Lake George Land Conservancy 2017 Annual Report
Protecting the Land that Protects the Lake Since 1988
Since 1988 the Lake George Land Conservancy has worked with willing landowners and other partners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Lake George region.
Through conservation efforts including land acquisition, conservation easements, and innovative community collaborations, the LGLC and its partners have permanently protected 10,859 acres of land and 6 1/2 miles of lake shoreline.
Information provided within this report is specific to the 2017 Fiscal Year (FY), which runs from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. For more recent information, please go to our website, www.lglc.org, or stop by our office in beautiful Bolton Landing, New York.
4905 Lake Shore Dr. | P.O. Box 1250 Bolton Landing, NY 12814-1250 518-644-9673 | www.lglc.org Connect with us! @HikeLakeGeorge
Lake George Protected Land As of June 30, 2017
Beaver Pond 73 acres
Cedar Swamp 65 acres
Wing Pond 159 acres
Legend
FY 2017 Completed Projects Lands Owned by the LGLC Lands Protected by the LGLC with Conservation Easements Lands Owned by New York State NYS-Owned Lands Initially Protected by the LGLC and Partners
Moody Parcel 15 acres
Lake George Watershed Boundary
This letter is dedicated to the “LGLC Family” — our friends, donors, board members, staff and all those who help the Lake George Land Conservancy PROTECT THE LAND THAT PROTECTS THE LAKE. Our success is the result of all your combined efforts. We cannot succeed without you; thank you very much! I’d also like to especially mention John Macionis, my predecessor, who led us from 2006-2017. The generous contribution of his time, treasure, wisdom and leadership will be forever remembered; thank you, John. Your “big shoes” will be a challenge to fill. Since our founding, as a “spin off” almost 30 years ago from what was then the Lake George Association Fund, we have been singularly focused on using scarce resources to PROTECT THE LAND THAT PROTECTS THE LAKE. Approximately 34,470 feet of Lake George shoreline, 1,511 acres of land adjacent to the Lake, 9,360 acres of ridgelines and mountainside including many small streams and wetlands, and 95,830 linear feet (more than 18 miles) of stream corridors, critical to Lake clarity, purity and scenic beauty have been protected forever. Much of this land is part of our preserves, open to the public for enjoyment and recreation. Clearly our beloved Lake has benefited enormously. So where do we go from here? Simply, we are going to continue doing what we have been doing—PROTECTING THE LAND THAT PROTECTS THE LAKE. Most of the large tracts of shoreline that are better left undeveloped have already been protected; our focus now is on major stream corridors, ridge lines and the beauty of mountainsides and islands. We will work with landowners interested in conservation easements, purchase large and small land parcels having “high conservation values,” skillfully steward land (both that we own and that we manage for the DEC), and efficiently and prudently utilize scarce resources of money and time. Finally, we are investing for the long term. Obviously our intent is to protect land forever because that will protect Lake George forever, but we also are building the LGLC for the long haul. Due to donor generosity our financial condition is strong; staff skills have been enhanced and it functions as a team, so important to a small group efficiently working together, and we are strategically planning. In the future you will see us operating alone but also with “lake protection” partners—The Fund for Lake George and the Lake George Association—as well as towns and municipalities, DEC, etc. We are looking at some big projects which will be more efficiently and effectively accomplished with others rather than alone. I hope to see most of you around the office, on the Lake, in the woods or at one of our numerous events this year. 2018 should be an exciting year: enjoy it and thanks for being part of our “family.”
Michael O’Reilly President
What We Do Providing educational opportunities through public speaking, hosted presentations, guided hikes, trail signage, and hands-on learning. Engaging with tens of thousands of people each year on hiking trails owned and managed by the LGLC.
Managing 4,254 acres on 47 individual properties throughout the Lake George watershed. Controlling invasive plants that threaten the land’s healthy ecosystems. Creating and maintaining more than 35 miles of trails on 12 Parks and Preserves open to the public year-round for hiking and other sustainable and educational use.
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Water Quality Protection
Developing and Maintaining positive relationships with landowners, communities, government agencies, and the general public.
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Partnering with individuals, organizations, professionals, and municipalities to strengthen communities and build economic resources.
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Creating safe, family-friendly, fun and educational events for all Lake George communities, residents and visitors.
Land Conservation Actively protecting land within the Lake George watershed that has been identified as high priority for maintaining water quality, such as properties containing wetlands, streams, shoreline, sensitive slopes and ridge lines. Working with willing landowners, municipalities, organizations and other partners to achieve permanent conservation results. Utilizing conservation tools and resources for innovative approaches to stream corridor protection, forest management, and community conservation planning. Leading efforts to expand public understanding and appreciation of land conservation as the most efficient and effective tool to ensure the continued health of Lake George.
