Environment DEC
From the January 2007 issue
More Than One Million Acres of Open Space Protected in State
From the left: Joe Martens, president of the Open Space Institute; Jeff Mapes, DEC Public Management Intern; Lynette Stark, Executive Deputy Commissioner; Fran Sheehan, DEC Assistant Director of Lands and Forests Division; DEC Commissioner Denise Sheehan; Jeanne Konz, Attorney DEC Legal Affairs; Rob Davies, DEC Director of Lands and Forests Division; Ruth Moore, Deputy Commissioner of Natural Resources and Water Quality; and Maureen Wren, DEC Assistant Commissioner of Media Relations
With a recent conservation easement on 51,000 acres of forest lands in St. Lawrence County, the total amount of land preserved in New York State has reached more than one million acres. The acquisition of the conservation easement on land owned by Rayonier, LLC in the towns of Colton, Clifton and Clare brings the total amount of lands preserved by the state since 1995 to approximately 1,020,000 acres.
The latest preservation project-the Rayonier LLC conservation easement-will maintain the lands as productive working forest, but also enhance recreational opportunities in the area and protect the contiguous forest lands in the Adirondack Park, including extensive stretches along the middle and north branches of the Grasse River. Under the agreement, which the Trust for Public Land (TPL) helped to negotiate, the state will acquire the easement from Rayonier, LLC for $6,590,000. The company will continue to practice sustainable forestry and private recreational leasing on its property, but subdivision of the lands will be limited.
The acquisition of 51,000 acres in St. Lawrence County reaches the goal of preserving 1 million acres over the past 12 years
The public will gain access to more than 26 miles of the branches of the Grasse River corridor along a 200-foot buffer on both banks of the river. The property will be accessible for hiking, fishing, boating and camping. As part of the agreement with Rayonier, LLC, New York also will acquire public fishing rights on nearly 16 miles of Grasse River tributaries, including Gulf Brook, Alder Brook, Bear Creek, Pleasant Lake and Stream and Stony Brook. In addition, the public will have access to several travel corridors on the property, and more than 90 miles of existing snowmobile trails will be permanently secured for public use.
