it awaits materials, it will Keith LaBudde, treasurer

photograph: Anne Coleman photograph: cel provides important recreational access from Foordemore Road and contains a mountain- soon house a map showing the current Elaine LaFlamme

photograph: Eric Krieger Jean Lerner, secretary ous stream known as the Little Stony Kill and its magnificent 100-foot-high waterfall, known While this was a quiet year in terms of With the mountain now protected, WVLT Thomas Nozkowski, vice president locally as the Ukranian Falls. The parcel also has extensive views of the Catskill Mountains things happening on Joppenbergh Mountain, heard a lot of “now what?” so we jumped right Annie O’Neill and contains an extensive wilderness ravine known as the Mine Hole Hollow, several streams, it certainly was not lacking in use! Residents of in to figure that out. WVLT worked closely with Patty Lee Parmalee and large expanses of bedrock and pitch pines. Walking along the Little Stony last week a Rosendale and visitors to the area enjoyed the local organizations, community members, user v small group of hikers were flabbergasted by the variety and beauty of this landscape. existing trails and seasonal changes of the 118- groups, and the Town to gather input and devel- OSI is contributing 25 percent ($480,000) of the purchase price for these two additions acre parcel which the Wallkill Valley Land Trust op a comprehensive land use and management Friends of the Shawangunks, Inc. to the state for a park endowment. This latest contribution brings the total amount of the (WVLT) accepted ownership of late in 2010. plan for Joppenbergh Mountain. The final doc- is a not-for-profit organization working to OSI-funded Minnewaska endowment to nearly $2.5 million, resulting in the protection of WVLT and everyone in the region is very thank- ument includes suggested improvements, a trail preserve open space in the Shawangunks. thousands of state forest land there. This latest success also continues OSI’s overall legacy in ful that Open Space Institute purchased the plan, and clean-up needs for the parcel. WVLT preserving land atop and adjacent to the Ridge, with a total of over 32,000 acres preserved property in order to ensure it would be protect- has been seeking grants to assist in tackling the The Shawangunk Conservancy, Inc. over the past 30 years. ed, and that Friends of Shawangunk took on the projects and needs, especially since the trestle is a not-for-profit land conservancy. The next issue of the Shawangunk Watch will include a trail map and descriptions of remaining fundraising needs for this project. So fundraising is complete (the trestle in Rosendale some of the walking possibilities in this area. many wonderful organizations coming together! opened in 2013). So far we have not received email: [email protected] photograph: ThomasNozkowski funds, but we are pursuing many avenues in or- website: www.shawangunks.org $ der to move forward. 23,000 to go trail system, information about the mountain, As 2014 ends and a new year begins, we are Friends of the Shawangunks It’s been over three years since The Shawangunk gathering estimates from engineers to determine and a logbook so that we can begin to gather PO Box 270 Conservancy (TSC), Friends’ land protection arm, information about visitors. In short: there will be agreed to raise $85,000 for Open Space Institute the structural integrity of the kiln wall at Willow Accord, NY 12404 more happening on Joppenbergh Mountain in (OSI) to complete the purchase of Joppenbergh Kiln Park, which is the “gateway” to Joppenbergh v Mountain in Rosendale. TSC did this when the Town Mountain. We are also in the process of securing 2015. And as we are able to raise funds, we will of Rosendale reneged on its commitment to raise the man-made hazards on the property, such as be moving ahead with other improvements and The latest financial report of these funds. We felt that OSI had done so much to trail projects too. Stay tuned! Friends of the Shawangunks protect land in the Shawangunks that we should now the brick structures and adit entrance. These im- come to its aid. provements will make Joppenbergh Mountain To stay on top of all of the exciting im- and The Shawangunk Conservancy We got a marvelous initial response from mem- safer for everyone to enjoy and illustrate progress provements, please connect to our Facebook may be obtained by writing to the bers, and have so far raised $62,000 of our commit- in the Land Use and Management Plan. page or join our email contact list (info@ Office of the Attorney General, ment. The time has come to wrap up this project, The Wallkill Valley Land Trust is also part- WallkillValleyLT.org). If you would like to Charities Bureau, and we need your help. Any contribution to Friends learn more ways to get involved, please visit or The Conservancy can be applied to the Joppenber- nering with Mohonk Preserve on a grant to 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271, gh fund just by writing “JOP” on your contribution the Land Trust Alliance for shared