New York State Acquires 1,263 Acres In Adirondack Park

[TTL News 316]

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced over this past weekend that the state has acquired 1,263 acres of land in the Warren County town of Johnsburg in the southern Adirondacks. The parcel includes Huckleberry Mountain, an elongated peak that tops 2,400 feet, with spectacular cliffs on the ridge's south and southwest face. 

"Through the Environmental Protection Fund, New York State continues to invest in land acquisitions that conserve open space and preserve the natural beauty of this great state for future generations to visit and enjoy," Governor Cuomo said.  "Preservation of the spectacular Huckleberry Mountain lands will benefit the region for generations to come, providing new opportunities for visitors to explore the outdoors."

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation purchased this property from the Open Space Institute for $770,000 using resources from the State's Environmental Protection Fund. Permanent conservation of this land will enhance recreational access in the region and offers opportunities to connect New Yorkers with nature, protect crucial watersheds, and improve important wildlife habitat in this part of the Adirondack Park. The newly protected land adjoins Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, which includes Crane Mountain, a popular, publicly accessible mountain peak that also provides access to exceptional cliffs for climbers. The Huckleberry Mountain parcel contains a wide range of wildlife habitats, including a high quality cold-water stream—Crystal Brook—that is excellent for brook trout, cliff faces that are a preferred nesting place for the endangered peregrine falcon, and a wetland complex home to an active heron rookery.

The Huckleberry Mountain property was a priority acquisition under the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan and the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest Management Plan. DEC will manage this parcel and is developing a unit management plan to determine the best use for the trails and recreational access for Huckleberry Mountain.

Photo credit: Jerry Monkman courtesy of the Open Space Institute

[Chris 2,213]

Can't complain about more land being added to the park. Unless they plan to try and sell off another parcel of it. 

[MsKreed 1,201]

For $600/acre, I really can't say they overpaid.....although I've never quite understood the concept of "land trusts" like this Open Space Institute the DEC bought it from. 

I'm often a bit skeptical of "middleman" foundations that have NON-profit  status and executives with six figure salaries.