Fantastic! A sign of sanity in Albany. Candace On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 4:47 PM Suan Hsi Yong <suan.y...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-agreement-protect-pristine-cayuga-lake-waterfront-property > > > > *For Immediate Release:* 12/1/2021 > > *GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL* > > > > > > *GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT TO PROTECT PRISTINE CAYUGA LAKE > WATERFRONT PROPERTY* > > > > *Governor Announces Agreement Between Finger Lakes Land Trust and New York > State Electric & Gas* > > > > *Agreement Secures Future Protection of the Largest Privately-Owned > Shoreline Parcel along Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes* > > > > *Finger Lakes Land Trust Will Acquire 470-Acre Bell Station Parcel* > > > > *Photo Available **Here* > <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.governor.ny.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2F2021-11%2FBell_Station.pdf&data=04%7C01%7Cjames.denn%40dps.ny.gov%7C59a76d554c474896f1b008d9b4f80823%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C637739799645488193%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=hpMikhf4mgZmTuzJUOa%2BzV7WwN8GVLGrRDfIjS14fmk%3D&reserved=0> > > > > Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a land purchase agreement has been > reached between the Finger Lakes Land Trust and New York State Electric & > Gas Corp. for the 470-Acre Bell Station, the largest privately-owned > undeveloped lake shoreline in the Finger Lakes. Governor Hochul in > September announced that NYSEG had canceled the auction of land known as > Bell Station with 3,400 feet of pristine shoreline on the east side of > Cayuga Lake in Tompkins County, and that three state agencies would > facilitate permanent protection of this parcel and maximize public access. > > > > "The purchase of this land will guarantee its protection and preservation > for future generations - making environmentally conscious decisions like > this allow us peace of mind knowing our children and their children will > have access to green space and a beautiful lakeview in the Finger Lakes," > *Governor > Hochul said.* "I am proud of the hard work and collaboration between our > state agencies, NYSEG, and the Finger Lakes Land Trust to quickly move > ahead with the sale agreement that will pave the way for the transfer of > ownership of Bell Station." > > > > DEC and the Finger Lakes Land Trust will create a public wildlife > management area on the lakeshore portion of the property. Bell Station is > recognized as a priority project in New York State's Open Space Plan and > designated as future public access conservation land in the Town of Lansing > Comprehensive Plan. The property sale does not require further review or > approval by the Public Service Commission. > > > > Cayuga Lake is a critical resource for drinking water, tourism, and > recreation in the region. Preserving Bell Station will help protect > critical habitat for plants and wildlife, and greatly enhance public > recreation opportunities by providing direct shoreline access to the east > side of Cayuga Lake, which is 90 percent privately-owned. The lake supports > incredible sport fisheries, including largemouth bass, chain pickerel, > northern pike, crappie, yellow perch, sunfish, gar, and bowfin. It is > intended that the easternmost portion of the property will be utilized for > the production of renewable solar energy. > > > > Cayuga Lake is also designated as an important bird area by New York > Audubon and supports a large and diverse population of waterfowl and other > birds, particularly during migration and winter. Increased access to unique > areas like this provides important economic opportunities to local > communities to capitalize on the growing popularity of outdoor recreation, > while also protecting the natural buffers that protect water quality. > Protecting the lake from lakeshore development and erosion will protect > water quality in a public drinking water supply and help reduce the threat > of harmful algal blooms. > > > > *Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said,* > "The land purchase agreement between the Finger Lakes Land Trust and NYSEG > to preserve the environmentally sensitive 470-acre Bell Station property is > a major victory for conservation efforts in the Finger Lakes region and an > example of Governor Hochul's commitment to the environment. Preserving Bell > Station will help protect critical habitat and ecosystems that support > water quality in Cayuga Lake and promote recreational opportunities that > support the local economy. DEC is grateful to the Governor for her > leadership in securing this agreement and thankful to NYSEG for recognizing > the environmental value in protecting this property. We look forward to > working with the Finger Lakes Land Trust to conserve this unique parcel on > the lakefront for future generations of visitors to experience and enjoy." > > > > *State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said,* "Bell Station is across > Cayuga Lake to the north from Taughannock State Park. Under the leadership > of Governor Hochul, this acquisition will both protect that lakeview, as > well as the water quality of the creeks and streams that flow from Bell > Station into the lake. We