Dear Friends of the Finger Lakes, we hope your love of our beautiful region is as strong as ever, and your summer is rich in time spent outdoors. This month, we are thrilled to report on the donation of a conservation easement that will permanently protect a 104-acre farm adjacent to Finger Lakes National Forest. We also echo alarming stories of harmful algal blooms that have been identified on multiple Finger Lakes this summer. Sign up free to get the top conservation stories in The Living Land, our monthly email newsletter. Now the latest news…
Photo: Stefanie Delaney
Good “Nayyybors” – Land Trust Protects 104-Acre Horse Farm Buffering Finger Lakes National Forest
The Land Trust accepted the donation of a conservation easement that will forever conserve a 104-acre horse farm that provides a valuable buffer to New York State’s only national forest. See the Story
Photo: Rick Lightbody
Family Time Outdoors! Join us for Story Walk Thursday, August 24, at 10:00 AM
Our second Story Walk launch for the year is this Thursday, August 24. Join us at the Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve on a mellow walk through the woods, stopping along the path to read a nature-themed book. The story will be installed at the preserve through the summer and fall…so stop by to take a self-guided reading adventure anytime you want! More Info
Photo: Jeff Katris
Toxic Algae Outbreaks on Multiple Finger Lakes: Join the Conversation on FLLT Facebook
Increased nutrient runoff into the lakes, including soil erosion from farm fields and contamination from lakeshore septic systems, is raising the risk of toxic algae outbreaks across the region. While all of the factors contributing to outbreaks are not completely understood, the increasing intensity of storm events is washing more nutrients into the lakes — putting all eleven Finger Lakes at risk. Outbreaks threaten human health as well as the region’s tourism economy. Thus the stakes are high to counter these threats as development pressure increases. The Finger Lakes Land Trust is working to buffer our streams, create new wetlands, and save our last undeveloped shorelines. You can see our Top 10 conservation strategies in our free report, “Lakes, Farms, and Forests Forever.” See the Facebook post and join the conversation!
Photo: Bill Hecht
Volunteer’s Aerial Photo of Taughannock Falls Seen by 200,000+ Users on “Go Finger Lakes” Facebook
Aerial photographer Bill Hecht shared an old photo of Taughannock Falls State Park dating from 2004, well before the recent addition of the interpretive center in the foreground parking lot. The Land Trust posted Bill’s great photo on the Facebook page of our project Go Finger Lakes – and it reached over 200,000 users. People love Taughannock Falls, the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes region, and this great photo. Thank you, Bill! See it on Facebook
Photo: FLLT
Explore Our Region at Free Public Summer Events with the Finger Lakes Land Trust!
Explore the gorgeous creeks and waterfalls of our region this Saturday, August 26 with two opportunities to get outside! And check out our fall events — there’s more to come. See the Event Calendar
Video of the Month
Rising above the Chemung River valley is a 793-acre forest that was rescued from decades of poor logging practices. Watch this short video about Steege Hill Nature Preserve, conserved by the Finger Lakes Land Trust in a successful collaboration between communities and conservationists. Plan your visit to Steege Hill on gofingerlakes.org, the new outdoor recreation site.
