Protecting her land, forever—the way she envisioned it

I first read about Otsego Land Trust and conservation easements in the Franklin Register paper. I thought it was a forward looking and intelligent idea, an invaluable way to help keep my special piece of land safe from development and a haven for our local wildlife,” recounted long time Morris resident Pam Lloyd. 

Pam has lived on her land along the upper reaches of Cahoon Creek in the Butternut Valley since the early 1960s. She’s an avid observer of the local wildlife that she shares her land with, even offering some of them refuge in her basement through the aptly labeled, “Opossum Door.” She also shares her property with her beloved mule and horse, Bunny and Sweetie Pie.

Pam moved to the area after a childhood spent in Wales, where she laments the fact that she witnessed the development and subdivision of her family’s historical homestead. “I am extremely happy to be able to partner with Otsego Land Trust to keep my small slice of our unique region out of unplanned development and friendly for wildlife for generations to come.”

Pam’s property plays an important role for our local waters. On the serenely beautiful 25 acres, one finds many wetlands, seeps and springs which form the headwaters of Cahoon Creek. This creek is a vital tributary to the Butternut Creek, with which it converges in the Village of Gilbertsville. 

Pam completed her conservation easement with Otsego Land Trust this summer, along with conservation easement landowner veterans, Matt and Sara Albright. This was the Albright’s 3rd conservation easement to Otsego Land Trust, bringing their total conserved lands to over 200 acres. Their property contains over 2 miles of frontage along an important tributary to the West Branch of the Otego Creek, a DEC classified trout spawning stream, in New Lisbon. 

“It was a pleasure partnering with the Albright family again and with the newest member of our conservation family, Pam, this summer,” said Project Manager Ethan Rubenstein. “Our partner landowners help conserve local lands and waters on which we all rely, as well as the millions of people downstream along the Susquehanna River to the Chesapeake Bay who are affected by the decisions we make here on a daily basis.”