Orange County Land Trust and its municipal and nonprofit partners announced on Dec. 18 the preservation of 565 acres of undeveloped land surrounding Boehmler Pond in Deerpark.
The land is part of an expansive watershed that provides drinking water for thousands of residents in Port Jervis. In addition to the tributaries that flow through the area and feed the city’s main reservoirs, Boehmler Pond serves as the city’s backup water source.
It is the first project in a multi-year campaign by the land trust to preserve crucial pieces of pristine land within the Delaware River watershed in Western Orange County.
“What this is about is that this is a water source for the city of Port Jervis,” Orange County Land Trust Executive Director Jim Delaune said at a press conference in front of Boehmler Pond. “In undertaking this transaction, we protect this water source while creating recreational opportunities.”…