Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust protects the region’s resources

WATERTOWN — Although most known for its more than 200 inches of snowfall per year on average, the Tug Hill region encompasses 2,100 square miles of legislatively designated land and is recognized for the natural resources that help shape its economy.

The Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust (THTLT) is a regional nonprofit that works to protect the Tug Hill’s farm and forest land — from Lake Ontario to the Adirondacks — while increasing awareness and appreciation of the region’s natural resources. 

“We try to foster an appreciation of what the Tug Hill region is all about. We have such a great resource here, right in our backyards, and a lot of people don’t know about it,” says Linda Garrett, executive director of the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust.

To fulfill the education element of its mission, the nonprofit offers field trips for people to experience new places and recreational activities. It also provides educational programs for children to help them get excited about being outdoors.

THTLT’s primary tool for protecting land is a conservation easement, which is a voluntary legal agreement between the landowner and the private land trust that restricts certain activities on a given parcel of land. Once filed, present and future owners of the property are bound by the restrictions of the easement. The land trust is then legally bound to monitor and enforce the terms of the easement. 

Because of the responsibility the land trust has to enforce easements, Robert Quinn, chair of THLT’s board of directors, says the board has final approval on which easement projects to pursue.

An easement costs an average of $5,000. Landowners are asked to help cover the costs, but THTLT also seeks additional funding. 

In 2013, THTLT completed 14 projects covering 6,553 acres. Currently, the organization monitors 86 easements and owns one 144-acre property.

The nonprofit reached a benchmark of 15,000 protected acres in February when it completed the 200-acre Weibel Farm easement in the town of Lee in Oneida County.

Fort Drum area
For the past five years, THTLT has also collaborated with Fort Drum and Ducks Unlimited on the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program (ACUB). This program establishes buffer areas of farmland and natural lands around Fort Drum to limit the effects of encroachment. As a result, the army is able to maintain and enhance training, THTLT and Ducks Unlimited protect the open space and wildlife, and the landowners are paid not to develop their land. 

“It’s a win, win, win situation,” Garrett contends.

To date, ACUB has worked with 20 landowners to protect more than 4,697 acres of land, primarily on the west and south side of the Fort Drum military base.

In 2011, THTLT became nationally accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. Garrett says being accredited “gives us more credibility” and shows the community the nonprofit is managed well and is protecting the region’s resources.

National standards require the land trust to maintain a pooled fund for stewardship and legal-defense responsibilities. Currently, THTLT’s monitoring and legal-defense fund exceeds $500,000. It is recommended that each easement have $1,500 for stewardship and $3,500 for defense. Research shows that a single court case in defense of an easement costs an average of $40,000. 

THTLT also insures its easements through Terrafirma, a charitable risk pool formed by the Land Trust Alliance to help land trusts defend its conserved lands from legal challenges.

THTLT reported revenue of $1.33 million in its 2013 fiscal year, although a substantial portion of it involves noncash contributions dedicated to the easements and stewardship and defense funds. Garrett says the nonprofit generates about $300,000 in cash revenue that goes toward expenses and program services. 

Tug Hill economy
Nearly two-thirds of the region is forestland, which contributes significantly to the economy through timber harvesting, wood and paper manufacturing, recreation, and maple-sugar production, according to the Tug Hill Commission. With its 700 active dairy farms and 350 non-dairy farms, the region’s agricultural industry is a key economic driver. Farms also support agriculture-related businesses, such as feed stores, dairy-product manufacturers, farm-equipment dealers, and veterinary clinics. 

To sell its annual calendar, THTLT teams up with local businesses. The calendar has helped “bring new business to the local shops,” says Garrett. 

Compiled from photos of the region submitted by locals, Garrett says the calendar is a “huge success” for the nonprofit’s fundraising efforts. 

In April, THTLT received three grants, totaling $44,000, from the Conservation Partnership Program, which awarded a total of $1.4 million to 50 nonprofit land trusts across New York state. The grants, funded through the Environmental Protection Fund and administered by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, will support projects to protect farmland, enhance public access and recreational opportunities, and conserve open space.

Garrett says part of one grant will go toward hiring a contract environmental educator for an outreach program at the wildlife sanctuary, located on Middle Road on the Rutland/Champion town line. The rest of that grant’s funds will cover updating THTLT’s website to make it mobile friendly and for a consultant to help the staff craft relevant messaging for their outgoing communications, such as social media and newsletters. The two other grants are reimbursements for two recently completed projects.

