Finger Lakes Land Trust using grants to protect Ithaca drinking water supply

Finger Lakes Land Trust is receiving $2 million in state grant funding for conservation and restoration efforts on two watersheds, including Six Mile Creek in Ithaca.

The Land Trust received $641,000 to place perpetual conservation easements and restore streamside buffers on three parcels in the Six Mile Creek watershed, which is the City of Ithaca’s drinking water supply. This project will result in 300 acres of permanently protected lands, including 125 acres in the town of Caroline, which includes several thousand feet of frontage on Six Mile Creek.

Funding comes through New York State’s Water Quality Improvement Project, which funds projects that directly address documented water quality impairments or protect a drinking water source, the release stated.

The funds come at a critical time for the Finger Lakes region, which has seen an increasing number of toxic algae outbreaks. Outbreaks threaten human health and pet health, as well as the region's tourism economy. As development pressure increases, the Land Trust is working to counter these threats by saving sensitive lands, buffering our streams, creating new wetlands, and protecting our last undeveloped shorelines.

“We are grateful for this commitment by the state, said Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Zepp. “This funding will allow us to conserve lands that are vital for water quality while also supporting the restoration of streams and wetlands.” 

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A total of $1.4 million was awarded for land conservation and restoration efforts on several parcels within the Skaneateles Lake watershed according to a press release from the Land Trust. 

The Land Trust will use the funds to permanently protect approximately 300 acres using a combination of land acquisition and conservation easements. Plans to restore wetland areas and create streamside buffers will contribute to drinking water protection within the watershed. 

Conservation easements are legal agreements that limit future development while allowing land to remain in private ownership and on the tax rolls. Landowners who donate conservation easements may be eligible for both state and federal tax benefits.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust works across 12 counties that include 11 Finger Lakes and a significant portion of the Southern Tier.

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