Presentation - Landmark Society
Transcription
Presentation - Landmark Society
Tools the Genesee Land Trust Uses to Preserve Open Space Nancy Goodman Torpey What the GLT does The Genesee Land Trust preserves and protects land within the Greater Rochester area – waterways, wetlands, farmland, open space, fish and wildlife habitat, and scenic or recreational areas – by acquiring property or development rights and assisting government agencies, individuals, and private groups with their own land protection efforts. What is Open Space? Parks Farms Woodlands Meadows Ranchlands Waterways Linear trails Wetlands Coastlines Water bodies For perspective: open space in Jefferson County, CO As of 12/31/2009: Total 51,981.5 Acres Open Space: (fee, conservation easement, lease) More perspective: open space in Summit County, CO 312,000 acres within White River National Forest Wilderness areas Other smaller parcels Monroe County Parks Parks in Monroe County were established in 1888 with the creation of the Rochester Parks Commission and the dedication of Highland Park. In 1926, the county began to assume direct responsibility for the management of local parklands. Today the Parks Department operates 21 parks totaling nearly 12,000 acres. Hamlin Beach and Irondequoit Bay Marine State Parks Monroe County Parks Powder Mills Park (Pittsford) Genesee Valley Park (Rochester) Black Creek Park (Chili) Wetlands of Ellison Park (Penfield) Highland Park (Rochester) Wayne County Parks 12 County Parks, most with pavilions, 5 with trails Chimney Bluffs State Park - 597 acres acquired by New York State in 1963. It is an undeveloped state park with walking trails. Fairhaven Beach State Park – 1500 foot beach with hiking, camping, boating … Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – 7068 acres established in 1938 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Wayne County Parks Chimney Bluffs (state) Abbey Park (county) Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (national) Sodus Bay Town Parks Every town has them! Major Trails Erie Canalway Trail 380 miles from Buffalo to Albany Genesee Valley Greenway 84 miles (Rochester to Cuba) Lehigh Valley Trail ~26 miles from Victor to Brighton Genesee Riverway Trail 14 miles along Genesee River Major Trails Map What is a Land Trust? A nonprofit organization that actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by stewardship of such land or easements. Work cooperatively with landowners Protect and conserve land for its natural, recreational, scenic, historic, or productive value. Focus on distinct areas, such as a single town, county or region or operate throughout an entire state or even several states. Sometimes called conservancies, foundations and associations. Land Trusts in the US Today in the US there are 1,700 land trusts that have more than 100,000 volunteers and 2 million members. So far, US land trusts have conserved 37 million acres of land in America – an area roughly the size of all the New England states combined. Protected lands include farmland, wetlands, ranches, forests, watersheds and river corridors. How does a Land Trust Protect Open Space? Preserves Land Trust owns and stewards the property Conservation Easements Land Trust owns property development rights and monitors the property Partnerships A collaboration between the land trust and any other entity, often a local government Western NY Land Trusts Genesee Land Trust The Nature Conservancy, Western and Central NY Chapter Genesee Valley Conservancy Western New York Land Conservancy Finger Lakes Land Trust Mendon Foundation, Inc. What is the Genesee Land Trust? The Genesee Land Trust is our local land trust Not-for-profit organization formed in 1990 Supported by individual members and limited number of grants Three staff members & many volunteers contact: 585-256-2130 www.geneseelandtrust.org Genesee Land Trust Mission Genesee Land Trust preserves and protects natural lands and waterways that enhance the quality of life in the Greater Rochester region — providing wildlife habitat, locally grown food, and connections to nature. The Land