Annual Report 2019

Annual Report 2019 2019 By The Numbers 130,000 2,500 36 Dollar amount awarded to our chapter Culverts inventoried by our stream Full- and part-time jobs created by by the Lake Champlain Basin Program to barrier technicians so communities our Adirondack Park Upper Hudson further our conservation efforts in the won’t flood and fish can pass (page 5) Recreation Hub microenterprise grant Boquet River watershed (page 3) program (page 13) 160 65,000 Linear feet of new wooden split-rail 4 Acres of our landholdings held under fencing installed at our Boquet River Active land acquisition projects, ranging conservation easement and monitored Nature Preserve with help from Paul from 127 acres to 3,500 acres in the annually by our stewardship staff Smith’s College student veteran Black River Valley, which connects the volunteers (page 12) Tug Hill Plateau to the Adirondacks 55,750 Number of forest acres whose 60+ 1 owners are discussing the sale of Partners in the Staying Connected Number of boat wash and decontamination carbon credits with The Nature Initiative working to create a contiguous stations east of the Mississippi; the Conservancy to preserve the forests wildlife corridor across the Northern first-of-its-kind station is now open and generate revenue Appalachian/Acadian region of the near exit 17 on I-87 to intercept aquatic eastern United States and Canada invasive species hitching a ride to the Adirondacks (page 10) 43 The number of healthy salmon fry found by scientists this summer in the North Branch of the Boquet River (page 4)

Cover photo © Erika Bailey (The Nature Conservancy). Inside cover photo © Dave Conlan / 1 / Dear Friends,

As the seasons change and we return to our favorite spots in hopes of one final paddle or hike before the snow falls, we are reminded at every moment of our love for this vast and beautiful place called the Adirondacks. While it is our refuge and inspiration, and at times can feel far from the threats a changing climate brings to our natural world, we cannot escape the reality of the science and evidence of our own watchful eyes.

When we are out in this wilderness, the scale and grandeur of our mountains, forests, and waterways can make us feel small and perhaps even insignificant. But we have the power to imagine and implement significant change when we come together. The Nature Conservancy brings science, skilled staff, years of experience, and global resources to meet the challenge. You bring your commitment to place, your willingness to volunteer, and your financial support. Our partnership delivers remarkable results.

And at every turn, we’re reminded that our work is more vital and urgent than ever. It’s why we’re redoubling our efforts to protect lands and waters, and ensure climate resiliency into the future by creating habitat and wildlife corridors and preventing the spread of invasive species. The solutions we embrace also bring people closer to nature and ensure that our communities will continue to thrive as well.

We can’t do it without you, and we are so grateful for your support.

On the inside cover, we share with you our top ten accomplishments of 2019, by the numbers.

Sincerely,

Sarah Underhill, Board Chair Peg Olsen, Director

Tackling Climate Change: Boquet River Watershed

“The Conservancy’s work in the Boquet River watershed demonstrates the importance of working on the ground and with communities, where we can demonstrate approaches to conservation that have impacts in and beyond the watershed.”

Rebecca Benner, director of conservation and science, The Nature Conservancy in New York © Charles Gleberman. (The Nature Conservancy) TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE / 3 /

Three team members working in the Boquet River © Kenneth Aaron watershed—freshwater project coordinator Luke McNally, senior conservation scientist Michelle Brown, and land protection manager Chris Jage—discuss why this holistic Boquet River Watershed approach to conservation is so critical.

How we are engaging communities:

MB: Our work is about relationships and shared objectives—engaging people and understanding their needs, wants and hopes and how conservation intersects with them. About becoming a force for change: CJ: We work with a variety of groups, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Natural Resources Conservation Service, CJ: Our success in the Boquet started on our preserve in downtown Willsboro. Adirondack Land Trust, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, We’ve invested a lot of time and money to make it accessible, including a and Concordia University. wheelchair-friendly trail network. And it’s helped to broaden the base of visitors using the preserve, which has a direct economic benefit to the community as well. I Don’t forget the Essex County Department of Public Works, Essex County Soil LM: hope to see this success replicated in other parts of the state. and Water, the Department of Transportation, and the Towns of Willsboro and Lewis. You know, I’ve been here a year, and I focus a lot on these relationships. About transferring local knowledge into global action: I also spend a lot of time trying to understand each community’s priorities. MB: Essex County is one of the most flood-prone counties in the state. The About turning those partnerships into action: strategies we’re employing will work elsewhere in places like the Susquehanna River, where climate change is touching down and bringing more frequent and We’re helping to lead the Conservancy’s statewide effort to make MB: intense storms. We’re working with our Conservancy colleagues across the state infrastructure resilient so that flood risk to communities is lessened. Here, on climate issues; we’re a tight-knit group. All our work informs each other. we’re talking about how to right-size culverts, the places where rivers and streams cross under roads, so nearby communities are more flood resistant while ensuring On the changing nature of conservation: better habitat for native fish. MB: We’re better equipped now than ever before to take advantage of opportunities CJ: Our work is a lever for larger things, but that’s not the only reason why it’s to address larger threats and global challenges. important. Sometimes, our role is to help people overcome hurdles. For example, we are exploring setting up a revolving loan fund for farmers whereby we CJ: Our conservation issues are much more complicated than they were 30 or can help them take advantage of federal programs that benefit erosion control, or 40 years ago. And the solutions need to be multi-faceted. But one thing is replant stream banks. certain: When we take the time to really understand the communities where we work we can find common purpose and hopefully leave a better world for the LM: This is what I love about our work: We don’t have boundaries. Creativity is our next generation. bread and butter. ? fter the dam came down And salmon are complicated. Theyhatch in a river, they swim downstream to a lake, they back move upstream to spawn. If something gets thrown off in any those of habitats, the population whole can be threatened. After wild juveniles were discovered this summer, McNally optimistic. felt “That’s a testament to the resilience this of species,” says. he “If they have half a chance survival, at they seem to persist.”

