As another season winds down across the Shawangunk Ridge, we’re taking a moment to reflect on a summer of adventure, stewardship, and community.
In this issue of Ridgelines, you’ll meet 2026 Spirit Award recipient Chris Pell and get updates on the preservation of Humpo Marshlands and the Kleine Kill Restoration project. You’ll also hear from our Conservation Program Summer Interns as they reflect on a season in the field.
As summer gives way to fall, we hope you’ll find opportunities to connect with the landscape, whether on a favorite trail or somewhere new. The Shawangunk Ridge is always changing, offering fresh perspectives and endless reasons to return.
Humpo Marshlands and Forest Protected for Future Generations
A remarkable stretch of wetlands, forest, and iconic Shawangunk Ridge views is now permanently protected.
On August 14, Mohonk Preserve acquired the 174-acre Humpo Marshlands and Forest property from the Open Space Institute (OSI), ensuring the long-term protection of an ecologically significant landscape that supports wildlife, safeguards water resources, and strengthens climate resilience. The Wallkill Valley Land Trust (WVLT) holds a conservation easement on a portion of the property, providing an additional layer of permanent protection. The project was made possible through the Town of New Paltz Community Preservation Fund (CPF), along with support from conservation partners, funders, and community members who share a commitment to protecting the places that define our region.
For nearly two centuries, the Jenkins-Nichols family cared for this land. Today, its wetlands, forests, and scenic views will remain protected for wildlife and people alike.
“Permanent protection of the Humpo Marshlands is an investment in the future of our region,” said Ellen M. Sticker, Acting President of Mohonk Preserve. “This project reflects the power of partnership and a shared commitment to conserving landscapes that sustain wildlife, protect water resources, and inspire people.”
The property strengthens a growing conservation corridor along the Shawangunk Ridge and provides critical habitat for birds, amphibians, pollinators, and other wildlife. Its wetlands also help improve water quality, recharge groundwater, and reduce downstream flooding.
“After generations of stewardship by the Jenkins-Nichols family, this project ensures the land’s wetlands, forests, wildlife habitat, and scenic character will be protected for future generations,” said Ed Pestone, Mohonk Preserve’s Associate Director of Land Protection & GIS.
The protection effort brought together a broad coalition of partners. OSI purchased the property from the Jenkins-Nichols family earlier this year and worked closely with Mohonk Preserve, WVLT, the Town of New Paltz, and others to secure its future.
“Humpo Marshlands is a vital local landscape, and we’re proud to have helped protect it with our partners,” said Matt Decker of the Open Space Institute. “We’re thrilled to see the property move into the long-term care of Mohonk Preserve and the Wallkill Valley Land Trust.”
For WVLT, the project reflects a lasting commitment to stewardship.
“By holding the conservation easement, we are making a permanent commitment to defend the protections put in place today for generations to come,” said Executive Director Christie DeBoer.
Humpo Marshlands also represents one of the first major conservation projects supported through the Town of New Paltz Community Preservation Fund, a voter-approved program designed to protect important natural, agricultural, scenic, and historic resources.
“This project is a great example of what is possible through the Community Preservation Fund,” said New Paltz Town Supervisor Tim Rogers. Cara Lee, Chair of the New Paltz Community Preservation Advisory Board, added that the project advances “the preservation goals the community has set for itself.”
Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger noted the importance of protecting landscapes that provide benefits for both people and nature. “The benefits these lands provide, particularly as our climate changes, are irreplaceable,” she said.
Mohonk Preserve’s acquisition was supported in part by a grant from The Nature Conservancy’s New York Climate Resilience Program, recognizing the important role wetlands and forests play in supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, reducing flood risk, and building climate resilience.
As part of Mohonk Preserve’s growing network of protected lands, the Humpo Marshlands and Forest will help ensure that the Shawangunk region’s natural beauty, healthy ecosystems, and clean water resources endure the test of time.
Building Community One Mile at a Time: Chris Pell’s Rock The Ridge Journey
Building Community One Mile at a Time: Chris Pell’s Rock The Ridge Journey
For Chris Pell, Rock The Ridge is about more than miles. Now a three-time Ridge Rocker, the Shawangunk Ridge has become a place of inspiration and personal growth.
This year, Chris was not only the top fundraiser, he also engaged the largest number of individual donations toward his fundraising goal and was awarded the 2026 Norman L. Goluskin Spirit Award for Fundraising. We spoke with Chris about his connection to the ridge, the community behind his fundraising success, and his advice for anyone considering their first Rock The Ridge.
What first inspired you to sign up?
