The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Finger Lakes Land Trust announced a land acquisition that aims to protect Ithaca’s water supply.
According to a joint statement from both organizations, the acquisition of two land parcels – totaling 33 acres within the Six Mile Creek and Cayuga Lake watersheds – will help protect the water supply for more than 59,000 people in two communities.
The move, according to the two groups, also protects Cornell University’s drinking water source.
With funding from DEC, the land trust plans to build upon past achievements in source water protection by protecting these new properties, officials said.
The joint statement did not include the price paid for the two parcels.
“Thanks to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s record investments in clean water, DEC continues to provide funding for communities across the state to protect drinking water,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in the statement. “DEC is proud to partner with the Finger Lakes Land Trust to ensure that Ithaca and Cornell University can rely on their water sources.”
More on the acquired properties
The property acquired in the Six-Mile Creek watershed consists of 18 acres in the town of Caroline.
The property is also made up of approximately 15 acres of wetlands, an important feature to filter out any potential contaminants, according to the statement. The acquisition contributes to protecting drinking water for more than 29,000 people by helping improve water quality downstream.
Through its Water Quality Improvement Project Program Land Acquisition contract, the land trust will protect at least 300 acres, building upon the land already conserved by the trust, in partnership with the city of Ithaca.
The land trust also plans to protect, restore and maintain any riparian buffers as needed.
The property was immediately transferred to the Wetland Trust, a not-for-profit organization based in New York state.
The property in the Cayuga Lake watershed contains 15 acres protecting the source water for multiple municipalities. The Bolton Point Municipal Water System serves 30,000 people in Cayuga Heights, Dryden, Ithaca and Lansing, according to the statement.
The acquisitions and easements will also protect Fall Creek, the source of drinking water for Cornell University. The easement on the property will protect a large natural vegetated buffer along the creek that helps filter potential contaminants and contributes to better water quality downstream.
“We’re grateful for our strong partnership with New York State,” Finger Lakes Land Trust President Andrew Zepp said in the statement. “Funding from the WQIP program allows us to quickly secure sensitive lands which are important for protecting water quality across the region.”
This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: Land acquisition aims to protect Ithaca, Cornell water supply
Reporting by Ithaca Journal / Ithaca Journal
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