Environment DEC
From the August 2005 issue
Agreement to Protect 654 Acres in Croton Watershed
Governor Pataki in the
beautiful environment
of Eagle River
Governor George E. Pataki has announced an agreement among the state, New York City, Westchester County, and the Town of Somers to protect 654 acres of open space within the Croton Watershed, a critical drinking water source for millions of New York City residents. Under this agreement, the state will contribute approximately $3.2 million to acquire a conservation easement on 370 acres known as the Eagle River property and located in the Town of Somers, Westchester County. The easement will restrict development and provide public access for passive recreation. The underlying fee title to the property will be acquired jointly by Westchester County and the Town of Somers.
As part of the agreement, New York City also will acquire an adjacent, 269-acre parcel near the Amawalk Reservoir, part of the Croton Watershed System maintained by the city. An additional 15 acres will be retained by the Town of Somers to develop recreational fields, a parking area and a community center.
Property Details
The salamander is among the
many species that will find protected
habitat in the Croton Watershed
The property contains a large portion of the Angle Fly, a vibrant stream in Westchester County where brook trout spawn. The hilly, heavily wooded property provides a scenic resource in the center of the Town of Somers and critical habitat for turtles, salamanders, deer, fox, wild turkeys, bobcats and other wildlife. It has been identified by the town's Open Space Committee as a top conservation objective and is near two other large park properties, the 777-acre Muscoot Farm and 234-acre Lasdon Park.
In addition, New York City has identified the property as a priority for acquisition for water quality protection purposes. The streams and wetlands on it drain directly into the Amawalk Reservoir outlet, which flows directly into the Muscoot Reservoir and Croton River. The Town of Somers will assume overall management responsibility for the property, which will focus on passive recreational opportunities consistent with water quality protection.
Negotiations Precede Agreement
Negotiations began more than a year ago after the town asked Westchester Land Trust to work on the acquisition. The Land Trust collaborated with all parties to develop a plan for the property, negotiated with the owners' representatives, and helped build the funding coalition necessary to complete a transaction of this size. The state's share of funding for the project will come from the Environmental Protection Fund.
