The Land Steward NEWSLETTER of the FINGER LAKES LAND TRUST

The Land Steward NEWSLETTER OF THE FINGER LAKES LAND TRUST working to protect the natural integrity of the Finger Lakes region Vol. 30, No. 3 • Summer 2018 Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Expands with New Addition Glacier-carved kettle ponds, forests, meadows, and wetlands define the exceptional Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve in West Danby, home to an equally diverse variety of flora and fauna. The Land Trust is expanding this 537-acre flagship preserve by protecting a key 9-acre parcel located in the heart of this conservation area. lthough modest in size, this critical addition protects an active Great Blue Heron rookery and falls within A a Tompkins County Unique Natural Area. Protecting this land will secure important wildlife habitat, help maintain water quality, and provide an opportunity for people of all abilities to view the heron rookery and its associated wetlands. The Land Trust has been strategically expanding the preserve, which was originally established in 1995 as the world’s first temperate zone reserve for bioprospecting—the investigation of naturally occurring plant and animal compounds for their medicinal value. The Land Trust partnered with Cornell University, under the leadership of the late Dr. Thomas Eisner, and Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals to create the preserve. continued on page 2 FLLT You won’t forget your first encounter with a Sandhill Crane. Standing up to four feet tall and topped by a cap of red feathers, this bird of wetlands and fields makes quite an impression. Conservationist Aldo Leopold referred to the crane as “the symbol of our untamable past.” ntil recently, cranes were Uvirtually unheard of in our region, but starting with a few pioneering pairs at the Montezuma Wetlands, their numbers have been gradually increasing. In July, a pair was spotted foraging at the Land Trust’s West River Preserve near the south end of Canandaigua Lake. The birds were seen in meadows previously covered with a mess of wire, posts, and PERSPECTIVES invasive trees and shrubs. Thanks to a generous donation of the land by Constellation Brands, and the Land Trust’s subsequent partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 60 acres of grassland habitat now FRED BERTRAM grace this site. Located in close proximity to extensive wetlands along the we’re restoring and maintaining this welcome addition to our West River, these grasslands also grasslands and shrub lands. neighborhood! provide habitat for other “at risk” In others, we’re working with wildlife such as the Northern partners to create wetlands and Harrier—a raptor that has been vernal pools that also help filter spotted in the same area hunting runoff to our lakes. for mice and voles. Successful conservation work Andrew Zepp, Through land protection takes time and patience. At West Executive Director, and subsequent restoration and River, the cranes provide evidence Finger Lakes Land Trust management, the Land Trust is that our efforts are paying off. providing valuable wildlife habitat So, as you travel throughout across our region. In some areas, the region, keep an eye out for Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve Expands with New Addition continued from cover This acquisition represents the a network of conserved lands known To make a gift in support of this Land Trust’s 13th addition to Lindsay- as the Emerald Necklace. The Emerald project, please contact Director of Parsons. Initially only 36 acres, the Necklace is an ambitious effort to link Development and Communications preserve has gradually expanded 50,000 acres of existing public open Kelly Makosch at (607) 275-9487 or with acquisitions of neighboring space that extends in an arc around [email protected]. properties, including fields to the south Ithaca—from Finger Lakes National and major additions to the preserve’s Forest in the west to Hammond Hill The Land Trust gratefully acknowledges mature woodlands. It now spans the and Robinson Hollow State Forests in Attorney Nathan Cook, of Counsel floodplain and steep slopes of the the east. These lands host 78 miles of to Miller Mayer, LLP in Ithaca, NY for Cayuga Inlet valley, extending nearly the Finger Lakes Trail, two Audubon- providing pro bono legal services in to the peaks known as Thatcher’s designated Important Bird Areas, support of this project. Pinnacles in Danby State Forest. and several dozen Tompkins County- With more than 3.5 miles of trails, designated Unique Natural Areas. The Lindsay-Parsons is open to the public Emerald Necklace is also recognized year-round for hiking, skiing, birding as a priority project within New York and quiet recreation. It is located within State’s Open Space Plan. 2 • THE LAND STEWARD West Hill Wildway Expands Through Public-Private Partnership Through a partnership with the Town of Ithaca, the Land Trust recently protected 38 acres within the West Hill Wildway—an emerging greenbelt located within walking distance of downtown Ithaca