ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Water quality improvement projects continue in Tompkins County.
On June 1, the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) acquired 33 acres on two properties within the Six Mile Creek and Cayuga Lake watersheds.
The 18 acres in the Six Mile Creek watershed are located in the Town of Caroline. It contains roughly 15 acres of wetlands, which will help filter potential contaminants out of the water, improving water quality downstream. It will build on other nearby land conserved by FLLT, helping to protect drinking water for over 29,000 people.
Acquired with grant money from the DEC Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP), the property was immediately transferred to a NYS-based nonprofit, the Wetland Trust.
“Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s record investments in clean water, DEC continues to provide funding for communities across the state to protect drinking water,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “DEC is proud to partner with the Finger Lakes Land Trust to ensure that Ithaca and Cornell University can rely on their water sources.”
The other property acquired in the Cayuga Lake watershed, which also protects Fall Creek, will safeguard source water for 30,000 people in multiple municipalities, including Cayuga Heights, Dryden, Ithaca, Lansing, and Cornell.
“We’re grateful for our strong partnership with New York State,” said FLLT President Andrew Zepp. “Funding from the WQIP program allows us to quickly secure sensitive lands which are important for protecting water quality across the region.”
Learn more about the Finger Lakes Land Trust and the DEC’s WQIP program.
