How We Work
The Indian River Lakes Conservancy (IRLC) works to permanently protect our most important natural areas within the Indian River Watershed with a particular focus on the Indian River Lakes region of northern New York.
IRLC is a staff led and volunteer run land trust, enabled by a team of community members who are passionate about protecting natural places, and teaching the tenants of environmental conservation to the future environmental stewards of our planet, our children and teenagers.
IRLC practices a community conservation approach, by partnering with landowners, businesses, schools, and local communities, so that together we can preserve the lands and waters that are essential to our well being and the well being of future generations.
The IRLC conservation projects and educational programs are funded through membership donations that enable us to leverage matching grants from state and federal agencies. We also receive support from private foundations, and local businesses.
Water Quality Protection
IRLC's partnership with the property owners and lake associations on the Indian River Lakes is essential to ensuring the lakes will remain enjoyable for future generations of fishermen, paddlers, swimmers, and water skiers.
We work directly with our local municipalities and lakeside residents in solving unique challenges and encouraging sustainable lake living practices to include septic maintenance and upgrades, natural shorelines, and lake friendly household products.
Nature Preserves
IRLC's land protection programs are enabled by land donations, or purchasing property that IRLC uses to establish and maintain our nature preserves. All IRLC nature preserves are home to both rare animal and plant species.
Preserves require annual maintenance so IRLC has established permanent restricted funds to support our annual stewardship of the preserves.
Community Education
IRLC adds value to our community by connecting people to nature and establishing a sense of "place" on our protected lands. We must instill that our responsibility as land stewards begins when we are very young and continues throughout our lives. Involvement in IRLC programs enables people of all ages a chance to experience the awe and wonder of nature through our community environmental education events.
Land protection directly supports watershed health! Conserving land helps to reduce erosion and runoff, reduces pollutant export through filtering, preserves natural flow patterns, and minimizes flooding.