To the Editor:

Have you visited the Knox wetland recently to observe the extensive variety of wildlife that can be found there? If so, you can thank the Town of Knox Conservation Advisory Council and local volunteers for a wetland rehabilitation project undertaken last year. 

The CAC secured nearly $40,000 from the Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District for materials and constructed a wheelchair-accessible walkway from Street Road to an existing observation platform in the wetland so everyone can now enjoy the many wildlife species that can be viewed there, including a wide variety of birds that migrate through the area.

In addition, CAC members and volunteers repaired the wetland’s interpretive kiosk and replaced its roof. A portion of the funds were also used to pay for the repair of an erosion scar on Street Road that drained into the wetland. As a result, the area is now becoming a hot spot for local birders. 

The town of Knox is blessed with incredible beauty and natural resources, with many areas open to the public for exploration and enjoyment.

In addition to the Knox wetland, the CAC encourages residents and visitors to get out and explore the vast areas managed by state and private entities, including the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Margaret Burke Wildlife Management Area, Thacher State Park, The Nature Conservancy’s Limestone Rise Preserve, and the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy’s Winn and Wolf Creek Falls preserves. 

The CAC, formed in 1981 under New York State Municipal Law, provides expertise, advice, and guidance to the Knox Town Board to help protect, conserve, preserve, restore, and enhance the natural and cultural resources of the town. 

The CAC performs the following functions to achieve its core mission:

— Develops and maintains inventories and databases of natural and cultural resources within the town;

— Helps develop and implement natural and cultural resource-management and conservation plans for specific land parcels within the town;

— Leads and participates in activities and work projects that protect and enhance the quality of the environment and the ability of town residents to benefit from it; and

— Works with local, state, and federal partners to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance natural and cultural resources within the town.

In addition to the wetland rehab, the CAC has undertaken a number of other projects over the years; the council has:

— Secured a grant to build the original boardwalk over the Knox wetland and organized volunteers to construct it;

— Undertaken studies of karst geology features in Knox, which included dye tests to map water flows through and around the hamlet of Knox;

— Arranged for the Hudson River Estuary Program to prepare Natural Areas and Wildlife In Your Community: A Habitat Summary for the Town of Knox;

— Mapped local scenic resources; and

— Arranged for the Knox wetlands preserve to be included on the New York State Birding Trail.

As we look forward to 2025, the council is planning to:

— Continue offering public outreach programs in the Knox Town Park and Wetland Preserve that examine local conservation issues;

— Develop an updated open-space inventory, examine the establishment of Critical Environmental Areas, and explore other conservation planning and protection measures;

— Learn from and work with neighboring municipalities regarding fertilizers made from sewage sludge;

— Map karst features such as sinkholes and springs, as well as small wetlands and vernal pools;

— Work with the town’s Agricultural Advisory Committee to develop a Farmland Protection Plan; and

—Volunteer as individuals to help other organizations extend the Long Path from Thacher Park to the village of Altamont.

The council is always looking for local volunteers to help with projects and attend its monthly meetings to learn about the town’s rich natural resources and the latest proposals in the town that could impact those resources.

Rick Georgeson

Member

Town of Knox

Conservation

Advisory Council