www.otsegolandtrust.org Summer 2010 fi eld, forest & fen Connecing People wih the Land Marcie Foster Marcie Paddling the Green Mile Green Mile on Susquehanna River A “green mile” was recently secured along the Susquehanna River thanks to the conservation efforts of three families in Phoenix Mills. Helen Crowell recently IN THIS ISSUE partnered with Otsego Land Trust to protect her property at the confl uence of the Susquehanna River and Oaks Creek with a conservation easement. This 1 Green Mile, The Nature of Conservation 30-acre easement links two contiguous conservation properties, including the Compton Bridge site owned by the Land Trust. Together, these three properties 2 Field Notes provide a mile of protected river and creek frontage in an area experiencing high 3 Conservation Spotlight development pressure south of Cooperstown. 4 Focus on Stewardship “We are grateful to the conservation-minded residents of Phoenix Mills who 5 People Behind the Scenes worked with Otsego Land Trust to protect an entire mile of the river” said Peter 6 Photography Contest, Hujik, Executive Director. “ continued on page 7 Champion Tree Search 8 Upcoming Events, Website THE NATURE OF CONSERVATION lakes, and ponds. Conservation practi- Brook Trout tioners consider brook trout an indicator species because a strong wild brook The brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), trout population indicates that the also known as the speckled trout, is stream where they live is healthy and New York’s offi cial freshwater fi sh and has excellent water quality. A decline native to much of the eastern United in brook trout populations can serve States. Anglers value “brookies” for as an early warning that the health of their sporting action and fi ne eating. A the entire aquatic system is at risk. strikingly beautiful fi sh, with speckles Brook trout populations are usually that intensify in color at spawning time, dominated by small fi sh less than 12 Brook trout brook trout survive in only the coldest inches in length, continued on page 7 and cleanest, well-oxygenated streams, 1 otsego land trust Connecing People wih the Land seedlings at the ever-popular 4th of July Parade in Springfi eld. The trees go quickly, so we have to buy more for the third consecutive year! Otsego Land Trust protects the distinctive rural character of the Otsego County area In April, a dedicated group learned by securing lands and waters of signifi cant about forest management at our forest scenic, historic, and ecological value, management workshop and woods including forests and farmlands. walk. Last weekend, an enthusiastic Board of Directors crowd observed the mammoth sycamore trees growing along the Harry Levine CHAIRMAN Susquehanna River within conserva- tion lands in the Phoenix Mills area. Carla Hall Friedman VICE CHAIRMAN And we hope to recruit your help this Sharon Hujik Sharon summer in fi nding our area’s biggest Frank Kolbert Little Sprouts TREASURER trees in the Champion Tree Search. Field Notes Please consider lending your creative John W. Carnahan SECRETARY talent in our photography contest, Have you ever planted a tree? If you centered on the theme of “People Kent L. Barwick have, you know the sense of accom- and Trees”. David T. Bliss plishment that follows digging, planting Richard J. Blabey and watering. And the satisfaction Henry S.F. Cooper, Jr. J. Joseph Homburger lingers—for years—as you watch the What would we do Jennifer Huntington tree grow, change and mature season Paul Kidder after season. Faith and hope are without places for children Francis J. Nolan, M.D. implicit in the very act of planting, as Earle N. Peterson you look to the future. The Man Who to run, climb trees and Gilbert T. Vincent, PhD Planted Trees by Jean Giono is a great Henry F.C. Weil, M.D. mess around? Julia C. Wertenbaker read for those who revel in trees and short stories. Directors Emeriti After participating in and leading John I. Howell J. Michael Moffatt large-scale stream-side forest restora- What would we do without places for George B. Snell tion efforts in northern California, children to run, climb trees and mess planting trees is in my blood. My wife Staff around? Author and historian Wallace and I planted maple trees to celebrate Stegner referred to the network of Peter Hujik EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR the birth of our son Luke two years protected areas emerging around the ago. This spring, Luke helped me country as a “geography of hope”. Connie Tedesco plant native hemlock seedlings on our OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Thank you for spreading the word about north-facing slope. He handed me the how people can play a vital role in our MacKenzie Waro seedlings and marked them for water- LAND PROTECTION SPECIALIST local conservation efforts. Your ongoing