Woodstock Land Conservancy

Home
United States
Woodstock, NY
Woodstock Land Conservancy

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Woodstock Land Conservancy, Community Organization, P. O Box 864, Woodstock, NY.

The Woodstock Land Conservancy is a non-profit organization committed to the protection and preservation of the open lands, forests, water resources, scenic areas and historic sites in Woodstock and the surrounding area.

10/28/2026

Bright yellow and dandelion-like, autumn hawkbit is blooming now at the Comeau! Look for yellow flowers on slender, branching stalks, rising above a low rosette of lance-shaped, deeply lobed leaves. Its bright yellow flowers, about 1 inch across, feature numerous narrow petals and are often held in loose clusters on slender, branching stems. The leaves form close to the ground, lance-shaped, deeply lobed, and sometimes slightly hairy, while the flower stalks themselves are mostly leafless or bear only a few small bracts.

Blooming well into fall, autumn hawkbit provides a valuable late-season nectar source for pollinators like this calligrapher fly, also known as "flower flies." These flies play a role in pollination and can also help control pests like aphids! Next time you are at the Comeau, keep an eye low to the ground and pointed at open areas. You might catch this cheerful little flower and its flower-loving companion, adding a splash of gold to the autumn landscape.

10/27/2026

At our Histories of the Sawkill Through Human Impacts Workshop, twenty-five participants gathered at the Historical Society of Woodstock with Ulster County Historian Eddie Moran and Woodstock Town Historian Richard Heppner to learn how different groups of humans have impacted our watershed throughout millennia.

Eddie Moran began his presentation with the long history of Indigenous life in the Hudson Valley, drawing on archaeological evidence of human presence dating back 10,000 years. The Sawkill and its tributaries supported fishing, agriculture, and seasonal gathering. Esopus Lenape communities cultivated crops, used fish weirs and dip nets, and shaped their surroundings through land stewardship practices like controlled burns. Colonial settlement, disease, land dispossession, and warfare later brought profound disruption and displacement to these communities.

Richard Heppner then traced the watershed’s transformation through colonial settlement and industrial development. Mills harnessed the Sawkill’s current, while timber, glassmaking, quarrying, and hemlock tanning became important parts of the local economy. Tanning, in particular, had lasting consequences for the landscape. As hemlock forests were cut for their bark, exposed soil eroded into streams, while waste from the tanning process entered Tannery Brook, a tributary of the Sawkill.

As extractive industries declined, tourism grew. Places such as Byrdcliffe and Maverick drew visitors to experience the region’s landscape and cultural life. The workshop also explored the history of Kingston’s drinking water infrastructure, including the development of Cooper Lake. Later, growing concerns about wastewater and pollution led to new infrastructure, though protecting water quality remains an ongoing responsibility.

We were very pleased to present this program with the Historical Society of Woodstock. Many thanks to Eddie and Richard for their thoughtful presentations. We hope you will continue to join us for Ecologies of Water programs. Visit the link in our bio for more.

10/21/2026

Around 300 people came out to the Boiceville trailhead on Sunday to celebrate seven years of the Ashokan Rail Trail. Woodstock Land Conservancy manages the Stewards program at ART, along with Ulster County Government and NYDEP.

For much of the afternoon, the best part was simply seeing people gather. Neighbors, cyclists, dog walkers, and visitors stopped to talk, listen to live music by Witch Butter, explore community tables, and enjoy the autumn leaves.

The day included two sets from Witch Butter, bags of popcorn generously donated by BjornQorn Sun-Popped Popcorn BjornQorn, and pecan and pumpkin pies from Meredith’s Bread Meredith's Bread . Attendees also connected with the Ashokan Rail Trail Stewards, Woodstock Land Conservancy, the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program Ashokan Watershed SMP , and SOAR Experiences Specialized Outdoor Adaptive Recreation , whose adaptive Trackchairs help make the trail accessible to more people.

