Integrated Stewardship Model

Engages in the ongoing preservation and maintenance of a historic building and associated grounds, ensuring the protection and longevity of culturally significant structures and land.

Co-develops management plans and ecological strategies with regional partners, including a NYS DEC-supported plan for Angle Fly Preserve and a Live Tree Management Strategy with regional foresters, to guide long-term conservation and forest health.

Engages in invasive species removal, tree and native plant planting, deer exclosure construction, and erosion control to restore and preserve natural habitats across managed properties, including Rhinoceros Creek Reservation and Angle Fly Preserve.

Provides environmental education and outreach through guided hikes, annual member meetings, open house events, native plant gardens, and educational signage to engage residents of Somers and surrounding areas in conservation efforts.

Designs, constructs, and maintains trails, bridges, stairs, kiosks, pavilions, composting toilets, and viewing structures to support public access and recreational use at Rhinoceros Creek Reservation and Angle Fly Preserve.

Organizes and relies on volunteers for trail maintenance, invasive species removal, infrastructure projects, and scout-led conservation enhancements at managed properties.

Implements a controlled bow-hunting program at Angle Fly Preserve to manage white-tailed deer populations, requiring hunter proficiency testing and mandatory reporting; operates a catch-and-release fishing program using artificial lures and barbless hooks to protect native brook trout.

Owns and manages the 115-acre Rhinoceros Creek Reservation and holds conservation easements in partnership with Westchester Land Trust; also manages a 654-acre preserve at Angle Fly on behalf of the Town of Somers, including trail systems, habitat restoration, and public access infrastructure.

Participates in the Hudson to Housatonic Regional Conservation Partnership to create pesticide-free, native-planted pollinator corridors; manages lands to protect forest, wetlands, and watershed areas that filter drinking water for the surrounding community.

Demonstrates institutional solidarity with social justice movements by postponing fundraising events such as the Toast to the Tribs in 2020 to align with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Conducts DEI training and visioning sessions, supports the development of DEIJ resource guides for watershed organizations, and hosts public programs to share strategies and case studies on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice within the watershed community.

Leads and coordinates scientific research efforts, including a large-scale community science water quality monitoring program across hundreds of locations in the Hudson River watershed, research on watershed group effectiveness, and collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project to restore oyster populations in New York City waters.

Publishes annual reports, strategic plans, and research papers to document accomplishments, guide future work, and compile findings on the role and impact of watershed groups in the Hudson River watershed.

Organizes and hosts public programs, including the Breakfast Lecture series, webinars on topics such as dam removal, and DEIJ-focused workshops and conference sessions, to educate and engage communities in watershed protection and restoration.

Created and leads Riverkeeper Sweep, an annual day of service that engages volunteers in hands-on stewardship activities on the Hudson River.

Produces and distributes the Watershed Digest email newsletter, factsheets, and downloadable PDF maps of the Hudson River watershed and its subwatersheds, including the Upper Hudson, Mohawk River, and Hudson River Estuary regions, to share organizational updates, event information, and educational content.

Provides technical support, capacity building, and networking opportunities for community-based watershed groups across the Hudson River watershed, including inter-municipal councils and local advocates, to protect and restore local water resources.

Offers awareness, education, and cultural appreciation programs focused on Heckscher State Park's natural resources and recreational opportunities.