Protecting the Land that protects the Lake
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Conservation Accomplishments In the last fiscal year, the LGLC added four properties, totaling 312 acres, to its list of protected lands that are directly protecting the water quality of Lake George.
Brook, the beaver pond is especially important for holding salt and other pollutants and sediment, and controlling the volume of water as it flows into Lake George.
The Last Great Shoreline (LGS) Preserve in Putnam grew with the addition of a 73-acre property with a large beaver pond and 65-acre property that contains a rare northern white cedar swamp. With the protection of these properties, the LGLC was able to complete its Bridge the Nose Campaign.
The LGLC’s Indian Brook/Northwest Bay Conservation Initiative was strengthened by the addition of a 159-acre Bolton property containing 750 feet of a tributary that flows into Northwest Bay, and about 15 acres of wooded and open wetlands, including Wing Pond.
The beaver pond property adjoins the northern boundary of the LGS Preserve, protecting important land between Warrick and Glenburnie Roads; the cedar swamp land fits like a puzzle piece between LGS and the Gull Bay Preserve to the south. Trails have been created on both properties and educational signage has been installed or will be installed in 2018. These wetland and open water properties have high ecological value because of their ability to naturally filter and slow storm water before entering Lake George. Because of its location near the mouth of Sucker
We anticipate the future transfer of this property to New York State to be joined to the adjacent Pole Hill Pond Forest Preserve and trail system. Lastly, the LGLC received a generous donation of 15 acres in the south basin, at the foothills of Sugar Loaf Mountain in Fort Ann. The land, donated by Susan Moody, sits at the south end of the Pilot Knob ridgeline. Mostly forested, the land also contains a portion of a small stream and some vernal pools. We thank our supporters for making these accomplishments possible, as well as numerous other projects in progress.
Eco-Services Property and road repair from stormwater damage, habitat creation or protection, air pollution remediation, carbon sequestration, and other important environmental services can be costly for landowners, local municipalities, counties and other entities. Helping to keep pollution from reaching the lake and preventing costly stormwater damage are just two ways healthy lands naturally protect the lake and the environment more effectively and efficiently than any man-made preventative or remedial alternatives. These “ecosystem (eco) services” have a real financial benefit to communities.† Estimated annual value of natural goods and services and service explanation source: The Trust for Public Land, New Hampshire Chapter, New Hampshire’s Return on Investment in Land Conservation, June 2014. †
FY 2017 Protected Lands: Assets & Opportunities Cedar Swamp — September 2016
Total Eco-Services Value: $58,968 each year
Location: Putnam (Last Great Shoreline)
Ï 23 acres (35%)
Purchase: $30,000
Mixed Forest, Habitat
65 acres
Wetlands, Vernal Pools 42 acres (65%) $54,138 per year
$4,830 per year
Incorporated into the LGS trail system with signage for learning opportunities about water quality and conservation.
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Beaver Pond — October 2016
Total Eco-Services Value: $62,806 each year
Location: Putnam (Last Great Shoreline)
Ï 28.6 acres (40%)
Purchase: $142,000
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Mixed Forest, Habitat
73 acres
Wetlands, Vernal Pools 44 acres (60%) $56,716 per year
$6,006 per year
Incorporated into the LGS trail system with signage for learning opportunities about water quality and conservation.
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Wing Pond — December 2016
Total Eco-Services Value: $54,970 each year
Location: Bolton, Northwest Bay
Ï 139 acres (87%)
QF&
Mixed Forest, Habitat
Purchase: $411,000
159 acres
Property will be sold to NYS with funds reinvested into the Indian Brook/NW Bay Conservation Initiative to leverage additional land protection.