County Executive Jen Metzger Jen Metzger introduced Ulster County Tourism’s new Gravel Guide, while Olive Supervisor Jim Sofranko, Legislator Eric Stewart, and Onteora High School cross-country captain Lexi Bruce shared remarks about the trail and its place in our community. As Jim put it, “We make new friends and see old friends on the trail.”

The Ashokan Rail Trail Stewards help support safe access to the trail for everyone. There’s still room to join the program, even if you missed the event (though the pie is gone!). Message us to learn more.

10/20/2026

As we look forward to the opening of the 'Mapping the Sawkill' exhibition at WAAM this weekend, facilitated by our incredible collaborator Jennifer Zackin we remember where it all began. Back in March, WLC and Zackin kicked off the Mapping the Sawkill initiative with an interdisciplinary symposium that brought together scientists, artists, educators, watershed advocates, and community members to ask a simple question: How is the Sawkill?

Now, you can watch that full symposium via this link : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzXqxwj5q7RCCTylNdObIM8nok1l41771

Hear from Judy Abbott on Indigenous perspectives, Beth Reichheld on the Sawkill watershed, Joel H. DuBois on the creek’s baseline condition, Jill Olesker on community memory and lived experiences, and Julia Blelock and Arlene Weissman of the Woodstock Environmental Commission on the Sawkill as drinking water. Plus, Q&As facilitated by Candace Balmer, mapping activities, community stories, and more. These videos were recorded by Theo Cote on March 14 at Mountain View Studio.

10/19/2026

As we look forward to the opening of the ‘Mapping the Sawkill’ exhibition at WAAM this weekend (opening on Oct 24 4-6 pm), facilitated by our frequent collaborator, local artist Jennifer Zackin , we remember where it all began. Back in March, WLC and Zackin kicked off the Mapping the Sawkill initiative with an interdisciplinary symposium that brought together scientists, artists, educators, watershed advocates, and community members to ask a simple question: How is the Sawkill?

Now, you can watch that FULL symposium via the link in our bio.

Hear from Judy Abbott on Indigenous perspectives, Beth Reichheld on the Sawkill watershed, Joel H. DuBois on the creek’s baseline condition, Jill Olesker on community memory and lived experiences, and Julia Blelock and Arlene Weissman of the Woodstock Environmental Commission on the Sawkill as drinking water. Plus, Q&As facilitated by Candace Balmer, mapping activities, community stories, and more. These videos were recorded by 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗢 𝗖𝗢𝗧𝗘 on March 14 at Mountainview Studio .

10/14/2026

American Burnw**d is not a w**d in the way most people mean it. Blooming now across the Hudson Valley in early October, this tall native wildflower often appears in recently disturbed soils, woodland edges, sunny clearings, and places recovering from storms, logging, or fire. Its scientific name, Erechtites hieraciifolius, hints at this relationship with disturbance, and the common name “burnw**d” comes from its tendency to quickly colonize burned ground. But rather than being a nuisance, American Burnw**d is one of nature’s first responders.

This native annual grows fast, flowers late, and provides an important source of nectar and pollen at a time of year when many other plants are beginning to fade. Its clusters of narrow greenish-white flowers may not look flashy at first glance, but they are alive with pollinators. Bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, and other insects rely on late-season native blooms like burnw**d as they prepare for winter or migration. Goldfinches and other birds may also feed on its seeds later in the season.

Plants like American Burnw**d challenge the idea that every “messy” or opportunistic plant is undesirable. In ecology, disturbed ground is not empty space waiting for perfection; it is habitat in transition. Native pioneer species help stabilize soil, protect microbial life, provide cover for insects, and begin the long process of ecological recovery. Burnw**d is part of that healing process.

10/12/2026

In the Hudson Valley, hunting season begins October 1 and runs through December 15. This time of year, for maximal safety, we suggest wearing bright colors when outdoors.

While hunting is not permitted on Woodstock Land Conservancy preserves, we recommend wearing high-visibility clothing (like the pictured safety vests) whenever you’re outdoors, especially in densely wooded areas that are adjacent to privately owned lands. Again, no hunting is allowed on WLC preserves.