© The Nature Conservancy efore the Willsboro Dam was demolished in 2015, Atlantic salmon hadn’t been seen in the Boquet River 150 for years. A Scientists have found them three times, most recently in July 2019. But while removing the dam was a vital first step to start restoringhealthy habitat, the is job far from complete—and The Nature Conservancy is working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which is leading the effort, ensureto this story continues. success The Conservancy’s experience protecting land and and water, helping communities mitigate threats from climate change, go hand-in-hand with producing the conditions needed salmon for to thrive, says Luke the McNally, coordinator. project freshwater Conservancy’s areWe also ramping efforts up to work with area farmers to improve river habitat salmonfor and other wildlife. “The river and the land tie together in so many ways,” says Jadziah Hannon- Moonstone, a USFWS biological science technician (pictured see “To salmon left). return, between the dam removal and other habitat restoration and all the partnerships, really it is a sign that this project is working.” an unlikelyIt’s revival. In the early 19th century, the Willsboro Dam effectively cut off Lake Champlain from the spawning grounds fartherupstream. By the 1840s, the salmon—which swam once in such abundance that people say (perhaps apocryphally) they could be speared with pitchforks and scared horses from crossing the river—were At gone. the same time, increased land use hurt the habitat. B . Watch the first salmon fry netted the first Watch http://bit.ly/ADKsalmon

Branch Boquet River. Boquet River. Branch on July 2, 2019 Jadziah Hannon-Moonstone, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Wildlife U.S. Fish Jadziah Hannon-Moonstone, the North on survey biologist, during a July snorkel

TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGE CLIMATE TACKLING Return of an Icon an of Return / 4 / / 4 © Erika Bailey (The Nature Conservancy) © Erika Bailey (The Nature Conservancy) / 5 / / / 5 TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGE CLIMATE TACKLING Secure Habitat

Stream technicians Daniel Sinopoli and Elizabeth Metzger inventoried inventoried Metzger Sinopoli and Elizabeth Daniel technicians Stream season. during the 2019 field crossings stream than 850 road more

he Conservancy’s statewide initiative to chart a path the for future works toward Safer Communities, miles river of habitat. McNally and his team have surveyed nearly 2,500 road-stream crossings in the Adirondacks. Their focuses now work prioritizing on which crossings need upgrading and moving more projects to implementation. Thus far, with partners, the Conservancy has worked to improve 100 reconnecting crossings, road-stream eight managing problematic sites ahead time, of we’ll have clean and healthy waters, safe roadways and resilient downstream communities when the for stormsbig come. And when native fishreturn, that’s all the better.” Since the inception of the five-year-old program, are risk at failure.of more frequent“As and intense storms push our infrastructure beyond its limits, is it imperative to start addressing says the today,” problem Luke the McNally, Conservancy’s freshwater projects coordinator. “If we are more proactive in improving community resilience and wildlife habitat in the face climate of change. With input from local municipalities and transportation authorities, staff map road-stream crossings that T / 6 / TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE

Peatland bogs, like the one here at Silver Lake Bog Preserve, are a highly vulnerable habitat that support rare and sometimes unusual plants and wildlife. They are also mega-carbon-storage sites— nearly one-third of terrestrial global soil carbon is stored in northern peatlands.

“In the Adirondacks, the accumulated and decomposed plant material in peatland bogs is over over 10 meters deep,” says Langdon. “The peat is deeper than the trees are high. And it’s basically 99 percent carbon stored in those bogs. If this habitat were to dry out and burn, the amount of carbon released would be tremendous. Adirondack peatlands are excellent examples of intact, unaltered landscapes because of the conservation history and lack of peat mining here.”

For that reason and a host of others, Adirondack peatlands are distinctly more resilient to the impacts of climate change than other landscapes—and thus better able to sustain native wildlife and ecological processes. Such places are of critical importance as rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns GET OUT AND VISIT hose are from the ’98 ice storm,” says and other climate impacts destabilize natural areas researcher Steve Langdon, pointing to the Silver Lake Bog Preserve’s boardwalk, lined T around the world. stand of lifeless, steel-gray black spruce, now with cinnamon ferns, carnivorous pitcher providing shelter to native birds, near the entrance Here in the Northeast, species are shifting their plants and chartreuse sphagnum mosses, to Silver Lake Bog Preserve. ranges 11 miles north and 30 feet in elevation each offers close-up views of a black spruce— decade. So one day, the olive-sided flycatcher will no An olive-sided flycatcher sits on a dead snag, bobbing tamarack bog habitat. The preserve’s longer live here. its tail and swaying for balance. It poses for a woodland trail culminates in a 200-foot bluff, moment, then flits to a more secluded spot. “But there’s a hopeful story, too, thanks to the with spectacular views of Silver Lake. This complex landscape of the Adirondacks, which 98-acre preserve is perfect for families. Plan Langdon knows every bird, plant and tree species can buffer some peatlands from climate change,” your trip at nature.org/adkpreserves. in this primordial landscape. He’s familiar with says Langdon. each curve in the boardwalk, and he knows that this ancient habitat is one of very few like it anywhere in And the visionary conservationists who keep the world. it protected. PROTECTING LAND AND WATER / 7 /

Celebrating 30 Years

A few misplaced footsteps. That’s all it takes to kill it.

Beginning in the 1960s, research showed that those alpine plants—the lone remaining examples of a tundra that once covered the state during the last Ice Age—were quickly disappearing, victims of careless hikers. Restoration alone wasn’t enough to bring them back. Then, in the 1980s, Nature Conservancy staffer Kathy Regan had an idea: What if educators could meet hikers atop vulnerable peaks and teach them how special these places are?

This year, the Adirondack High Peaks Summit Stewardship Program celebrates its 30th anniversary. Through a partnership with the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Department of Environmental Conservation, Summit Stewards have met more than 500,000 hikers atop Marcy, Algonquin and a handful of other High Peaks. Today, those environments, once nearly trampled out of existence, are thriving. The program is a shining example of how education can change behaviors and deliver enduring results— a lesson that other stewardship programs have adopted as well.

Watch chapter director Peg Olsen and former Conservancy staff and Summit Steward Program cofounder Kathy Regan help commemorate the program’s 30th Summit Steward (right) educates two hikers about the fragile alpine anniversary. Nature.org/highpeaksny. ecology. The stewards have reached nearly 40,000 hikers in 2019.” © Benjamin Brosseau / 8 / PROTECTING LAND AND WATER © Carl Heilman II

Essence of n 1858, one place in the Adirondacks inspired an entire country’s growing Iinterest in preservation and conservation, sparked by a group of 10 artists Conservation and intellectuals who embarked on a month-long retreat that came to be called Philosophers’ Camp.