services. The our website at: www.WallkillValleyLT.org or by writing to us at slip or check. This contribution will also renew your grant outlines a concept we have candidly called the above address. membership in Friends. Christine DeBoer is Executive Director of the Wallkill Valley “Rent a Ranger.” Since Mohonk Preserve has a Land Trust. along the Little Stony in April Please help us out—we’re almost there. How did you survive the winter this year? However, this is not the “normal” hiberna- al stage of the red-spotted newt (red eft) find Weather records since 1896 show that Novem- tion for a garter snake. Most follow the typi- deep cracks in logs or rocks, or dig down as far ber was the 8th snowiest; December was warm- SURVIVING WINTER SHANAN SMILEY cal terrestrial hibernation strategy. In contrast as they can in the leaf litter. These locations, er than normal and the 9th least snowy; Jan- to being under water, most snakes and lizards, however, are not protected from freezing. uary had a relatively constant snow cover and like the five-lined skink, find a deep crack or So, how does a frog or salamander survive February was the 6th coldest on record, cave in a rocky area for their hiber- freezing or below freezing temperatures? An- with more snow than average. We got a nacula. Usually, many individuals tifreeze! Once ice crystals start to form on the little of everything. congregate together in the same hi- skin, the liver is signaled to start converting How did nature respond to winter bernacula, including the poisonous glycogen to glucose (sugar), and then floods this year? Until we can start to see the species, northern copperheads and the blood, carrying the sweet antifreeze to all first spring emerging insects, reptiles, timber rattlesnakes. It’s also common tissues and organs. This helps keep the cells amphibians and plants, it’s hard to tell for many different species of snakes to from dehydrating and shrinking. The me- how the general populations fared. The huddle together, using the same hiber- tabolism slowly drops to nearly nothing. The snow and cold temperatures have held nacula. Milk snakes, black rat snakes lungs of the partially frozen amphibian stop on longer than we may be used to, so we and garter snakes have all been found breathing, and the heart stops beating. But will need more time to tell, but here are together. they don’t die! Once the warm rains of spring a few general “rules” to keep in mind as In contrast, terrestrial turtles like arrive, their bodies slowly thaw out and all the spring actually arrives. the box turtle must find an area with glucose in their systems fuels their annual mi- INSECTS soft enough soil to dig a burrow as gration from the forest to the nearby ponds Insects can greet the winter in many dif- deep as possible. Box turtles hibernate to breed. ferent life stages: eggs, larvae (caterpillar alone. or grub), nymphs (immature insect that Cave-like hibernacula will typi- PLANTS doesn’t yet have its wings), pupae (in a cally stay at a temperature around 40 Dealing with low temperatures of winter is cocoon) or as adults. degrees Fahrenheit. Even if tempera- absolutely crucial for the long-term surviv- One of the most identifiable insects tures of the hibernacula and burrows al of the woody plant. It is the formation of to spend the winter in the form of an happen to drop to freezing or below, the sharp crystals of ice that is the biggest egg is the praying mantis. Its large, bul- the box turtle and garter snake can threat to the plant’s cell tissue during the bous, papery egg cases can be found survive freezing solid, similar to some winter. Dehydrated tissues, like seeds, don’t near the tips of stalks of a shrub or small amphibians like the wood frog. have enough water in them for ice crystals tree near fields or yards. The majority to form, but the branches and trunks of trees of the homoptera order of insects that AMPHIBIANS and shrubs do. If the temperatures drop rela- include cicadas, leafhoppers and aphids The aquatic frogs like the green frog tively slowly, the cells get rid of the intracel- also over-winter as eggs. The gypsy and bullfrog hibernate at the bottom lular water so that the water inside the cell moth and tent caterpillar also remain as of ponds or shallow areas of mud- won’t freeze or crystallize and puncture the eggs through the winter. dy-bottomed lakes. Like mammals cell structures from the inside, which would photographs by John Hayes John by photographs The most recognizable larvae to that hibernate, their metabolism kill the cell. If ice forms outside the cell, it’s over-winter are the woolly bear caterpil- box elder bugs, stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs with drastic temperature fluctuations through- small amounts of oxygen in the mud, until the slows dramatically, and they need safe. Ice can safely be “stored” in the xylem, lars. Some larvae have glycerol, an antifreeze, spend the winter as adults. Many of these in- out the season. If we have cold winters with oc- oxygen runs out. Once it runs