Release Date: June 25, 2020

BEDFORD HILLS, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT) announced the acceptance of a conservation easement on Pound Ridge Land Conservancy’s (PRLC) Olesen Preserve on Donnebrook Road in Pound Ridge. The environmentally sensitive 6-acre property, which PRLC purchased from the Olesen family in 2019 serves as a critical connector between PRLC’s 38-acre Halle Ravine Preserve and 32-acre Isaacson Preserve.

The conservation easement ensures that the environmentally sensitive property will be preserved in perpetuity to protect forest, wetlands, and watershed lands that provide natural wildlife habitat and filter drinking water vital to the surrounding community.

“Westchester Land Trust has collaborated with Pound Ridge Land Conservancy for many years, and we are delighted to have joined with them to preserve the Olesen property and further conserve clean air, drinking water, and wildlife habitat in perpetuity,” said Lori Ensinger, President of Westchester Land Trust. “We truly value our partnership to accelerate the pace and quality of land protection in Pound Ridge.”

The land sits within a network of nearly 800 acres of drinking watershed lands owned by Aquarion Water Company and more than 100 acres of preserves and parkland owned by the Town of Pound Ridge, creating a nearly 1,000-acre corridor of relatively undisturbed land.

This corridor protects the drinking water supply of Stamford, CT and is noted for its high level of native biodiversity and its distinction as an Audubon Important Bird Area. PRLC will look to increase access to local hiking trails and plans to allow for the creation of trail linkage between existing preserves.

A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently limits the uses of a property in order to protect the land’s important conservation values. PRLC will continue to own and manage the property as a nature preserve, but they have given up the right to develop it. As the holder of the conservation easement, WLT is responsible for monitoring the property at least annually to ensure that the terms of the easement are being upheld. This obligation is perpetual and provides an additional level of protection should the property’s intended use as a nature preserve ever be threatened.

“The Pound Ridge Land Conservancy couldn’t be more delighted that the Westchester Land Trust will hold a back up easement on the Olesen Preserve, continuing the relationship we have on so many of our preserves,” said Mike Kagan, President of Pound Ridge Land Conservancy. “The easement will help ensure that the property will be preserved forever.”

Pound Ridge Land Conservancy will be hosting future volunteer events at the preserve, including opportunities for trail building and habitat restoration. These events will be posted on PRLC’s website.

About Westchester Land Trust

The Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity, and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties. WLT’s conservation efforts impact the long-term health of these communities through the protection of watershed areas, air quality, and food supply. In total, WLT has preserved nearly 9,000 acres of open space including 900 acres of preserves owned and managed by the organization. For more information visit westchesterlandtrust.org.

About Pound Ridge Land Conservancy

Pound Ridge Land Conservancy is a 501c3 non-profit that seeks to preserve natural habitats and biodiversity in Pound Ridge for aesthetic, quiet enjoyment and educational purposes. PRLC has protected over 383 acres across 19 properties that it owns and manages as nature preserves. For more information visit prlc.net.

For additional information, contact Kara H. Whelan, Vice President, at 914.234.6992 ext. 12 or Kara@westchesterlandtrust.org.