A major conservation milestone has been reached along Skaneateles Lake, where the Finger Lakes Land Trust has secured 850 feet of untouched shoreline and steep wooded hillsides near the Staghorn Cliffs.
The acquisition, announced July 3, brings the total protected shoreline south of Staghorn Point to 3,000 feet. The newly conserved land includes the southern half of Staghorn Point and 15 acres of adjacent forest with more than 1,000 feet of frontage on Barber Gulf, a tributary to the lake.
The site, home to fossilized coral reefs and resident Bald Eagles, is part of one of the most pristine landscapes in the Finger Lakes region. “The quality of our lakes depends on the condition of the landscapes that surround them,” said Finger Lakes Land Trust President Andrew Zepp. “This acquisition will secure steep slopes and sensitive shoreline areas that would lead to increased erosion and runoff if they were developed.”
Skaneateles Lake provides unfiltered drinking water to 220,000 people in Syracuse and surrounding communities. Protecting the undeveloped slopes and shoreline strengthens that water supply while safeguarding wildlife habitat and natural beauty.
The property will be owned and managed by the Land Trust, but public access will be limited to boaters using canoes or kayaks, due to the hazardous terrain above the cliffs.
The newly protected site borders the 90-acre Staghorn Cliffs Preserve and 21-acre Cora Kampfe Dickinson Conservation Area. Nearby lands include the High Vista Preserve and Hinchcliff Family Preserve. The shoreline is part of a broader greenbelt initiative recognized in New York’s Open Space Plan and by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area.
To secure the land, the Land Trust used an internal loan from its Opportunity Fund. It has now launched a $1.1 million campaign to repay the loan and fund long-term stewardship, including $1 million for the purchase and $100,000 for ongoing care.
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