ing with blaze-orange fl ags. and generous support continues to Marcie Foster STEWARDSHIP ASSOCIATE This year, Otsego Land Trust is provid- encourage us. Thank you for planting ing many opportunities for people to seeds of hope in our community. Otsego Land Trust is partially funded by the New York connect with trees and the land. Conservation Partnership Program administered by the Land Trust Alliance Northeast Program with support from the State Hundreds of children will be able to of New York. A copy of Otsego Land Trust’s annual fi nancial share the joy of planting trees and report may be obtained upon request from our offi ce or from the New York State Attorney General’s Charities Bureau, watching them grow, as the Otsego Peter Hujik attn: FOIL Offi cer, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. Land Trust team hands out native tree Executive Director 2 www.otsegolandtrust.org A Heritage of Floodplain Protection on Decatur Creek The De Long family has lived in the Worcester and Westford area since 1803, when Elias settled in Westford. The history of the De Longs—and other local history—is well recounted by Larry De Long, a former town historian, who recently partnered with Otsego Land Trust to honor his father, Albert De Long, by protecting his strategically located, two-acre parcel on Decatur Sharon Hujik Sharon Creek in the hamlet of Worcester. Dorothy Manley on Scotch Hill “My father mowed this fi eld every year until he was 80 years old,” Larry CONSERVATION SPOTLIGHT Integrating ecological restoration reminisced, “and he wanted this 91-Acre Farm Protected projects with conservation easements parcel to remain open.” The lot has on Scotch Hill is a growing priority for Otsego Land long been a pleasant open area for Trust and its partners. neighborhood events, fl ying kites, Dorothy Manley doesn’t have to walk A friendly face, a good listener, and and other types of recreation. far from her front porch for some pretty a hard worker, Dorothy is well known As part of the fl oodplain for Decatur incredible views across the Otego for her almost 20 years manning the Creek, the protected parcel buffers Creek Valley in the Town of Hartwick. counter at the Quickway on State neighboring homes from fl oods. In fact, Just across the driveway, actually, and Route 205 in Hartwick. Before that, all three conservation projects described that’s the way she wants it to stay— many remember her at the Farm & in this newsletter, in three different now and forever. That’s why she Home on Main Street in Cooperstown. towns and along three different water- worked with Otsego Land Trust to At 82 years of age, Dorothy is glad ways, include a fl oodplain-conservation place a conservation easement on 91 to share some memories of her many component. A common misperception acres on the top of Scotch Hill, north- years of dairy farming on Scotch Hill. is that state and federal regulations west of the hamlet of Hartwick. The She also enjoys watching wildlife- prevent development in fl oodplains farm encompasses 34 acres of active deer, fox, turkeys, a mother bear and and other wetlands. But board mem- farmland, 13 acres of woods, 5 acres cub a few years ago, and lately a ber Joe Homburger frequently adds of wetland, and a trout-spawning trib- curious woodchuck. clarity to the issue reminding people utary of Otego Creek. Her interest in conservation has grown that the laws regulate wetlands devel- Dorothy joins two other families that over the years as she watched farm- opment, but don’t always prohibit it. collectively have protected over land like hers being carved up, and Larry De Long has long valued open 1,400 acres in the Upper Otego sensed that many of the newcomers space and the Town of Worcester. Creek area. In just the last three years, did not feel a strong attachment to Larry chaired and served on the Town over 2 miles of headwater tributaries the land. “I don’t want to look out Planning Board for over fi ve years, and to Otego Creek have been secured. from my porch and see more houses was recently involved in completing the Dorothy’s conservation efforts are and all this land chopped up” she Worcester Heritage Park in downtown noteworthy because she also is part- explains. Standing in an open fi eld Worcester. Thanks to the De Long fam- nering with the Farm Service Agency with rolling hills in the background, ily, this green legacy along Decatur to restore a natural stream-side buffer she spreads her arms and declares Creek adds a new and important along a stretch of the tributary that “I just love it here!” chapter to conservation efforts in the runs through her farm to improve Worcester area. water quality and trout habitat. 3 otsego land trust Connecing People wih the Land FOCUS ON STEWARDSHIP dumping, may go unnoticed by a What is Stewardship and landowner and land trust.