Courtesy LGLC
The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) announces its 2025 Land Campaign, a $9 million fundraising campaign to permanently protect more than 1,200 acres of land that protects Lake George.
The Campaign includes the protection of 517 acres of Pilot Knob Mountain and more than 700 acres in Bolton. Together, these forested lands have 2.8 miles of streams and more than 26 acres of wetlands that are critical to maintaining Lake George’s exceptional water quality.
The LGLC is under contract to purchase 517 acres of Pilot Knob Mountain, including its 2,159-foot summit, and 1.6 miles of streams. The land is close to the LGLC’s Schumann Preserve at Pilot Knob, and sits just south of Buck Mountain, sharing more than 1.6 miles of its border with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Wild Forest. Because of its proximity to NYSDEC’s protected lands, this part of Pilot Knob is often mistakenly believed to be already protected; in fact, it is one of the largest privately-owned properties in the south basin and is zoned for development of up to 60 buildings.
LGLC Executive Director Mike Horn said, “We are grateful to the landowners of Pilot Knob Mountain for being good stewards of this land for many decades, and for working with the LGLC to keep it protected, forever.”
The Campaign also includes multiple conservation projects in the Town of Bolton that will total more than 700 acres in the Indian Brook and Northwest Bay area. Collectively, these properties will provide critical protection of stream corridors, wetlands, steep slopes, and forested lands that clean and filter water, reduce downstream sedimentation, and prevent pollution from entering Lake George’s Northwest Bay.
The LGLC purchased one of the properties, named Sundew Pond, on April 22. This 207-acre parcel has a large wetland and pond that supports a healthy, diverse plant ecosystem, including carnivorous sundew and pitcher plants. Several of the other Bolton projects are under contract.
LGLC’s 2025 Land Campaign is the largest fundraising effort in LGLC history. To date, $6.6 million has been secured, including grants that provide $2 for every $1 donated. The remaining $2.4 million is needed by the end of the summer to complete all of the Campaign’s projects.
“The LGLC has committed to increasing our pace of land conservation to secure Lake George’s future, and we have a wonderful slate of high-impact projects,” said Horn. “We can only complete these important projects with the generous support of those who love Lake George and want it to remain clean and beautiful for future generations. I hope that anyone with an interest in the future of Lake George will join our 2025 Land Campaign.”
The LGLC is offering a live, public Zoom presentation to discuss the Campaign and its projects, June 11 at 7 p.m. This presentation will also be recorded and shared for viewing. To register, visit LGLC.org/2025Campaign/register.
Donations to the 2025 Land Campaign can be made online at LGLC.org/2025Campaign, or send a donation by mail to LGLC, attn: 2025 Land Campaign, PO Box 1250, Bolton Landing, NY 12814. For additional assistance, please call 518-644-9673.