Scenic Hudson saluted ECC for accomplishing its goals through a strong belief in involving the local community, in forming partnerships with other environmental organizations in Ulster County and in the wider Hudson Valley, and by developing environmental educational programs. Among ECC accomplishments are opening Esopus Bend Nature Preserve to the public, improving trails for hikers, offering guided nature walks, and offering the preserve as an outdoor classroom for area schools

In addition to ECC, the land trusts honored were: Audubon New York; Columbia Land Conservancy; Dutchess Land Conservancy; The Greene Land Trust; Hudson Highlands Land Trust; The Nature Conservancy, Eastern New York Chapter; New York-New Jersey Trail Conference; Orange County Land Trust; Trust for Public Land, New York State; Wallkill Valley Land Trust; Westchester Land Trust; and Winnakee Land Trust. In saluting the 13 organizations, Scenic Hudson cited the passion, skill and resources that they bring to the work of preserving the places that identify the Hudson Valley.

Scenic Hudson, established in 1963, is the largest environmental group focused on the Hudson River valley working to protect the natural beauty of our valley and the unique character of our towns. To learn more about Scenic Hudson go to our Links page.

Pictured here is ECC President Susan Bolitzer accepting the award from Frederic C. Rich, chair of Scenic Hudson Board of Directors.

This year, volunteers completed several important projects funded by a 2005 Hudson Valley Greenway grant. Mindful of controlling costs, the volunteers built wooden bridges over streams, and under budget, using donated labor, obtaining favorable lumber prices, and a bridge re-design to reduce cost. With cost savings from the grant, 200 feet of inland boardwalks were constructed in low-lying wet areas of the Wetlands Trial and East Trail. Grant monies are the second largest source of funding for ECC. Donations are the largest source.

With a $2,500 New York State Department of Conservation grant secured by Assemblyman Peter Lopez last year, tools and equipment were purchased including a chain saw and line trimmer, and a storage/ monitoring building was constructed. Two bike racks were installed at the Shady Lane entrance to the preserve and two at the Sterley Avenue entrance, courtesy of the Town of Saugerties.

And the work goes on. Looking forward to 2009, assuming that permitting issues are resolved, plans call for the construction of a wetlands boardwalk so visitors can better experience the natural beauty in this special area of Esopus Bend.

ECC is grateful to all: the volunteers, scouts, our generous donors, community, local, and state funding organizations. They have helped, and continue to help, ECC maintain and improve Esopus Bend Nature Preserve.

Pictured here are stewardship volunteers: (l. to r. ) ECC Stewardship Committee Chair Chris Florsch, Co-chair Steve Chorvas, Mike Farrell, Steve Hart, Matt Galchus, Rita Galchus, Alan Bebee. after several hours out on the preserve working on the East Trail.

These environmental educational events, for adults and children, are free, and open to the public.

Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the Saugerties Village Beach parking lot on US Rte. 9W (at the bottom of Partition Street), just north of the Esopus Creek bridge in the Village of Saugerties and carpool to the preserve.

Bring binoculars, pencil and notebook, and a tree field guide if you have one. Be prepared for potentially wet/muddy trails and cool autumn weather conditions. If there is heavy rain, the walk will be canceled. Children are welcome and encouraged, but please do not bring pets.

Contact the field trip leader, Lin Fagan mailto:faganlin@verizon.net for additional information, or Steve Chorvas mailto: schorvas@verizon.net This joint ECC/JBNHS Environmental Education walk is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required.

This will be a leisurely 2.5-hour guided hike in one of New York's newest nature preserves uniquely situated along a dramatic bend in Esopus Creek. We will explore the preserve’s woodlands, wetlands, and meadow, identifying early fall birds by sight and sound, pausing along the way to observe the diversity of plant and animal life that inhabit the preserve, including an abundance of fall-blooming wildflowers in the meadow, early fall colors on some of the preserve’s 35+ species of trees, and late-season butterflies and dragonflies that should be actively flying at this time of the year.

Meet 8:00 a.m. in the Saugerties Village Beach parking lot on US Rte. 9W (at the bottom of Partition Street), just north of the Esopus Creek bridge in the Village of Saugerties. We will carpool to the preserve.

Bring binoculars if you have them, and be prepared for potentially wet/muddy trails and tall grass in the meadow. Light rain often makes for excellent nature observation, but in the event of heavy rain, the walk will be canceled. Children are welcome and encouraged, but please do not bring pets.

Contact the hike leader, Steve Chorvas mailto: schorvas@verizon.net for additional information or directions. This HRV Ramble walk is free and open to the public. Pre-registration is not required. For more information about additional HRV Ramble walks, hikes, paddles, river and estuary explorations, visit http:// www.hudsonrivervalley.com