Ecological Resources
Unique Natural Areas
NYS Parks, Forests & Wildlife Management Areas
Tompkins County Reforestry Lands
Important Bird Areas
Natural Heritage Sites
Critical Environmental Areas, NNLs, and NY Recreational Rivers
FLLT Preserves, Nature Conservancy Preserves & Cornell
Natural Areas
What is a Unique Natural
Area?
The Unique Natural Areas (UNAs) of Tompkins County are sites
with outstanding environmental qualities, as defined by the Tompkins County
Environmental Management Council, that are deserving of special attention for
preservation and protection. UNAs
include such natural features as gorges, woods, swamps, fens, cliffs, and
streams. They lie on both publicly and
privately owned lands and are generally not open to the public. Anyone wishing to visit a site on private
land must obtain permission from the owner or owners.
Why are
Unique Natural Areas Important?
Unique
Natural Areas are recognized because of the outstanding qualities that render
them “unique” within Tompkins County.
Often, the characteristics that make a site unique are extremely
vulnerable to a wide range of both direct and indirect impacts and may be
compromised by disturbing the site. For
this reason, the UNA Inventory incorporates an array of data that can be
utilized in planning efforts to help identify and mitigate potential impacts to
a UNA.
At
least one of five criteria must be met to classify an area as a UNA:
1.
Important Natural Community:
the site
includes a state-designated wetland, a designated natural area/preserve,
historical botanical/zoological characteristics, important teaching
characteristics, an old-growth forest, a plant or animal community type that is
rare or scarce in the County, diverse flora or fauna, a birding site, and/or a
wilderness character.
2.
Quality of Example: the site is considered the
best representative, or example, of an ecosystem, plant community, or animal
community of high quality within the County.
These sites typically contain especially large individuals, dense
populations, and/or a particularly diverse mixture of species.
3.
Rare or Scarce Plants or
Animals:
the site contains plant or animal species that have been recognized as rare or
scarce at a national, state, or local level; has critical migration,
reproductive, or feeding habitat for rare or scarce animal species; and/or has
reports of large mammals.
4.
Geological Importance: the site includes a rare or
outstanding example of geological features or processes and/or a
paleontological site.
5.
Aesthetic/Cultural
Qualities: the
site contains acknowledged outstanding natural or scenic beauty as viewed from
within or from a distance, has recreational value, is designated as urban
greenspace, and/or has cultural/historic/archeological significance.
Unique Natural Areas
in Tompkins County
Municipality
|
Number of UNA sites |
Acres of UNAs |
% of municipality |
|
City of Ithaca |
12 |
451.0 |
11.6% |
|
Town of Caroline |
20 |
4,150.0 |
11.8% |
|
Town of Danby |
12 |
4,938.8 |
14.3% |
|
Town of Dryden |
58 |
10,091.0 |
16.7% |
|
Town of Enfield |
9 |
923.9 |
3.9% |
|
Town of Groton |
24 |
2,298.5 |
7.3% |
|
Town of Ithaca |
30 |
3,985.3 |
20.6% |
|
Town of Lansing |
31 |
2,732.8 |
6.1% |
|
Town of Newfield |
15 |
6,166.8 |
16.3% |
|
Town of Ulysses |
11 |
1,512.7 |
6.4% |
|
Vil. of Cayuga Heights |
4 |
86.4 |
7.7% |
|
Village of Dryden |
1 |
50.0 |
4.8% |
|
Village of Freeville |
3 |
85.5 |
12.2% |
|
Village of Groton |
2 |
61.7 |
5.8% |
|
Village of Lansing |
7 |
293.5 |
9.9% |
|
Vil. of Trumansburg |
1 |
27.6 |
3.5% |
|
Total |
192* |
37,855.5 |
12.0% |
The
current UNA boundaries, as documented in 2000, are based on the 1999 tax parcel
boundaries and have been revised with the assistance of aerial photos and field
visits. Information available for each UNA includes the reason for selecting
the site, special land use information, adjacent land use data, vulnerability
of the site, vegetation cover types, ecological communities, rare, threatened
or endangered species, geologic and water features, slope, and soils. Site information from the Unique Natural Areas Inventory of Tompkins
County and accompanying paper or digital maps are available from the
Tompkins County Planning Department.