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Moody Parcel — January 2017
Total Eco-Services Value: $3,150 each year
Location: Fort Ann, Sugar Loaf
Ï 15 acres (100%)
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Mixed Forest, Habitat
Wetlands, Vernal Pools 0 acres (0%) $0 per year
$3,150 per year
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Wetlands, Vernal Pools 20 acres (13%) $25,780 per year
$29,190 per year
Donation 15 acres
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Key: Land Assets:
Land Use Opportunities:
Ï Intact Forest, Habitat m Open Water, Streams
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Wetlands, Vernal Pools
Hiking Trails Snowshoeing Hunting
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Scenic Views Educational Signage
Land Type & Eco-Service Annual Value†:
Ï Mixed Forest ($210/acre) Herbaceous and Woody Wetlands ($1,289/acre)
Bridge the Nose Campaign Completes Protection of Sucker Brook Conservation Area After nearly two decades the LGLC’s efforts to protect the Sucker Brook watershed in Putnam concluded in the fall of 2016. With the FY17 additions of the 65-acre white cedar swamp and 73-acre beaver pond, this Conservation Area includes a total of 1,465 acres of land and 2 1/2 miles of lake shoreline. The LGLC has been working to protect critical lands in this northeast section of the lake since the purchase of Flat Rock in
1998 (subsequently sold to NYS in 1999). Next came Anthony’s Nose on the south-facing side of Flat Rock in 2000. Though just outside the Sucker Brook watershed boundary, these northern properties are home to some of the region’s nesting peregrine falcons and provide shelter and other resources for a variety of wildlife in the region, which is documented as an important wildlife corridor. The rest of the Conservation Area’s properties provide direct protection of most of the 1,500-acre
Sucker Brook watershed’s wetlands and stream corridors, and lands needed to “Bridge the Nose,” securing a connection from the southern preserves to the north edge of Flat Rock. Funded by individual private donors, foundations, and conservation lenders, all efforts in this region have resulted in permanent water quality and habitat protection, educational opportunities, and public access for hunting, birding, and other recreation.
Protected Lands of the Sucker Brook Conservation Area Flat Rock
Anthony’s Nose
P Beaver Pond
Sucker Brook outlet into Lake George
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P
S u ck
LGS Preserve
D
White Cedar Swamp
Date of Protection Property Acres
Feet of Lake Shoreline
1998/01 2000/12 2003/04 2009/02 2014/04 2014/12 2015/08 2016/02 2016/09 2016/10
Flat Rock^ Anthony’s Nose Gull Bay Preserve Last Great Shoreline (LGS) Gull Bay/LGS Connector Anthony’s Nose Addition Eagle’s Mare* Flat Rock Addition White Cedar Swamp LGS Beaver Pond
244 189 434 401 3 18 6 12 65 73
5,460 3,550 0 3,970 0 0 255 0 0 0
Totals
1,465 13,235
*Donation
^Sold to NYS DEC in 1999
Total Eco-Services Value: more than $850,000 each year Mixed Forest, Habitat
Ï 959 acres (65%)
$201,411 per year
Wetlands, Vernal Pools 506 acres (35%) $651,590 per year
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cker B rook Su
Eco-Services Value Estimated as $210/acre of forests; $1,289/acre of wetlands
Gull Bay Preserve
Map Key: Trails
FY17 Protected Lands Other LGLC Protected Lands Protected with Deed Restrictions Wetlands and Beaver Ponds
P D
Parking Lot Dock
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A CLOSER LOOK:
The Indian Brook/Northwest Bay Conservation Initiative
At the end of 2016, we celebrated the acquisition of the Wing Pond property as a “win” for the Indian Brook/Northwest Bay Brook Conservation Initiative. As a stand-alone project, the property has wonderful conservation values and tells an amazing story. However, like so many pieces in the greater puzzle of the Initiative, Wing Pond has a larger role to play. As soon as its purchase was completed, we prepared for the next phase of negotiations and due diligence that we would need to undertake for the beautiful property: its sale to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Its protection—and anticipated sale to NYS—allows the LGLC to leverage funds and continue momentum to protect over 7,500 acres of the sub-watersheds of the lake’s two largest tributaries, Indian Brook and Northwest Bay Brook. Currently, the area is mostly undeveloped with less than 10% impervious coverage, indicating a healthy and properly functioning watershed. With billions of gallons of water flowing through and over this land, into the streams and brooks, and ultimately into the lake, the protection
of this area is crucial to maintaining the lake’s pristine water quality. Similar to the Bridge the Nose Initiative that the LGLC recently completed in Putnam, the Indian Brook/Northwest Bay Brook Conservation Initiative will be a long term effort that will take many years to complete. Using a science and community-based approach to protect the most sensitive lands within the subwatersheds, we are building on our previous successes in the area to make sure that our future land protection efforts have the greatest possible positive impact on the lake and the community. Additionally, to ensure the financial sustainability of the Initiative, some of the properties that we purchase and protect will be sold to the State; the Wing Pond property is one such example of a “revolving” conservation project. Once the land is sold, all of the proceeds will be “revolved” back into the Initiative and used for future conservation easements and land purchases. Not only will Wing Pond continue to protect the water quality of Lake George, but it will also help to protect other land for the same purpose.