When I saw a sign for Rock The Ridge in New Paltz during a family vacation, I thought, ‘Why do I know that?’ Then it hit me. It was the race I had wanted to do years earlier but never signed up for. The race found its way back to me, so I took it as a sign and I registered right away. After my first finish line experience, I knew I wanted to do it again. I looked around and thought, “This is the place.” There was something about the landscape and being out in nature that just resonated with me. From then on, I knew I wanted to keep coming back.
What stands out to you about Rock The Ridge?
What stands out to me is how supportive the event is. The course doesn’t care who you are or where you come from. Everyone is the same out there. Every aid station, every participant, everyone wants to see you keep going. I’ve never met one negative person in the three times I’ve done it.
Is there a particular place along the course that has stayed with you?
My favorite part of the course is the Sky Top section above Lake Mohonk. The view even inspired a tattoo on my arm. The first time I ran Rock The Ridge, I’d never been on those trails before. When I got above Lake Mohonk, I remember thinking, “This is absolutely beautiful.” The views are incredible, especially when the clouds settle below the ridge. It’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it yourself. It’s also one of the toughest parts of the course, and I think that’s why it stands out so much to me.
How has running a 50-miler challenged you?
The race has been transformational for me. Who I am at the start line is not the same person I am when I cross the finish line. For me, Rock The Ridge is about the journey, the sacrifices, and the growth that happens along the way. The race is transformational because it strips away your comfort zone and challenges you to find out who you really are.
How has that experience stayed with you?
I call them ‘lived-in experiences.’ When you push through something this challenging, that experience becomes part of you. You can draw on it later when life gets tough, whether it’s family, work, or health challenges. It stays in your personal library.
What motivates you to do Rock The Ridge year after year?
The biggest thing for me is preserving the land. Growing up in New Jersey, I saw a lot of open space disappear over the years, so knowing this landscape will always be here means a lot. There’s a peacefulness to the Shawangunks that’s hard to describe. You can unplug, slow down, and experience nature on its own terms. Being around nature just makes me happier. I wish more people could experience it. There’s just a different vibe up here.
What would you say to someone who’s considering participating in Rock The Ridge for the first time?
Just sign up. You might be surprised by what you’re capable of. Rock The Ridge challenged me in ways I never expected, and the confidence I gained from pushing through tough moments has stayed with me both on and off the trail. The biggest surprise was how much the experience carried over into my personal life. When you’re out there and have to push through physical and mental challenges, you learn what you’re capable of. Crossing that finish line is an incredible feeling, but the lessons stay with you long after the race is over.
You received this year’s Norman L. Goluskin Spirit Award for Fundraising. How did you approach fundraising and what made this year special?
Each year I’ve raised a little more than the year before, but what stood out to me this year wasn’t the total amount, it was the people behind it. I shared my training and race journey on social media, and people I hadn’t spoken to in years reached out to support me. Many had never heard of Mohonk Preserve before, but through supporting me, they became connected to the mission. When the race got tough, I thought about everyone who had contributed and followed along. You carry that encouragement with you every step of the way.
What advice would you give to a first-time fundraiser?
My biggest advice is to just go for it. Set a fundraising goal and put it out there. What I’ve learned is that support often comes from places you don’t expect. Share your journey and talk about why you’re taking on the challenge. People connect with that. They want to be part of something meaningful, and you’d be surprised how many people are willing to come along for the ride. Don’t let the fundraising hold you back. People want to support your journey. You just have to give them the opportunity.
Ready to write your own Rock The Ridge story? Join us on May 1, 2027, and choose the distance that’s right for you: the 50-mile ultra, 26.2-mile trail marathon, or as a relay team.
Explore our fundraising guide for tips and inspiration and start your journey today. Every mile supports the protection of the Shawangunk Ridge and the experiences that make this landscape so special.
Restoring the Kleine Kill: A New Chapter for Duck Pond
For generations, visitors have come to Duck Pond to rest, reflect, and connect with nature. Now this beloved landscape is entering a new chapter, one that will restore the Kleine Kill to a healthier, more resilient ecosystem for wildlife and people alike.
For more than a century, the Duck Pond dam has impounded the Kleine Kill, creating the pond familiar to many Preserve visitors. Built around 1908, the dam has reached the end of its functional life. Structural deficiencies in the spillway and embankment mean that maintaining the aging structure is no longer a safe or practical option. After years of study, engineering analysis, ecological assessment, and community discussion, Mohonk Preserve is moving forward with a project to remove the dam and restore the Kleine Kill to a free-flowing stream and wetland system.
The decision was driven by both safety and conservation. Restoring the stream will reconnect more than a century of interrupted habitat, allowing water, sediment, and aquatic organisms to move naturally through the watershed once again. The project is also expected to improve water quality by reducing warming in the impounded pond and supporting cooler, oxygen-rich conditions downstream.
