EMAIL Tall Pines Conservancy

Thanks to the foresight of the Pritzlaff family, we can marvel at one of Chenequa's most beautiful wildlife/open space areas with the knowledge that it will never be developed. The Pritzlaff property, which includes 40 acres of woodland and wetland, has virtually all of the characteristics that define a Primary Environmental Area. Marshland, old growth deciduous and evergreen forest, a creek running from Beaver Lake to Pine Lake, and grasslands are all nestled among rolling hills between Highway 83 and Pine Lake. The property is home to abundant and varying wildlife in all seasons and still includes an actively farmed area in its more open southern section.

To protect the natural beauty of their property, the Pritzlaffs have granted a conservation easement to the Tall Pines Conservancy to run in perpetuity. Under this easement, the family will retain ownership of the property, but have agreed that only one additional dwelling may be built on it, and that only in a designated, well secluded "building area." The Pritzlaffs will continue to enjoy the property, subject only to certain conservation protections such as the use of off road vehicles, building of accessory structures, subdivision of the property, and changing the topography of the land. No right of public access is created by the easement.

As an initial step in the placement of the conservation easement, the Conservancy has prepared a "Base Line Documentation" for the property, which includes maps, photographs, and other descriptions of the important features at the time of the granting of the easement.  This "Base Line" information provides a starting point for the ongoing monitoring of the land required of the Conservancy by the easement. The easement calls upon the Conservancy to insure through future generations that the natural habitat and scenic and open spaces on the property are retained and that no use of the property threatens them.

The Conservancy, with the help of a qualified natural resource professional, will also be assisting the family to implement a "Management Plan" for the property to maintain its native forest ecosystem. This plan would involve the management and control of vegetation and animals and possibly the introduction of new native species.  Normal forest and wetland maintenance activities would also be part of this plan. Farming will be allowed to continue on the property so long as it complies with soil conservation standards set by the county.

The Conservancy's board and volunteers look forward to working with the Pritzlaff family to preserve the natural beauty of this property. The Conservation Easement provides easy to follow guidelines regarding this preservation goal. Anyone wishing to assist in the conservation monitoring should contact a Conservancy board member.