DEC: Central New York Land Trust acquires land near Skaneateles Lake to “help protect” the lake

SKANEATELES, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Central New York Land Trust, Inc., (CNYLT) on Monday announced the acquisition of 144 acres of land near Skaneateles Lake.

The acquisition of this parcel will “help protect” the lake, which is the drinking water supply of the city of Syracuse. The DEC and the CNYLT described Skaneateles Lake as a “critical drinking water source for 190,000 Central New Yorkers,” per the announcement.

The Central New York Land Trust is located at 7 Fennell St. in Skaneateles.

CNYLT acquired the 144-acre O’Neill Parcel for $900,000, using a portion of its $4 million WQIP Land Acquisition for Source Water Protection grant awarded by DEC. CNYLT intends to acquire “multiple” parcels near the lake with the remaining funds by summer 2024.

The project was funded through the state’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program. It “directly improves” water quality or aquatic habitat; promotes flood-risk reduction, restoration, and enhanced flood and climate resiliency; or protects a drinking water source.

“Protecting the water quality of Skaneateles Lake has been a priority for many over the last decade. While we cannot go back in time, we can create stable lakeside parcels that work to reduce harmful algal blooms and prevent nutrients from entering the water source,” Simon Solomon, executive director of the CNYLT, said in the DEC news release. “The water quality of Skaneateles Lake is unmatched in the region allowing the City of Syracuse to utilize this resource unfiltered. Keeping our drinking water clean has been a continued priority identified by our local government, and this partnership between local and state government, non-profit organizations, and local land trusts continues to be key because it leverages public funds with private dollars.”

“By working with partners like Central New York Land Trust, New York State is making long-term investments to ensure access to safe drinking water far into the future,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “The Central New York Land Trust’s acquisition of the first of several parcels near Skaneateles Lake will protect the water supply, not only as a drinking water source, but also as an environmental and recreational resource for the region.”