While visitors may see construction activity in the coming phases, restoration is already underway behind the scenes. Engineers from SLR Consulting and Preserve staff have gradually lowered water levels using a low-impact siphon system, reducing pressure on the dam while allowing vegetation to naturally reestablish in the former pond basin. In addition, Conservation Science staff are monitoring native re-vegetation in the area, and our Volunteer Forest Guardians are removing invasive plants.
The future landscape will not be a dry pond bed. Instead, it will become a diverse mosaic of stream channels, wetlands, shaded pools, and native vegetation. Beaver analogs, structures that mimic natural beaver activity, will be installed to help encourage beavers to create a wetland habitat to spread across the landscape. Over time, beavers themselves may once again become partners in maintaining these ecological functions.
Protecting wildlife remains central to every stage of the project. Long-term monitoring of birds, salamanders, aquatic insects, vegetation, and water quality is helping guide restoration efforts. Special attention is also being given to turtles, including snapping turtles that currently use the pond. Water levels have been managed to maintain overwintering habitat, and construction timing is being planned to ensure turtles and other wildlife can safely adapt as conditions change.
“Stewardship means caring for both the ecological health of the landscape and people’s connection to it. Every decision we make considers the biodiversity of this place, its history, and how future generations will experience it,” said Chuck Reid, Mohonk Preserve’s Director of Stewardship. “When this project is complete, visitors will still find a place to pause, take in the view, and connect with nature. The difference is that they’ll be experiencing a healthier, more resilient watershed that’s been restored to support wildlife and clean water.”
Visitors will continue to enjoy this special place through reconfigured carriage roads, new bridges, and preserved viewsheds. In the coming years, the Kleine Kill restoration will transform an aging infrastructure into a living, connected ecosystem that supports wildlife, clean water, and meaningful outdoor experiences.
This project is supported by funding from the New York State Department of State’s Coastal Rehabilitation and Resiliency Projects Program and the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Program. We are deeply grateful for their partnership and investment in the long-term health and resilience of our natural resources.
Tune in to hear how science-based restoration and long-term monitoring are helping restore natural stream processes and support a healthier ecosystem. In this video update, Mark Carabetta, SLR Consulting Senior Project Manager and Water Resources Engineer, Matt Trueheart, SLR Consulting Water Resources Engineer and Mohonk Preserve Staff Megan Napoli, Associate Director of Conservation Science & Research, Jax Mack, Applied Forest Ecologist and Chuck Reid, Director of Stewardship, discuss efforts to restore the Kleine Kill watershed and stream corridor.
Video by Nicolas Salazar | Edited by Andrea MacScott & Julie Gundersen
Photos and supporting videos by the Mohonk Preserve Volunteer Photographers and Staff
Field Notes from Our Summer Interns
Traverso Intern 2026
“After completing my Internship at Mohonk Preserve, I am happy to say this has been the best summer of my life. Working with the conservation and community science team has been such a pleasure. Learning so much in the field and working with an array of volunteers has been such a unique experience. I loved finding the perfect balance of working with science and people. Getting to visualize volunteer data, implement mitigation strategies for spotted lanternflies, and learn so much from those around me has built up my confidence working in the field of science. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity!” – Grayson, 2026 Traverso Intern
The Traverso Internship immerses students in the day-to-day work of conservation at Mohonk Preserve. From stewardship and ecological monitoring to public engagement and special projects, interns gain firsthand experience while helping advance the Preserve’s mission. Learn more about the history of the Traverso Internship in the latest edition of the SUNY New Paltz Alumni Magazine.
2026 Schaefer Research Intern
“Hi, everyone! My name is Eesha and I am the Schaefer Research Intern here at the Mohonk Preserve this summer. During my time at the Preserve, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in applied ecology through many fun experiences out in the field with the Conservation Science & Community Education department.
“Some projects I have been involved with include forest health plots, StreamWatch studies, deer browse monitoring, and spotted lanternfly surveying—just to name a few! With the help of my team, I have also been able to develop a project of my own studying how stream health differs between degraded and healthy hemlock forest stands. Getting to build a project from the ground up, and learning how to do habitat assessments, water quality monitoring, and vegetation sampling as part of that, has been such a rewarding experience! Being part of the Mohonk community has truly been the greatest pleasure. Thank you for an amazing summer!” – Eesha, 2026 Schaefer Research Intern
Dr. Vincent and Lois Schaefer established the Schaefer Research Internship “to introduce students to the fascination and almost infinite variety of the natural world by providing the setting, exposure to dedicated scientists, and opportunity to sample a wide variety of nature study.” This internship is based out of the Conservation & Community Education department, specifically focused on Conservation Science and is open to students who are majoring in Biology, Ecology, Geology, Environmental Studies/Science, or related natural science majors.
