Table of Contents

Click the links below to navigate between different parts of the report.

• A note from Troy Weldy, President
• Connecting people to the land
• Caring for land
• Conserving land
• Stronger together: organizational achievements
• Financials and filings
• Thank you, supporters

A note from Troy Weldy

Everything in nature is governed by cycles. In spring, new life bursts forth. In summer, it grows and matures. Autumn brings the harvest. And winter is a time for rest, reflection, and storing up energy before everything begins all over again.

As we enter this winter season, I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I reflect on all that we’ve brought into being together this year.

Despite challenges and uncertainties, we have continued our work to ensure that Columbia County is a place where important habitats are protected for plants and animals, where beautiful natural areas remain open and accessible for recreation and respite, and where working landscapes provide us with the food that sustains us. I take comfort in knowing that no matter what we face in the future, thousands of us are committed to advancing our shared mission of caring for land together.

Thank you for being an important partner in conservation. I hope these updates bring you a measure of joy and satisfaction, and I hope you spend this winter getting ready for what’s coming next!

Please be in touch if you have any questions or comments about this year’s report, or just want to reflect on an achievement of your own. You can email me at [email protected].

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Connecting people to the land

CLC’s ten public lands were visited nearly 100,000 times during the past year, and those who visited the same property more than once were likely to notice some big changes!

Partnerships for birds at Ooms

CLC partnered with a local farmer to put cattle to work at Ooms in Chatham, grazing meadows that could not easily be managed with traditional mowing. Scientists at the Berkshire Bird Observatory collected data to learn how the grazing is improving field quality for regionally-rare grassland birds, and were thrilled to find eastern meadowlarks, bobolinks, and even baby kestrels! A similar grazing partnership is planned for  Overmountain in Ancram to restore a sensitive wetland.

Forest restoration at Schor

At Schor in Red Rock, a local logger and invasive species technicians thinned part of the forest. This plan was designed by a forester to improve the forest ecosystem’s health and resilience. A portion of the logged area was fenced to demonstrate the harmful impacts of deer on forest succession. It’s already clear that the health of the fenced portion of the forest is improving!

Levy Lookout completed at High Falls

At High Falls in Philmont, we put the finishing touches on a brand new platform overlooking the site’s namesake waterfall. This overlook was constructed from timber harvested at the site as part of a forest restoration project, and future work will include native plantings and opening a new trail to the base of the falls. These improvements will make it easier for more people to enjoy the falls while protecting the site’s sensitive cliffside habitats.

What’s next

In 2026, CLC will:

• Open a new public property in Austerlitz and Columbia County’s first-ever Community Forest in Taghkanic
• Create forest management plans for the Taghkanic Community Forest and Overmountain, and continue to improve the quality of the forest at High Falls

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Caring for land

Everyone has the ability to take care of the land, and CLC brought many people together this year to learn more about how to be good stewards. Together with our partners, we hosted programs about woodland management, pollinator gardening, and birdwatching.

CLC hosts largest volunteer event to date

In May, nearly 100 volunteers gathered to plant trees at the Taghkanic Community Forest – the largest event like this in CLC history! Together, we planted nearly 1,000 native trees and shrubs, and the Land Stewards caring for the site report they’re thriving!

Talks and Walks with Doug Tallamy inspire hundreds

Inspired to make a difference at home, hundreds of people came out to hear Doug Tallamy’s hopeful message about how each of us can bring nature into our own backyards. This event series was sponsored by Arthur’s Point Farm and New Leaf Ecological Landscapes. You can watch a recording of the talk here!

What’s next?

In 2026, CLC will:

• Launch a new initiative inspiring landowners and land managers to care for land
• Support a committee of volunteers who will begin managing the Taghkanic Community Forest

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Conserving land

CLC is the only organization dedicated to conserving Columbia County, and this year, your support made it possible to protect over 700 acres of land!

