New York environmental officials have secured more than 1,600 acres of protected land in the Adirondacks, expanding public access and advancing the state’s climate and conservation goals.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced Wednesday it finalized the purchase of conservation easements on 1,624 acres in Clinton and Essex counties. The easements were acquired from the Open Space Institute (OSI) and will allow for year-round recreation while preventing future development.
In Clinton County, the DEC acquired roughly 1,414 acres through an easement on lands owned by Chazy Resource Management Inc. (CRMI). The property includes a 16-mile former Delaware & Hudson Railway corridor in the towns of Dannemora and Saranac. Permitted activities along the corridor include biking, snowmobiling, hiking, and ATV use, although fishing and hunting are not allowed.
In Essex County, the state purchased a 210-acre easement on historic lands owned by OSI in the Town of Newcomb. This includes access to the former village of Adirondac and historic sites like the MacNaughton Cottage and 19th-century blast furnace. The land offers key access points to popular High Peaks Wilderness trails, including Mount Adams and Indian Pass.
DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos called the effort a boost to “responsible forest management” and said the initiative supports Governor Kathy Hochul’s 30×30 plan to conserve 30% of the state’s land and water by 2030.
Both easements are now open to the public. Each site has an Interim Recreation Management Plan outlining what activities are allowed. DEC is also partnering with local groups to maintain trails and expand stewardship opportunities.
Funding for the purchases came from New York’s Environmental Protection Fund, which supports land conservation, recreation, and climate adaptation statewide.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].