The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) this week announced a conservation easement that will permanently protect 234 acres at Casa Farms in Niles, NY. The funding for this project came from a larger FLLT grant for $1.6 million from DEC’s Water Quality Improvement Project Program.
The property features nearly 6,000 feet of frontage, which drains directly into the Skaneateles Lake, which is the unfiltered drinking water supply for more than 200,000 people in the city of Syracuse.
“Protecting water quality is a top priority for DEC and our land trust partners throughout New York State,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “Our continued partnership with the Finger Lakes Land Trust on this and other projects in the region demonstrates our commitment to protecting drinking water sources and open space for residents and visitors in Central New York.”
To learn more about New York’s efforts to protect drinking water sources and clean water, click here.