2026 Scheuer Land Management Intern
“It is hard to imagine that I have been at the Preserve for eight months over the course of my two internships. I began in January as the Geography intern from SUNY New Paltz, and in May I transitioned to being the Scheuer intern. My role as the Geography intern was to digitize the Preserve’s carriage road assessment, which was previously on paper forms, to a remote application via Field Maps. Then as the Scheuer intern, I utilized the carriage road assessment I created, to complete the assessments in the field. During my internships I truly got to experience everything on the preserve and work in many different fields. I cashed in many office hours, but I also got to go out in the field with the Con Sci team, and work on some projects with Stewardship. While working alongside the Stewardship team, I was able to see and be a part of the dedication and hard work that goes into restoring our trails and carriage roads. I gained further insight and understanding of the time and work involved in restoring the carriage roads and conditions which I was reporting through the assessments.
“I am so grateful I got this experience and was able to work at the preserve. I spent four years at SUNY New Paltz and would walk the River to Ridge trail and admire the tower all the time. It felt like a full circle moment to be able to work at such a prominent place in New Paltz, but also one which I have been so close to but did not get to fully immerse myself in until this year.” – Hayley, 2026 Scheuer Land Management Intern
The 2026 Thom Scheuer Internship provides hands-on experience with Mohonk Preserve’s Land Protection and Stewardship teams, supporting visitor experiences and sustainable recreation. Established by Dr. Ed Reppert in honor of longtime Head Ranger Thom Scheuer, the internship carries forward Scheuer’s legacy of land stewardship rooted in a shared land ethic. As Reppert envisioned, the program aims “to teach young land stewards to consider all parts of nature as a part of the total ecosystem, how all are related to and dependent on one another and how each relates to humankind,” preparing the next generation of conservation leaders.
Seasonal Photo Gallery
View seasonal photographs by our volunteer photographers below!
See more photos by the Mohonk Preserve Volunteer Photographers on their Facebook page.
Wildlife in the Woods
Enjoy a glimpse into the rich biodiversity of the Shawangunk Ridge! Set deep within the forests of Mohonk Preserve, a trail camera captured a remarkable parade of wild visitors over the course of a lush summer season. Focused on a single fallen tree, it captured black bears, white-tailed deer, raccoons, squirrels, wild turkeys, red foxes, coyotes (or coywolf), herons, owls, and other wildlife as they foraged, traveled, rested, and raised their young.
Video by Mohonk Preserve Volunteer Photographer Karen Maloy Brady
Seasonal Updates
Get Into Nature! Explore upcoming programs, from Native Plant Walks to an author talk and book signing with New York Times bestselling author and local climber Jennifer Keishin Armstrong.
In Appreciation: Celebrating the support that fuels our mission. See our In Appreciation list here for gifts received April 1 – June 30, 2026.
Check This Out:
Women in Wild Places Podcast With Kim Tischler: Tune in to the first episode of our podcast partnership series featuring Associate Director of Community Education Kim Tischler. Hosted by Gabriella DiGiovanni, Women in Wild Places explores the stories of women whose lives and work are shaped by the outdoors. Listen on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts!
Volunteer Vibes: Discover what inspires our volunteers to give back. In our latest volunteer spotlight, Community Science Volunteer Susan Livingston reflects on her experience as a Community Science Volunteer. Read more here.
Plein Air Art Walk | Saturday, October 10: Join Mohonk Preserve and Roost Arts Hudson Valley for the fifth annual Plein Air Art Walk and Online Auction, celebrating the connection between land, art, and community. Learn more.
Online Silent Auction: Bid on more than 150 items, including local artwork, handcrafted jewelry, outdoor adventures, and unique experiences. Auction closes September 19 at 5:35 p.m. Browse items and place your bids.
Rescheduled – Live Music on the Terrace | Sunday, October 11: Enjoy an evening of original music by Sharon Klein on the Visitor Center Terrace. Tickets are $10; advance registration is recommended. Get your tickets here.
Art Exhibit – My Eden: Landscape paintings by David K. Holt are on display through Oct. 10. Learn more.
2026 Gunks Fest | October 9 – 12: Celebrate climbing, stewardship, and community at the fifth annual Gunks Fest with the Gunks Climbers Coalition and Mohonk Preserve. Learn more.
Shawangunk Grit | Saturday, November 7: Get ready for an epic gravel ride across the Shawangunk Ridge! Spots are filling up quickly, register today. Learn more.
Rock The Ridge | Saturday, May 1, 2027: Registration is open for Rock The Ridge 2027! Join us on Saturday, May 1, 2027 for the 50-mile Ultra, 26.2-mile Trail Marathon or as a relay team. Learn more.
Mohonk Preserve Business Members: Thank you to all our Business Members. See the full list of Mohonk Preserve Business Members in our area guide.
Photo by Melissa Styles