A 2012 study by the Trust for Public Land found that every $1 invested by New York state returns $7 in economic value in natural resource good and services, alone.

Leader of the pack
Hailing from the town of Cohoes, north of Albany, Garrett completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. She found her way to the North Country, when she accepted a position at the Tug Hill Commission in Watertown after college. 

During her time at the Commission, she and Quinn, present board chair, helped the agency partner with local community members to create THTLT. Incorporated as an independent 501(c)(3) in 1991, the land trust did not have its own staff at first. The Tug Hill Commission’s staff operated the new nonprofit, with Garrett assigned to split her work between the Commission and the land trust. 

Garrett left the Commission in 1995 when she married a soldier and moved to Alaska. While she was gone, two employees at the Commission worked part time on the land trust. In Alaska, Garret worked for the Alaska Natural History Association and the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, and volunteered for the Interior Alaska Land Trust. 

Garrett returned to Northern New York when her husband was stationed once again at Fort Drum. She volunteered at THTLT until 2002, when she applied for the executive-director position, the first paid staff position for the organization. 

THTLT now has three full-time, paid staffers. Garrett says she hopes to bring on a fourth person sometime this year. 

THTLT operates from a 600-square-foot office above the Discovery Center at the New York State Zoo at Thompson Park in Watertown, but Garrett says “the 2,100 square miles of the Tug Hill region is my office space.”          

Contact Collins at ncollins@cnybj.com

Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust
1 Thompson Park
Watertown, NY 13601
Phone: (315) 779-8240
www.tughilltomorrowlandtrust.org

Key Staff
Executive DirectorLinda M. Garrett
Executive Director’s compensation (from 2013 990 IRS form)    $54,500
Land Protection ManagerRichard Johnston
Program & Outreach CoordinatorFawn Heins

Board of Directors (Officers)
Chair
Robert R. QuinnESF College Foundation
Vice Chair
George Bibbins, Jr.Black River Renewables
Treasurer
Robert K. Keller, Jr.retired, Social Security Administration
Secretary
Cary Fasslerretired, Veterans Administration nurse
Board Members
George Bibbins, Jr.Black River Renewables
Natalie BogdanowiczTransitional Living Services of NNY
Cary Fasslerretired nurse
Richard Hillretired, General Electric
Carol Hutchinsonsubstitute teacher
Robert K. Kellerretired Social Security Administration
Christopher Kelly      retired, Jay-K Independent Lumber Corporation
Dave Kohrretired, Syracuse University
Alix Kruegerfarmer
Robert McNamaraartist and environmental interpreter
Paul Millerretired, Madison County administrator
Robert R. QuinnESF College Foundation
Janet Thompsonfarmer
Dave ZembiecJefferson County Industrial Development Agency 

MISSION
Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust (THTLT) says it protects Tug Hill’s working farm and forest lands, its wild lands, and its natural and cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations.

PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Land Protection: THTLT has worked with private landowners to protect and preserve many natural areas in the Tug Hill region. To date, more than 15,000 acres of Tug Hill’s forest, farm, recreation, and wild lands have been protected. Over the past five years, THTLT has been partnering with Fort Drum on the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program. In general, the ACUB Program supports the Army’s mission to fight and win the nation’s wars. Winning wars requires a trained and ready force; trained and ready soldiers require land for maneuvers, live fire, testing, and other operations. ACUB establishes buffer areas around the Army installation to limit effects of encroachment and maximize land inside the installation that can be used to support Fort Drum’s mission. 

EDUCATION
THTLT has also pursued its mission to provide outdoor experiences and educational opportunities to residents and visitors of the region. It has a diverse schedule of field trips throughout the year, several special events, as well as a field guide specifically for Tug Hill, entitled Tug Hill: A Four Season Guide to the Natural Side, and the Tug Hill calendar. 

RECENT ORGANIZATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Partnering with Fort Drum and Ducks Unlimited on the ACUB Program, exceeding the milestone of 15,000 acres of land protected, owning THTLT’s first preserve and developing programs to get people outside, achieving accreditation.

PLANNING/ FUNDRAISING OUTLOOK FOR 2014
“Building on our successes from the past several years, we feel we are in a good position organizationally and financially. These are challenging times economically, but we are very grass-roots and have strong connections with our supporters.”