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The Ninevah Foundation has implemented a multi-pronged strategy to conserve the Lake Ninevah area’s precious land and water resources. To inform this mission, we commissioned a comprehensive ecological inventory and mapping project, which was conducted in 2016-2018. See below to learn more.

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FORESTS, MOUNTAINS, AND MEADOWS

In collaboration with a professional forester, the Ninevah Foundation manages its land using established conservation practices for forestry and wildlife habitat management. The Ninevah Foundation works with the United States Department of Agriculture’s local Natural Resource Conservation Service as well as the Farm and Wilderness Foundation on the following activities:

    • Maintaining 12 acres of wildlife openings through controlled cutting and burning, and creating small canopy gaps that provide beneficial bird habitat

    • Organizing timely and targeted timber stand improvements, so that high-quality trees can grow faster because of reduced competition from less valuable trees, and timber harvests to ensure better-quality tree growth

    • Nurturing the spread of sturdy blueberry bushes on Proctor Hill by using controlled burning and post-berry-season mowing

    • Instituting preventative measures to reduce the chances of harm from the Emerald Ash Borer beetle, an invasive pest currently found in eastern New York state and in Quebec province

To ensure perpetual conservation of its lands and broaden its reach, the Ninevah Foundation also owns land that is enrolled in public conservation programs (PDF, 36K) and holds conservation easements for landowners who retain the remaining property rights. The vast majority of the Foundation’s lands are managed according to a stewardship plan that is approved by the county forester.

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LAKES, STREAMS, AND WETLANDS

In 2018, Arrowwood Environmental conducted an aquatic ecological survey of Lake Ninevah for the Town of Mount Holly and Ninevah Foundation supported by state grant funding. The field work and report were conducted by botanist, ecologist Michael Lew-Smith. The report revealed that Lake Ninevah has an exceptional aquatic ecosystem and plant communities with “a stunning nine different uncommon or rare aquatic plant species”!

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Read Michael’s full report on Lake Ninevah Aquatic Plant Inventory here

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View Michael’s presentation to the community here

 

The Foundation leads water quality maintenance for Lake Ninevah. By hiring scuba divers and training monitors to carry out surveillance and public education, the Ninevah Foundation has successfully contained infestations of Eurasian watermilfoil and maintains a vigil for other aquatic nuisances.

For the scientifically minded, the DEC website also offers a Google Earth map and lots of interesting data about Lake Ninevah through the Lakes and Ponds Management and Protection Section.

Using a variety of land protection tools — in keeping with the principles of America’s Great Outdoors Initiative — the Ninevah Foundation’s preservation work continues to expand.

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2016 - 2018 ECOLOGICAL INVENTORY AND MAPPING OF NINEVAH FOUNDATION LANDS

This two-year inventory by biologist Brett Engstrom yielded surprising and remarkable results, revealing for the first time many rare and state-significant features on Ninevah Foundation lands. With information from Brett’s field work along with other sources, cartographer Andrew Toepfer created a set of four maps: Natural Features; Wetlands; Cultural Features (showing historic homesteads, old roads and contemporary and historic farms); and Rare, Threatened, Endangered & Uncommon Species and State-significant Upland Natural Communities.

You can watch a video presentation of Brett’s findings at okemovalley.tv/lake-ninevah-ecology

The full report is here.

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FORESTS, DOWNLOADABLE MAPS ARE HERE*:

Ninevah Foundation Lands Natural Features Map 2018

Ninevah Foundation Lands Wetlands Map 2018

Ninevah Foundation Lands Cultural Features Map 2018

Ninevah Foundation Lands RTE and Uncommon Map 2018

Note: The PDF files are best for viewing on the computer screen. You can request maps in PNG format which is better for printing by writing to ninevahfoundation@gmail.com.

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*If you appreciate these maps, please consider making a contribution to the Ninevah Foundation to support this project.

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The Ninevah Foundation promotes outdoor and environmental education by leasing land to the Farm & Wilderness camps and working with our allies to offer educational forums and materials for the public, as listed on the News & Events page.

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