A scenic stretch of farmland and forest in Cortland County will stay undeveloped forever, thanks to a new conservation agreement between landowners and the Finger Lakes Land Trust.
Jim Povero and Sandy Yahner donated a conservation easement that permanently protects 203 acres in the town of Virgil. Their land includes open meadows, wooded hills, and farm fields currently leased to local growers for crops.
Two watersheds, one protected property
The land sits at the dividing line between two major watersheds in central New York. The western half, where the farmland lies, drains into Cayuga Lake and ultimately Lake Ontario. The forested eastern half belongs to the Susquehanna River watershed, which flows all the way to the Chesapeake Bay.
This conservation deal adds to a growing patchwork of protected lands in the area. It sits near Tuller Hill and James Kennedy state forests, along with several other privately conserved parcels.
Habitat upgrades underway
The easement was funded in part by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition. In addition to supporting the project, the coalition is working with the landowners on habitat improvements—like planting trees and building seasonal vernal pools that benefit wildlife and water quality.
What the easement means
Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements that limit future development while keeping land in private hands. Owners can still farm, hunt, and manage their forests—but they can’t sell the land for housing or other intensive uses.
That means this corner of Cortland County will keep its natural beauty and ecological value for generations to come.
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