Trust does so by acquiring property or development rights and by assisting government agencies, individuals, and private groups with their own land protection efforts. Conservation priorities are: Protecting the North Coast (along Lake Ontario); Local Farms, Local Food; and Connecting Nature to the City. Genesee Land Trust is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization supported by membership fees, grants, and other contributions. Genesee Land Trust Region Genesee Land Trust Priority Conservation Areas Migratory Bird Habitat Significant and Unique Natural Habitats Old Growth Woods Wetlands River and Stream Corridors Farmland Genesee Land Trust >4000 acres of land protected 11 Preserves owned and managed on 930 acres Municipal Partnerships in Brighton, Victor and Rochester on 80 acres 18 Permanent conservation agreements on 1970 acres of privately held land Property Development Rights partnerships with 7 family farms in Macedon, Walworth & Ontario on >1900 acres Genesee Land Trust Preserves Managed for: Habitat protection Scenic protection Recreational & educational opportunities Genesee Land Trust Preserves Braman Preserve Brookdale Preserve Christine Sevilla Wetlands Preserve Ganargua Creek Meadow Preserve Hipp Brook Preserve Island Cottage Woods Preserve Kaiser-Manitou Beach Banding Station Kraai Preserve Manitou Beach Preserve Reed Road Bird Sanctuary Salmon Creek Preserve Braman 71 acres in Webster acquired 2012 60 acres of field and 11 acres of mature woods with uncommon trees. Near Lake Ontario; good bird stopover spot. Adjacent to actively worked farms, one of which has a GLT CE on it. Brookdale 275 acres in Chili Trails through wooded wetlands, open meadows, and hardwood uplands. Adjacent to Genesee Riverway Trail Christine Sevilla Wetlands 23 acre wetland in Caledonia Cattail and wooded wetland that is part of a much larger (1000+ acres) wetland targeted by NYS DEC for protection. No trails yet, but they are planned. Ganargua Creek Meadows 56 Acres in Macedon Trails and creek wind through upland area of hardwoods, wildflowers ,shrubs, a broad floodplain, and an open meadow Exceptional butterfly habitat in the meadow. Hipp Brook 94 acres in Penfield Trails through wooded swamp, cattail marsh, flowing stream, and upland grasslands. Home to great horned owl, wood duck, songbirds, fox, raccoon, deer, other mammals, numerous species of butterflies, frogs and salamanders. Island Cottage Woods 61 acres in Greece Part of a wooded area bordering the western edge of Round Pond. Adjacent to large DEC property. A favorite birding site. It is tops among local, critical migratory bird stopover habitats. Kaiser-Manitou Beach Banding Station Manitou Beach Preserve 2 separate preserves close together 15 acres total in Greece Home of the Braddock Bay Bird Observatory, a bird banding research organization that studies migratory songbirds. Field, hedgerow, shrub and cattail wetlands adjacent to DEC property and Braddock Bay. Kraai 145 acres in Arcadia Home to Peacework Farm Home farm for the GVOCSA, providing sustainably grown organic food to >250 families Mature woodlands and the stream corridor along the Ganargua Creek with floodplains, wetlands and ponds. Trails are being improved. Reed Road Bird Sanctuary 131 acres in Chili Mature wooded wetland. Excellent migratory and nesting bird habitat. Too wet for trails. Salmon Creek 58 acres in Greece Along Salmon Creek at Braddock Bay. Freshwater, cattail marsh. Part of a large wetland complex extending through the Towns of Parma and Greece into Lake Ontario. Nesting habitat for NYS Endangered Species, Black Tern. Access by canoe or kayak Genesee Land Trust Partnerships Corbett’s Glen Nature Park (Brighton) Lehigh Crossing Park (Victor) El Camino (Rochester) Conkey Corner Park (Rochester) Corbett’s Glen Nature Park Genesee Land Trust’s first purchase and fundraising effort, now a Town of Brighton nature park 52 acres with 2 miles of trails, woods, meadow and creek. Historic (1882) vaulted arch railroad bridge is among largest in upstate NY Corbett’s Glen Nature Park A haven for great blue herons, wild