This Initiative will take time to be completed in a way that properly protects the land that protects the lake. The very nature of land protection work—understanding the sources of threats to water quality, identifying which land to protect, cultivating relationships with landowners and the larger community, working through the many transactional issues that we face on individual projects—requires patience and long-term planning. The end result, however, will be a landscape in which the most sensitive and important land is protected and the lake’s water quality can remain pristine and pure. We think it’s worth it and hope that you agree.
LGLC staff and friends gathered by Wing Pond to celebrate the protection of the 159acre property, July 6, 2017.
2017 Rowan Awardee Ike Wolgin The 2017 recipient of the Henry M. Rowan Award was Ike Wolgin, in honor of his service to the LGLC and all that he has done to make Lake George a better place. Ike has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations and, in many ways, has quietly made a lasting and positive impact on the community. Ike has been involved with the LGLC since 2005, including as a Director on the board since 2009. During his time with our organization, Ike has played a vital role offering sage advice on finances, real estate, and organizational manage-
ment, as well as generous financial support. He also shares his vast knowledge of the local landscape. Each year since 2003, the LGLC has presented the Rowan Award to exemplary individuals and organizations for their conservation efforts around Lake George. Recipients of the Rowan Award have made significant impacts in the progress of the Land Conservancy and other environmental projects working to protect the wonderful natural and cultural resource that is our beloved Lake George.
LGLC Advisory Board Member Ginny Rowan Smith (foreground) presented the Rowan Award, named in honor of her father, to the newest recipient, Ike Wolgin (center) during the summer’s President’s Reception aboard the Sagamore Resort’s vessel, the Morgan.
Land Conservation: Moving Forward With the mountains of Lake George as an appropriate backdrop, Ike Wolgin offered a clear and poignant observation when he received the 2017 Rowan Award; he told the assembled crowd that the all of the “easy” land deals were done. All of the glittering shoreline properties were now either protected or developed. Ike reminded us that there is still plenty of land to protect and plenty of threats to the lake. With all of the lakefront land locked up, development pressure would now shift to the uplands, the steep slopes, and the hills and mountains high above the water.
Development of these areas threatens water quality and the viewsheds of the lake, and our job to protect the land that protects the lake is far from over. This evolving approach towards land protection is crucial to protecting the water quality of Lake George, along with the associated habitat, viewsheds, cultural and historical resources and providing recreational assets for the community. This also is part of a strategic, fiscally responsible approach linked to sound stewardship practices to ensure that our work is sustainable into the future. We want to make sure that we can continue to protect
the land that protects the lake for many generations to come. The fact that so many critical acres have been protected—land that permanently protects the watershed of Lake George—is in large part due to the quiet dedication, commitment, and passion of modern day conservationists like Ike. The LGLC is grateful to have the guidance of such people to help us with our work as we protect the land that protects the lake.
We also must ensure that the conservation values of our own parks and preserves are protected. This means that we are constantly marking our boundaries, looking out for encroachments, and verifying that no human or natural harm is being done to the land, and therefore, to the tributaries and water of Lake George. The LGLC opens our land to the public so that people can learn about the organization, our mission, why the protection of land is important to the watershed, and to allow the public to enjoy this special place. By necessity, the stewardship of these properties includes the additional tasks of ensuring trails are safe for those using them, as well as not harmful to the land they cross. Over the years, the number of acres under the LGLC’s management has grown, as have the stewardship obligations. To address this increasing responsibility, our land management strategy focuses on long-term sustainability planning for those properties that will remain under LGLC ownership.
For example, for one of our most popular and unique preserves, the Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob, we have expanded the parking lot and will soon be implementing a new trail design that is sustainable for heavy use, both for maintenance and for the health of the land. These upgrades have been fully paid for through grants and individuals at our 2015 and 2017 galas.
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Clear, honest communication and education is key to maintaining good relations with our conservation easement landowners. These landowners are our most direct partners in conservation, and we work with them to ensure that their land is protected in perpetuity, often literally walking side by side during annual monitoring visits.
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Responsible Land Management
The Preserve at Pilot Knob is an exception, however, and most properties retained by the LGLC as part of its long-term conservation portfolio require a much less intensive management strategy for sustainable infrastructure. Properties that are intended for transfer to a third party (New York State, for example) will have recreational infrastructure created after the transfer, with costs incurred by the final landowner, or if any work is done prior to transfer, the new owner will reimburse the LGLC. When appropriate, the LGLC may enter into a partnership with that landowner to monitor and maintain the property, but at minimal cost. This long-term stewardship strategy allows the LGLC to continue to manage a growing portfolio of land in a balanced manner, ensuring that while the protection of water quality remains at the forefront, the public benefit of land conservation continues to provide safe, sustainable opportunities to teach about our mission.