that extends from the west end of Robert Treman State Park to Bundy Road. 2017, the Land Trust purchased Preserve, and Dress Woods Preserve. the YMCA’s environmental education IN the property, previously part An adjacent 35-acre parcel was facility on State Route 79, Land Trust of a farm owned by the Babcock part of the Land Trust’s original land conservation easements on Sheffield family. Since the town already owned purchase from the Babcocks in 2017, Farm, and portions of EcoVillage. The conservation lands directly across the and the Land Trust is again working Land Trust has already worked with road, they were an ideal partner to with the town to determine the best partners to conserve approximately work with. The 38-acre parcel connects strategies for conserving this additional 600 acres in the West Hill Wildway town conservation lands with Cornell parcel. This partnership highlights and is pleased to add this property as Botanic Gardens’ Coy Glen Natural the importance of working together another link in the growing network of Area, creating a protected corridor and using multiple tools to achieve conserved lands on Ithaca’s West Hill. that safeguards water quality within conservation goals. In this case, the —Alli Sribarra the Cayuga Lake watershed, provides result is another link in a green corridor additional recreation opportunities, and important for recreation, wildlife, and The Land Trust gratefully acknowledges contributes to uninterrupted wildlife water quality protection. Attorney Mark Venuti of the law firm habitat. “We’re grateful for the town’s Heaton & Venuti in Geneva, NY for Situated between Bostwick Road commitment to conservation and we providing pro bono legal services in and the east side of Culver Road, the look forward to additional partnership support of this project. Town of Ithaca already owns and projects in the future,” said Andrew manages three existing preserves here Zepp, Land Trust Executive Director. that total 82 acres: Marcia’s Woods In addition to town conservation Preserve, Gerda Knegtman’s Glen lands, the West Hill Wildway includes View of the Cayuga Inlet valley from the Babcock property CHRIS RAY SUMMER 2018 • 3 Land Gift Helps Protect Ithaca’s Drinking Water The Land Trust received a donation of 167 acres, nearly all of which is located within the watershed of Six Mile Creek—the source of Ithaca’s drinking water supply. The property is entirely forested and is located within the towns of Dryden and Caroline, between Ellis Hollow and Midline Roads. he property does not include road frontage and is accessed The City of Ithaca has committed to sourcing its drinking Tby a legal right-of-way. The Land Trust intends to conserve water from Six Mile Creek. In 2015, the City initiated a $35 the property by selling to a private individual subject to million dollar project to rebuild the 112-year-old drinking a perpetual conservation easement. Future subdivision of water treatment facility, refurbish the drinking water supply the land will be prohibited and timber harvest will only be line, upgrade facilities at the dam and intake structure, and allowed under guidelines that demonstrate how water quality dredge the reservoir and siltation pond upstream of the will be maintained. reservoir. Maintaining high quality water in Six Mile Creek is This land donation was made in memory of Helen a priority. Edwards, who had deep connections to Ithaca and a long “The most effective way to ensure continued high quality professional history at Cornell University. It was her intention water for habitat and for human consumption is to protect to donate the land before she died prematurely from the source,” said Michael Thorne, Superintendent of Public cancer. The Land Trust received assistance from The Nature Works for the City of Ithaca. “Easements like this provide Conservancy (www.nature.org)—a conservation organization that protection and safeguard our water resource for future working locally and around the world to protect ecologically generations.” important lands and waters for nature and people—to This is the Land Trust’s 26th protection project within complete the transaction. the Six Mile Creek watershed. In addition to conservation As development pressures in the Finger Lakes region easements on private lands, the organization owns the Roy H. increase, the Land Trust is working to counter threats to water Park and Peter M. Rinaldo Nature Preserves—both of which quality by buffering our streams. Protection of undeveloped border Six Mile Creek. lands allows for absorption of storm water and its gradual release into streams such as Six Mile Creek. Large, intact The Land Trust gratefully acknowledges Attorney Peter Miller forested parcels also help minimize erosion and runoff through of Ithaca, NY, for providing pro bono legal services in support their extensive root systems which help bind soil together. of this project. Acquisition of the property protects the water quality of Six Mile Creek, the source of Ithaca’s drinking water.

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