The Twentieth Anniversary Fund Supports the Future of
the Wallkill Valley Land Trust

The Twentieth Anniversary Fund supports expansion of the Land Trust’s work to preserve rural character in all eight towns of southern Ulster County. Over the past few years we have moved from an all-volunteer land trust to one with two and half staff and a number of consultants. The Twentieth Anniversary Fund will allow us to actively work in each of our towns. We are in conversation with many landowners throughout our region.

We are partnering with Scenic Hudson to work more closely with them in the Hudson River Corridor, and with The Nature Conservancy to work more closely with them in the area near the Shawangunk Ridge. We are continuing our relationship with the Open Space Institute –a partnership that has produced four easements and protected 338 acres of farms and farmland. We also have a relationship with the Orange County Land Trust since we share concern for the Wallkill River Watershed with them.

In addition, we are connected with the towns in our area that have passed Conservation Bond Acts – Gardiner and New Paltz - to support them in their land conservation work.

We are also working with the Mohonk Preserve, the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, the Rondout-Esopus Land Conservancy, the Woodstock Land Conservancy, the Esopus Creek Conservancy, the Shawangunk Conservancy, and the Cragsmoor Conservancy. These are the grassroots, community based land trusts of Ulster County. Together we are working to strengthen the rate, quality and permanence of land conservation throughout the county.

Because the Wallkill Valley Land Trust has been here twenty years,

• Twenty-two parcels, totaling nearly 1500 acres in southern Ulster County are preserved forever.
• The Wallkill Valley Rail Trail through Gardiner and New Paltz was created, is protected, and is available for public enjoyment
• Eight farms are protected forever
• In partnership with the Open Space Institute, the Two Farms Campaign protects 181 acres of active farmland along the Wallkill River

On the Greene Land Preservation Agreement
in Gardiner donated in 1989.
The Greene Conservation Easement was the
first project completed by the Land Trust.

Along the Wallkill River on the Rossetter Land Preservation Agreement in Gardiner.
This Conservation Easement is the most recent
project completed by the Land Trust.
It was donated in 2008 and the property
abuts the Greene Easement.

Because of the Twentieth Anniversary Fund we will grow, strengthen our collaborations, and preserve the rural character of southern Ulster County.  Join us as we celebrate 20 years of history and plan for the future. Your donations make land preservation possible.