Š Sarah Frasier
LGLC Protected Land Summary as of 6/30/2017 (end of 2017 Fiscal Year)
Ï F
Number of Individual Parcels Acres of Land Feet of Lake Shoreline
Owned by the Conservation LGLC Easements 32 12 3,205 843 11,074 300
Owned by the LGLC Number of Parks & Preserves* Acres of Land Miles of Managed Trails
9 2,272 20
Deed Restrictions 3 206 1,613
Other, Managed by the LGLC† 3 3,262 15.8
Total 47 4,254 12,987
Total 12 5,534 35.8
*Parks and Preserves are those properties that have marked trails and are maintained for public use year-round. Some Preserves are comprised of more than one parcel. †
These include NYS DEC lands for which we have an Adopt a Natural Resource Permit and Municipal partner land (the Pinnacle).
Stewardship Activities As described on the previous page, there is plenty of on-the-ground work to keep our stewardship staff and volunteers busy year-round. The LGLC owns or manages 47 different properties, all of which need constant vigilance and care, including boundary monitoring, trail maintenance, the removal of trash, and managing invasive species. In the 2017 fiscal year, the LGLC added four properties to its conservation list, celebrated the opening of a new preserve, constructed three bridges and a hillside staircase, and created more than two miles of new trails. The Godwin Preserve in Bolton was officially opened to the public in September of 2016, with an inaugu-
ral hike taken by LGLC staff, friends and partners. The trails lead to a scenic view overlooking Amy’s Park, and to Pole Hill Pond on the NYS’s Pole Hill Pond Forest Preserve. A connector trail was also created from the Godwin parking area to link directly into Amy’s Park. In Putnam, the trail system through the Gull Bay and Last Great Shoreline Preserves was expanded to include an extension to the new beaver pond to the north, and to the central white cedar swamp. Perhaps most notable was the completion of the new and improved parking area at our Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob in Fort Ann. To accommodate this property’s high traffic, we added 14 spots to
the parking area and improved the stormwater drainage of the existing lot. We are also working with local law enforcement to prevent overflow parking along the narrow Pilot Knob Road, which has presented safety concerns for several years. The parking area upgrades were the first step in a larger preserve-wide effort to reduce stormwater erosion and improve the health of the land with a new, sustainable trail system able to withstand the high intensity use. The next phases of this project are expected to be completed over the next two years.
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A CLOSER LOOK:
Invasive Species Management
One major characteristic common to all invasive terrestrial plants is their ability to grow quickly and densely. Native plants are unable to compete for the space and the invasive becomes a dominant part of the ecosystem. Healthy forests need diversity: plants that provide food and shelter for a variety of wildlife; low plants that grow in shade and tall plants that provide shade; plants that thrive in wet areas and those that prefer dry. When an invasive plant such as shrubby honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) or purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) infest an area, it can have a devastating effect on the ecosystem. Forest floors become dense thickets of woody honeysuckle, shading and crowding out other plants. Wetlands and low plains taken over by loosestrife become choked fields of
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purple, with disrupted water flow and altered soil chemistry. The LGLC has been actively managing its protected lands for several years, mostly through manual cutting and pulling of these invasive plants. With the certification of our land steward, we are also using herbicides when necessary. In most cases, herbicide is applied through stem injection, to reduce residual effect on the surrounding habitat.
Each year since 2015, we have also released at least 1,000 beetles, Galerucella pusilla and G. calmariensis, as biocontrol for the populations of purple loosestrife that have been growing in the wetlands of the Gull Bay and Last Great Shoreline Preserves. These loosestrife-specific, leaf-feeding beetles have successfully overwintered and remain in the area to feed on the invasive plant, showing this to be a successful management strategy.
With the help of volunteers, large amounts of invasive shrubby honeysuckle has been removed from the Cook Mountain and Pilot Knob Preserves, and the protected Van Hart property. These sites are monitored each year to follow up on new sprouts, and to observe any resurgence of native vegetation as a result of the invasive’s removal.
How to deal with invasive species is an important part of any land management plan. After all, our best tool in protecting water quality is healthy land—land that can absorb, store, and filter water before it reaches the lake. It is in our best interest to keep our forests, fields and wetlands free from invasive plants that disrupt this system.
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1: Invasive shrubby honeysuckle produces berries that are less nutritious than other native fruit, jeopardizing wildlife health. 2: Pastoral scenes like this one in Putnam can include large areas dominated by purple loosestrife. The plant may look pretty but its colonization can destroy the healthy biodiversity of an area. 3: Second-year Galerucella beetles on purple loosestrife. These beetles have overwintered and continue to eat loosestrife growing in the Sucker Brook wetlands.
