A pair of neighboring landowners in Tompkins County have teamed up to permanently protect a stretch of Taughannock Creek, preserving key natural features and wildlife habitat along one of the region’s most important waterways.
The Finger Lakes Land Trust announced it has accepted two conservation easements covering 46 acres and more than 3,200 feet of creek frontage along Waterburg Road in the town of Ulysses.
The easements were donated by neighbors Scott Sutcliffe and Don and Eilene Guy, whose adjacent properties include a mix of forest and open fields. Sutcliffe had previously protected a separate 58-acre parcel through the land trust and helped connect the organization with the Guys to expand conservation efforts in the area.
The protected land plays a critical role in the local ecosystem, particularly during heavy rain events when the creek corridor serves as a natural floodplain. Officials say preserving these areas will help maintain water quality as Taughannock Creek flows north toward Taughannock Falls and eventually into Cayuga Lake.
In addition to water protection, the easements will safeguard habitat used by migratory and breeding birds, as well as other wildlife that rely on the forested and open landscapes along the creek.
Funding from the Tompkins County Natural Infrastructure Capital Program supported the transaction and long-term stewardship of the project.
Conservation easements are voluntary agreements that permanently limit development while allowing landowners to retain ownership and continue traditional uses such as farming and hunting.
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