Rensselaer Land Trust has received a $7000 grant through the New York State Conservation Partnership Program to support the expansion of the Mud Lake Preserve in Sand Lake.  The Conservation Partnership Program (a partnership between the Land Trust Alliance and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, with funding from the Environmental Protection Fund) announced $1.8 million in grants awarded to land trusts across the state.

The Rensselaer Land Trust was one of 58 nonprofit land trusts in New York to receive a grant award this year from this program.

Funding will support the transaction costs associated with the purchase of a parcel last year that expands the Mud Pond Preserve in Sand Lake - home to one of the few remaining kettle bog wetland complexes in Rensselaer County. The purchase itself of the new parcel was funded through a generous private contribution that will be honored at an event in September.  The Preserve will be renamed in honor of the donor's family. Stay tuned!

We thank the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo for their support of increased funding for the Conservation Partnership Program and the Environmental Protection Fund.

The Rensselaer Land Trust is proud to be celebrating 30 years of land conservation work in Rensselaer County. We are taking time to reflect, reorganize, and regroup as we prepare to enter the next chapter in our organization’s history. The opportunity to hire new staff in a leadership position provides a chance to explore possibilities. We have a strong Board of Directors, loyal supporters, an engaged and active volunteer corps, and a solid foundation to build on.

As members and supporters of the Rensselaer Land Trust, you can continue to expect that we will stay focused on our land conservation mission, while presenting programs and resources to increase appreciation and use of Rensselaer County’s natural beauty. Our County-wide Conservation Plan, which is well into development, will provide direction based on data and public input for preservation priorities. We will partner with others that share our goals to get even more done. We will do this while upholding the standards and practices that our accredited status recognizes. We will manage the organization, and the trust that you place in it through your loyal contributions, so that we are financially sustainable and here for the long term.

Kristina Younger, President

The Rensselaer Land Trust wants your input on what you value about open space, natural habitats, and watersheds in Rensselaer County.  We have, with the assistance of the Wallace and Hortense Rubins Foundation and the Sage Colleges, put together a survey for citizens and visitors of Rensselaer County.  This will provide input to both our County Conservation Plan and the Strategic Plan for the Rensselaer County Land Trust. 

The online survey consists of four short pages of questions.  It should take roughly five minutes to complete all the questions.  We encourage you complete the entire survey if you can. We thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

To complete the survey click HERE.