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Community Outreach & Engagement In FY17, the LGLC hosted, organized, produced, or worked with partners to provide information and engagement opportunities to residents and guests in communities throughout the Lake George region:
44 1,300 1,640 3,770 16,352
public speaking engagements, guided hikes, presentations, group volunteer days, and other outreach activities
individual participants—adults and children, members of organizations, schools, clubs, and municipalities
hours of volunteer service by 208 people, assisting in the office, with events, field work, and community engagement.
people follow the LGLC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to get current information and instant feedback
people logged in to our parks and preserves in FY2017; see chart for the breakdown.
The number of documented log-ins, which is an increase of 4,000 from FY2016, does not account for the many users who did not sign in, nor the properties that we manage but are owned by New York State (Cat and Thomas Mts and Pole Hill Pond). Taking these into account, a more accurate estimate is at least 25,000.
Amy’s Park (3%) Anthony’s Nose (4%) Cook Mt. (10%) Godwin (1%) Gull Bay (2%) Terzian (2%)
Pinnacle 35% Pilot Knob 43%
Board of Directors (29%)
General meeting participation by voting and advisory board members.
General Land Stewardship (41%) Includes boundary monitoring, trail maintenance, trash removal, etc.
Invasive Species (59%)
Training, land surveys, and active management of terrestrial invasive plants and insects within the watershed.
Special Committees (71%)
FY 2017 Volunteer Hour Distribution: 1,643 hours
Focused groups of board and community members provide additional guidance and hands-on assistance for events, development, conservation, and more.
Board of Directors, Advisory Board & Committees (41%)
Community Outreach and Engagement
Volunteers organized, led, or assisted with outreach efforts including speaking at Town meetings, the NextGen Committee, summer Lake Talk presentation series, the Hike-A-Thon, yearround guided hikes, the Christmas Bird Count, and outreach via social media.
On the Land Educational signage has been installed along the trails at the Gull Bay and Last Great Shoreline Preserves in Putnam, to further engage guests and take advantage of the opportunity to teach about the fundamental connection between land and water quality, and the importance of active conservation for its protection. The signs are full of colorful photographs and interesting facts about amphibians and wetlands, hardwood forests, nocturnal animals, and birds of our Lake George watershed. Funding received in FY17 and earlier for these signs, as well as similar signs to be installed at the Cook Mt. Preserve, has come from the International Paper Foundation and individuals who gave during the LGLC’s Land and Water Conservation Celebration.
Community Outreach and Engagement (29%) Stewardship (19%) Office (7%) Development Events (5%)
Photo by Peg Sheehan
Photo by Sam Morrison
Photo by Lucinda Bhavsar
LGLC Board President
January 2006 - August 2017
Tenure Summary
Parcels Protected: 28
Honoring John J. Macionis After nearly 12 years of leadership, John Macionis completed his terms as President of the LGLC Board of Directors in the summer of 2017.
> $9 million invested During his tenure, John helped to raise millions of dollars through capital campaigns, as well as by taking on the role of auctioneer at our annual Land and Water Conservation Celebration. His personal stories inspired others to follow his lead, and thousands of acres of land were protected as a result. We will be forever grateful for John’s leadership, and his significant contributions to protecting the lake that we hold so close to our hearts.
Feet of shoreline protected
4,225
of land 3,828 Acres protected
Gala Auctioneer 1st: $31,250
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His passion and vision for protecting Lake George guided the LGLC through some of our most challenging years, taking on the largest conservation projects in our nearly 30-year history: the acquisitions of Berry Pond (part of the West Brook Conservation Initiative) in Lake George, and the Last Great Shoreline Preserve in Putnam.
10 donations,18 purchases
10th: $127,900
raised in a single night Macionis Family Center
for Conservation
Terry Beaty and Anne Mehringer The LGLC’s prestigious Apperson Society was created in honor of John Apperson (1878-1963) whose passionate land conservation efforts for Lake George resulted in the permanent protection of Dome Island, among other successes, and inspired others to follow his example. Apperson Society members have donated gifts of cash or land with a total value of $100,000 or greater to support land conservation efforts in the Lake George watershed. LGLC’s then-President John Macionis presented a bronze Apperson medal to Terry Beaty and Anne
Mehringer (pictured, right) during the 2017 President’s Reception, honoring them as the 48th inductees to the Apperson Society. Terry and Anne started supporting the Lake George Land Conservancy at the encouragement of friend and LGLC Advisory Board Member Virginia Rowan Smith. They played key roles in the success of the Last Great Shoreline purchase in 2009 and, more recently, the Bridge the Nose Campaign. Their love of the northern lake and many life-long memories began with Terry’s parents, who met at the Adirondack Camp in
Terry and Anne received the bronze Apperson Society medal from John Macionis during the 2017 President’s Reception on board the Sagamore’s ship, the Morgan.
