In October 2024, the Adirondack Land Trust transferred 107 acres in Keene on the western shoulder of Baxter Mountain above the East Branch of the Ausable River to the forever wild Forest Preserve. Conservation outcomes include:
- Expanding a contiguous block of Forest Preserve surrounding Baxter Mountain, a popular hiking destination
- Extending natural shoreline protection to 1.4 miles along a section of the East Branch of the Ausable River, helping to mitigate damage from flood risks associated with intensifying storms
- Preventing development that can cause erosion on steep slopes
- Preserving a scenic vista from Route 73 and other mountain summits
The land trust gratefully accepted this parcel as a donation from Chris and Audrey Hyson in 2022 and then gifted the land to the state.
Image: View of Baxter Mountain from Blueberry Mountain, by Roman Kucharczyk.
Map: 107-acre Forest Preserve addition shown in red, by Adirondack Land Trust Stewardship & GIS Manager Becca Halter.