DEP Acquires Conservation Easement on 880-Acre Watershed Parcel as Part of Ongoing Watershed Protection Efforts

"Environmental News"

December 21, 2005

DEP Acquires Conservation Easement on 880-Acre Watershed Parcel as Part of Ongoing Watershed Protection Efforts

Commissioner Emily Lloyd announced that as part of its continuing watershed protection program the DEP has acquired a conservation easement on 880 acres in an area that includes the towns of Woodstock, Hurley and Olive in Ulster County. The easement abuts several other properties purchased by the City, including a 20-acre tract acquired in November, and will help to protect important tributaries to the Ashokan Reservoir, the major component of the City�s Catskill water supply system. The conservation easement represents a major step forward in the City�s ongoing watershed protection program, which has now protected over 55,000 acres of watershed land under its Land Acquisition Program, and has provided the funding to the Watershed Agricultural Council to protect another 12,000 acres. More


Hamden Hill Ridge Riders Snowmobiling Club and DEP Reach Agreement on Use of Historic Trail

DEP has given the Hamden Hill Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club permission to maintain and use an established snowmobile trail that crosses a parcel of land in Hamden that was recently purchased by New York City as part of its Land Acquisition Program. The site is located near Hamden Town Hall and will give the Club better access to the emergency sled that is stored there. The access agreement is the result of a working collaboration between DEP, the Club and the Town of Hamden, with input from the New York State Snowmobile Association and Delaware County Planning Department. DEP aims to reach similar agreements with other groups that will make the City�s property even more accessible after the land has been protected for water supply purposes. More