Hugh Neil Zimmerman
Neil Zimmerman, 77, died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Accord, NY on February 28. Neil had a special talent for making friends and bringing people together. An avid hiker, he was president of the NY/NJ Trail Conference from 1987 to 1999, where he was instrumental in developing their excellent hiking maps, which are used by nearly everyone who hikes in New Jersey and New York. He is a co-author of two books, Fifty Hikes in the Lower Hudson Valley and Fifty Hikes in New Jersey. His “day job” was as chief librarian at the Population Council in New York City from 1974 to 2017. One of his many accomplishments there was the development and implementation of a global program to provide academic books to libraries in developing countries. As he told it, Neil’s hiking career began in 1974 when he won a car in a raffle. To get some use out of it he started camping with friends. He fell in love with the Shawangunk Mountains in particular around 1980 when the Mohonk Preserve asked him, as the then Map Chairman of the Trail Conference, to help produce a hiking map set of the area. He was subsequently appointed a member of the Minnewaska State Park Master Plan Advisory Committee, formed by PIPC and NY State Parks shortly after the big 1987 Lake Minnewaska addition. He served as the Chair of the American Hiking Society, as a Governor of the Adirondack Mountain Club, and as a member of the DEC’s Forest Preserve Advisory Committee. In retirement Neil served on the boards of the Town of Rochester Food Pantry, Friends of the Shawangunks, and The Shawangunk Conservancy, chairing the latter two from 1998-2013, and volunteered at Angle Food East in Kingston. Neil hiked and trekked the world over, from Nepal to Peru, including the arduous Annapurna circuit, and the Tour de Mont Blanc. He also rafted the Colorado River for its total length. Twice. He always returned from a trip with a funny story. He was member of the Catskill 3500 Club, ADK 46ers, AMC NE111, 100 Highest and 4000Footers. He was working on the Colorado Fourteeners and the Highpointers list. He also enjoyed canoeing and biking. He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends and neighbors, and those he worked with over the years. Neil is survived by his sister Judith Roshke and nephews Mark and Richard Maltz. Suggestions for donations:
OSI Acquires Over a Thousand Acres in the Town of Wawarsing
Protection of the property part of a long-term goal to connect the Shawangunk Ridge and Catskill Park for recreation and wildlife. The Open Space Institute (OSI) today announced the permanent protection of land in the Town of Wawarsing. Completion of the project marks a critical step in establishing a green corridor between the Catskill Park and the Shawangunk Ridge. The property will safeguard local sources of clean drinking water; provide critical wildlife habitat; expand recreational options into the future; and, through its capture and storage of carbon, aid in efforts to fight climate change. OSI purchased the more than 1,000-acre “Shawangunk-Catskill Connector” property from T&T Associates, Inc. for $2.3 million. The property is situated in Ulster County between the southern boundary of the Catskill Park and the northwestern boundary of the Shawangunk Ridge. Now protected from future development, the acquisition is a critical step toward establishing regional trail connectivity of forested lands. “With the permanent protection of this property, a years-long effort to link the Catskill Park to the Shawangunk Ridge is finally taking shape,” said Kim Elliman, OSI’s president and CEO. “In fast growing regions like Ulster County, it is becoming increasingly important for OSI to identify conservation opportunities, and act swiftly and with determination to save the land that matters for the health our of our families, our communities, and our planet.” New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Thanks to the significant connectivity this land acquisition will provide to the Catskill Park and the Shawangunk Ridge, New Yorkers will have new and enhanced opportunities for outdoor recreation ranging from hiking, biking, hunting and birdwatching. DEC is proud to be working with the Open Space Institute in this partnership effort to protect state land and ensure that future generations of visitors have the chance to experience the scenic wonder of the region’s natural landscape, while also preserving sensitive habitats for wildlife.” “The Town of Wawarsing is a Climate Smart Community, and OSI’s protection of more than 1,000 acres of forest and precious wetlands helps us accomplish our environmental goals,” said Town of Wawarsing Supervisor Terry Houck. “In 2019, the Town identified this area as a Critical Environmental Area and I’m glad to see that OSI has taken the necessary steps to ensure this property is permanently protected to provide recreational opportunities and clean water to residents, visitors, and future generations.” The Shawangunk-Catskill Connector Property is an essential part of creating a corridor linking more than 30,000 acres of protected land along the Shawangunk Ridge to more than 288,000 acres of protected land in the Catskill Forest Preserve. The corridor will serve as an important landscape-level connection that will support the movement of people and wildlife between the two landscapes. With several existing roads running throughout the property, the land has the potential to support multiple recreational uses, including hiking and mountain biking. Future trails on the property could eventually connect to an existing network of recreational trails and carriage roads, including regional trail networks OSI is developing throughout the Hudson River Valley. The Shawangunk-Catskill Connector property contains extensive wetlands and streams, including the headwaters of the Brandy Brook and Fantine Kill, which flow to the Rondout Creek and ultimately to the Hudson River. A significant part of the local watershed, the Shawangunk-Catskill Connector property will safeguard clean drinking water for surrounding communities, filtering rainwater as it enters the well-field that serves the Napanoch Water District. Nationally, forests and other land sequester more than 15 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions each year, providing a natural climate solution that is helping in the fight against climate change. The Shawangunk-Catskill Connector property is heavily forested and stores and captures significant amounts of carbon, two key benefits protected and well-managed forests provide communities. According to OSI’s data analysis, the property stores more than 92,000 metric tons of carbon, or more than 90 metric tons per acre, in soils and trees. In a 2017 report, the USDA Forest Service announced that, on average, forests in the United States store about 85 metric tons of carbon per acre. The property also contains multiple types of wildlife habitat and is home to a diversity of plant and animal species. The property contains the majority of a 360-acre Spruce-Fir swamp, which is designated as a significant natural community by the DEC New York Natural Heritage Program. Within a corridor that has been labeled as “above average” in terms of resilience, the property is uniquely positioned to continue to support a diverse array of plants and animals even as the climate changes. Creating a conservation corridor connecting the Shawangunk Ridge and the Catskills Park Preserve has been a long-time goal of OSI and surrounding communities. The Shawangunk-Catskill Connector property is identified as a priority conservation acquisition in the New York State Open Space Plan and the Town of Wawarsing 2019 Comprehensive Plan. Now permanently protected, the property was also designated by the Town of Wawarsing as a “Critical Environmental Area.” The property is anticipated to be transferred to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as additional protected land for public recreational use.