Copies of the Inventory and
paper maps have been distributed to local governments and libraries throughout
the County.
Tompkins County Environmental
Management Council. January 2000
(revised). Unique Natural Areas Inventory
of Tompkins County. Tompkins County Planning Department and Tompkins County
Department of Information Technology Services.
Tompkins County Planning
Department, 121 East Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607‑274‑5560.
NEW YORK STATE PARKS,
FORESTS AND
Wildlife Management Areas
What are New York State
Parks?
State
Parks are tracts of land owned and maintained by the State of New York. Because they are owned by the State, all
citizens have access to the lands.
State Parks are managed by the New York State Office of Parks,
Recreation, and Historic Preservation, primarily for recreation and
tourism. In general, these lands
usually contain outstanding natural or historic resources. Permitted uses, such as hunting, fishing,
biking, camping, ATV, and snowmobile and horseback riding, vary from park to park.
New York State Parks in
Tompkins County
There
are four State Parks located in Tompkins County: Robert H. Treman, Taughannock
Falls, Buttermilk Falls, and Allan H. Treman State Marine Park. Robert H. Treman (Enfield Glen), Taughannock
Falls, and Buttermilk Falls all have dramatic gorges, swimming, camping,
hiking, and picnicking facilities.
Jennings Pond, part of Buttermilk Falls State Park, is geographically
disconnected from the Park’s gorge, and contains a large pond with swimming and
picnic facilities. Allan H. Treman
State Marine Park is located on Cayuga Lake and has a 400-slip marina and boat
launch. Taughannock Falls State Park
also has a marina and boat launch.
Although not designated as a State Park, there is also some significant
undeveloped state-owned land, known locally as Salt Point, which is located at
the outflow of Salmon Creek on Cayuga Lake, next to the Lansing Town Park and
Marina at Myers Point.
What are New York State
Forests?
State
Forests are tracts of land owned and maintained by the State of New York. Because they are owned by the State, all
citizens have access to the lands.
State Forests are managed by the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC), Division of Forests and Lands. They are managed for forestry, water quality, wildlife
protection, and recreation. Permitted
uses, such as hunting, fishing, biking, camping, ATV, and snowmobile and
horseback riding, vary from forest to forest.
New York State Forests in
Tompkins County
There
are eight State Forests in Tompkins County (encompassing approximately 32,000
acres), concentrated in the southern portion of the County: Hammond Hill,
Robinson Hollow, Cliffside, Newfield, Danby, Shindagin Hollow, Potato Hill, and
Yellow Barn.
The DEC
Region 7 Recreational Master Plan, to be released in August 2001, will outline
a plan to develop trails designed specifically for mountain biking, hiking,
horseback riding, snowmobile, and ATV use.
As part of this effort, the DEC will develop maps and trail markers to
assist those visiting the forests. This
initiative will take several years to complete.
What are New York State
Wildlife Management Areas?
State
Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are tracts of land owned and maintained by the
State of New York. Because they are
owned by the State, all citizens have access to the lands. WMAs are managed by the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Division of Fish and Wildlife. They are managed for certain species or
groups of species. Permitted uses, such
as hunting, fishing, biking, camping, ATV, and snowmobile and horseback riding,
vary from area to area.
New York State Wildlife
Management Areas in Tompkins County
Tompkins
County has two WMAs: Dryden Lake (207 acres) and Connecticut Hill (11,045
acres).
Why are These State Lands
Important?
State Parks,
Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas protect important lands from development
and uses that may damage their natural features. These State lands provide recreational and cultural opportunities,
protect key plant and animal species and their habitats, and protect watersheds
and the quality of water in the area.
They also add economic value to their surrounding areas by enhancing
tourism and increasing land values. In
addition, they provide important educational opportunities for teaching about
botany, natural history, entomology, etc.
