View of Muscoot Reservoir Preserve, Photo by Ben Kleist

Bedford, NY—Westchester Land Trust (WLT), a nationally accredited land conservation nonprofit headquartered in Bedford Hills, NY, and the Town of Bedford, have partnered once again to permanently protect critical open space in the heart of the Croton Reservoir watershed. The newly protected 13.4-acre property, named Muscoot Reservoir Preserve, located near the Muscoot Reservoir, will remain forever undeveloped, safeguarding long-term benefits for drinking water protection, forest health, and wildlife habitat.

The land, consisting of two adjacent parcels, lies within one of the largest remaining unfragmented forest blocks in the region. Situated next to lands owned by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), the property features mature hardwood forests, steep slopes, and scenic views. Had it been developed, the construction of homes, driveways, septic systems, and lawns would have posed a serious risk to the reservoir’s water quality and the health of the surrounding ecosystem.

“We are thrilled about acquiring these parcels—not only because they protect clean drinking water, but also because they preserve vital natural habitats,” said Town of Bedford Supervisor Ellen Calves. “This successful acquisition highlights the strength of public-private partnerships and demonstrates how strategic financial planning can amplify our collective buying power to achieve meaningful preservation goals.” Supervisor Calves added.

The project, Land Acquisition to Protect NYC Drinking Watershed Lands, was made possible through a grant application to and funding administered by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program, which prioritizes acquisitions that directly benefit the protection of the state’s drinking water supplies. Additional funds, in the form of a 25% cash match, were provided by the Town of Bedford’s Open Space Acquisition Fund, established through the Open Space tax levy.

“Westchester Land Trust and the Town of Bedford have a long legacy of working together to protect our shared natural resources,” said Kara Whelan, president of WLT. “We’re proud to uphold our community’s long-standing commitment to land conservation and grateful to OSAC for championing this effort to safeguard a key piece of this watershed.”

Immediately following the acquisition, WLT transferred ownership of the property to the Town of Bedford, where it will remain protected in perpetuity under state-enforced deed restrictions.

Westchester Land Trust has protected more than 9,250 acres of land across the region, with over 1,000 acres conserved in Bedford alone. Headquartered in Bedford Hills, WLT continues to work closely with the Town and residents to identify priority conservation lands that support drinking water quality, biodiversity, climate resilience, and public well-being.

“This is a great example of leveraging the Town’s Open Space fund in a public-private partnership to preserve environmentally important land for the benefit of current residents and future generations,” said Town of Bedford Open Space Acquisition Committee member, Lori Ensinger.

While the newly conserved property will not be open to the public, it will continue to provide valuable ecological services, from filtering stormwater runoff to supporting native plant and animal species. Its protection also reinforces the Town and WLT’s shared mission to maintain the character and natural beauty of Bedford.

Source of Funding: Water Quality Improvement Project Grant administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Grant Recipient: Westchester Land Trust. Project Name: WQIP19 Land Acquisition.

We acknowledge that our region is within the traditional territories of the Lenape people and that their culture and traditions live on today.