Black Creek Shoreline -- Esopus, Ulster County

In June 2010, Scenic Hudson protected 3.7 acres that are crucial to enabling public access to 976 acres of protect lands in the Black Creek corridor

The new property will improve public access to other Scenic Hudson lands and the John Burroughs Nature SanctuaryRobert Rodriguez, Jr.

A mixture of woods and wetlands along Black Creek, this property is surrounded by 976 acres previously conserved by Scenic Hudson and the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary. Its level topography and road frontage will allow for expanded public access to the protected lands, a popular destination for bird watching, fishing and paddling.

The property lies within the Plutarch/Black Creek Wetlands Complex, a prime area for breeding and migrating waterfowl identified in the New York Open Space Plan—a blueprint for the state's land- conservation efforts. Safeguarded wetlands trap run-off and remove pollutants before they reach drinking-water supplies. They also will mitigate ecological and property damage from sea-level rises and storm surges under predicted climate-change scenarios.

The purchase is part of Scenic Hudson's collaborative campaign to Save the Land That Matters Most, protecting 65,000 acres of great scenic, ecological and agricultural significance.

Project highlights

• Protects Black Creek shoreline and adjacent wetlands
• Increases conservation of critical wildlife habitats, scenic landscapes
• Helps mitigate damage from anticipated climate-change impacts

Location

To view the former inholding in relation to other nearby protected lands, download this map (pdf, 344k)