And today, one place in the Adirondacks remains a place of equal awe for the How do we preserve the scientists who go there, as they study a rare, intact aquatic ecosystem that can be used as a reference for understanding how climate change unfolds, and how ephemeral legacy and mystery of we can prepare for it. This place is Follensby Pond. The Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Follensby Pond while using the Conservancy is its steward. Now, as we finalize a long-term conservation plan for this unmatched parcel, day’s most advanced science to we’re guided by an overarching challenge: How do we preserve the ephemeral legacy and mystery of Follensby while using the day’s most advanced science to shine a light forward? shine a light forward? PROTECTING LAND AND WATER / 9 /

“Follensby links the deepest roots of conservation in America to the most advanced scientific thinking about the preservation of our natural resources in the face of climate change.” - John Ernst, former board of trustee, Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy

It’s a question that the 10 luminaries who took part in the Philosophers’ “ashes and ruin”: the only thing he could find of the camp itself was the giant Camp would have appreciated, says Marianne Patinelli-Dubay, who leads the boulder at which Emerson and the others shot their rifles. Environmental Philosophy Program at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Newcomb. Today, the land has recovered. The trees are likely not as tall, but a century- plus of closely guarded access has almost completely healed the landscape. In August, she led another group of 10 Conservancy staffers, board members and supporters on a trip to explore the same lake where philosopher Ralph To Patinelli-Dubay, that fall—and rise again—is symbolic. “Follensby may Waldo Emerson, scientist Louis Agassiz, and John Holmes, brother of the teach us a cultural lesson that’s much more to do with the human condition writer Oliver Wendell Holmes, gathered more than a century earlier. and may serve as a way forward,” she said, as she prepared a return visit to the site with a group of university faculty, students, a forester, farmer and and “Emerson asked: How can we join two things that are separate?” Patinelli- others to absorb Follensby’s lessons. “It’s about resilience and redemption, Dubay told the group, which had paddled out to a rock in lightweight canoes. both together. It isn’t a stretch to say we’ve made a mess in this world. So if They discussed the legacy of that long-ago gathering as Buck Mountain loomed Follensby, today, is pristine, what can we learn about redemption, flourishing, in the distance, the first colors of fall beginning to appear on trees. It was and resiliency from this landscape?” a crucial question for Emerson, whose Transcendentalist movement had searched for ways to reconcile the physical with the metaphysical and humans © Mukul Soman with nature. The Philosophers’ Camp, which gathered toward the waning days of that movement, was a way of putting that philosophy into action.

During their time at the camp, the luminaries held their own philosophical discussions. But they also used bottles as target practice, and explored the environment; Agassiz even discovered a new species of sponge.

Today, Follensby is a similar source of fascination. Dirk Bryant, the chapter’s director of conservation programs, says he continues to be “blown away” by the site even after studying it for 10 years. “I’ve worked all over the world—in the Amazon, the coral reefs of Belize, the Congo Basin—and I’m amazed we have that kind of intact ecosystem here in the Adirondacks,” he says.

So, too, are researchers from Conservancy partners, who come to Follensby to see lake trout, cisco and other species they can’t see elsewhere in the Adirondacks. They do so because Follensby is a “reference site”—someplace that demonstrates how a place responds to great change, without any other outside influence.

And Follensby is a place that has bounced back once before. Soon after the Populations of this once endangered bird have rebounded from the 1960’s thanks in Philosophers’ Camp broke, stories of the gathering spread. People began to flock to the Adirondacks to seek their own solitude; maps pointed the way to part to the introduction of bald eagle chicks at Follensby Pond during the 1980s. This Follensby itself, which became overrun with tourists. When one of the original property’s abundant suitable habitat and lack of human disturbance made it the best 10 Philosophers returned to the site in 1884, he wrote that all around were location for raising and releasing eagles in the Adirondacks. / 10 / PROTECTING LAND AND WATER

n the I Love New York Welcome Center in Glens

Adirondack Watershed Institute) © Jake Sporn (Paul Smith’s College IFalls on I-87, visitors are treated to locally made food and regional interactive kiosks. But perhaps the most unique offering is a state-of-the-art boat decontamination station—the first of its kind along a major highway—to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

The boat washing station is a powerful symbol of a vision turned to reality as awareness of—and large-scale action against—invasive species gets underway in the region. The movement is thanks to the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP), launched by The Nature Conservancy and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

APIPP began in 1998 and has grown into a collaboration of 30 local and regional partner organizations and countless volunteers. The group has surveyed more than 110,000 miles of roadside and shoreline and eradicated 1,000 invasive infestations.

Despite the success of the program, threats loom large and are magnified by climate change.

“Invasive species are non-native plants, animals, insects, and other pests that cause harm to nature and people,” says Brendan Quirion, former manager of APIPP. “They can come from air, land and water, and each of these threats is exacerbated by climate change. Warmer temperatures drive species northward, bringing new invasives along. We need to tackle this issue from all angles because our New Threats communities depend on it.” Innovative Solutions Two Decades of Protecting the Adirondacks from Invasive Species PROTECTING LAND AND WATER / 11 /

With support from partners, invasive species management and decades of hard work are yielding great results for the Adirondacks: 110,000+ miles of roadside and shoreline surveyed for invasive species © The Nature Conservancy (equivalent of walking around the equator 4.5 times)

300 of 400 high-risk lakes and ponds surveyed are still free of aquatic invasive species

5,100 infestations of high-threat invasive species mapped 2,100 infestations managed 1,030 infestations completely removed

For the past 20 years, and with the support from many partners and volunteers, APIPP has coordinated a comprehensive approach to the issue of invasives—one of the top environmental threats in the region, and the world. Since then, the chapter’s use of innovative strategies to combat invasive plants, animals, and insects has become a model for other invasive species programs throughout New York State and the country.

Recently, the Conservancy received a grant from DEC with support from the Environmental Protection Fund to implement a robust, multi-pronged strategy to protect our lands and waters using some new methodologies. This work focuses on all aspects of invasive species management, from detection to restoration.