Although municipal governments do not have direct control of these
lands, they may be able to use them in their planning efforts to create
greenways, biological corridors, and recreational trails. New York State WMAs and Forests are also
utilized for logging. Logging in State
Forests are monitored by the DEC to ensure that trees of varying sizes and ages
are left for future generations. The
focus of logging activities in WMAs is to manage habitat and provide a
diversity of vegetation types and wildlife species.
Maps and Data
For
map information, in paper or digital format, contact the Tompkins County
Planning Department.
For
management plans and further information about New York State Forests and WMAs,
contact the New York State DEC.
For
information on New York State Parks, contact the New York State Office of
Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC), Region 7, 1285 Fisher Avenue, Cortland, NY
13045-1090, 607‑753‑3095.
New
York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Finger
Lakes State Park Region, PO
Box 1055, 2221Taughannock Park Road, Trumansburg, New York 14886, 607‑387‑7041.
New
York State Forests and Wildlife Management Areas: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/
New York State Marine Park: http://www.cce.cornell.edu/seagrant/marinas/bcmarinas.html
Tompkins County Planning
Department, 121 East Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607‑274‑5560.
Tompkins County Reforestry Lands are publicly accessible
forest lands that are currently used for wood propagation and timber
harvest. These lands, located in
Newfield and Caroline, are owned by Tompkins County and their logging practices
are overseen by the Tompkins County Planning Department.
Why are Tompkins County
Reforestry Lands Important?
Tompkins County Reforestry Lands are primarily managed for
timber production. Red pine plantations
were planted pre-1950 on much of this land and have been harvested either
slowly (through selective thinning on the Newfield tracts) or quickly (through
clear cutting along Level Green Road in Caroline) since that time. Naturally occurring hardwood species have
been established where the softwoods have been removed. The Tompkins County Reforestry Lands are
home to species of plants and animals that are typically found in northeastern
woodlands and meadows. These lands also
provide watershed protection, contiguous tracts of forest land habitat, and
recreational opportunities that add to the quality of life in Tompkins County.
For a map of this information, in paper or digital format,
contact the Tompkins County Planning Department.
Resources
and References
Tompkins
County Planning Department, 121 East Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607‑274‑5560.
What are
Important Bird Areas?
The National Audubon Society, with the support of the
American Bird Conservancy, initiated the New York Important Bird Areas (IBAs)
Program in the spring of 1996.
Designation of an area as a significant bird habitat under the IBA
Program requires that the site satisfy at least one of the following criteria:
·
Site
contains a concentration of birds in significant numbers when breeding, in
winter, or during migration;
·
Site
supports a population of a species that is endangered, threatened, or of
special concern;
·
Site
contains assemblages of species characteristic of a representative rare, threatened,
or unique habitat; or
·
Long-term
avian research or monitoring occurs on the site
Across
New York State, 127 IBAs have been identified.
Furthermore, in 1997, New York State passed a law allowing IBAs located
on state land to be designated as Bird Conservation Areas.
Why are Important Bird Areas
Important?
The IBA Program is important for avian conservation because
it identifies significant bird habitats so that others may protect those
lands. Many avian species have distinct
life history requirements and/or habitat needs that are fulfilled by the
qualities of IBAs. The IBA program
informs local citizens and governments about these unique areas and encourages
local voluntary conservation efforts.
In
Tompkins County, four IBAs have been identified:
1. Cayuga Lake supports a
very diverse bird community, providing important bird habitat to migrating and
wintering waterfowl (at least 37 species of ducks and geese) and rare and
endangered species. Of state protected
bird species, two endangered (Bald Eagle and Black Tern), two threatened
(Pied-billed Grebe and Common Tern), and two of special concern (Common Loon
and Osprey) are known to use Cayuga Lake for either wintering or migratory
habitat.
2. The Caswell Road Grassland
Complex (1343 acres) is a privately owned hunting club in the Town of
Dryden. The abandoned farmland serves
as a breeding site for three threatened species (Northern Harrier, Upland
Sandpiper, and Henslow’s Sparrow), a species of special concern (Grasshopper
Sparrow), and two more common species (Savannah Sparrow and Bobolink). The hunting club currently manages the
property for Wild Turkey, Ring-necked Pheasant, and White-tailed Deer, which
does not seem to interfere with the grassland birds.