Different species and types of game have different seasons and regulations. You can find the full details from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation here:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f0b2adb04cf644cead87497ab9b5bf28/page/Big-Game?views=View-2&utm_

10/09/2026

Twenty-five acres of freshwater wetland sit just north of Israel Wittman Sanctuary, home to river otters, wood ducks, two salamander species listed as NYS Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and one of the most intact wetland corridors in the Hudson Valley.

We have an opportunity to protect this land forever. We have until October 30, 2026, to raise $100,000 to complete the purchase.

Wetland parcels like this rarely become available. When they do, the window to protect them can close quickly.

Your gift today goes directly toward acquiring this land, protecting it from development, expanding Israel Wittman Sanctuary from 210 to 235 acres, and creating nearly 300 contiguous acres of protected land in the Town of Saugerties.

Every gift brings us closer to protecting this extraordinary place. Donate here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/woodstock-land-conservancy-inc/help-grow-israel-wittman-sanctuary

10/07/2026

WLC is very pleased to join the Woodstock Film Festival as a Community Partner for their upcoming screening of "To Hold a Mountain," happening Friday, October 16 at 2:30 PM at Upstate Films Saugerties. Woodstock Land Conservancy Executive Director Andy Mossey will introduce the film, followed by a Q&A with director and producer Biljana Tutorov.

We couldn't be happier to present this film with the Woodstock Film Festival. This documentary is a true story of conservation and human connection to land, featuring multiple generations of female land stewards. Set on Montenegro’s Sinjajevina plateau, the film follows a family and their community as they work to protect their ancestral grazing lands from plans to transform the plateau into a NATO military training ground. Andy will share his thoughts on why this film matters and how it connects to local lands in the Hudson Valley. We hope you'll attend. You can purchase tickets on the WFF website here: https://woodstockfilmfestival.org/2026-all-events?eventId=6aa86c8f153010043a3797ec

10/06/2026

As part of our 2026 program theme, Ecologies of Water, WLC is proud to present Know Your Watershed, a monthly series exploring the parts of our local water system and how to care for them. This month, we're looking at pollution pathways, the routes harmful chemicals take through our watershed, and what we can do to help protect local waters.

In a watershed, there is no true "away." Everything that goes down our drains and toilets ends up somewhere. Along with everyday wastewater, local waterways receive pharmaceuticals, cleaning products, pesticides, microplastics, road runoff, and chemicals from construction sites and landfills. As these substances enter streams, rivers, and groundwater, they can affect wildlife and contaminate drinking water sources.

For homes connected to municipal sewer systems, wastewater treatment removes solids, nutrients, and disease-causing bacteria. However, many facilities are not designed to remove newer contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, PFAS, and microplastics. For homes using septic systems, soil filtration helps remove bacteria but is also less effective at filtering many synthetic chemicals. In both cases, pollutants can re-enter local waterways and groundwater.

Because water is reused locally, moving through streams, aquifers, and wells, what we put down the drain can return to our community's water supply. Many contaminants persist in the environment and can accumulate in food webs over time.

Here are a few ways you can help reduce pollution in our watershed:

• Dispose of medications properly. Never flush them. In Woodstock, CVS provides a medication drop-off bin.
• Reduce plastic use, especially single-use plastics and synthetic fabrics that shed microfibers.
• Maintain septic systems and regularly test well water if you rely on a private well.
• Support policies and local efforts that protect drinking water sources and watershed health.

Clean water begins long before treatment plants or well pumps. Protecting our watershed means recognizing that what we send down the drain remains part of the living system we all depend on.

Address

P. O Box 864
Woodstock, NY
12498

Telephone

+18456796481

Website

http://www.woodstocklandconservancy.org/, https://tinyurl.com/WLC-donateNow, https://linktr.ee/woodstocklandconservancy

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Woodstock Land Conservancy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.