“In the coming year, we will be using more aerial drone and sonar technology to find invasive species in hard-to-reach places like wetlands and lakes,” says Peg Olsen, chapter director. “At the same time, we are working with partners such as the Department of Transportation to create a clean fill certification program that prevents the spread of noxious plants along roadways and in large-scale commercial projects. And we are actively restoring sites by replanting them with local flora in order to provide the best habitat for birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators. To do so at scale, we are embarking upon a native seed bank initiative.” Invasive plants like phragmites (pictured above) are a top threat The work will take place in the Adirondack Park as well as the northern portions in the Adirondacks and around the world—contributing directly to of Clinton and Franklin Counties. the decline of nearly half of the threatened and endangered species Detecting invasive species before they have a chance to spread is one of the best in the United States. We are working to prevent and control the ways to stop them. If you are interested in helping, learn more about volunteering with us at http://adkinvasives.com/get-involved. spread of invasive species in all 50 states and in 30 countries. / 12 / BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Strength in Nature Student Veterans’ Big Impact

he noise of a hammer pounds through the otherwise quiet forest. Drills zip- Tzip. Rakes scrape. These are the sounds of the budding Earth Day tradition, this year at the Boquet River Nature Preserve, where student veterans from Paul Smith’s College join forces with The Nature Conservancy to prepare the site for

Using leadership skills developed in the military, the group disperses through the 120-acre preserve to mount a dozen new trail signs, clear natural debris from a mile of trails, and install 160 linear feet of new wooden split-rail fencing. They also remove over 200 pounds of trash.

“Our partnership with the student veterans improves the visitor experience at our preserves while offering valuable professional experience within the conservation field,” says Bill Martin, the Adirondack Chapter’s stewardship coordinator. “We are grateful for this group’s service to our country and our environment, and we look forward to growing our partnership.”

And this Earth Day event is not just about readying the preserve. While there, the ACROSS THE NATION group learns about conservation and each other as they share stories, connect and bond in a natural setting. In addition to volunteer workdays, The Nature Conservancy engages with veterans and military communities, hosting wellness retreats and workshops at its preserves “Working with the Conservancy gave us a unique way to give back to communities that do so much to support veterans,” says Paul Smith’s College Veterans across the country. Hundreds of veterans have taken part in this growing program. Association student president Daniel D’Apice. “It’s a great opportunity for “As a Marine Corps combat veteran, I experienced firsthand the restorative power students to have an active role in preserving and protecting the environment.” of nature,” says Greg Jacob, policy advisor at the Conservancy and co-lead of This year’s collaborative day coincided with an announcement by Governor Veterans in Nature’s Service. “It’s a privilege to bring veterans to our preserves. Cuomo and the Land Trust Alliance awarding a $20,000 stewardship grant to the These retreats bring forth a powerful exchange for staff to learn from veterans Conservancy for further improvements to the preserve. Thanks to the New York and for veterans to learn about our mission to protect and conserve the lands and State Environmental Protection Fund, a newly created trail provides more access waters on which all life depends.” to residents and visitors to the town of Willsboro. BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES / 13 / Investing in Communities near the 21,000-acre Boreas region. The grants ensure that our conservation efforts support both the environment and the economy.

And they work. “Microenterprise grant programs are such a valuable economic development tool in small communities,” says Carol Calabrese, co-executive director and CEO of the Essex County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), which administers the grants. Tourism-related businesses in the Adirondacks often find themselves debating whether to invest in expansion, or to sock money away for the (inevitable) long off-season to come; the off-season frequently wins, she says.

The Hub grants relieve that pressure. So far, the grants have produced an economic impact of $1.4 million, according to IDA records. That includes the creation of 15 full-time and 21 part-time jobs, and have helped business owners support 190 existing jobs.

Small Adirondack towns have been grappling with shrinking populations for

Fleck agrees. “How many people come and stay in this area now, and rent motel rooms, buy gas, go to restaurants?” she asks. “The whole community is affected. Even if visitors are just renting a canoe to go camping, they’re still spending money. Most people are staying somewhere the night before, they’re coming out, going to dinners, going to lunch, buying groceries.” hen Anne Fleck and Robbie Frenette, owners of the Raquette River Outfitters Win Tupper Lake, opened their canoe-guiding business 36 years ago, success As for the notion that conservation and business go hand-in-hand? Count Fleck wasn’t a given. In fact, Frenette says, “I think people thought we were crazy.” and Frenette as believers. They only need to look at a paddling map of the region to see how many more places there are to explore today than when they set up shop. But today, as they stand in front of racks upon racks of colorful, lightweight canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, and a steady stream of out-of-town visitors gear After all, as the saying up in their cozy shop before exploring the region, it’s clear they’ve made it. goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. For Fleck and The keys to their success? Lots of hard work, of course. But they also credit forward- Frenette, quite literally. thinking conservation policies by The Nature Conservancy and its partners that have turned the region into a “paddling mecca,” as Fleck puts it. And in recent years, “It’s not just us, it’s the they’ve gotten an extra boost from a pair of Conservancy grants that have helped whole community that them not only build out their fleet of rental craft, making it easier to bring more gains,” Frenette says. tourists to the newly opened Boreas Ponds tract, but also hire two new employees. “That’s what we like.” READ more about the © Kenneth Aaron Since 2015, the Conservancy has invested more than $600,000 into New York State’s Adirondack Park Upper Hudson Recreation Hub microenterprise grant microenterprise grant program program. The grants were awarded to 21 Essex and Hamilton county businesses at nature.org/adirondackgrants. / 14 / Working Together © Erika Bailey (The Nature Conservancy) © Erika Bailey (The Nature Conservancy) / 15 / Thank you. Your contributions ensure a world where people and nature will thrive for generations to come. We are deeply grateful for your support.

