Just two hours from New York City, the Neversink River is a pristine ecological jewel — 60 miles of rushing waters brimming with an outstanding array of life. Theodore Gordon, considered the father of modern American fly fishing, perfected his dry-fly techniques here in the 1800s.

Along this spectacular river lies the Neversink River Preserve where the world's healthiest population of globally-imperiled dwarf wedgemussel was discovered in 1990.

Location: Godeffroy in Orange County, New York

Size: 550 acres.

What to See: Plants

• Trees: Sugar and red maples, river birch, sycamores, red oaks and green ash.
• Wildflowers: Bee-balm, cardinal flowers, Dutchman's breeches, blue flags, closed gentians, trout lilies and violets.

• Mammals: Otters and beaver live in the creeks and wetlands that crisscross the preserve. Bobcats, black bear and wild turkeys inhabit the forests and meadows.
• Birds: Common mergansers, wood ducks, osprey, blue herons, belted kingfishers, bald eagles, ruffed grouse, northern harriers, owls, and numerous warblers and songbirds.
• Fish: Forty species, including brook trout, American shad, sea lamprey and American eel.
• Reptiles and Amphibians: Spotted salamanders, wood frogs, northern water snakes, ribbon snakes, and snapping turtles.

Why the Conservancy Selected this Site:
Nearly 15 million people rely on the waters of the Delaware River Basin for drinking and industrial use.  With over 30 rare species and natural communities, the 435-square-mile Neversink River watershed has been named a top conservation priority by The Nature Conservancy.

What the Conservancy is Doing:
In 2004, The Nature Conservancy took the bold step of removing the Cuddebackville Dam, an impediment that served to block the dispersal of endangered mussel larvae and halted the passage of migratory fish. With the dam gone, the Conservancy is now undertaking an ecological restoration of the surrounding area.  View a slideshow of the removal here! 

The Conservancy has also targeted the Delaware River Basin and the nearby Neversink River to learn more about migratory fish like the American eel. Using sonar and other tracking devices, scientists are collecting baseline and long-term population data in order to develop comprehensive conservation plans.

Other conservation priorities in the region include collaborating with New York City water supply and other stakeholders to establish natural flow patterns, building local initiatives for compatible development, and protecting key areas through ecological restoration, land acquisition, conservation easements and landowner agreements.

Visiting the Preserve:
A color-coded trail system takes you through easy terrain. See the kiosk at the preserve entrance for trail details.

For more information, please contact:

Delaware River Basin Program
P.O. Box 617
Cuddebackville, NY 12729
(845) 858-2883

Directions:

• From 84:
• Take Route 84 to exit 1 (Port Jervis).
• At the end of the exit ramp, turn onto Route 6 West.
• Follow Route 6 to Route 209 North.
• Make a right turn onto Route 209 and north for approximately 6.3 miles to Guymard Turnpike.
• Make a right turn onto Guymard Turnpike, and follow it approximately 0.2 miles to the preserve driveway on the right. Drive slowly to the kiosk; the parking lot is on the right.
  
• From Route 17 West:
• From Route 17 west, take exit 113 (Rt. 209) south.
• Travel for about 8.5 miles, and after crossing the green steel bridge, take your second left onto Canal Drive.
• Go to the end of Canal Drive (bearing left at forks) to a T-intersection.
• Turn left onto Guymard Turnpike; the preserve entrance is a gravel drive on the right with a sign. Drive slowly to the kiosk; the parking lot is on the right.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Hardie Truesdale (Neversink River); © Mark Godfrey (Fall on the Neversink).