Barry Kincaid, of KLC Property Enhancement, working here to fill an eroded trail caused by recent rainstorms, is among the volunteers that help LGLC carry out their mission.
The Cat and Thomas Mountains Preserve, owned and managed by the Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC), is a popular destination for those looking for clear views of Lake George for minimal effort.
But recently, storms washed away sections of sediment, leaving rough, ankle-twisting footpaths that double as streams after a rain, the LGLC reported.
Located off of Valley Woods Road in Bolton Landing, there are over seven miles of varied trails that demand year-round stewardship to keep the trails safe.
LGLC reported that Barry Kincaid, a Bolton Landing resident and owner of KLC Property Enhancement, came to the rescue to help alleviate problems caused by the storms by donating his services to improve trail drainage with swales, reset a culvert, and widen the trail where brush had become too overgrown.
Kincaid also donated his services to help clear trails and trim back growth at the Last Great Shoreline Preserve in Putnam, and to remove downed trees at Peggy’s Point in Hague.
“We’re happy to be able to offer access into some of Lake George’s most beautiful areas,” said LGLC communications and outreach manager Sarah Hoffman. “But it’s also our responsibility to make sure these trails remain safe and provide an enjoyable experience for everyone who uses them. Barry Kincaid’s donation of time, equipment and expertise has been wonderful for these trails and a great help to us.”
Others have also stepped up to help LGLC’s preserves. A new door to the Thomas Mountain cabin has been built and installed by Bolton Landing resident David Cummings, Hoffman said. Also, Rich Larkin took down a dead tree that was dangerously hanging over a trail at Cat and Thomas.
She said another Bolton resident, Justin Warren, volunteered to remove snow from the parking area of Amy’s Park and removed two large tanks that were dumped over the bank on Trout Falls Road.
Numerous dedicated volunteers also take on the role of Volunteer Preserve Stewards, hiking the trails year-round to report any misuse or damage, often performing needed maintenance themselves, and keeping the kiosks stocked with trail guides and log-in sheets, according to Hoffman. These dedicated volunteers include Nancy Hill, Bob Aspholm and Rosemary Pusateri at the Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob; Bob Whitaker and Dick Barney at Cook Mountain; the Chapman family at Gull Bay; Mary Lou Doulin at Peggy’s Point; and Richard Hayes Phillips at Cat and Thomas and the Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob.
Yet many others join group work days to conduct litter cleanups or other special stewardship tasks on an as-needed basis. In total over 350 volunteer hours have been directed towards stewardship at LGLC parks and preserves over the past year, said Hoffman.
“I would like to thank all the volunteers,” said LGLC land protection and stewardship specialist Warren Rosenthal, “who have assisted us this year in maintaining our preserves. With their dedication and hard work, our parks are cleaner and safer for all to enjoy.”
This fall LGLC is also benefitting from the additional help of Laura Kinkead, a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute student who is participating in a fall semester of study at the Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI). The program requires that all students take an internship with one of more than a dozen local environmental organizations. Kinkead chose to work with LGLC and once a week spends a day assisting Rosenthal in the field.
“With our limited staff and resources, the amount of help we’ve received over the years from volunteers and partnering groups such as DFWI has been remarkable and vital to the health of these parks and preserves,” said Hoffman.
Stewardship is an ongoing need and more volunteers are always welcome. To become a volunteer preserve steward or help at group work days, call Hoffman at 644-9673 or e-mail shoffman@lglc.org.
The Lake George Land Conservancy is a non-profit land trust dedicated to working with willing landowners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historic and recreational resources of the Lake George region. Since its inception in 1988, LGLC said it has helped to preserve more than 13,000 acres around the Lake George watershed and 9.2 miles of lake shoreline.