The Rensselaer Plateau is one of the largest and most ecologically
intact native habitats in New York State. The preservation of this landscape
for future generations is the vision of the Rensselaer
Plateau Alliance.
The Rensselaer Plateau covers about 105,000 acres in the
towns of Berlin, Brunswick, Grafton, Hoosick, Nassau, Petersburgh,
Pittstown, Poestenkill, Sand Lake and Stephentown.
An escarpment steeply rising from the surrounding lower elevations marks the Plateau’s
boundary. The Plateau’s relatively high elevations (1,000 – 1,800
feet) and cool climate, acidic soils, and its poor drainage contribute to plants,
forests, and wetlands more similar to the Adirondacks than to
the surrounding local area.
The boreal forest contains the headwaters of seven watersheds.
Four drain into the Hudson River below
the Troy Dam. Three of the northeast sections drain into the Hoosick River
then into the Hudson River in Stillwater.
Other waters feed the Tomhannock Reservoir (the public water supply for much of
the county).
The Plateau is estimated to be the fifth largest forested
region in New York State. Its forests
still exist in relatively large continuous blocks with few dividing roads.
The Plateau’s forests are valuable in cleaning air; provide clean water and ground
water recharge. They also provide healthy habitat for many native plants
and wildlife. The large unbroken forest is essential to the populations
of fisher, bobcat, bear, moose, porcupine, hermit thrush, and black-throated blue
warbler. Many birds are experiencing declining population numbers
in the Northeast due in part to loss of large blocks of forest. Several plants found on
the Plateau are found nowhere else in Rensselaer County.
The ecological distinctiveness of the Rensselaer Plateau
has led it to be included in the
New York State’s Open Space Plan
and recognized as an
Important Bird Area
by Audubon New York,and the focus of conservation efforts of the Rensselaer Land Trust
and The Nature Conservancy.