The Lake Association is interested in preserving the property known as the "Van Vliet Hemlocks." This is approximately 400 acres of land bordering both Van Vliet and Averill Lakes which is presently controlled by the State Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. There is a potential threat to the continued status of this property due to the need of the BCPL to raise revenue from the state lands it owns.

At the 2004 Annual Meeting, a motion was unanimously approved that the Van Vliet Lake Association support efforts to permanently preserve the land referred to as the Van Vliet Hemlocks.

At the 2006 Annual Meeting, it was reported that the Hemlocks are in the top six of properties being considered to be named a State Natural Area.