Putnam. Terry and his siblings spent a lifetime connected to Lake George, a connection he then shared with Anne so she, too, would experience and fall in love with the lake. All of at the LGLC are grateful for their generosity and passion for protecting the land that protects the lake.
Remembering Margaret (Peggy) Darrin Margaret “Peggy” Darrin, a longtime LGLC supporter and friend of Lake George, passed away in May, 2017.
Margaret A. & David M. Darrin ’40 Fresh Water Institute (DFWI), a research facility on Lake George, in the 1980’s.
Peggy was born in 1924 in Detroit, where she would meet her future husband, David. Together, they shared a love of Lake George, which began after spending their honeymoon at the lake. Returning as campers for many summers, the family purchased a home in the early 60’s that has remained a destination for days full of swimming, sailing and entertaining friends and family.
Peggy was also a longtime supporter of land conservation. In addition to her generous financial support of projects such as the LGLC’s Center for Conservation and the Last Great Shoreline, she donated a two-acre waterfront property in downtown Hague to the LGLC in 2004.
Lake George, and its protection, was a central part of Peggy’s life. She and David supported the creation of the
Above: Peggy Darrin (center) with son, David and granddaughter, Hannah, at the Peggy’s Point dedication, June 24, 2011. (Photo courtesy of Judy Stock.) Right: The entrance to Peggy’s Point, the Hague park donated to the LGLC by Peggy in 2004.
Dedicated as “Peggy’s Point” in 2011, the park has become a beloved destination for residents and guests, anyone wishing to enjoy the beauty of the lake. The property includes a “Friendship Garden” where the
public is welcome to add a plant in memory or in honor of someone special. As LGLC past-Executive Director Nancy Williams said during the dedication, “Peggy’s Point is the perfect location for the community Friendship Garden. The Garden will remind us of the generosity and friendship always warmly given by Peggy.” We are proud to be a part of Peggy’s legacy of conservation, and know that the results of her actions will be enjoyed for many generations to come.
Financial Summary
Unlike many non-profits, as a land trust the LGLC requires the financial capacity to maintain the 4,254 acres in our portfolio of assets in addition to its normal annual business expenses. Through prudent management of our expenses, revenue and balance sheet, the organization delivers unending protection of the land that protects the lake. This is the real financial success story of the LGLC. We could not tell this story without you, our loyal supporters—thank you.
George S. Morris Vice-President of Finances, Treasurer
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In this annual report, you will see that acquiring land and easements that protect the land that protects the lake provides a wealth of long-lasting benefits to the community. As a land trust, we also have equally long-lasting obligations and expenses. Once these property interests are placed into the LGLC’s portfolio, we must follow through on our obligation to ensure that the lands are protected forever. This protection involves staff time, legal and restoration expenses, and maintenance costs.
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To truly understand the financial story of the LGLC, please view our financials through the lens of our mission as a land trust. Like other not-forprofit organizations, we provide services that benefit the community. The acquisition of land and easements, whether purchased or donated, requires extensive staff time and transaction costs for each year’s new deals. But our services go beyond those that are consumed in a fiscal year. The LGLC is the second largest landowner in the Lake George watershed after New York State. We are vested in the community by literally being a part of the landscape.
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The LGLC’s financial summary tells the story of a fiscally sound organization. We have lowered our debt over the years, continued to acquire land and easements, grown our endowment, and kept expenses constant while increasing our operating revenue. This is a good story for any not-forprofit corporation.
Fiscal Year 2017 Consolidated Balance Sheet* The LGLC’s Fiscal Year (FY) ran July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. FY 2017
FY 2016
$813,731
$1,242,811
$1,070,687
$1,076,772
$13,593,292
$12,815,455
$73,000
$108,368
High Mountain Endowment Fund
$1,341,782
$1,015,075
Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment Fund
$1,396,955
$1,152,169
Investment for Land Protection
$489,322
n/a
Other Assets
$180,683
$154,320
$18,959,452
$17,564,970
Current Portion of Long-Term Debt
$176,230
$236,418
Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion
$515,210
$291,440
$800
$1,300
$4,964
$9,072
$697,204
$538,230
$15,630,433
$14,639,804
$212,232
$67,353
Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents Property and Equipment, Net Land Held for Conservation Stewardship Cash and Investment Endowments (Permanently Restricted):
Total Assets
Liabilities and Net Assets Liabilities
Security Deposit Other Total Liabilities Net Assets Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted Permanently Restricted
$2,419,583
$2,319,583
Total Net Assets
$18,262,248
$17,026,740
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$18,959,452
$17,564,970
Programs (80%) General & Administration (13%) Fundraising (7%)
FY 2017 Resource Allocation
Endowments The High Mountain Endowment Fund, established by Michael and Marie O’Reilly, and the Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment Fund, established by Virginia Rowan Smith and Manning Smith, are permanently restricted endowments designated for capital projects. These endowments are set up to accept additional gifts; those who wish to designate their donation to either of the endowment funds may do so by contacting the LGLC.
