About BVLT

The Beaverkill Valley Land Trust was founded in 1988 to assist the Open Space Institute (OSI) in its conservation efforts in the Beaverkill Valley region.

Through this partnership, we helped conserve just under 20,000 acres of land through direct land purchases, additions to the public parks network, and conservation easements on private land.

In 2018, after 30 years of conserving land, BVLT became an independent land trust. Much like the focus during our partnership with OSI, we continue to be guided by three main objectives:

  • Protect the region’s stream corridors and scenic views

  • Maintain and restore critical fish habitat

  • Preserve the area’s rural character

Our Focus

Our conservation focus continues to concentrate on protecting the quality of the Beaverkill River, whose cold, clear mountain waters have drawn generations of anglers, hunters, and nature lovers searching for a quiet place to enjoy the outdoors. Through conservation, BVLT works to curb unsustainable development that threatens the region’s pristine and biodiverse landscape, and preserving the area’s rural character. In addition, we take on research and monitoring project in order to better understand the impact of climate change and invasive species on our local forest and ecosystems.

Our land trust currently owns approximately 2,000 acres and oversees an additional 14,000 acres under conservation easement. We have also conveyed nearly 3,500 acres of land to the state of New York, and we manage a 280-acre Forest Preserve, the Beech Mountain Nature Preserve and Biological Research Station, adjacent to Willowemoc Wild Forest in Hardenburgh, NY.

The geographic focus of our work is the headwaters of the Beaverkill, Starting at an elevation of 2,900 feet between Doubletop and Graham mountains, where Catskill Mountain creeks converge in the valley to form the Beaverkill River, flowing 44 miles southwest into the East Branch of the Delaware River. While the river is the focal point of the Valley, the wooded slopes and ridges that surround it are equally splendid and ecologically significant. Large swathes of contiguous forest provide food and habitat for many birds, animals, and rare plants that are vulnerable to the impacts of development. Songbirds, deer, ruffed grouse, black bear and, of course, beaver are plentiful here.

Our Team

Board of Directors

BVLT’s current Board of Directors is comprised of nine members all of whom volunteer their time and energy to protect the Beaverkill Valley and surrounding region.

Andy Regan, Chairperson of the Board

Katherine Adams, President

Judy Cox, Vice President

Shaiza Rizavi, Treasurer

Jeffrey LeJava, Secretary

The Beaverkill Valley

The Beaverkill River

Our Mission

To preserve and enhance the quality of life in the Beaverkill Valley region and surrounding environs by conserving lands of scenic, ecological, agricultural, recreational, and cultural significance.

As part of this mission, BVLT is permanently preserving lands by:

  • Adding to the four state forests (Delaware Wild Forest, Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest, Willowemoc Wild Forest, and Cherry Ridge Wild Forest) that surround the Beaverkill Valley to ensure the perpetual preservation of such lands and their enjoyment by the general public;

  • Protecting the pristine waters and ecology of the Beaverkill and Willowemoc rivers and their tributaries;

  • Enhancing the quality of life in the hamlets located in and around the Beaverkill Valley, including Roscoe and Livingston Manor; and

  • Conserving scenic vistas and views from public roads and trails traversing the Beaverkill Valley and environs.

Patricia Adams

David Patterson

Jane DeBevoise

Christine Wong

Consultants

Eric Hamerstrom, Land Steward

Dave Mance, Development Reviewer

Gwen Schantz, Planning & Oversight