Finger Lakes Land Trust Purchases Over 200 Acres in Sempronious

The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) has recently announced the purchase of 218 acres adjacent to Bear Swamp State Forest located in the Town of Sempronius. The FLLT says the property encompasses wetlands, upland forests, and over 1,700 feet of frontage on Bear Swamp Creek. Bear Swamp Creek is the largest tributary to Skaneateles Lake.

Out of the 218 acres acquired, the land trust says they intend to transfer 141 acres to New York State as an addition to Bear Swamp State Forest. The property would then connect the eastern portion of the forest with another 102 acres that was acquired by the trust in 2021.

FLLT says the remaining 77 acres, which are primarily agricultural land, plans to be conserved through the use of perpetual conservation easements and sold to a private buyer subject to the terms of the easement. Any proceeds from the sale will go towards the trust’s Opportunity Fund.

“Protection of these properties will safeguard water quality in Skaneateles Lake, protect wildlife habitat, and provide additional recreational opportunities. In addition to filtering water quality in the creek as it wends its way northward to the lake, Bear Swamp State Forest hosts a popular network of recreational trails—over 15 miles of multi-use trails and miles of quiet, unpaved roads.”

FLLT said in a release.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust says this is now the 9th conservation project in the area of Bear Swamp, which is considered a priority project for the NYS Open Space Plan. The area is also part of an Audubon-designated Important Bird Area.