FOS Member Meeting and Hike—June 2021
On Sunday, June 13, Friends had its annual member meeting. This year it took place at the Slingerland Pavilion at the Mohonk Preserve. The main topic was the acquisition of the 70 acre parcel known as The Shawangunk Conglomerate located adjacent to the northern portion of the Preserve. Afterwards we hiked down into the parcel, giving our members a first hand look at the spectacular boulders and other beautiful features of this magnificent tract. FOS Members will get a full recap of the meeting/fundraiser and hike in the current (summer) issue of the Shawangunk Watch coming soon to their mailbox. If you are not already a member of Friends of the Shawangunks, click Donate, and join! BTW, we are still fundraising for the purchase of this parcel! Please help make this land ‘purchase possible. In the meanwhile, here are some pictures of the fun day we had on our Shawangunk ridge! (Photos by Renee Zernitsky, Ted Sendler and John Hayes)
FOS to Purchase 70 Acres!
What an opportunity! The Shawangunk Conservancy (TSC) has embarked on a new land acquisition project in the Northern Shawangunks. The approximately 77-acre parcel is part of a much larger holding owned by a group called The Shawangunk Conglomerate. It is situated near the very northern reaches of the Mohonk Preserve. An adjacent 10 acres of steep cliffs will be protected from development by a deed restriction. The sheer cliffs are clearly visible from both Route 32 and Springtown Road going north from New Paltz toward Tillson. As you can see from the map, the parcel fills a deep notch in the eastern edge of land that is protected on three sides by the Mohonk Preserve. It has been on the radar for decades! For a virtual visit, CLICK HERE. The beginning and end of the video will show the forests and cliffs of the property. TSC has signed an option agreement with the seller.Under the terms of the agreement we have until July, 2022 to close on the deal. The purchase price is $140,000. However, as the buyers, we are responsible for a number of contingency costs: environmental site assessment, survey, lot line revision, legal fees, etc. so we might need to raise as much as $200,000. This is a rather urgent appeal to you, our members, since that’s a challenging amount of money to raise with a fixed deadline. Obtaining this parcel will fill in a critical gap in the Shawangunk Ridge that might otherwise go to private ownership with who knows what type of development! So here it is: We need your support to purchase this precious section of the ridge which features wetlands, unique boulder fields, cliffs, and wildlife habitat. Please help make this acquisition happen. We ask that you make a donation.
FOS Has Celebratory Member Meeting
On Sunday, May 22 FOS members gathered to celebrate the purchase of the Shawangunk Conglomerate parcel and its conveyance to the Mohonk Preserve (see accompanying article on the parcel purchase). FOS wanted to say “Thanks” to our members who helped make it happen. Mohonk Preserve provided the Slingerland Pavilion at Spring Farm for the location. It was a little early in the day for libation, so we did it with coffee, bagels and other treats. Our guest speakers included David Clark, representing the Conglomerate group, the sellers of the parcel, Julia Solomon, Director of Conservation Programs, and Ed Pestone, Land Protection and GIS Manager, both of the Mohonk Preserve. Julia an Ed spoke about the importance of the land purchase, as well as the tremendous value of land protection in general ON THE Shawangunk Ridge. Last but certainly not least was Bob Anderberg, Vice President and General Counsel of the Open Space Institute. Bob spoke passionately not only about Shawangunk land preservation, but also about all the recent accomplishments by OSI in protecting huge tracts on and around the Shawangunk Ridge as well as other important efforts like the rail trails surrounding the ridge and beyond. Afterward, a hike was led around the Spring Farm trailheads by FOS member and Naturalist Michael Rider. Mike took us on a tour pointing out the wildflowers currently in bloom along the trails at the Mohonk Preserve. Overall, it was a stimulating and fun day! Once again, our thanks go out to the FOS membership for helping to make this land purchase possible!
First Section of River-to-Ridge Trail is Open
The Open Space Institute (OSI) has announced the opening of the first section of the River-to-Ridge Trail in New Paltz. This section runs along the Wallkill River from the Carmine Liberta Bridge at Route 299 to Springtown Road and is three-quarters of a mile long. The section west of Springtown Road to Butterville Road is still under construction with completion expected later this year. Ultimately, the trail will be 6 miles long and will connect the Village of New Paltz to the protected lands on the Shawangunk Ridge.