I am the Director of Land Management for The Mianus River Gorge, Inc. Founded in 1953, Mianus River Gorge, Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit organization, whose mission is to preserve, protect and promote appreciation of the natural heritage of the Mianus River watershed through land acquisition and conservation, scientific research and public education throughout the region. A 501(c)(3) non-profit conservation and education organization, Mianus River Gorge: protects over 1,100 acres in Bedford, North Castle and Pound Ridge, NY and Stamford CT, including one of the last stands of old-growth forest in the northeast US; manages the 938-acre Mianus River Gorge Preserve, which is open seasonally with more than 5 miles of hiking trails and outdoor exhibits, that includes 41 acres in the Twin Lakes Preserve and Taylor Preserve; conducts applied research and offers innovative research-based education programs for high school, undergraduate and graduate students; and works on initiatives to protect the Mianus River Watershed from its headwaters to the Long Island Sound. We actively manage approximately 40 species of invasive plants forest pests annually, both mechanically and chemically. We are currently studying the effects of non-chemical management techniques on stiltgrass, the severity of beech leaf disease in trees afflicted and not afflicted with beech bark disease, and the species distribution of Asian jumping across our preserves.
