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222 Acres Secured For People And Nature, To Be Managed By Erie County Department Of Parks, Recreation And Forestry
News from Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper and The Nature Conservancy
(One Brief Foreword Note here from Niagara At Large publisher Doug Draper – For those of you on the Ontario side of the Niagara River and Lake Erie, you may wonder why the good news announced in this post matters to you.
A view of Eighteenmile Creek in a forested area now secured for the public in Erie County, New York. The creek is part of the watershed feeding the Niagara River. Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy.
As a long-time environment reporter on Great Lakes issues, I can say without doubt that anytime a significant piece of natural space is preserved in the Niagara River watershed on either side of the border, it is important for everyone who shares these freshwater resources because it means natural areas that help keep our waters clean and sustain fish populations and other wildlife.
So a resounding Thank You to these two dedicated environmental groups in Erie County, New York for accomplishing this for all of us.)
Orchard Park, New York, November 20th, 2015 – This past Friday, November 20th, The Nature Conservancy and Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper announced the successful protection of a 222-acre forest at the headwaters of Eighteenmile Creek, one of Lake Erie’s major tributaries. Representatives from Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper and The Nature Conservancy were joined by Deputy Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Greg Olma, Deputy Erie County Executive Maria Whyte, Legislator John Mills and Concord Town Supervisor Eppolito at a celebration in Chestnut Ridge Park.
Previously owned by a private landowner, the Eighteenmile Creek forest will now be managed by Erie County Department of Parks and Recreation and open to the community for use and enjoyment. The acquisition was made possible through a unique collaboration between Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper and The Nature Conservancy, which together secured grant funds and raised private donations to acquire the property.
Another view of forest and Eighteenmile Creek that is now under public domain thanks to the efforts environmental groups in Erie County, New York. Photo courtesy of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection Program provided over $170,000 in grant funds to support this project, and many individuals throughout New York State enthusiastically supported the purchase. The landowner also helped make the project possible by generously selling her land at a discount in the interest of seeing it permanently conserved.
A richly diverse ecosystem, the headwaters of Eighteenmile Creek in the Town of Concord are a critical resource for the Buffalo Niagara community. These forests generate and filter local drinking water and provide habitat for more than 150 species of birds, 30 species of trees and 14 types of shrubs.
“The successful acquisition and protection of these critical headwater forests is the culmination of three years of scientific research, planning, fundraising and negotiation,” said Jill Jedlicka, executive director of Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper. “Our new partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Erie County is another innovative and effective approach to implementing the ambitious goals of our regional Habitat Conservation Strategy. This site, combined with the adjacent forestry tracts, will create a new opportunity for a learning laboratory, public recreation, and will protect precious local drinking water for generations to come.”
A crop of floweing Aster near the banks of the creek. Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy
“The Eighteenmile Creek project was a rare opportunity to protect a mature and intact forest that helps keep the community’s drinking water clean and plentiful,” said Jim Howe, The Nature Conservancy’s executive director in Central and Western New York. “About 90 percent of Erie County’s population gets their drinking water from Lake Erie and the Niagara River. We were excited to team up with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper and Erie County to ensure that this special and beautiful place provides countless services to people. Forests are natural water filters and rejuvenating places to explore. We’re thrilled that the Eighteenmile Creek forest will be available for snowshoeing, hiking and bird watching while it protects water quality at its source.”
The Eighteenmile Creek forest consists of a mature mixed hardwood forest overlying a glacial moraine aquifer that feeds a trout stream. Because of this location, the forest filters fresh water, creating a healthy and supportive living environment for local trout populations and other wildlife. Protecting this forest secures a key connection to over 1,000 acres of headwater forest, creating connected landscapes of open space to benefit the public.
“The opportunity to preserve this acreage for public use not only adds to Erie County’s total forestry but is also consistent with natural habitat protection initiatives stated in the Initiatives for a Smart Economy,” said Deputy Erie County Executive Maria Whyte. “Our parks are a significant part of the legacy we will leave to our children and grandchildren, and thanks to strong partnerships this land will now be available in perpetuity for residents to enjoy.”
“We are pleased to partner with the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, The Nature Conservancy and Erie County to protect the water quality of Eighteenmile Creek and the Niagara River and to expand the network of conserved lands in this region,” said Colleen Sculley of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “The forests and wetlands on this property provide critical habitat for land and waterbirds that use the Niagara River watershed, a region designated as a nationally important area for birds.”
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Nature Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. In Central and Western New York, The Nature Conservancy has protected nearly 100,000 acres for people and nature and owns and manages preserves totaling 30,000 acres.
For more information about The Nature Conservancy, please visit nature.org or contact Kate Frazer, Communications Manager, at (339) 222-2014 or kfrazer@tnc.org.
Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is a community-based organization dedicated to protecting the quality and quantity of water, while connecting people to water. We do this by cleaning up pollution from our waterways, restoring fish and wildlife habitat, and enhancing public access through greenways that expand parks and open space. Riverkeeper is a member of the global WATERKEEPER ALLIANCE.
For more information about Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, please visit bnriverkeeper.org or contact Susan Kornacki, Communications and Development Manager, at (716) 852-7483 ext. 38 or skornacki@bnriverkeeper.org.
Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary for and from the greater bi-national Niagara region.
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