Update May 24, 2022 – Thank you! We did it! Together we raised the $500,000 to complete the purchase of Bell Station! You can see the original story below, and you can make a gift to the Finger Lakes Land Trust if you want to advance important projects like this:
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Original Story
The Finger Lakes Land Trust brings you an unprecedented chance to protect land and water in the Cayuga Lake watershed north of Ithaca!
With your help, we will purchase the spectacular Bell Station site in Lansing that boasts 480 acres of wooded hillsides, extensive fields, and several small streams with cascading waterfalls. The effort will conserve over 3,400 feet of pristine shoreline and create a public recreation area, while an upland portion will be reserved for solar energy production! Please help us raise $500,000 as quickly as possible.
Watch the short video and please SHARE it with friends who love the Finger Lakes! We need to close the deal!
See the press release for the story of the collaboration between the Finger Lakes Land Trust, Governor Kathy Hochul, DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos, NYSEG President Carl Taylor, Senator Pamela Helming, Assemblymember Anna Kelles, and other public officials who helped with negotiations!
Bell Station property with Milliken Station (decommissioned) adjacent to the south. Photo: Bill Hecht
The Bell Station property is the largest privately owned parcel of shoreline remaining in the Finger Lakes. It was originally acquired by New York State Electric & Gas for a nuclear power plant that was never built. The land is recognized as a priority project in New York State’s Open Space Plan and is specifically designated as “future public access conservation land” in the Town of Lansing Comprehensive Plan.
Acquisition of the site for conservation will greatly enhance public access to the east side of Cayuga Lake, which is 90% privately owned. Permanent conservation will also prevent residential development on the steep hillsides bordering the lake, helping to safeguard the lake’s water quality and prevent harmful algal blooms.
For all these reasons, the Finger Lakes Land Trust has been pursuing the conservation of the Bell Station property for a number of years. FLLT is now under contract to purchase the property and is working with together with DEC, the Town of Lansing, Tompkins County, and other key stakeholders to acquire the land and create a public conservation area on the lakeshore portion of the property.
Photo: Bill Hecht
The new conservation area will be transferred to New York State and managed by DEC as a wildlife management area open for recreational uses including hiking, cross country skiing, wildlife watching, hunting, and fishing.
ACT NOW
With your help, we can permanently save rare and beautiful places in the Finger Lakes region:
Please contact us with any questions about the Bell Station Project and how you can help save more land in the Finger Lakes region.
