 |
Gaymark Preserve
Donated by the North Salem Open Land Foundation
58 acres
Dingle Road, North Salem
The North Salem Open Land Foundation bought this preserve in 2005. The property has a mosaic of valuable plant and wildlife habitats - woodland, open field, wooded swamp and an open cattail marsh - all of which are bisected by or visible from a trail system that can accommodate walkers and riders.
The wetlands and streams on the property drain into nearby Peach Lake and, eventually, the Croton Reservoir system, and protecting it helps protect the quality of their water.
And the scenic values of the open fields on the hills make this a spectacular preserve for public enjoyment.
Although the property has been a North Salem Open Land Foundation preserve since 2005, NSOLF donated the easement to guarantee that if it ever had to relinquish ownership, the property would stay protected in perpetuity.
We plan to reciprocate by offering easements to the Open Land Foundation on Westchester Land Trust land in North Salem, as we've done with Bedford Audubon, which in 2007 granted an easement to us on the James Ramsay Hunt Sanctuary, in Katonah.