The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) acquired 850 feet of shoreline and 15 forested acres along the eastern shore of Skaneateles Lake in the town of Spafford, Onondaga County. The property includes 1,120 feet of streambank on Barber Gulf and a portion of the iconic Staghorn Cliffs, the site of an ancient, fossilized coral reef.
Located near the south end of the lake, this acquisition will extend the FLLT’s protected shoreline to 3,000 feet in this area, preserving the remarkable staghorn coral fossils as well as habitat for Bald Eagles and other wildlife. The property is adjacent to the organization’s 90-acre Staghorn Cliffs Preserve and 21-acre Cora Kampfe Dickinson Conservation Area, which together encompass some of the most pristine shoreline remaining in the Finger Lakes region.
Photo: Chris Ray
Due to the hazardous nature of the steep hillsides above the cliffs, the property will be owned and managed by the FLLT as a nature preserve accessible by canoe or kayak. Protection of this property will safeguard wildlife habitat and the water quality of Skaneateles Lake by preventing development on its forested hillsides.
The property was identified as a priority for protection as part of the FLLT’s effort to create a greenbelt around the south end of Skaneateles Lake. Other nearby conservation lands include the High Vista and Hinchcliff Family preserves. The greenbelt is recognized as a priority project within New York State’s Open Space Plan and, because of its value for migratory birds, it is also recognized by National Audubon as one of the state’s Important Bird Areas.
Completion of this acquisition will also help ensure water quality within Skaneateles Lake – the unfiltered drinking water supply for 220,000 area residents, including people living in the city of Syracuse. “The quality of our lakes depends on the condition of the landscapes that surround them,” said FLLT President Andrew Zepp. “This acquisition will secure steep slopes and sensitive shoreline areas that would lead to increased erosion and runoff if they were developed.”
The acquisition was made possible by an internal loan from the FLLT’s Opportunity Fund. The organization is now launching a fundraising campaign to raise $1.1 million to cover the cost of the purchase as well as the long-term management of the site. Please contact the Finger Lakes Land Trust at (607) 275-9487 or info@fllt.org if you would like to make a gift toward this project or would like to learn more.
