The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) purchased 26 acres located off Tucker and Iradell Roads in the town of Enfield, Tompkins County. The property, which contains 1,200 feet of frontage on a tributary to Taughannock Creek, will be added to the FLLT’s adjacent Lower Nature Preserve.

In addition to fields and hardwood forest, the new acquisition contains ten acres of wetlands that attract abundant wildlife—over 65 confirmed species of birds and other fauna. Protection of these wetlands not only secures this wildlife-rich habitat but also provides an upland buffer to the tributary to Taughannock Creek, which flows into Cayuga Lake.

Photo: Chris Ray

The addition of this parcel to the Lower Preserve will expand the protection of existing wetlands in this area and double the size of the preserve to 49 acres. The conservation area, which is currently managed for wildlife habitat, was created in December 1997 when local resident William Lower donated 23.5 acres to the FLLT.

Partial funding for this project came from New York State’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP). The WQIP program funds projects that directly address documented water quality impairments or protect a drinking water source.