ANNUAL FUND $10,000 – $19,999 Edward D. Petty This list acknowledges those who made a gift to the Jameson & Reginald Baxter Elizabeth & Justice Reed Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy Reginald R. & Jameson A. Baxter Foundation F.G.K. Foundation in the past fiscal year between July 1, 2018 and The Armstrong Foundation Fred L. Reimer June 30, 2019. Pamela L. Coe Adrienne Rinella Sarah Winter French Ellen M. Scholle $20,000 – $49,999 Overhills Foundation Drs. Howard W. & Ora K. Smith Anonymous Meredith M. Prime Kingsley Foundation Emily Lyons Brittan Robert & Stephanie Olmsted Mrs. Margaret J. Smith David Darrin The Futherance Fund Inc. Joan L. Tootell Richard D. Hooker III Rochester Area Community Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Peter Wyckoff F. M. Kirby Foundation, Inc. Charlie Svenson Stephen J. Kulyik Mr. & Mrs. Steven Tadler $2,500 – $4,999 Joel Treisman In memory of Barbara H. Bergmann Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Abrahamson Joseph & Joan Cullman Conservation Foundation The Walbridge Fund, Ltd. Abrahamson Family Foundation Sarah & Bob Underhill Candace K. Weir Mr. & Mrs. Lynn Birdsong Connie & Craig Weatherup David and Candace Weir Foundation Marcus Brown & Kathy Hyland Weatherup Family Foundation Wright-Cook Foundation Joan R. Burchenal Marilyn Burns & Jeffrey Sellon

© Erika Bailey (The Nature Conservancy) $5,000 – $9,999 Bingham, Osborn & Scarborough Foundation Frances Beinecke & Paul Elston Mr. & Mrs. Edwin Elton John & Lynn Colston B. Sue Howard John E. Colston Private Foundation In memory of J. Scott Howard Dr. & Mrs. James Dannenberg Elizabeth McLanahan Mr. & Mrs. John Dillon Ann Pfohl Kirby Chingos Foundation Greyson & Eric Kuhn Linda & Gerry Hare Carol J. Pinney Lea Paine Highet & Ian Highet Dr. & Mrs. Robert Preyer Dr. & Mrs. Herbert Hudnut Jr. Robert O. Preyer Charitable Lead Unitrust James H. Miller Ted & Minney Robb Nancy L. Olsen Mr. & Mrs. Enos Throops Jr. Peter & Patty Paine Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Wonham Boquet Foundation, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Donald Yanulavich / 16 /

$1,000 – $2,499 Charles K. Kellogg Mr. & Mrs. Robert Constable The Kirk Kellogg Foundation Chester A. Crocker $250 – $499 Anonymous Jeffrey Killeen Raymond Curran & Kathleen Daggett Anonymous Adirondack Foundation – Brooknoll Fund William F. Koebbeman Mr. & Mrs. David Curtis Adirondack Foundation - Kelly R. Huiatt Fund Adirondack Foundation – Evergreen Fund Mr. & Mrs. Todd La Porte Jerry A. DeGarmo Adirondack Foundation – Wray Family Fund Adirondack Foundation – Northern Lights Fund Mr. & Mrs. George Lee Jr. Mr. & Mrs. E. Draper Jr. Adirondack Lakes Alliance Lee Bailey & Linda Rosenstock Marin Community Foundation Denise M. Elmer Mr. & Mrs. Larry Athens Mr. & Mrs. Gary Benzon Allen Family Fund John & Margot Ernst Robert P. Ball Dr. & Mrs. Michael Bettmann Edward W. McNeil Yvonne C. Farmer Mr. & Mrs. Robert Bertagna Dr. & Mrs. Arthur Bissell III Merle D. Melvin Mr. & Mrs. Richard H. Forbes Etienne & Lisa Gagnum Boillot Dr. & Mrs. John Brust Peg R. Olsen Mr. & Mrs. Philip Forlenza Robert M. Chur Janet Callear Open Space Institute Carol MacKinnon Fox Dr. & Mrs. James Dawson Charles & Judy Canham Mr. & Mrs. Mark L. Pacala Mr. & Mrs. Timothy Fritzinger Mr. & Mrs. Philip Defliese Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Clark Dr. Joan E. Popkin & Mr. Jan M. Popkin General Electric Foundation Matching Mr. & Mrs. John DiGiacomo Mr. & Mrs. Aims Coney Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John Reschovsky Gift Program Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Elkinton Dr. & Mrs. Robert Conley John & Nancy Rosenthal Mr. & Mrs. Warren Gifford June Fait & Herbert Coles Mr. & Mrs. David Cuthell Meadowhill Fund Mr. & Mrs. Roderic Giltz Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund Sandra Danussi John Roth & Lauren Razook Roth Mr. & Mrs. Neil Golub Sarah L. Holland Hannah Darrin Kenneth A. & Joanne M. Strike William & Estelle Golub Family Foundation Edward A. Johnson Richard DeMartini & Jennifer Brorsen Mr. & Mrs. Thompson Swayne Bob & Marge Goodwin DeMartini Family Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Peter Tanham Mr. & Mrs. David Heider Mr. & Mrs. Robert Kafin Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Forester Mr. Peter F. Tauck David P. Hunt Leonard T. Kahn Walter F. Gilges Mr. & Mrs. Lanny Thorndike Mr. & Mrs. Michael James Mr. & Mrs. David Kaiser Jessica F. Griffiths Amy Vedder & Bill Weber William & Mary Janeway John E. Kelsch Drs. Stanley & Charlotte Gross Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Virkler Mr. & Mrs. Pliny Jewell III Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Klein Daphne Hallowell James J. Visconti David & Nicola Jordan Margaret Lancefield & Rush Holt Headlands Farm Harvey Weinstein & Bernice Graham Mr. & Mrs. Barry Kiel Princeton Area Community Foundation Dr. & Mrs. William Harbison Dr. & Mrs. Peter White Mr. & Mrs. Peter Kindler Holly Leicht-Weinstein & Adam Weinstein Sarah Hart Donald P. Wichman James Liszka John Linck & Ann Csink Elizabeth H. Hawkey Mr. & Mrs. Philip Winterer, Esq. Mr. & Mrs. George Lockhart Dr. & Mrs. Ian MacKellar Harweb Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Serge Lussi Edward E. Matthews Mr. & Mrs. Harold Hawkey Jr. Harweb Foundation Dr. & Mrs. David Mandelbaum Mr. & Mrs. Stephen McCarthy $500 – $999 A Foundation of Philanthropic Funds Amy D. Heintz Mr. & Mrs. Jay McGraw Heintz Family Trust Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. W. Scott McGraw Bill Miller & Ida Houby Lisa Hersch & Jonathan Siner Mr. & Mrs. John Adams Mr. & Mrs. Philip Moldenhauer Donald T. & Marjory B. Moeller Mr. & Mrs. John Hubbard Jr. Adirondack Foundation - Port Jackson Fund Mr. & Mrs. James Morley Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Pell St. Huberts Foundation The John C. & Susan K. Hubbard Foundation Adirondack Foundation - Rocky Bog Fund Judson Potter Adirondack Foundation - Woods & Robert & Sharon Ormerod Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Hudnut Dr. & Mrs. Jeffrey Sherman II Pearl McCahill Family Fund Mr. & Mrs. Charles Raffe Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Hudnut Mr. & Mrs. Gregory Short Thomas Hudnut Consulting, LLC Mr. & Mrs. Fred Betz The Ruth & Louis Baker Family Foundation Barbara A. Silber Mr. & Mrs. Paul Ingrey Victoria & Wilber H. Boies Mr. & Mrs. John Sattler III Mr. & Mrs. Curtis Stiles Lola & Raymond Johnson William D. Brown Mrs. Harriet H. Savage Susan F. Stoddart Mr. & Mrs. Alan Jones Howard B. Bullard Joanne P. Scheibly Jaimie Trautman Dr. & Mrs. Todd Jorgensen Mr. & Mrs. G. Michael Bush Richard & Tymm Schumaker Mr. & Mrs. J. David Joor Mr. & Mrs. Dean Butts Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Seymour-Jones Takeyce A. Walter Kevin & Betty Ann Keane Patricia A. Calascibett Stephanie Wagoner & James Kloiber Ethan & Anne Winter Diane Cast Mr. & Mrs. F. Zunino III Mr. & Mrs. Andrej Zajac / 17 /