out, the sluggish some fat reserves to last throughout the win- the thickly walled water transport trachea in their blood that keeps them from freezing. sects seek refuge in our homes for the winter, casional warm days, or mild winters with severe metabolism is very inefficient and produces by- ter. They rest on top of the mud so that their and vessels of a plant. This concentrates the Those that don’t have antifreeze, like the woolly like ladybugs, houseflies, stinkbugs, and some cold spells, many insects don’t make it through products like lactic acid, which causes muscle skin can absorb the oxygen in the water. If fluid inside the cells, which acts like anti- bear, must find an area with thick leaf cover or leaf-footed bugs. Wasps and mourning cloak the winter. cramps in humans. Turtles don’t seem to suffer they burrowed in the mud like some turtles freeze, so that they can be super-cooled (be- other sheltered place to spend the winter. Ap- butterflies will tuck themselves into eaves or from achy muscles, but if there is too great a do, there wouldn’t be enough oxygen and they low freezing temperatures), and not freeze. proximately half of all butterflies, moths, bee- siding on a house, emerging when tempera- REPTILES build up of lactic acid, it can cause their bodies would suffocate. e tles and flies over-winter as larvae. tures rise. When the temperatures start to drop in the to become too acidic and they will perish. Yet, The terrestrial species of amphibians must While man struggled to deal with the snow Not many insects are active during the win- Thankfully, most find appropriate places autumn, the aquatic turtles like painted turtles this rarely happens because they can use calci- also hibernate by either finding a good lo- and extreme cold this past winter, insects, ter, but the nymphs of dragonflies, damselflies, outside our homes to hibernate: in or on liv- and snapping turtles bury themselves in the um carbonate (which acts like an antacid) from cation for a hibernacula, or by creating one. reptiles, amphibians and plants were clearly stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies spend the ing or dead plants, living trees or dead trees, muddy bottoms of ponds, lakes and wetlands. their shells to neutralize most of the excess acid. American and Fowler’s toads are good diggers prepared to cope. I can’t wait to get outside winter in streams, ponds and lakes, actively on fallen logs, in the upper soil, in the stalks As long as they are under water, they will not The garter snake, which is a terrestrial spe- and burrow deep into the soil, below the frost and explore to find out what the impact of feeding and growing, and will emerge as adults or roots of plants, or at the surface of the soil freeze. Yet, under water they can’t take a breath cies, surprisingly has also been observed hiber- line. The large mole salamanders (spotted sal- this winter has had on the Ridge! in the spring and summer. under leaves. Others, like ants, young bumble of air. Astonishingly, turtles can stop breathing nating under water. It is believed, much like an amander, Jefferson salamander, blue-spotted bee queens and “June bugs” burrow down in for five months! Their metabolism slows an amphibian, the snakes can use their skin as a salamander, slimy salamander) use burrows Shanan is a conservation biologist who has studied the Large wasps, many beetles, bumble bees, Shawangunks intensively for over a decade. She writes honey bees, “June bugs,” ants, the mourning the soil beneath the frost line. amazing amount. For energy, their cells depend type of lung to extract the oxygen out of the of other mammals. Other frogs that can’t dig, “ Species Spotlight,” a regular article in the Pough- cloak butterfly, house flies and the hemiptera The best winter weather for insect survival on the breakdown of carbohydrates. Their tur- water. The heart rate of the snakes slows to one like the wood frog and the spring peeper, and keepsie Journal. She is also writing a comprehensive order of insects (“true bugs” that have a leathery is uniformly cold temperatures with plenty of tle hearts only beat once every ten minutes. beat a minute, but as long as they are under smaller salamanders like the dusky salaman- field guide of the flora and fauna of the Mid-Hudson forewing and membranous hindwing) such as snow to insulate the ground. Disaster strikes How is this possible? Turtles can strain the water, they are safe from freezing. der, red-backed salamander and the terrestri- Mountains. Gunks Campground Now Open SEVEN PEAKS, CONTINUED... SUSAN ERNY Minnewaska State Park Preserve’s (MSPP) campground opened on May 15, and will remain open through The proposed Seven Peaks development on in November, the Planning Board provided a geologist Katherine Beinkafner and BKAA tation as a wetlands specialist (even though mid-November, weather permitting. The top of the Shawangunk Ridge was described public input session during which residents President Paula Medley. DEC has employed him for their own work) campground is located on Route 