USMA Partners with HHLT to Map Preserve Trails

Hudson Highlands Land Trust (HHLT) created Granite Mountain Preserve in Putnam Valley earlier this year to protect valuable natural resources while providing greater public access to its network of trails. Realizing the potential for a great collaboration on the preserve, HHLT Board Member and USMA Adjunct Professor Dr. Young introduced HHLT to Geospatial Instructor LTC Ware. LTC Ware assigned Cadet John Stabler to a trail-mapping project, which provided the student with useful, immediately-applicable skills and benefited HHLT and Putnam Valley. HHLT Conservation Stewardship Manager Nicole Wooten explained, "[Cadet Stabler] really dedicated himself to the project, going above and beyond to generate data on not only existing recreational trails, but also historic stonewalls and important natural features. The Land Trust is now using that data to plan the best possible trail system for Granite Mountain Preserve. We are grateful for LTC Ware's and Cadet Stabler's work, and look forward to continuing this great partnership." The project is mentioned in a recent eSpatially New York blog post that discusses Geospatial Science Education at U.S. Military Academy.