GIFTS TO CAPITAL & TRIBUTE AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS BEQUEST GIFTS IN HONOR OF: Tim & Claire Barnett Along with annual operating IN MEMORY OF: Frederick C. Calder support, funding for special initiatives Meredith M. Prime ensures conservation success. The Barbara H. Bergman Rolf E. Brynilsen following individuals and institutions BEQUEST GIFTS: supported freshwater, climate, land or Richard Calascibett Anonymous the conservation associate program Bernard L. Clausen IN MEMORIAM between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. Gil Crain Stephanie D. Bugden Mr. Donald K. Clifford Jr. J. Edward “Ed” Fowler joined the Adirondack Ed Fowler Chapter board of trustees in 1998. His legal acumen, Anonymous (2) Mr. Pierce J. Cotter Ted Gawalak quiet diplomatic style and generosity made him an Adirondack Foundation – Paine Family Fund David C. & Mary R. Dearborn Ernest Robert Giese indispensable member for 18 years and a chairman for Adirondack Foundation – Teresa Sayward Fund Mr. Richard F. Eisenberg Stephen Heit two years. During his time, the Conservancy purchased for the Boquet River Basin Ms. Rose Anna A. Kottler Willard G. Holt the Finch Pruyn lands and more than 100,000 acres Dr. Barbara Bedford & Dr. Charles Geisler John Kapcio Mrs. Jane S. Kruysman of Domtar Paper Company which were added to the Emily Lyons Brittan James Marshall Thomas Maynard Forest Preserve. Also, the Adirondack Park Invasive Stephen Burrington & Abigail Swaine Louis Marshal Bill & Jane Olsen Plant Program was initiated. Fellow board member John & Lynn Colston Ernie Orsland Mrs. Anitra C. Pell Meredith Prime remarked that “we all came to rely on John E. Colston Private Foundation Arnold B. Peinado Ms. Vera Pratt Ed’s intelligence, courtesy, and generosity. He was the Mr. & Mrs. Donald Dorn Susan Reimer John O. & Clara Rees embodiment of a responsible, thoughtful and active Rita Grolitzer Peter E. Shrope George V. & Jean A. Smith board member. Everyone on the board and staff loved Harry & Lyn Groome Charitable Trust Michael B. Trister working with Ed—a true Adirondack treasure.” He Barbara Linell Glaser Ms. Beulah C. Wood Antony Walton passed away on May 19, 2019, at age 87. Jane N. Mooty Foundation Trust Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Kerr Roxanne M. Leighton Dr. Lawrence Master Elizabeth S. McLanahan DONORS OF TIME AND TALENT Annette Merle-Smith In addition to more than 30 cooperating partner organizations and hundreds of Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Robert S. Meyers Program volunteers, we extend heartfelt thanks to the following individuals for the creative ways they supported Robert & Stephanie Olmsted Adirondack conservation over the past year. The Futherance Fund Inc. Preserve Adopters & Stewardship Silver Lake Bog Preserve: Jim Visconti, Larry Master Peter & Patty Paine Hawkeye Conservationists Boquet Foundation Inc. Big Simons Pond Preserve: Virginia Davis Sean Platt Ammons, & Paul Merrit Sperry Spring Pond Bog Preserve: Dan Reandeau & Prospect Hill Foundation Science Support Boquet River Nature Preserve: Town Township 19 Hunting & Recreation Club, Brian & Ginny Ruder of Willsboro, Paul Smith’s College George & Ellen Utley, & Kyle Bearce Barry Baldigo The Ayco Charitable Foundation Veterans Club General stewardship: Doug Munro, Nate Dr. Catherine Beck John & Lynn Savarese Clintonville Pine Barrens Preserve: Webber, Nathan Terault & Henry Groome Marianne Patinelli-Dubay Amy Vedder & Bill Weber Mandy & Rocco Giampaolo, William Harry Fine Event Hosts Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Wahl Localio, Sid Maicus, David Thomas-Train, Scott George Stephanie & Robert Olmsted Mr. & Mrs. Barrie Wigmore & John Wood Dr. Cliff Kraft Everton Falls Nature Preserve: Geri Cutter, Sarah Underhill Julia Willis Dr. Peter McIntyre Will Thomas, Geri Ames, & Doug Munro Photographers Ed McNeil Gadway Sandstone Pavement Barrens Erika Bailey Dr. Kevin Rose Preserve: John Coryea, Dr. Ken Adams John DiGiacomo & the Shatagee Woods Chapter of John Stetler Adirondack Mountain Club Carl Heilman II / 18 / A Legacy of Protection We are grateful to the following individuals, who have let us know about their planned gift for the Adirondack Chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