look forward to working with DPS and DEC on this > important conservation effort." > > > > *President and CEO of NYSEG Carl A. Taylor said, *"NYSEG is committed to > being a good corporate citizen and I'm pleased that we were able to quickly > reach an agreement with the Finger Lakes Land Trust to preserve this > pristine piece of property. I'd would like to thank Governor Hochul and her > administration for their leadership and collaboration as we mutually sought > to conserve the Bell Station, a decision that will benefit the Finger Lakes > Region for years to come." > > > > *Senator Pamela Helming said, *"Thank you to Finger Lakes Land Trust and > NYSEG for working together to reach an agreement which will facilitate the > further conservation and protection of this important property. This is > welcome news for the thousands of residents across our region who will be > able to enjoy this pristine area of Cayuga Lake's shoreline for generations > to come. The preservation of this land is also important for the > protection of our local water quality for the thousands of residents who > rely on Cayuga Lake for their drinking water. Thank you to Finger Lakes > Land Trust, NYSEG, the Public Service Commission, New York State Department > of Conservation, and the numerous organizations and constituents in Lansing > and the surrounding area for their advocacy. And thank you especially to > Governor Hochul for listening to our concerns and recommendations, and > facilitating further action that benefits the community and preserves this > remarkably diverse natural resource we are so fortunate to have." > > > > *Assemblymember Anna Kelles said, *"I want to thank Governor Hochul the > Department of Public Service, the Department of Environmental Conservation, > the Department of Parks, and NYSEG for responding so expeditiously to the > significant public outcry to preserve the Bell Station property as > protected state forestlands. This large tract of pristine shoreline and > forestlands serve a critically important role in preserving the health and > integrity of the lake. Preserving the forestlands will not only protect the > lake from land erosion runoff and negative impacts of shoreline septic > systems but will preserve the land for tourism and ecological education. > Our collective commitment to preservation is paramount and the governor's > role in this effort is deeply appreciated." > > > > *Chairwoman of the Tompkins County Legislature Leslyn McBean-Clairborne > said, *"This agreement is historic for our region and our local partners. > Tompkins County has deep gratitude for New York State and Governor Hochul's > commitment to conservation and public access to land in our gorgeous Finger > Lakes region and applaud NYSEG and the Finger Lakes Land Trust for their > partnership in making this happen. There is an incredible history of > conservation and sustainability in the region, and this is another > inspiring example of dedication to these tenets." > > > > *Tompkins County Legislator Mike Sigler said,* "It's been eight years > since we had a public meeting about the Finger Lakes Land Trust possibly > taking over of the Bell property. This would not be happening without the > Governor stepping in. There's so little public access to Lake Cayuga. We > can debate what should be done with the land, but for now I'm happy to see > that it will be preserved and opened eventually to everyone. I've hiked > FLLT land and no one does a better job of keeping land like this open and > preserved. Some will argue this land should be developed to maximize tax > revenue. I understand what they're saying, but we can't and shouldn't do > that with every parcel. If we did, there would be no public space and that > would hurt all of us." > > > > *Finger Lakes Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Zepp said, *"This is a > tremendous win for the Finger Lakes and all residents of New York State. We > are grateful for Governor Hochul's leadership and for all of our elected > officials pulling together to make this happen." > > > > *CEO of the Department of Public Service Rory M. Christian said,* "The > signing of the purchase agreement between the Finger Lake Land Trust and > NYSEG guarantees the strengthening of New York's commitment to land > conservation across the State. My agency is pleased to have played a role > in protecting this environmentally sensitive property for future > generations." > > > > *Steward and Executive Director of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Dr. > Hilary Lambert said,* "This is wonderful news for land and water > protection on Cayuga Lake's increasingly crowded shore. It is also great > news for hikers and paddlers, who will have a beautiful new place that > allows public access. > > > > ### > > Additional news available at www.governor.ny.gov > <https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.governor.ny.gov%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cjames.denn%40dps.ny.gov%7C59a76d554c474896f1b008d9b4f80823%7Cf46cb8ea79004d108ceb80e8c1c81ee7%7C0%7C0%7C637739799645498160%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=TEBh7HccAyoOtXjaUYNTxDhxmL6ARZiKrghEOyTaQhM%3D&reserved=0> > New York State | Executive Chamber |press.off...@exec.ny.gov | > 518.474.8418 > > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
