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Saving a Critical South Carolina Barrier Island
Just across the Intracoastal Waterway from South Carolina’s bustling North Myrtle Beach lies Waties Island, a haven for wildlife that also serves a critical purpose for coastal communities: the small barrier island and surrounding marshlands mitigate the brunt of storm surges and absorb floodwaters before they reach the mainland, protecting people and businesses. Since 2022, OSI and partners have saved nearly 600 acres, including the recent acquisition of 115 acres, on and around the island. OSI is also part of a consortium of stakeholders planning for the long-term management of Waties as a site for education, research, and passive recreation.
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| OSI Awards Boost Hudson Valley Communities
OSI has selected nine Hudson Valley organizations to receive a total of $65,000 in funding from its 2025 Malcolm Gordon Charitable Fund grants. These grants will support locally focused environmental education and programs that engage communities, inspire the next generation of conservationists, and promote thoughtful stewardship of the Hudson Valley’s natural resources. OSI has awarded more than a million dollars to recipients since the Fund’s creation in 1994. |
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| Vermont Land Protection for Flooding and Clean Air
With a grant from OSI’s Appalachian Landscapes Protection Fund, 110 acres of land surrounding the headwaters of Bull Creek in southern Vermont have been conserved. Keeping the property wild and undeveloped supports its critical ability to absorb excess water after storms, limiting the risk of flooding for downstream communities, and preserves the natural capacity of the property’s forests to absorb and store greenhouse gases. |
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| Students: Apply for Environmental Project Funding
Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to apply for OSI’s 2025 Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards. These awards fund seasonal fellowships for students partnering with Hudson Valley-based nonprofit organizations on projects focused on environmental conservation, environmental justice, historic preservation, the arts, or tourism. Applications will be accepted through Monday, March 10. |
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| OSI's Kulleseid Champions NYS Conservation Reforms
A longstanding cornerstone of OSI’s work is advocacy for smart and meaningful government conservation policies and processes. In an interview with WCNY-Public Radio, OSI’s President and CEO Erik Kulleseid shares how OSI and other major land trusts are urging New York State agencies to modernize land acquisition processes—a much-needed step to speed the pace of conservation and expand public access to nature across the state. |
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| A Small but Significant Acquisition for Clean Water
In northern New Jersey, 24 vital acres have been protected with support from OSI’s Delaware River Watershed Protection Fund (DRWPF). The acquisition helps safeguard water quality and habitat in the Paulins Kill Creek, considered one of the best trout streams in the state. To date, OSI’s DRWPF has funded the conservation of nine properties within the Paulins Kill focus area for clean water and habitat connectivity. |
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