3.
The
Salmon Creek IBA (500 acres)
encompasses a one-mile long stretch on both sides of Salmon Creek in the Town
of Lansing. The area is heavily wooded
with a dense understory. Home to a
number of songbirds, the site is important breeding habitat for Cerulean
Warblers (46 pairs in 1997), which is a state listed species of special
concern. Within this IBA, land
ownership is fragmented. The Finger
Lakes Land Trust has purchased 3 parcels totalling 33 acres and hopes to work
with other riparian landowners on future conservation efforts.
4. The Connecticut Hill
Wildlife Management Area (WMA) (11,045 acres) is a state-owned forest in
the Town of Newfield managed by the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation primarily for conservation, recreation, and forestry. The site is home to a breeding community of
Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Northern Goshawk, Hermit Thrush, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Acadian Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, and a variety of
warblers. Three species of State special
concern breed in this WMA: Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, and Northern
Goshawk.
The
boundaries of the IBAs are not published.
In order to protect landowner privacy, the National Audubon Society of
New York State does not release paper maps of the IBAs and no digital files
exist at this time. The general
locations of the sites are depicted in point data. The shores of Cayuga Lake were used to identify the Cayuga Lake
IBA and the boundary of the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area was used
to identify that IBA. The private
landowners of the Caswell Road and Salmon Creek IBAs have requested that
Audubon not publish those locations at this time.
The
New York IBA program recently received a grant to map the IBAs on a
geographical information system.
Digitizing of the information is scheduled to be completed by the end of
2002.
Resources and References
A
book entitled Important Bird Areas in New
York State is available from the National Audubon Society of New York
State.
What is a Natural Heritage
Site?
A
Natural Heritage Site is a point or area representing specific natural resource
information documented by the New York Natural Heritage Program. The goal of this program, a joint venture of
the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and The
Nature Conservancy (TNC) since 1985, is to compile and maintain an up-to-date
inventory of the location and status of New York State’s rarest animal and
plant species and its ecological communities.
The Natural Heritage Program monitors the status of 755 rare plant
species, 417 rare animal species, and 165 ecological community types in New
York State.
Why are Natural Heritage
Sites Important?
The databases maintained by the New York Natural Heritage
Program can assist in identifying threatened or endangered species and
ecological communities in Tompkins County.
This knowledge can be incorporated into planning, conservation, and
natural resources management to help conserve the plants, animals, and
ecological communities that represent the County’s natural heritage. Though not a requirement of the State
Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), the Natural Heritage Program will
search its databases upon request for proposed actions subject to SEQRA review.
Natural Heritage Sites in
Tompkins County
Currently,
the Natural Heritage Program databases list 14 rare plant species, 3 rare
animal species, and 9 significant ecological community types in Tompkins
County.
Information
on the status and distribution of rare and endangered animals and plants, and
the best examples of New York State’s ecological communities, is collected,
stored, and analyzed in databases maintained by the Natural Heritage
Program. This information has been
assembled from historical records and collections maintained by scientific
institutions such as the New York State Museum, and from field surveys by staff
from the New York Natural Heritage Program and other scientific groups.
Neither
site-specific nor comprehensive surveys for rare species and significant
natural communities have been conducted for the entire state. Therefore, these data cannot be relied on as
a definitive statement of the presence or absence of rare species or significant
ecological communities, and cannot be substituted for on-site surveys that may
be required for environmental assessment.
The
Tompkins County Planning Department is authorized to make paper maps of this
data only at a scale equal to or greater than 1:100,000. No data may be released by TCPD digitally. For a paper map of this information, contact
the Tompkins County Planning Department.
For
information concerning the data, or to request site specific information,
contact the New York Natural Heritage Program.
NYS
DEC, Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/index.html
New York Natural Heritage
Program: Overview. February 2001. New York State DEC and The Nature
Conservancy.
New
York State DEC: Endangered Species http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/endspec/index.html
NYS
Natural Heritage Program Information Services, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany,
NY 12233-4757, 518-402-8935. http://www.nynhp.org
Critical Environmental Areas, National Natural Landmarks,
and New York State Recreational Rivers
What are Critical
Environmental Areas?
