Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Tuffs Island Conservation Area (Photo Courtesy of Mike Dunham)
Finger Lakes Land Trust Acquires Two Islands in Susquehanna River
The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) recently acquired two islands in the Susquehanna River in Tioga County, New York. Totaling 41 acres, the parcels are collectively known as Tuffs Island and are a destination for paddlers in the Southern Tier.
The undeveloped islands feature a mix of habitats and host a variety of wildlife, including Bald Eagles and migratory birds. The FLLT will manage the property as a conservation area to safeguard wildlife habitat and protect water quality.
The Susquehanna River is the largest single source of fresh water to the Chesapeake Bay, which is the largest estuary in North America and one of the most productive in the world. Partial funding for this project came from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Grant Program for Riparian Buffer Protection and Restoration, funded by the EPA and administered by the NYSDEC.
The FLLT also holds a conservation easement on nearby Hiawatha Island, the largest island on New York’s portion of the river.
Land Conservation Partners
Finger Lakes Land Trust
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Grant Program – EPA and NYSDEC
Land Conservation Funders
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Grant Program for Riparian Buffer Protection and Restoration, funded by the EPA and administered by the NYSDEC
Finger Lakes Land Trust’s Tuffs Island Conservation Area (Photo Courtesy of Bill Hecht)