The Open Space Institute (OSI) has planned for the protection of 175 acres of marsh and forest land, including wetland areas, along Route 299 in the Towns of New Paltz and Gardiner in Ulster County.
When the owners of the Humpo Marshlands and Forest property decided it was time to figure out long-term plans for their family’s farm they called Bob Anderberg, OSI’s Senior Vice President and Strategic Conservation Advisor. Anderberg had reached out to the family more than 20 years earlier about preserving the land and had continued that dialogue over the years.
Thanks to a collaborative effort involving OSI, Mohonk Preserve, the Towns of New Paltz and Gardiner, and Wallkill Valley Land Trust (WVLT), the parcel is now protected. The acquisition safeguards the iconic viewshed of the Shawangunk Ridge, wildlife habitat, and local water resources.
OSI acquired the land in January 2026 from the Jenkins-Nichols family, who had owned the family farm for nearly two centuries.
The Town of New Paltz will use its Community Preservation Fund (CPF) to purchase a conservation easement on 87 acres of the Humpo Marshlands and Forest property, with the easement to be held by WVLT.
After New Paltz and WVLT obtain the easement, OSI will then transfer the land to Mohonk Preserve for long-term stewardship and ownership.
In total, OSI has protected more than 40,000 acres on and along the Shawangunk Ridge.
The Humpo Marshlands and Forest property includes native wildflower meadows, upland forests, and 40 acres of Humpo Marsh.
A well-known birding hotspot, the marsh provides essential breeding habitat for threatened species such as the pied-billed grebe and red-headed woodpecker, and serves as a migratory bird resting area.
The site includes a significant wetland system and vernal pools, which are essential breeding sites for certain amphibian species in springtime.
The property’s wetlands drain into the Kleine Kill, a tributary of the Wallkill and Hudson Rivers. The land naturally filters and cleans water, improving groundwater quality and recharging underground aquifers for residents who rely on local wells.
Additionally, the wetlands serve as a natural catch basin that absorb excess water during severe storm events, helping reduce flooding in downstream areas.
OSI’s conservation of the land strengthens a corridor of protected land near Minnewaska State Park Preserve and the Shawangunk Ridge. The property is adjacent to the conserved lands owned by Mohonk Preserve and OSI, each of which contains sections of the River-to-Ridge Trail, one of the region’s most popular trails.
The property was listed as one of the highest priority acquisitions in New Paltz and Gardiner’s Community Preservation Plans due to the natural benefits the land provides to people and wildlife.
Conservation of the property has also been a long-time goal for Mohonk Preserve, WVLT, and OSI.
In November 2020, New Paltz residents approved a ballot initiative to enact a Real Estate Transfer Tax that would provide revenue exclusively for the preservation of clean water, working farms, natural areas, and historic properties, creating a Community Preservation Fund (CPF).
The one-time tax applies to new property sales above the median home price in Ulster County, providing funding for community conservation projects without raising taxes.
Read more about Ulster County, NY.
Illustrations, from above: Humpo Marsh (OSI); and Humpo Marsh Property Map, March 2026 (OSI).
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