Anonymous (5) Mark R. Grohowski Edward W. McNeil Fred & Susan Reimer Susan Terwilliger & Michael John P. Andrews & Michele A. Jack Harry & Lyn Groome Edward H. Miller John & Sandra Reschovsky Mulcahy Wendy S. Aronson Ralph & Georgia Guenther Jim & Peg Miller Susan M. Robinson Phyllis B. Thompson Timothy L. Barnett Gwen Haaland David E. Morse Lewis & Sheila Rosenberg Donald L. Traver Paul M. Turner Jameson A. Baxter Linda & Gerry Hare Georgann H. Muller Marin L. & Gloria W. Sage Chase P. Twichell Steven Bechard Lila L. Harrington Rich W. Nord Joanne Scheibly Mr. & Mrs. Peter R. Van Brunt Barbara L. Bedford Daniel A. Harris Dr. V. Nossiter Mrs. Irene L. Schmitt Gary & Linda Benzon William J. Harris Howard & Martha Simonin Paul T. Vesely & Vincent C. Peter S. Paine Jr. DiLauro William J. Berner William J. & Helyn M. Harris Nancy M. Slowik & Timothy Keith Partyka Mary Ellen Bernhardt Barbara L. Hennig Brandon Brock M. & Mary M. Weatherup Mary Ella Passage Craig & Constance Weatherup Mr. & Mrs. John Bessette Robert & Adeline Hinman Theodore S. Smith Jr. William L. Paternotte Anne C. Weld Florance H. Bigelow Matthew Hobart William D. Smith Anita N. Patka Judith F. Werner William & Alice Boardman Sarah L. Holland Philip B. Snyder & Patricia D. Paine Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Patten Lorri R. Wetzel Helen Booth B. Sue Howard Betty C. Spence Sue A. Whan Irene Bowen Herbert B. Hudnut Jr. Edward D. Petty Chandler Stein Robert M. White & Judith White Emily Lyons Brittan Susan J. Jansen Carol Pinney Edward T. Stork & Mary E. Barrie Peter & Kathy Wyckoff J. Martin & Barbara B. Carovano Richard D. Jarvis Lorraine W. Plauth Kenneth Strike Linda Cohen Herbert J. Johnson Meredith M. Prime Charlie Svenson Sarah Cohen Dave Joor John & Carolyn Coit Elaine Economides Joost Francis J. & Dorcas M. Culross John E. Kelsch Julia E. Damkoehler Douglas & Jami Kerr CHOOSE THE GIFT THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU George D. Davis Lynne L. Kingsley Alan Dee Mr. & Mrs. Eugene Kirch o matter what stage you’ve reached in life, a planned gift can benefit you and your loved ones Martha M. Deming Jeremiah Kirwan Nwhile helping to protect nature for generations to come. Matthew T. Donahue William J. Klohck Donald Dorn William F. Koebbeman Jr. Many of our members choose to name The Nature Conservancy in their will or trust or as a Lyn DuMoulin Sally & Dick Lighty beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy. Others choose to make a tribute gift in Penny Eger & M.J. Osborne Marian E. Lindberg honor or memory of someone special. John Eggers Robert G. Locke & Sarah Norman G. & Marilyn J. Fancher Thorne-Locke While most planned gifts take years to be realized, you don’t have to wait: An outright gift of stocks, Ryan W. Ferebee Douglas & Sarah Luke bonds, mutual funds, personal property or real estate can result in conservation benefits and William C. & Mary Ann Fischette Thomas J. Lynch significant tax savings. The Conservancy handles the sale of your assets and uses the proceeds to Marian Flammer Theodore D. Mack support vital programs or to provide you or others with income for life. Carol MacKinnon Fox Ian & Rebecca MacKellar If you’ve included the Conservancy in your estate plan, or to find your creative solution to invest in John P. Freeman Charles & Barbara Manning nature’s future, please call (877) 812-3698 or email [email protected] and speak with one of our gift Frederick & Gloria Gleave Lawrence L. Master specialists today. Aimee C. Gomlack Mark & Carol McCoy Leslie B. & Janet G. Gray Peter R. McKnight / 19 / DONOR PROFILE Inspiring Conservation arbara Glaser, an environmentalist, preservationist, participated in the paid internship program. Many are still Beducator and long-term trustee to the Conservancy’s working in conservation locally and across the nation. Adirondack Chapter, has been a steadfast supporter of conservation for more than three decades. She dedicates “Alongside Clarence, I learned that the act of protecting and herself to empowering people to protect nature and help preserving the Adirondacks takes more than one generation,” says communities thrive. Glaser. “The best advocates for this globally important landscape are people who have come to know it, over time in the company of people Along with the celebrated Adirondack elder and former who love it. They grow to understand and appreciate that this region ANC Board member Clarence Petty, Barbara was one can be a model for the world—an example of people and nature living of the founding donors to establish the Conservancy’s together in mutual interdependency.” Conservation Associate program. Under her leadership, the Conservancy has engaged and inspired the next Barbara, Clarence’s son Ed Petty, and others now continue to generation of enthusiasts to protect nature by pursuing careers in conservation, while contribute to the fund in his memory, as a commitment to fostering adding capacity and diversity to the staff. To date, more than 16 young applicants have future generations of conservation advocates. © Takeyce Walter TRUSTEE PROFILE Uniting Art and Nature “ hen I discovered the Adirondacks for the first time, Wit awakened in me something from my youth that I had forgotten. I was struck with a feeling of familiarity that brought me back, in my mind, to the beaches and mountains of Jamaica where I grew up.

“It’s important for us to reconnect to nature. We are not separate from it. Nature is in us and we need to reacquaint ourselves with that. There’s something about the light, the beauty and the space—that quiet reverence—and the connection that I feel to nature when I do my work. I try to share that feeling with everybody.”

Takeyce Walter, a natural landscape painter, serves on the Adirondack Chapter’s board of trustees. Her work captures the untouched beauty of habitats in the Northeast.

