Conservation Easement for 273-Acre Putnam Property

From Westchester Land Trust: Westchester Land Trust announced today the preservation of a Putnam County property with a conservation easement that provides significant wildlife habitat and water quality protection. The 273-acre property in Patterson, NY - known as Birch Hill - expands a 2,000-acre conservation corridor that includes New York State’s Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area and Putnam County’s Michael Ciaiola Conservation Area. It is the third largest conservation easement that WLT has completed in its 30 year history. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that permanently restricts the development of a property in order to protect the land’s important conservation values. The Birch Hill property, which is owned by Benny Caiola, will remain in private hands, and not open to the public.

“The Birch Hill conservation easement demonstrates WLT’s strategy to protect land that connects existing open space corridors and safeguards public drinking water supplies,” said Nanette Bourne, who chairs WLT’s Land Preservation Committee of the Board. “We’ve known for a long time that this land is special and that incompatible development of it would jeopardize the environmental integrity of this region – we’re all thrilled to announce this completed easement!”

This area of Putnam County was specifically identified in the 2016 New York State Open Space Conservation Plan as a high priority for preservation due to its high biodiversity and watershed protection. The Birch Hill property is comprised of rugged forested terrain with areas of steep slopes and rock outcroppings. The protected land buffers water flowing into the Great Swamp watershed, which is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the state of New York. The Stephens Brook flows through Birch Hill and empties into the East Branch of the Croton River, part of the New York City drinking water supply system.

“Our family loves this land and we are honored to be able to preserve it by donating a conservation easement to Westchester Land Trust. The WLT staff were very sensitive to our goals as landowners, and taught us how our property’s significant environmental features linked to the larger protected landscape around us,” said Mr. Caiola.

Parts of Birch Hill are actively managed for New England cottontail habitat as part of a US Fish and Wildlife Service program to restore habitat for this species. The New England cottontail, the only native rabbit in the region, has been threatened by an 85% habitat loss over the past century, and today remains in only five small areas in New England and eastern New York. It and many other mammals and birds, require young forest and shrublands for food and shelter. It has been designated as a Species of Special Concern by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, whose goal in partnering with USFWS is to create 10,000 acres of suitable shrubland and young forest habitat by 2030.

Mr. Caiola, who resides in Larchmont, will continue to own and care for the property. The conservation easement will permanently prevent the land from being developed, and enable him and future owners to work with partners such as government agencies and non-profit conservation organizations to manage the property for biodiversity and watershed protection. Westchester Land Trust retains the obligation to ensure that the terms of the conservation easement are honored forever.

“Now that we know our land is protected forever, we feel great about our decision and know that we’ve done the right thing for our family, our community and the region,” said Mr. Caiola who, along with his wife Michelle and children, plan to enjoy its rugged terrain, unique habitats and scenic beauty for years to come.

Image Westchester Land Trust