The Finger Lakes Land Trust has launched a major conservation initiative aimed at protecting one of the region’s most ecologically important and scenic landscapes — the 114,000-acre corridor from Hemlock Lake to the High Tor Wildlife Management Area at the south end of Canandaigua Lake.
The new project, called “Hemlock to High Tor,” is designed to combat increasing development pressure and accelerate land protection and stewardship in the western Finger Lakes.
The corridor includes the only two undeveloped Finger Lakes, Hemlock and Canadice, as well as 23,000 acres of existing conservation land, four state wildlife management areas, and critical forest and watershed resources. These forests play a vital role in stabilizing steep slopes, filtering clean water for lakes, and providing habitat for wildlife like black bears, bobcats, and fishers.
The initiative will focus on four major goals:
- Protecting large blocks of forest from fragmentation
- Creating conservation corridors between protected areas
- Safeguarding and restoring key watershed lands
- Expanding outdoor education and recreation
“This is one of the Finger Lakes’ most remarkable landscapes,” said Lindsay McMillan, newly appointed director of the initiative. “We’re eager to build on the strong conservation foundation already in place and work with partners and local communities to safeguard these lands and waters.”
McMillan, a longtime conservation advocate, previously served as director of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association and co-founded the Lake Friendly Living Coalition of the Finger Lakes.
The Finger Lakes Land Trust has already secured over 2,300 acres in the region through nature preserves, conservation easements, public parks, and joint projects with New York State and The Nature Conservancy.
“Conserving these hills and valleys for a resilient and healthy future is a win-win for nature and people,” said Mat Levine, stewardship director for The Nature Conservancy in New York and a Naples resident.
In addition to environmental protection, the initiative aims to strengthen the region’s outdoor tourism economy and enhance community engagement. The Land Trust will work with local stakeholders to develop a long-term plan that balances conservation with public access, recreation, and education.
Hemlock Lake | Nigel Kent
Canadice Lake | Nigel Kent
Honeoye Lake | Nigel Kent
Cumming Nature Center | Matt Sitler
FLLT Wesley Hill Nature Preserve | Matt Sitler
FLLT Canandaigua Vista | Bill Hecht
Grimes Glen | Nigel Kent
Grimes Glen | Chris Ray
Canandaigua Lake | Matt DeTurk
FLLT Great Hill Preserve (Nundawao) | Bill Hecht
FLLT Canandaigua Highlands Overlook | Edie Jodz
High Tor, Conklin Gully | Chris Ray
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