Groups Partner to Protect Columbia County Farmland

STUYVESANT (Columbia County)—The Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) and Scenic Hudson have partnered with the owner of a farm in the Town of Stuyvesant to protect permanently 233 high-quality agricultural acres. The transaction marks another important step forward in CLC's and Scenic Hudson's collaboration on conserving farmland in Columbia County.

The conserved land includes more than 220 acres of USDA Prime Farmland and Soils of Statewide Significance—currently in use by local farmers who grow corn and hay—as well as a circa-1760 farmhouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property, historically known as the Johannis L. Van Alen Farm, is part of a "Neighborhood Conservation Block" that is comprised of 14 other agricultural properties within three miles totaling 2,926 acres of land permanently protected with conservation easements. This includes an adjacent 440-acre farm previously protected by Scenic Hudson and 166 acres of farmland protected by a CLC-Scenic Hudson collaboration earlier this year.

Scenic Hudson Senior Land Project Manager Kelly Boling negotiated the transaction in partnership with CLC's Conservation and Agricultural Programs Manager Marissa Codey. The landowner generously donated a conservation easement that restricts development of the property, conserves its sensitive natural resources and ensures that it will remain available for farming. CLC will hold and manage the easement.

Farmland essential to the valley's economy, food supply

Protecting farmland is a high priority for both CLC and Scenic Hudson. They recognize that the Hudson Valley's productive soils are the foundation of an $810-million regional agricultural economy and essential for supplying fresh, healthy food to greenmarkets and restaurants throughout the valley and New York City. By working with farmers to secure easements, the two organizations help ensure the viability of family-run farms, which are critical for sustaining the agriculture-dependent economies and rural character of communities like Stuyvesant.

The easement supports the conservation vision of both the Town of Stuyvesant and New York State. Protection of the property achieves several goals of the current NYS Open Space Conservation Plan, including protecting Hudson River tributaries, protecting lands within a designated Scenic Area of Statewide Significance and farmland protection. It also achieves many goals articulated in the Town of Stuyvesant's Comprehensive Plan such as "conservation of the historic and natural resources townwide" and "protect and conserve important prime and agricultural lands." Collectively, Scenic Hudson and CLC have conserved more than 18,000 agricultural acres in Columbia County, including 3,547 acres on 17 farms in Stuyvesant.

"Hudson Valley farms remain incredibly vulnerable to development pressures just as there is a growing need to secure a sustainable 'foodshed' for the Hudson Valley and New York City," said Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan. "That's why protecting them is a priority of Scenic Hudson's Saving the Land That Matters Most campaign. Thanks to our partnership with the Columbia Land Conservancy and a generous landowner, we've ensured that 233 highly productive acres will always be available to provide nutritious food while supporting Stuyvesant's economy. Looking ahead, we anticipate great future collaborative farmland victories with the CLC."

"This transaction continues CLC's long-standing commitment to protecting the rich and scenic farmland, forests and open spaces that make Columbia County such an extraordinary place," said CLC Executive Director Peter Paden. "It reflects, as well, a new level of partnership with our friends at Scenic Hudson, on which we plan to build in the months and years ahead. By pooling our skills and resources, we look forward to many more conservation achievements in the areas of the county along the Hudson River where we share mutual goals and aspirations."

Transaction has strong economic, ecological, health upsides

This conservation easement preserves a landscape that contributes to Columbia County's $105-million tourism economy that sustains nearly 1,500 jobs. The market value of produce grown on Columbia County farms exceeds $50 million annually.

In addition, protecting large, contiguous landscapes safeguards the interconnected network of diverse habitats on which many wildlife species depend. Increasing the acreage of protected open space also offers myriad human health benefits. Trees sequester pollutants that contribute to asthma, lung cancer, and cardiovascular disease, while releasing oxygen. Farms, woodlands and wetlands collect and purify water that filters into the ground to recharge local aquifers, which communities depend on for drinking water. Vegetation and wetlands also intercept rainfall, preventing it from flowing into streams where it could cause flooding. Safeguarding prime wildlife habitats helps maintain biodiversity, which plays an important role in preventing diseases such as West Nile virus and Lyme disease.

About Columbia Land Conservancy

CLC is the only conservation organization focused exclusively on conserving the rich and abundant farmland, forests and wildlife habitat of Columbia County, strengthening connections between people and the land. CLC has a 25-year history of working with private individuals around the County and during that time has protected 21,980 acres, approximately 6,000 acres of which are comprised of working farmland.

CLC also owns or manages 10 public conservation areas that are open year round from dawn to dusk, providing miles of trails for free, year-round outdoor recreation. As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, CLC has an expanded program schedule for the year that includes family programs, art activities, guest educators, contests, and self-guided activities. CLC also works to support and strengthen agriculture and thoughtful land use planning throughout the county.

Scenic Hudson works to protect and restore the Hudson River and its majestic landscape as an irreplaceable national treasure and a vital resource for residents and visitors. A crusader for the valley since 1963, we are credited with saving fabled Storm King Mountain from a destructive industrial project and launching the modern grass-roots environmental movement. Today with more than 25,000 ardent supporters, we are the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River Valley. Our team of experts combines land acquisition, support for agriculture, citizen-based advocacy and sophisticated planning tools to create environmentally healthy communities, champion smart economic growth, open up riverfronts to the public and preserve the valley's inspiring beauty and natural resources. To date Scenic Hudson has created or enhanced more than 50 parks, preserves and historic sites up and down the Hudson River and conserved more than 30,000 acres.

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