Under
New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Regulations, local
agencies may designate, via local legislation, specific geographic areas within
their boundaries as Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs). State agencies may also designate CEAs on
state owned, managed, or regulated lands.
For final approval, all CEAs must be mapped and announced through public
notice and a public hearing.
Why are Critical Environmental
Areas Important?
The
designation of a Critical Environmental Area provides some regulatory
protection for a site and functions as an indicator to developers, local
officials, and other governmental agencies that the site is of significant
environmental value.
Critical Environmental Areas
in Tompkins County
Coy
Glen, located in the Town of Ithaca, is the only CEA in Tompkins County. Coy Glen is an important botanic and
geologic site, and is home to uncommon ecological communities and rare species. Many rare species reside in the hilltop
forests of Coy Glen and the gorge walls provide habitat for scarce liverworts,
mosses, and ferns.
What are National Natural
Landmarks?
A
National Natural Landmark is a nationally significant natural area that has
been designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior. To be nationally significant, a site must be
one of the best examples of a type of biotic community or geologic feature in
its physiographic province. To date,
587 sites throughout the United States have been designated as National Natural
Landmarks.
Why are National Natural
Landmarks Important?
As
required by the National Environmental Policy Act, federal agencies must
consider National Natural Landmarks when assessing the impacts of their actions
on the environment. Also, under SEQRA,
applicants must state if the proposed project is contiguous to a site listed on
the Register of National Natural Landmarks.
All National Natural Landmarks are field checked every five years for
evidence of significant change using the National Park Service’s National
Natural Landmark national significance criteria. The goal of the NNL program is to identify, recognize, and
encourage the protection of sites containing the best remaining examples of
ecological and geological components of the nation’s landscape.
National Natural Landmarks
in Tompkins County
McLean
Bogs, located in the Town of Dryden, is the only designated National Natural
Landmark in Tompkins County. McLean
Bogs is recognized as an important glacial landform and contains significant
deciduous forests, lakes, and ponds.
The characteristics that make this site unique are extremely vulnerable
to a wide range of both direct and indirect impacts and may be compromised by
disturbing the site. Anyone wishing to
visit McLean Bogs must obtain permission from Cornell University (Cornell
Plantations), which owns and manages the National Natural Landmark.
New
York State Recreational Rivers are unique water bodies that are designated for
protection by state legislative action.
Proposals for designation can come from local governments, agencies, or
citizen groups, but must be submitted to the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC), the governor, and the New York State
legislature for approval or modification.
The DEC is also responsible for issuing permits within the boundaries of
designated rivers, though they are able to delegate the administration of the
river to local governments.
Why are New York State
Recreational Rivers Important?
Recreational
Rivers in New York State are protected by Article 15, Title 27 of the
Environmental Conservation Law, entitled the New York State Wild, Scenic, and
Recreational River System Act. Its
purpose is to preserve and protect designated water bodies (including rivers,
streams, creeks, runs, kills, rills, branches, and lakes) and their immediate
environs for present and future generations.
New York State Recreational
Rivers in Tompkins County
In
1990, the State of New York designated a stretch of Fall Creek a Recreational
River at the request of the City of Ithaca.
Running from the west face of the footbridge between Thurston Avenue and
Beebe Lake to its confluence with Cayuga Lake, it is the only water body in
Tompkins County with this designation.
The DEC delegated administration of the Fall Creek Recreational River to
the City of Ithaca Planning Department.
The
designation of Fall Creek as a Recreational River mandates the preservation and
restoration of its natural, scenic, and recreational qualities. Prohibited uses include: 1) modification of
the waterway by impoundment, diversion, rip-rap, bulkheads, structures, or
improvements impeding or altering the natural flow of water or free-flowing
condition of the river, 2) private dwellings, mobile homes, and multiple family
dwellings located within the 100 year flood plain or within 150 feet of the
river and/or tributary bank, 3) forest management roads or tributary bridges
within 150 feet, and 4) waste treatment, storage, or disposal, except in
temporary storage containers. Permits
are required for other land uses and development within the Recreational River
boundary, such as residential dwellings, docks, and private water supply wells.
