ALTMAR — New York State has acquired more than 6,000 acres of protected lands in Oswego County, which the state intends to target for conservation, recreation, and education. The acquisitions represent the “largest additions” to state lands in Central New York in 45 years. These areas include about 2,825 acres of lands along the Salmon […]
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The acquisitions represent the “largest additions” to state lands in Central New York in 45 years.
These areas include about 2,825 acres of lands along the Salmon River, “an internationally acclaimed fishing destination,” and 3,236 acres of working forestland in the nearby towns of Redfield and Orwell, the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release issued May 24.
This forestland acquisition will help to “secure the working landscape” of the Tug Hill region that provides “vital economic support” to local communities, the governor contends.
Cuomo made the announcement during a May 24 visit to the Salmon River Fish Hatchery at 2133 County Route 22 in Altmar.
“Protecting valuable natural resources in New York’s pristine Salmon River and Tug Hill region benefits the environment, bolsters economic opportunities for local communities and preserves the unparalleled natural beauty of the region for future generations of New Yorkers,” Cuomo contended in the release. “The Salmon River is a regional treasure, home to some of the best salmon and trout fishing in the world, and by protecting Tug Hill forestland we ensure ongoing timber resource production, safeguard the water quality of the Salmon River, and ensure public access to the region’s outdoor recreation opportunities.”
Salmon River
The newly acquired lands run from the eastern edge of the village of Pulaski upstream along sections of the river to the vicinity of the Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Altmar and the lower Salmon River reservoir in the town of Orwell.
Other large tracts of land from the acquisition are found around the upper Salmon River reservoir in the town of Redfield.
The acquisition will increase fishing access points for anglers and help facilitate improvements along the river banks to address erosion.
“The acquisition of this property by the state will be of great benefit to the public, to anglers and to those who rely on the tourism in this area, which can only increase due to addition of accesses,” Assemblyman Will Barclay said in the governor’s news release. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District,
which encompasses most of Oswego County.
The state acquired the land as a result of a 2005 consent decree it brought, Cuomo’s office said.
The consent decree asserted that Niagara Mohawk and certain other New York utilities had violated provisions of the federal Clean Air Act in operating various power plants throughout the state.
To settle the case, Niagara Mohawk entered into an agreement to transfer land in the Salmon River area, valued at about $3 million at the time, to New York State for conservation, recreational, and educational purposes.
National Grid will continue to operate and maintain its electric transmission and distribution facilities located on these lands, which provide services to customers in upstate New York.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will propose regulations to protect the 1,700 acres lying adjacent to the Salmon River to preserve the river corridor by controlling camping, campfires, snowmobiles, and target shooting.
The proposed regulations “will be consistent” with public use of the property while owned by National Grid, the release stated.
DEC also expects to establish new trails along the property, constructing new parking areas, and increasing hunting and trapping opportunities on lands that will be designated state forests. DEC is developing a recreation and restoration master plan for the Salmon River lands, which will be released for public comment later this year. The environmental agency has already announced $500,000 in stream restoration work along the river corridor.
Kendall property, Tug Hill forestland
A priority conservation area in the state’s Open Space Plan, the 3,236 acre Kendall property located north of the Salmon River reservoir, is embedded in a landscape with existing state lands and working forest easements.
The Conservation Fund purchased the land in 2015 at New York State’s request through its Working Forest Fund with generous support from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.
DEC recently took ownership of the Kendall property using $4.75 million from the state’s Environmental Protection Fund.
The new state-forest land will help to stem the tide of rural land division, which typically costs towns more money in services than they receive in property taxes, the state contends. State ownership of working forests like Kendall is supported by towns because it helps retain traditional access and jobs while protecting town budgets, it notes.
Located within Audubon’s Tug Hill important bird area, the forestland also supports nearby wetlands that provide habitat to a variety of migratory birds.