SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — New York State and Finger Lakes Land Trust announced a deal on Monday that provides permanent protection to 234 acres of farmland in Cayuga County.
The conservation easement will protect the Casa Farms land that drains into Skaneateles Lake, which provides drinking water to over 200,000 Syracuse residents.
The executive director at Finger Lakes, Andy Zepp, said this will sustain the health of the lake.
“To secure those lands that are really important for drinking water quality, and the health of the, in this case Skaneateles Lake very much depends on the health of the surrounding landscape,” Zepp said.
The agreement focuses on a 6,000 foot stretch along Hooker Brook where potential contaminants can infiltrate the lake.
Zepp said that naturally clean water provides a fiscal advantage; Syracuse has to spend much less money on engineering and filtering water.
Because of the agreement, the farmland will be shielded from any potential development projects that could end up harming the lake.
“Rather than see the 230 acre farm become a housing subdivision that would contribute a lot of nutrients and pollutants to the lake, it can only be sold essentially as a 230 acre property,” Zepp said.
Most of the land will continue to be used traditionally, such as for agriculture or hunting.