299, in the August 2014 Shawangunk Watch. could express their ideas about this develop- This document provided evidence that: and, at least take a second look at the Sev- a short distance from its junction with The developer, Shalom Lamm, seeks to build ment. It is so heartening to have a town board 1. the wetlands do exceed 12.4 acres; en Peaks proposal. Neither the Shawangunk Route 44/55. While the land is part of forty-nine 8,400-square-foot houses on 653 that listens to environmental experts and en- 2. two or more areas of wetland should Ridge nor the Basha Kill Wildlife Manage- MSPP, the American Alpine Club (AAC) acres atop the ridge, above the Basha Kill courages its residents’ input. be treated as a single wetland because they are ment Area was even mentioned in Mr. Brand’s and the Mohonk Preserve (MP) will actu- Wildlife Management Area. To those of us A major blow to the environment came connected and function as a single unit; and terse response. ally manage the campground. Only tent who love the Ridge and the Basha Kill, this with news that the wetlands on Seven Peaks— 3. the wetlands are of “unusual local im- On a better note, communication between camping will be allowed on the 50 sites, scenario poses a serious environmental threat. including two tributaries that flow into the portance” because of their proximity to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, Orange County 24 of which can be driven to (one vehicle Discouraging too, is the fact that the develop- Basha Kill—were not under the jurisdiction Basha Kill. Land Trust (OCLT), BKAA and Seven Peaks per site). The remaining 26 are walk-in er is resistant to altering plans so that they are of the Department of Environmental Conser- Only one of these three criteria is required continues. In January, Paula Medley spoke sites. Two tents, with a maximum of four photographs: Casimir Nozkowski photographs: more sensitive to the fragile environment. vation (DEC). This word came from DEC to guarantee that the wetlands in question fall to the OCLT board with the hope that they people, are allowed on each site. The fa- The good news is that this massive project biologist Douglas Gaugler who performed an under DEC regulation; the study revealed might be willing to hold a conservation ease- cilities provided include restrooms, bath- Elaine Laflamme has been countered by some very positive and on-site review; he concluded that the Seven that all three were met. On November 10 this ment for the Shawangunk Ridge Trail corri- house, pavilion and cooking area. The dor. Joins the Friends Board fee for AAC and MP members is $24 Most encouraging per night, for non-members it is $38. Elaine Laflamme, our newest board member, in the midst of deal- had her first date with husband Bob Ander- Office hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sun- ing with this massive berg of Open Space Institute in the Shawa- day through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. issue is the incred- ngunks. Both attorneys, they played hooky Friday and Saturday. Reservations may be ible bonding of lo- from work on that day so Bob could intro- made at mohonkpreserve.org/camping. cal grassroots envi- duce Elaine to the Shawangunks. It was love v ronmental groups. at first sight. While they split their time be- Money from Amazon tween NYC and here, Elaine and family al- Without the finan- In our last August newsletter we re- ways considered Clove Road their home. cial and moral sup- ported that Amazon had instituted True to his upbringing, son Ryan chose to port of the Friends a program in which it would give us live in the Shawangunks after college. One of the Shawangunks, 0.5% of whatever you spend when retirement, two houses and three grandchil- Catskill Mountain- you shop with them on line. We just dren later, Elaine looks forward to helping keeper, Concerned got our first check from them: $28.44. preserve her true love - the Shawangunks. She Residents of Winter- That reflects purchases of $5,688 brings to the task over 25 years as an attorney ton, Orange Coun- made by members who have followed handling complex litigation and transactions ty Audubon Society the following simple, one-time proce- across a wide spectrum of industries and inter- and Sullivan County dure: ests. Elaine spent her working years analyzing Audubon Society, * go to smile.amazon.com problems and solving them - a skill she looks * bookmark the page (this bookmark the BKAA would be forward to wielding for Friends. becomes your new way to access Am- dwarfed in its efforts azon) to meet the challeng- * sign in as you usually do es of protecting the * in the “Charity name or location” southern end of the Night Heron, Basha Kill Basha Kill, looking north box enter “Shawangunk” These two beautiful photographs, as well as our front cover, were taken by Renee Zernitsky. Thank you! Shawangunks. * click on Friends of the Shawan- The Mamakating gunks or The Shawangunk Conser- refreshing actions. The Town of Mamakating Peaks wetlands did not warrant DEC regula- report