Maps and Data
Generalized
boundary data for Coy Glen, McLean Bogs, and Fall Creek are available in both
digital and paper format from the Tompkins County Planning Department.
Detailed
information concerning actual boundary lines of McLean Bogs, and information as
to its unique features, may be obtained from the National Park Service,
Washington Office, which provides overall program policy and direction for the
National Natural Landmark program.
Requests to visit McLean Bogs should be directed to Cornell Plantations
at Cornell University.
All questions about the Fall Creek Recreational River,
including official map boundaries and required permits, should be submitted to
the City of Ithaca Planning Department.
The DEC office in Cortland can answer general questions
about the New York State Wild, Scenic, and Recreational River Act.
City of Ithaca Planning
Department, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607‑274‑6550.
Cornell
Plantations, One Plantations Road, Ithaca, NY
14850, 607-255-9638.
National
Natural Landmark Program, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington,
D.C. 20013-7127 nnl@nps.gov and http://www.nature.nps.gov/partner/nnlp.htm
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation, P.O. Box 1169, Fisher Ave., Cortland, NY 13045,
607-753-3095.
New York State Environmental
Quality Review Regulations (SEQR) Regulations Section 617.14(g).
New York State Wild, Scenic
and Recreational River System Act.
Article 15, Title 27 of the Enviro. Conservation Law 6 NYCRR, Part 666.
Tompkins County Planning
Department, 121 East Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607‑274‑5560.
Finger
Lakes Land Trust Preserves and
Conservation Easements, the Nature Conservancy
Preserves, and Cornell Natural Areas
What are the
Finger Lakes Land Trust Preserves and Conservation Easements?
The Finger Lakes Land Trust Preserves and Conservation
Easements are tracts of land protected by a private, non-profit organization,
the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT). Each of the FLLT’s preserves and
conservation easements is monitored by volunteers. Preserves are areas of significant natural resources that are
owned outright by the FLLT, while conservation easements are voluntary
agreements that allow a landowner to limit the type or amount of development on
their property while retaining private ownership of the land. The easement is signed by the landowner, who
is the easement donor, and the FLLT, who is the party receiving the easement.
Both preserves and easements are managed by the FLLT to help preserve the
natural integrity of the Finger Lakes Region, and, in the case of its nature
preserves, for education, research, and quiet forms of recreation, such as
hiking and bird watching.
Preserves
·
The
Etna Nature Preserve - Dryden, open to the public (12 acres)
·
The
Stevenson Forest Preserve - Enfield, open to the public (141 acres)
·
The
Sweedler Preserve at Lick Brook - Ithaca, open to the public (128 acres)
·
The
Goetchius Wetland - Caroline, open to the public (37.5 acres)
·
The
Lower Nature Preserve - Enfield, open to the public (26 acres)
·
Salmon
Creek Bird Sanctuary - Lansing, open to the public (33 acres)
·
The
Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve - Danby, open to the public (401 acres)
·
The
Lauman Preserve - Ulysses, only accessible for education and research
activities (6 acres)
·
The
Thurber Nature Preserve - Groton, open to the public (11.5 acres)
·
The
Ellis Hollow Nature Preserve - Dryden, open to the public (111 acres)
Conservation Easements
The
Land Trust holds 28 easements on approximately 1,674 acres of land in Tompkins
County and an additional 8 easements on 838 acres outside of Tompkins County
within the Finger Lakes region.
What are The
Nature Conservancy Preserves?
The Nature Conservancy Preserves are tracts of land
protected by a private, non-profit organization, The Nature Conservancy. They
are managed by The Nature Conservancy primarily to protect significant and
threatened species nationwide, however most preserves also allow for quiet
forms of recreation, such as hiking and bird watching.
·
The
Eldridge Wilderness – Ithaca (87 acres)
·
The
Malloryville Preserve – Dryden (306 acres)
Both
preserves are open to the public and have interpretive kiosks and boardwalks
for visitors to protect plant species from damage, and the land from overuse.
