Scenic Hudson Makes Land Purchase in Capital Region to Create Riverfront Preserve

(BETHLEHEM, Albany County) - Providing a place where residents one day will enjoy birding and nature walks, Scenic Hudson has purchased land along an ecologically important tributary of the Hudson River. The acquisition also protects water quality, preserves an important habitat for fish and other wildlife and prevents sprawl.

Purchase contributes to a healthy Hudson River
Scenic Hudson's purchase of 123 acres in the Town of Bethlehem, in Albany County, protects 2,000 feet of shoreline on both sides of the Binnen Kill. Eventual plans call for most of the property to be turned into a riverfront preserve.

"The purchase not only helps prevent sprawl and preserve an important habitat, but it will allow residents to enjoy a unique and beautiful place along the Hudson," said Steve Rosenberg, senior vice president of Scenic Hudson.

Important spawning ground for fish
Located within the state-designated Shad & Schermerhorn Islands Significant Tidal Habitat, the property contains wetlands, meadows, wooded areas and steep slopes. The Binnen Kill is an important spawning ground and nursery for American shad, blueback herring, alewife and white perch. Land around the stream provides a habitat for white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, eastern cottontails and many bird species.

Major support for this acquisition came from the Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Hudson Valley Land Preservation Endowment.

The property is part of a 1,000-acre area that Scenic Hudson hopes to preserve through its Binnen Kill Protection Area Legacy Landscape Project. Consistent with Bethlehem's recently adopted Comprehensive Plan, the goals for this area are to create public recreational opportunities and preserve habitat. An adjacent 110 acres was previously protected by Scenic Hudson through a conservation easement donated by the owner of the property.

One potential opportunity is a trail linking the recently purchased property with the Town of Bethlehem's Henry Hudson Park on the Hudson River. This would provide increased opportunities for fishing and kayaking along the river.

Other Scenic Hudson parks and preserves
Scenic Hudson has created more than 30 parks and preserves up and down the Hudson River since 1990. Two in Greene County are within a short drive of the Capital Region. The 7.6-acre Four-Mile Point Preserve in Coxsackie offers dramatic Hudson River vistas as well as canoe and kayak access to the river. And the 480-acre RamsHorn-Livingston Sanctuary in Catskill features more than three miles of trails and provides superb opportunities for birding. There is also a canoe/kayak launch. For more information about Scenic Hudson's parks and preserves, visit www.scenichudson.org/parks/index.html.