Samascott Orchards protected

One of those properties was the beloved Samascott Orchards, a thriving family farm feeding our community since the early 1900s. Originally a 180-acre fruit farm, the family expanded into dairy farming in the 1940s. Today, Samascott Orchards is over 1,000 acres in size and grows a wide range of fruits and vegetables, including over 70 types of apples. The farm now spans 110 acres of fruit orchards, 50 acres of other fruits, 50 acres of vegetables, 30 acres of corn, 2 acres of chickens for eggs, and 400 acres for raising a 100-head herd of Angus cattle.

CLC partners with New York State to increase conservation

CLC continues to partner with the State of New York to conserve high-priority conservation lands, stepping in to protect them quickly and holding them until they can be transferred. This year, CLC purchased 64 acres next to the CLC’s Hand Hollow property and the Hand Hollow State Forest at a reduced price from conservation-minded landowners.

CLC also transferred 152 acres to the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historical Preservation to expand the park’s trail system, provide staff housing, and create a key corridor for wildlife to move safely from one place to another.

What’s next

In the coming months, CLC will announce the most ambitious conservation effort Columbia County has ever seen. Over the course of the last year, hundreds of people have weighed in on The Plan to Conserve Columbia County. Combining community input with data about wetlands, prime soils, habitat connectivity, and more, The Plan identifies the highest-priority landscapes for conservation. CLC aims to conserve 30% of those highest-priority landscapes by 2035.

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Stronger together: organizational achievements

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

In January 2023, CLC shared the start of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plan, which was then incorporated into the 2024-2028 Strategic Vision. While this work is never done, CLC has made great strides towards achieving this vision this year!

Creating a healthy, productive, energized workplace culture

• Offered additional professional development funds to further formal education, attend conferences, join professional networks, and participate in offerings like Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Master Forest and Master Naturalist programs
• Worked with an organizational consultant to improve our culture and communication practices through a feedback workshop, created a 90-day action plan for improving culture, and established a Creativity & Cohesiveness Committee
• Revised staff salary guidelines to ensure equity and additional transparency
• Our staff Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion team hosts quarterly learning sessions for all staff and a yearly service day – this year, our theme was outdoor accessibility and we partnered with our friends at Lonely Worm Farm to improve a trail for wheelchair users.

Managing public lands to serve broad and diverse constituencies

• Updating wayfinding signage with accessibility information about trail grade, surface, cross-slope, and width
• Partnership with Hunters of Color and Queers and Camo to provide opportunities for hunting
• Received a grant to install an accessible kayak launch and a toilet at Ooms
• Submitted a grant to improve Charles Williams Park in Hudson, with the hopes of eventually connecting the site to CLC’s Greenport property

Caring for land together

• Incorporating community feedback into the Countywide Conservation Plan – stay tuned for more information about how you can participate in making the plan a reality!
• Supported organizations working to provide affordable housing, serving as a fiscal sponsor for the Hudson Valley Alliance for Housing and Conservation and as part of the Trillium Community Land Trust

Engaging our community

• Hosted Community Conversations series focused on conservation’s intersection with topics like precolonial history, library partnerships, and farming.
• Held the annual Pancake Breakfast with 200 friends and supporters at the wonderful Tri-Form Camphill Community!
• Launching GoCoCo, a new website dedicated to helping people find their next favorite place.
• Created signage in English and Spanish for CLC’s public lands that features Indigenous connections to the land.

Welcome new staff and board

What a year it’s been! CLC has been excited to welcome several new staff and board members. We were also thrilled to spend the summer with interns Lina Hutchings, Lillian Jensen, and Liz Riley.

• Tim Boomer, Trustee
• Carmen Epstein, Trustee
• Peter Lease, Trustee
• Brett Mattingly, Trustee
• Tracy Pennea, Trustee
• Julia Ritchie, Trustee
• Peter Galgani, Conservation Programs Associate
• Nell Hanley, Office Administrator

Thank you for your service, Robin!

CLC also bid farewell to long-time board member Robin Andrews. “We’ll miss Robin’s thoughtful and dedicated participation, and her insight into municipal government and marketing,” says Troy Weldy. “We wish her well and look forward to keeping in touch.”

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Financials and filings

This is a snapshot of CLC’s ongoing operating activity for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. These charts do not include activity from pass-through grants for CLC’s farmland protection program, endowment activity, or extraordinary support.

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Thank you, supporters