MOUNTAINVILLE, NY — The Orange County Land Trust has finalized two conservation easements with private landowners that resulted in the protection of 421 acres of land within the Lower Neversink River Watershed in the Towns of Deerpark and Forestburgh. 

The properties contain a contiguous expanse of forest, wetlands, and streams, as well as 1,150 feet of frontage on the Neversink River. A portion of the conserved land also abuts the Neversink River Unique Area. 

“The permanent protection of these forested parcels further safeguards water quality in the Neversink River and supports a host of wildlife, especially forest interior bird species,” said Kyle Sanduski, OCLT’s director of conservation.

Since the Save Orange County’s Last Wilderness initiative was launched in 2024 by OCLT, more than 1,500 acres of land in the Town of Deerpark have been protected, the organization said. The initiative focuses on the protection of land surrounding the Port Jervis Watershed, Neversink River, Mongaup River, Basher Kill and Delaware River for water quality, flood mitigation, outdoor recreation and other benefits. 

“This work would not be possible without willing conservation-minded landowners, so we applaud the families involved in protecting these important properties,” Jim Delaune, OCLT’s executive director, said. “We also thank the Open Space Institute, the Nature Conservancy and Orange County government for supporting these efforts.” 

“Protecting these forests is a win for water quality, wildlife, and communities downstream,” said Bill Rawlyk, senior program manager at the Open Space Institute. “By absorbing rainfall and filtering runoff, these lands help keep the Neversink River clean and reduce flooding risks throughout the Delaware River Basin. The land also safeguards habitat for sensitive aquatic species—proof that conservation delivers benefits far beyond property lines.” 

The project was supported through the OSI’s Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund, made possible with funding from the William Penn Foundation for its Delaware River Watershed Initiative, which seeks to protect water quality in the Delaware River Basin.