irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2025
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $6KSecured 2nd portion of Property Appraisal for upcoming Russell easement acquisition. Appraisal performed by Thursdon, Casale & Ryan, LLC for $3,000. Professional Review of their Appraisal done by Douglas Ploetz, MAI Appraiser, for an additional $3,000.
- #2 $1KSecured Easement Statement from NEWT for Grasse River Wilderness property, processed by Ducharme Goldie & Adams.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Conservation Easements
Works with private landowners to establish perpetual conservation easements that protect environmental, cultural, and recreational values of land while keeping it in private ownership
Friends of the Watershed
Engages citizens in protecting water quality and ecological health in the St. Lawrence River Watershed through education and stewardship initiatives
Internship Program
Hosts student interns through partnerships with St. Lawrence University and the NYSCPP to support land trust operations and conservation projects
Land Acquisition and Management
Acquires ecologically significant lands, such as the Toothacre Creek Preserve and Bortnick Conservation Easement, for permanent protection and public benefit
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements 2 activities
- Developing and promoting forest carbon offset projectsEstablishes conservation easements on forested land in partnership with Clarkson University, which finances transaction costs in exchange for carbon offset benefits. Presented the project model and parcel evaluation approach at a statewide land trust meeting and a 2019 conference.
- Securing conservation easements on private landIdentifies willing landowners and high-priority forested or riparian parcels in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties, NY, and secures permanent conservation easements to protect ecologically, culturally, historically, and recreationally significant lands. Activities include landowner outreach, conservation evaluation, legal filing, baseline documentation, and long-term monitoring. Examples include the Bortnick (TILT-Dekalb) 227-acre easement, Toothacre Creek Preserve, and Portaferry Lake easement.
-
-
Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
- Implementing watershed-scale conservation initiativesLeads the Grasse River Initiative and Friends of the Watershed program to protect and restore riparian and aquatic ecosystems in the St. Lawrence River Watershed, including the Grasse, Little, Raquette, and Oswegatchie Rivers. Activities include landowner recruitment, river stewardship, conservation planning, and establishing riparian easements.
-
-
Nature Preserve Management and Public Access 1 activity
- Stewarding and maintaining protected natural areasMaintains conserved lands such as Hart's Falls Nature Preserve for public access and ecological integrity, including building and maintaining trails (e.g., boardwalks), organizing seasonal clean-up events, and removing litter. Engages summer interns in stewardship activities.
-
-
Indigenous Land Acknowledgment Initiatives 1 activity
- Supporting Indigenous land stewardshipCommits to collaborating with the Akwesasne community to honor traditional stewardship practices of the Haudenosaunee and Mohawk people in land conservation efforts.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$25K
Contributions & grants$20K79%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$5K21%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$28K
Program expenses86%
Admin / overhead13%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$595K
Cash$70K
Investments$19K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$595K
Liquid reserves37.5 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -0.0%
relationships · 24
Who they work with
- Akwesasne Partner — Collaborates with the Akwesasne community in recognition of their traditional stewardship of the land.
- Clarkson University Partner — Collaborates with the St. Lawrence Land Trust to investigate and implement conservation easements as a means for carbon sequestration and climate offsetting.
- Clarkson University Partner — Finances transaction costs for conservation easements in exchange for claiming carbon offset benefits.
- Facebook Partner — Landowners are invited to post signed Friends of the Watershed Pledge to the organization's Facebook page.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used for outreach and volunteer recruitment.
- Grasse River Heritage Partner — Board member Tom Langen serves on the board of Grasse River Heritage, indicating a collaborative relationship.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — Adheres to the Land Trust Alliance’s Standards & Practices for fiscal responsibility and accountability.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — Member of a nationwide confederation of land trusts.
- Land Trust Alliance Network — Member of the national network that provides guidance on best practices in land conservation and organizational governance.
- NEWT Partner — Provided easement statement for Grasse River Wilderness property.
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Administers the NYS Conservation Easement Tax Credit referenced in connection with conservation easements supported by the Land Trust.
- Nature Up North Partner — Uses Hart's Falls Nature Preserve for citizen science water quality monitoring activities.
- New York State Conservation Partnership Program Funder — Provides funding for internships and land conservation activities.
- New York State Conservation Partnership Program (NYSCCP) Funder — Receives funding and support for conservation projects through a program administered by the Land Trust Alliance and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Board member Peter D'luhosch is the Conservation Easement Program Manager for Region 6 of the NYSDEC, indicating a professional and institutional connection.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Partner agency in the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, providing access to Environmental Protection Fund resources for conservation projects.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Government — Relies on water quality assessments and monitoring data from the NYS DEC for reporting on watershed conditions.
- Northern New York Audubon Partner — Board member Tom Langen serves on the board of Northern New York Audubon, indicating a collaborative relationship.
- PayPal Government — Uses PayPal for donation processing
- St. Lawrence University Public Interest Corps Partner — Partnership program that matches St. Lawrence University students with the Land Trust for internships.
- Thousand Islands Land Trust Partner — Collaborates to identify high-priority conservation parcels and establish easements in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties.
- Thousand Islands Land Trust Partner — Partners with the St. Lawrence Land Trust in researching the use of conservation easements for carbon sequestration and climate mitigation.
- Town of Canton Government — Board member Cathleen O'Horo serves as Town Justice for Canton, New York, and Tom Langen serves on the Town of Canton’s Waterfront Advisory Committee, indicating civic and governmental ties.
- conservation organizations Partner — Collaborates with other conservation organizations to protect land.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Engaged Environmental Stewardshipmethodology: community-engaged stewardshipBy engaging the public through education, outreach, and inclusive, intersectional environmentalism, we promote sustainable watershed stewardship because community-driven action and diverse perspectives lead to broader behavioral change and long-term local commitment to conservation.
- Voluntary Landowner-Partnered Conservationmethodology: voluntary-land-conservationBy collaborating with private landowners through voluntary, legally binding agreements like conservation easements, we protect ecological, cultural, and recreational land values because landowners are more willing to participate when their property rights are respected and financial incentives (e.g., tax benefits) are aligned with conservation goals.
- Watershed-Based, Multi-Stakeholder Conservation Modelmethodology: triple-stakeholder-partnership-modelBy focusing conservation efforts on private lands within specific river watersheds and partnering with universities, landowners, and communities, we achieve broader ecosystem protection and carbon sequestration because aligning stakeholder interests (e.g., carbon offset goals, landowner relief, habitat protection) increases funding, participation, and long-term impact.