8/3/2019 FLLT -- Town of Montezuma Conservation Easement

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Latest Conservation Easement Protects Land Near Montezuma Refuge

The Land Trust today announced that it has accepted the gift of a conservation easement from KathrynWhitehorne which will ensure the protection of 127 acres of wetlands and woodlands that she owns in theTown of Aurelius, Cayuga County. The property is located just east of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

The Whitehorne property features 40 acres of wetlands that are home to numerous amphibians and maturehardwood forests that host a diversity of birds and other wildlife. A small stream that flows from the tractultimately enters the nearby National Wildlife Refuge. The property also includes more than a mile ofundeveloped frontage on Laraway Road.

Were grateful to Kathryn for her commitment to the land and her wonderful gift to the community, saysLand Trust Executive Director Andrew Zepp. This land will remain in private ownership and will continue toprovide outstanding wildlife habitat as well as clean water to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.

Conservation easements are legal agreements that limit future development while allowing land to remainin private ownership and on the tax rolls. Easements are binding on future owners of the land and aremonitored by the Land Trust to ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement. Easement donors areeligible for both state and federal tax benefits provided that certain criteria are met.

The Whitehorne conservation easement prohibits future subdivision of the property and provides protectionfor the sites wetlands. The agreement allows for construction of a single home and for the continuedselective harvest of timber. The easement does not provide for public access to the property.

This latest conservation easement is the 83rd acquired by the Land Trust and its second in Cayuga County.The Land Trust also holds a conservation easement on a parcel bordering Bear Swamp Creek in the Town ofNiles.

Tom Jasikoff, manager of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, applauds this recent project: I totallysupport the Finger Lakes Land Trust in preserving lands in our area not just for their own inherent valuebut from a broader ecosystem standpoint and a landscape standpoint.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust is a membership supported, not for profit organization that was established in1989 to work cooperatively with landowners and local communities to permanently protect those lands thatdefine the character of the 12-county Finger Lakes Region. To date, the organization has secured nearly13,000 acres of the regions scenic farmland, undeveloped lakeshore, rugged gorges, and majestic forests.In addition to conservation easements held by the Land Trust, the organization also owns and manages anetwork of 30 conservation areas that are accessible to the public.