North Elba Land Conservancy (NELC) was founded in 2005 in response to concern about loss of local scenic views, traditional agricultural lands, forests, wetlands and recreational trails due to rapid development in the Town of North Elba. In the future, it is important that the community balance development with conservation.

Our goals are to:

• preserve community character by protecting scenic vistas, working agricultural lands, and open spaces
• protect water quality by conserving wetlands and increasing awareness of the importance of watershed protection
• enhance recreational opportunities by preserving existing and historic recreational trails, which are accessible to the public

North Elba Land Conservancy (NELC) is incorporated as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization in the State of New York. North Elba Land Conservancy is an all-volunteer organization with an active volunteer board directing its operations. NELC is able to hold conservation easements and to own parcels of land that support its mission to enhance and preserve community character.

The need for an organization such as North Elba Land Conservancy is rooted in the changing landscape of the village and town. It is clear that residents, business people, and visitors all highly value the special character, scenic qualities and open spaces of Lake Placid and North Elba. The continued desire for a vibrant economy, and the attractiveness of North Elba as a place to live contribute to development, which threatens the integrity of the natural and scenic resources and the area’s quality of life. Fortunately, the array of tools to deal with growth pressures are varied and exciting possibilities for the protection of North Elba’s most treasured resources.

NELC works with interested local landowners and local governments to craft agreements which allow them to protect resources and values that are beneficial to the future interests of both the landowner and the community at large.

The need for an organization such as North Elba Land Conservancy is rooted in the changing landscape of the village and town. It is clear that residents, business people, and visitors all highly value the special character, scenic qualities and open spaces of Lake Placid and North Elba. The continued desire for a vibrant economy, and the attractiveness of North Elba as a place to live contribute to development, which threatens the integrity of the natural and scenic resources and the area’s quality of life. Fortunately, the array of tools to deal with growth pressures are varied and exciting possibilities for the protection of North Elba’s most treasured resources.