What are
Cornell Natural Areas?
Cornell Natural Areas are tracts of land protected by a
private institution, Cornell University.
Each of the Cornell
Natural Areas is maintained and monitored by the Cornell Plantations Natural Areas
Committee. The primary goal in managing
these areas is to provide quality habitats and species for Cornell students and
faculty to study and research.
Cornell Natural Areas in
Tompkins County
Off Campus:
·
Palmer-Adams Preserve at Bald Hill (146 acres)
·
Fischer Old-Growth Forest at Cayuga Inlet Valley (34 acres)
·
Russell Wildlife Preserve at Cayuga Marsh (27 acres)
·
James W. and Helene D. Allen Wetland Preserve at Cayuga Lake
(95 acres)
·
Carter Creek at Connecticut Hill (426 acres)
·
Coy Glen (127 acres)
·
Conwell Tract (20 acres), Travis Wildflower Preserve (24
acres), and Durland Bird Sanctuary (173 acres) at Ellis Hollow Wetlands
·
Fringed Gentian Natural Area (31 acres), Radio Lab Fields
(151 acres), and Cornell Experimental Ponds at
Etna Fringed Gentian Area
·
Howard Edward Babcock Preserve at Lick Brook (27 acres)
·
Biological Station at Lighthouse Point (15 acres)
·
Monkey Run Natural Area at Monkey Run (500+ acres)
·
Frost Ravine (31 acres), Mount Pleasant Farm (600+ acres),
and Pine Woods (204 acres) at Mount Pleasant
·
Newman Preserve at Renwick Slope (6 acres)
·
Slaterville Wildflower Preserve (379 acres) and Williams
Preserve (38 acres) at Slaterville 600
·
Polson Preserve at Snyder Hill (95 acres)
·
Astronomy Lab in South Danby (60 acres)
·
Jane E. Hardy Preserve at Steep Hollow Creek (3 acres)
·
Jane McDaniel Tract at Townley Swamp (62 acres)
On Campus:
·
There are 24 Natural Areas on and near the Cornell
University campus (approximately 500 acres).
All
Natural Areas are open for public visits, however, large groups should notify
Cornell Plantations prior to visiting the site.
Nature
preserves, conservation easements, and natural areas protect important lands
from development and uses that may damage their natural features. These lands protect key plant and animal
species and their habitats, protect watersheds and the quality of water in the
area, and provide recreational opportunities to everyone. They also add economic value to their surrounding
areas by enhancing tourism and increasing land values. In addition, they provide important
educational opportunities for teaching about botany, natural history,
entomology, etc. Although municipal
governments do not have direct control of these lands, they may be able to use
them in their planning efforts to create greenways, biological corridors, and
recreational trails.
Maps
and Data
For a map of this information, in paper or digital format,
contact the Tompkins County Planning Department. For information on Finger Lakes Land Trust Preserves and
Conservation Easements, contact the Finger Lakes Land Trust. For information on The Nature Conservancy
Preserves, contact The Nature Conservancy.
For information on Cornell Natural Areas, contact the Cornell
Plantations.
Cornell
Plantations, Cornell University, One Plantations Road, Ithaca, NY 14851; Phone:
607-255-3020; Fax: 607-255-2404; http://www.plantations.cornell.edu
Finger Lakes Land Trust: http://www.fllt.org/ 202 East Court Street,
Ithaca, NY 14850; Phone: 607-275-9487; Fax: 607‑275‑0037
Ostman,
Nancy L. and F. Robert Wesley. 1997.
Field Guide to Cornell’s Off-Campus Natural Areas. Cornell Plantations.
Ostman,
Nancy L. and F. Robert Wesley. 1999.
Field Guide to Cornell’s Natural Areas On and Near Campus.
The
Nature Conservancy: http://www.tnc.org
Central & Western New York Chapter Office, 339 East Avenue, Suite 300,
Rochester, NY 14604-2615; Phone: 716-546-8030 Fax: 716-546-7825
Tompkins County Planning
Department, 121 East Court Street, Ithaca, NY 14850, 607‑274‑5560.