Coming Soon: Creative February

In 2020, Takeyce will host her 6th annual “Creative February,” which this year will focus on the Adirondacks. Each week throughout the month is dedicated to a separate season and each day features a unique Adirondack landscape for anyone to recreate as art. Participants will post and share their daily creations on social media using a hashtag. Join the daily artistic journey. Details at facebook.com/tncny and Instagram.com/nature.ny. / 20 / ADIRONDACK CHAPTER OF THE NATURE CONSERVANCY BOARD OF TRUSTEES “Each year, we welcome seasonal staff Barbara Bedford, PhD, Retired Elizabeth McLanahan, Director Senior Research Associate, Natural of the NOAA Office of International who play a vital role in helping advance Resources Department, at Cornell Affairs and Senior Advisor to the and former President, Society of NOAA Administrator. Washington, conservation efforts in all corners of Wetland Scientists. Ithaca, NY. DC. Adirondacks: Upper Saranac the Adirondacks. They bring fresh Lake. perspectives to the organization that © John DiGiacomo Frances Beinecke, Retired Peter S. Paine Jr., (Secretary), benefit the Conservancy’s full-time President, Natural Resources Attorney; chairman, Champlain Defense Council. Bronx, New York. National Bank. Adirondacks: staff—and they each gain invaluable Adirondacks: Long Lake. Willsboro. hands-on knowledge that will help advance their careers.” From Left: Elizabeth Metzger, Julie Fogden, Rachel Renders, Daniel Sinopoli Emily L. Brittan, (Vice Chair), Meredith M. Prime, Civic leader; - Dirk Bryant, director of lands General Manager, Global Financial Co-founder, Adirondack Foundation Markets IBM Financial Services (formerly Adirondack Community Sector Trust). Adirondacks: Lake Placid. This past summer, four young professionals joined the team, contributing to the Conservancy’s mission to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Rachel Renders, a 2019 graduate of the State University of New York at Geneseo, Stephen H. Burrington, Charlie Svenson, (Treasurer), served as Adirondack Conservation Associate. The Conservation Associate is a Executive Director, Groundwork Partner, Brock Capital, NYC. USA. Brookline, MA. Adirondacks: Saranac Lake. program that allows young professionals a chance to explore how they can participate in nature-based work. This seasonal post provides hands-on exposure to all aspects of the Conservancy’s work, both in the field and in the Keene Valley office.

Rachel coordinated marketing and communication projects, including creating Charlie Canham, PhD, Senior Sarah Underhill, (Chair), Civic Scientist, Forest Ecology, Institute of leader, freelance writer, editor, new signs and information to enhance the visitor experience Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY. and curator. Bronxville, NY. across the Conservancy’s six public nature preserves in the region. Adirondacks: Big Wolf Lake. “While my time as Conservation Associate has wound down, I know my career in conservation is just warming up,” says Renders. “I’ve learned that strong personal relationships are the foundation to most—if not all—of the work we do. As I move John Colston, Consultant with Amy Vedder, PhD, Consulting high-tech firms that sell web-based conservationist, retired Senior VP, forward in my career with The Nature Conservancy and elsewhere, I hope to create products. Former senior executive The Wilderness Society, the kind of lasting bonds with coworkers and community members that I have seen at with AOL. Glyndon, MD Washington DC. Adirondacks: Adirondacks: Long Lake. Johnsburg. work here in the Keene Valley office.” Daniel Sinopoli and Elizabeth Metzger served as data technicians. Elizabeth, a David Darrin, Former President, Takeyce Walter, Award-winning graduate from Juniata College and Daniel, a graduate from SUNY College of current Advisory Board Member, Lake contemporary American painter Environmental Science and Forestry, contributed to the Conservancy’s statewide George Land Conservancy. Family (born Jamaica) and art instructor. initiative to restore road-stream crossings. Data gleaned will help Conservancy founder, Margaret A. Darrin and Adirondacks: Round Lake. David M. Darrin Freshwater Institute. scientists and partners identify where upgraded culverts can provide win–win Saratoga Springs, NY and Sarasota, Florida. Adirondacks: Hague. solutions for people and nature by reducing flooding risks, minimizing road damage and allowing brook trout to reach cool headwater streams. Hannah Darrin, National Outdoor Julie Willis, Real estate agent; Leadership School instructor, interior designer, Concord, MA. Julie Fogden served as the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP) Adirondacks and Baja Peninsula. Adirondacks: Keene Valley. Masters Student, Yale School of management steward. A graduate of the SUNY ESF, Julie conducted invasive Forestry. New Haven, CT. species surveys and management at Department of Environmental Conservation Adirondacks: Hague. campgrounds, trailheads and the Conservancy’s six public preserves. © The Nature Conservancy / 21 /

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ADIRONDACK TEAM MEMBERS

Peg Olsen Alissa Fadden Bill Martin Bethany Pelkey 2019 Field Staff Chapter Director Wildlife Connectivity Conservation Easement Administrative Assistant Project Manager Program Coordinator Julie Fogden Abigail Blum Zack Simek Adirondack Invasive Species Associate Director of Chris Jage Sophie McClelland Terrestrial Invasive Species Management Steward Development Land Protection Development/ Project Coordinator Manager Communications Manager Elizabeth Metzger Michelle Brown Erin Vennie-Vollrath Stream Barrier Technician Sr. Conservation Scientist Thomas Lake Luke McNally Aquatic Invasive Species Follensby Pond Freshwater Project Project Coordinator Rachel Renders Dirk Bryant Caretaker Coordinator Adirondack Conservation Director NY Lands Priority Jeffrey Webber Associate Jan Localio Dawn Ormsby Lands and Facilities Manager Dave Conlan Sr. Conservation Operations Program Specialist Daniel Sinopoli Director of Communications Manager/Stewardship Stream Barrier Technician and Community Engagement Specialist P.O. BOX 65 / 8 NATURE WAY KEENE VALLEY, NY 12943 518-576-2082 [email protected] NATURE.ORG/NEWYORK © Erika Bailey (The Nature Conservancy) Happy New Trail Links Nature Trails Preserve, Downtown Willsboro Willsboro’s Main Street is now connected to the Boquet River Nature Preserve trail network.

A new half-mile trail is now open connecting Willsboro’s Main Street with the Boquet River Nature Preserve’s existing trail network—providing community members and visitors with convenient access to the Conservancy’s 120-acre preserve and giving a further boost to the Town of Willsboro’s ongoing downtown revitalization. We invite you to come experience it!

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.