was delivered to DEC Region 3 Di- Planning Board has not yet recognized vancy Planning Board has the huge responsibility of tion because they were less than 12.4 acres in rector Martin Brand in hopes that he would Seven Peaks’ Final Environmental Impact * Go ahead and shop. reviewing countless details of the project. In size, and therefore 100-foot protective buffers re-evaluate Gaugler’s decision. Statement as being complete. When that In the future when you go to shop at an unprecedented move, the board scheduled around them were not required. Mr. Brand denied the petition on Decem- does happen, there will be a minimum ten- Amazon via smile.amazon.com (the new a public workshop on September 30 at which The BKAA responded to this pronounce- ber 19 because DEC biologist Gaugler had day written-comment period during which bookmark) you will see that the organiza- Seven Peaks’ consultants presented their phas- ment with a bold maneuver. A 95-page doc- based his findings on field observations while the public will have a chance to express its tion you selected will receive a contribu- ing, trail plans and storm water, septic systems ument was compiled (See this document at BKAA’s specialists, who did not have access to concerns. It is possible the board may then This sign, featuring a winking Moun- tion from Amazon based on the amount and road designs. The professional consultants www.thebashakill.org, BKAA’s home page.) the property, relied on calculations gathered hold a public hearing before proceding to tain Goat, was found twenty years of your purchase, at no cost to you. representing the Basha Kill Area Association using the expertise of wetlands specialist Nor- from advanced mapping technology. To say writing the Findings Statement. Cross ago at the old Ice Caves Mountain Every little bit helps. (BKAA) were given the opportunity to voice bert Quenzer, environmental attorney John the least, it was a major disappointment that your fingers! Concession at Sam’s Point. their concerns regarding Seven Peaks. Then, Lyons, engineer Andrew Willingham, hydro- the DEC did not recognize Quenzer’s repu- Susan Erny is a Friends board member. Dava and Dorothy 23 Years of Raising Money for the Conservancy This past November Dava Weinstein and Dorothy Calvani had their annual Hikathon to benefit The Shawangunk Conservancy. It all started in 1992, when the entire Friends board, of which Dava was a member, led fund-raising hikes. Barbara Rubin made pins for all the hikers. A special cast-bronze pin of the Friends logo was awarded to Dorothy, the hiker who raised the most money. The next year Dava and Dorothy decided to do another hike, inviting their friends who contributed at least $50 to join in. They have continued to do these hikes every year since, and estimate that they have raised about $30,000 to benefit the Conservancy. In the early years, full-day hikes were scheduled, with Dava and Dorothy providing an elaborate trail lunch (including s’mores prepared over a backpacking stove one year). As years passed, the hikes became a little less ambitious, and lunch is now served at their weekend home in the Shawangunks, to which non-hikers (but contributors) are also invited. Dava and Dorothy make plans early each year in order to accommodate the same group of hikers (plus friends) who want be part of this special annual event. I know I look forward to it, especially since they seem to have an uncanny ability to pick Saturdays with good weather. –Keith LaBudde photograph:Eric Krieger

There are many ways each of us can help

But you knew that already. It takes action, committment and money to make it happen. For more than fifty years Friends of the Shawangunks and its sister organization The Shawangunk Conservancy have been in the forefront of the battle to save this ridge. Much has been accomplished but the threats continue to mount and much remains undone. As always we need your help.

cut out along dotted line YES! This is important work and I want to be a part of the effort to save the Shawangunks. I would like to join or renew my membership. q Benefactor $250. Name ______q Patron $100. q Family $25. Street ______q Individual $15. q Other $ City ______Zip______State_____ q I would like to make an additional contribution to Email ______q this is a Change of Address or Email The Shawangunk Conservancy for land acquisition. Amount $ Please print clearly. Your email address will help save time and money. It will be used for action alerts and Please make checks payable to the acknowledgment of contributions only. Neither The Shawangunk Conservancy nor Friends of the Shawangunks shares its mailing list with any other organization, ever. Friends of the Shawangunks or The Shawangunk Conservancy credit card donations online via www.shawangunks.org Contributions are tax deductible. Matching Grants: If your employer has a matching grants mail to Friends of the Shawangunks program, send us the forms and we’ll do the rest. IBM matching P.O. Box 270, Accord NY 12404 checks must be made out to The Shawangunk Conservancy.