turkeys, deer, beaver, trout, salmon, etc. Migratory stopover for birds in the spring and fall A variety of habitats, including a marsh, open fields, and mature woodlands Lehigh Crossing Park 57 acres in Victor Has wetlands, woodland, open field and a tributary of Irondequoit Creek. Is adjacent to and joins Auburn and Lehigh Valley Trails. A trolley line from the Village of Victor crossed the property. El Camino – Urban Trail Project 2.2 mile linear trail in Rochester Partnering with neighborhood groups to plan and design central city trail, funded in part by planning grants from RACF & Rochester, and supported by Kodak gift. CSX railroad right of way that was used for years to bring coal to the Beebe Power Station Ribbon cutting June 2012 El Camino – Urban Trail Project Transforming 2.2 miles of abandoned rail right of way into a thread of nature in the City Conkey Corner Park Converted into a park from a vacant lot at the corner of Conkey and Clifford Avenues A neighborhood gateway to El Camino Partnership of Genesee Land Trust, group 14521, Ibero Development and City of Rochester. Neighboring elementary students planted flowers. Conkey Corner Park Genesee Land Trust Conservation Easements Voluntary conservation agreements that protect wildlife habitat and working farmland while remaining privately owned. In “perpetuity” Use of land is limited to activities as described in the easement Holder of easement monitors and enforces the easement -- stewardship Landowner manages land, controls access and can sell or transfer but CE stays with property Genesee Land Trust Conservation Easements Alasa Farms Albright Farm Amy's Ponds & Hundred Acre Wood Crowfields Farm Devil's Cove Gordon Farm Gosnell Big Woods Island Cottage Woods Keyes Farm Lanning Road Lincoln Mills Martin Farm McNabb property Penfield Road Weber Farm Wilbert Farm Gosnell Big Woods (Webster) In 2006, Tom and Georgia Gosnell donated a conservation easement to the Genesee Land Trust on the 69 acres of the Big Woods, and then donated that land to Webster. The Town also purchased 94 acres (the Big Field and Small Woods) from the Gosnell’s. Gosnell Big Woods Natural History Significance Old Growth Woods One of four in Monroe County, others < 25 acres Migratory Bird Habitat International focus on declining migratory bird habitat between South America and Canada Big Field Statewide concern for loss of open fields >35 acres that provide breeding bird habitat for vulnerable species Amy’s Ponds & Hundred Acre Wood 187 acres in Ontario Wildlife ponds, wetlands, mature woodlands, deciduous and evergreen plantations. Critical migratory bird habitat is located here, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Open fields and >1000 feet of Deer Creek Alasa Farms 627 acres of farmland, wetlands, creeks, mature woods with historic Shaker buildings On the southern shore of Sodus Bay Home to rare and endangered wildlife and nesting bald eagles and osprey Provides open resting area for migrating birds Home to Cracker Box Palace animal sanctuary Designated a “Seven to Save” property by the Preservation League of New York Alasa Farms Alasa Farms Home of Cracker Box Palace A farm animal rescue and rehabilitation organization with >100 animals Historic Shaker community; original ~1800 barns still in use; other buildings used for educational purposes Trails in progress Farms Keyes 129 acres in Walworth Crowfields 105 acres in Arcadia Albright 339 acres in Ontario Gordon 11 acres in Pittsford Wilbert 167 acres in Walworth McNabb 48 acres in Mendon Weber 123 acres in Walworth Other Conservation Easements Devil’s Cove 2.3 acres in Webster Lanning Road 34 acres in Mendon Lincoln Mills 5 acres in Penfield and Perinton Island Cottage 3 acres in Greece Penfield Road 5 acres in Penfield Town of Macedon Farmland Protection Properties Similar to Conservation Easement Farms protected by a partnership between Genesee Land Trust and Town of Macedon Jozwiak, Marvin and Rogers Farms Protecting nearby habitats Preserving working farms Genesee Land Trust 585-256-2130 www.geneseelandtrust.org Stewarding the land for the future