ROMULUS — Deer Haven Park, LLC announced it has tapped Keith G. Tidball, Ph.D. to help owner Earl Martin in developing a wildlife-conservation plan for the former Seneca Army Depot property. In June, Martin, owner of Seneca Iron Works — parent company of Deer Haven, was selected by the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) […]
ROMULUS — Deer Haven Park, LLC announced it has tapped Keith G. Tidball, Ph.D. to help owner Earl Martin in developing a wildlife-conservation plan for the former Seneca Army Depot property.
In June, Martin, owner of Seneca Iron Works — parent company of Deer Haven, was selected by the Seneca County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) as the winning bidder for about 7,000 acres of land at the former military-weapons storage area located in the towns of Romulus and Varick. He will reportedly pay $900,000 for the property and plans to expand Seneca Iron Works there, while also preserving the property’s wildlife including its rare white deer. Seneca Iron Works, based near Seneca Falls, is a manufacturer of dairy farm equipment such as stalls, gates, and rails.
Tidball has nearly 20 years of experience in natural-resources management, land-use planning, and social-ecological research, according to a Deer Haven news release.
“We’re in the early stages of developing a master plan for the preservation and maintenance of the Depot’s plant and animal life,” said Martin, owner of Deer Haven Park and Seneca Iron Works. “Dr. Tidball’s expertise is critically important as we seek to protect the white deer and other wildlife throughout the property.”
Tidball’s background is in agricultural and ecological anthropology, with a specialty in agriculture and natural-resources management in stability, security, transition, and reconstruction. He holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Kentucky, a master’s degree in international development studies from George Washington University, and earned his Ph.D. in natural resources from Cornell University.
“I’m excited to partner with Earl, his team and the Seneca County IDA on this project,” Tidball said. “This is a rare opportunity to engage a unique social-ecological system, right here in my neighborhood that, though once intensely managed, has been relatively untouched for two decades. Our planning and management efforts will work to support the white deer, but will also support other wildlife and plant life living and growing throughout the Depot, including pollinators and the plants they prefer, wetland species, and scrubland birds.”
Tidball is a U.S. Army National Guard veteran and active member of the New York State Guard. In a separate role, he serves as chairman of the planning board for the Town of Fayette in Seneca County. He and his family operate Canoga Creek Farm, which incorporates sustainable farming and wildlife conservation.
Martin’s initial plans for the Seneca Army Depot property include clearing overgrown brush and invasive species and assessing the perimeter fencing to identify where improvements need to be made, according to the release. He has already purchased new machinery and equipment for the effort. In addition to the ecologist, Martin said he has recently contracted with a full-time maintenance manager to oversee mowing and other grounds-keeping responsibilities.
Seneca County IDA Executive Director Bob Aronson said in the release that the agency expects to close on the sale of the property to Martin “later this year.”
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