In late September 2024, the Ridgetop Lakes Conservancy (RLC) invited several local environmental support groups, along with the public, to a meeting to discuss our intention to purchase a strategic piece of property. The property, a 500+ acre parcel, sits between Yankee Lake and State Route 17 at the top of the ridge. The RLC was incorporated in 2018 in the hopes that one day we would have an opportunity to help save some of the beautiful, wild lands sitting atop our local ridges… and now, is the time!
The property at hand was most recently a part of what was to be “China City.” It has been attractive to developers because of its proximity to the highway, but is treasured by locals because of its wild habitat, which is home to numerous variety of flora and fauna, some rare, some threatened or endangered, and all highly valued. Because of the shape of the lake, particularly the cove bordering this property, it is colloquially referred to as the “Whale’s Tail.” It serves as a buffer between the highway and Yankee Lake, which is a feeder to the Pine Kill, the Basha Kill, the Neversink, and the Delaware River.
While the property was re-zoned in 2019 to a lower density Mountain Greenbelt zone, it is important to understand that zoning can be changed by voting. Should population values shift, it is possible that a higher density zoning could result. High density housing means water usage. It also threatens to involve sewage treatment plants rather than septic systems. Sewage Treatment Plants result in loss of water to the local area. Conversely, septic systems return the water to the very ground from which it came. For these reasons, RLC, Yankee Lake Preservation Association, the Basha Kill Area Association, and the Lake Communities Alliance all view this property to be high risk until it is conserved. And conservation is RLC’s goal!
The minutes of this recent meeting can be found at this link: Public Meeting Minutes. The minutes show a notional map of the property, and includes a summary of the many conversations with the public. See our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more. Linked here is a Pledge Form, if you find you are inclined to participate in this community effort.
© 2025 Ridgetop Lakes Conservancy, Inc.
PO Box 568 • Wurtsboro • New York • 12790-0568
Email: ObscureMyEmail
Background image used under Creative Commons License.
© 2025 Ridgetop Lakes Conservancy, Inc.
PO Box 568 • Wurtsboro • New York • 12790-0568
Email: ObscureMyEmail
Background image used under Creative Commons License.
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