Adopted by the Board of Directors March 23, 2015

We know that many Land Trust members have concerns about this pipeline, or want to know more about it, since the latest proposed route of the pipeline crosses Rensselaer County through the Towns of Schodack, Nassau, and Stephentown.

Rensselaer Land Trust is following the progress of this project closely. As the Land Trust's mission is to conserve the open spaces, watersheds, and natural habitats of Rensselaer County, for the benefit of our communities and future generations, we are concerned about potential impacts of the pipeline on wetlands, natural resources, open spaces, and the landscapes that help define the quality of life in Rensselaer County. The Land Trust will be providing information to all parties on these resources along the proposed route that may be impacted by the project.

Rensselaer Land Trust is not an advocacy group. We fulfill our mission mainly by holding conservation easements and owning and managing preserves. Whether the pipeline is built is a public policy issue, and it is beyond our mission to formally oppose or support the pipeline project, and beyond our capacity to take on active advocacy.

If you are interested in learning more about the pipeline, or you have concerns about it, here are some sources of more information on this important Rensselaer County issue:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): www.ferc.gov

StopNY Fracked Gas Pipeline: www.StopNYPipeline.org

Town of Nassau: http://townofnassau.org/content/News/View/70

In December, 2014, Rensselaer Land Trust protected 121 more acres. Bob and Jennifer Newton of East Nassau donated 17.2 acres of their land to our Kinderhook Creek Nature Preserve, increasing the size of the preserve by one-third. We also partnered with Jack Alexander and Lyn Howard to place our 14th conservation easement on their 104.57 acres at the Sluyter Preserve in Poestenkill.

Donation from Newtons Expands Kinderhook Creek Nature Preserve
Bob and Jennifer Newton moved to East Nassau over 35 years ago and fell in love with the natural beauty of the area. When they found out about the land donated to Rensselaer Land Trust by David and Lucy Gaskell and by Kenneth York to create the Kinderhook Creek Nature Preserve, they were inspired to donate some of their land for the Preserve as well. The Newtons donated 17.2 acres, bordering the Tsatsawassa Creek and adding over 1,281 feet of shoreline along the Kinderhook Creek, a renowned trout stream.

Read more: Rensselaer Land Trust Protects 121 acres

The Rensselaer Land Trust received grants totaling $37,000 from New York State's Environmental Protection Fund through the Conservation Partnership Program. These awards were announced April 23rd, 2012 by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Land Trust Alliance.

Rensselaer Land Trust will receive $20,000 for its new John B. Staalesen Vanderheyden Preserve in Troy and $17,000 to support efforts to obtain re-accreditation.

Read more: Rensselaer Land Trust Receives Two Grants