*The Lake George Land Conservancy is audited by an independent certified accounting firm every year.
Programs include all capital projects (land conservation and association expenses), stewardship, education and outreach activities.
Photo by Laurie Carr
Fiscal Year 2017 Support and Disbursements Graphs reflect both capital and operational support and expenditures.
Individuals (40%) Family Foundations and Trusts (31%) Grants (18%) Not-for-Profit Organizations, Homeowners Associations, and Other Community Groups (5%) Donor Advised Funds (3%)
FY 2017 Support & Other Revenue
Employee Donor and Matching Programs (1%) Businesses (1%) Municipalities (<1%) Not included in this chart, the LGLC received in-kind donations of goods and services valued at $31,166 during FY17.
Land Acquisition & Projects (39%) Personnel (36%) Acquisitions (85%)
Professional Fees (9%) Communication & Fundraising (8%) Occupancy (3%) Depreciation (3%) Supplies (2%) Travel, Training & Meetings (1%)
FY 2017
Disbursements
Principal and interest payments on acquisition of land or conservation easements
Other Project Expenses (15%)
Includes closing costs, land surveys, legal and other professional fees associated with conservation projects
Thank You! The conservation successes of FY2017 were made possible with the support of many generous individuals, families, foundations, and organizations. We are sincerely grateful for the financial contributions, volunteered time, and professional services that help to protect the land that protects the lake. Complete lists of all donors and volunteers are available to view and download at www.lglc.org. Printed copies are also available by request. Please call us at 518-644-9673 if you would like to receive a copy by mail.
*Part-time
Jamie Brown, Executive Director Helen Barton Benedict, Development Manager* Megan Clothier, Office Assistant* Alexander Novick, Land Steward Michele DeRossi Vidarte, Community Engagement and Events Manager
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Cornelia Wells, Finance and Office Manager
Board of Directors Names and positions listed as of 12/31/2017
Jeffry Brozyna VP of Development Lake George
Tom Hall VP of Conservation Diamond Point
Peg Olsen Glenburnie
Jonathan A. Herttua Glenburnie
Michael Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly President Huletts Landing
John Buhac, MD Gull Bay
Debbie Hoffman Bolton Landing
Daniel Ryterband Diamond Point
Tracey Clothier Secretary Lake George
Christopher LaGuardia Kattskill Bay
Robert Singer Ticonderoga
Judith K. Larter Silver Bay
Ike Wolgin Bolton Landing
Elizabeth Meigher Bolton Landing
James W. Wolitarsky Northwest Bay
Charles M. Cumming VP of Human Resources Northwest Bay JD DeSantis Bolton Landing Elizabeth Guest Silver Bay
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Sarah Hoffman, Communications and Outreach Manager
Ed Becker, DVM Sabbath Day Point
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Staff
George Morris VP of Finance, Treasurer Pilot Knob
Advisory Board Robert Birchenough, MD Cleverdale
John Hubbard, Jr. Northwest Bay
Sandra Nierzwicki-Bauer, PhD Bolton Landing
William Bixby, III Northwest Bay
Mark Johnson, PhD Stony Point, NY
Rosemary Pusateri Cleverdale
Henry Caldwell Bolton Landing
Walter F. Lamb, Jr. Bolton Landing
Hugh Roberts Bolton Landing
Dean L. Cook, DMD Ticonderoga
Douglas Langdon, MD Bolton Landing
Rebecca Smith Bolton Landing
Jennifer Waterhouse Cooper Bolton Landing
John J. Macionis, PhD Hague
Virginia Rowan Smith Silver Bay
David Darrin Hague
James Menzies, PhD Bolton Landing
Arthur Franz Bolton Landing
Peter Menzies Bolton Landing
4905 Lake Shore Dr. | P.O. Box 1250 Bolton Landing, NY 12814-1250 518-644-9673 | www.lglc.org