The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) closed recently on the sale of nearly 500 acres of ponds, marshes and forests in the uplands of Bolton Landing. The property, located between Padanarum and Trout Falls Roads, as well as a portion lying to the west of Trout Falls Road, will be opened to the public with hiking trails and pond access.
LGLC purchased the property for $500,000 from a conservation buyer, who held the land until LGLC was able to finalize the purchase. Funding for the deal will be provided through two grants: a State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) grant from the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which was awarded to LGLC in 2007 for this acquisition, and a Federal North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant.
The Bolton property includes the headwaters for Indian Brook and contains important wildlife habitat within its large, unfragmented forest and wetland complexes. Protecting this fragile property prevents excess nutrients and sediments that are inevitably generated by development from flowing into Indian Brook and Northwest Bay.
“We are thrilled that this acquisition has finally come to fruition,” said LGLC Executive Director Nancy Williams. “Protection of this property will assure that the headwaters of Indian Brook will remain clean and wild, which will protect the drinking water quality of Lake George. We can’t wait to open the land for the public to enjoy trails and for our young scholars to explore the property in their environmental education classes. This is a wilderness treasure and a gift to the future of incalculable value. I want to thank the many people who worked with us to make this acquisition possible.”
In 2007 the property had been under threat of development. In response, and unbeknownst to LGLC, a representative of 228 Bolton residents presented a petition to the Bolton Town Board in June of 2007 requesting the Board to protect these lands. That same evening, the Board voted to endorse LGLC’s application for the EPF grant. LGLC also received written support for the grant from Senator Betty Little and Assemblywoman Teresa R. Sayward.
LGLC will create hiking trails this summer for passive recreation, exploration and education, as well as place a kiosk on the land that will help visitors learn of the many types of wildlife that use the land for mating, nesting and habitation. The northern pond will remain as a wilderness area, accessible primarily by canoe or a wood’s trail where visitors can enjoy the rare experience of wilderness in Bolton Landing.
“This property, with its beautiful wetlands, beaver lodges and variety of wildlife, will provide an important learning resource for families and school groups,” said LGLC Communications and Outreach Manager Sarah Hoffman. “We’re excited to open the trails and get people out and on the land to learn first-hand about the amazing creatures and plants in our own backyard.”
The EPF, created in 1993, is primarily funded through the real estate transfer tax and provides a dedicated source of funding for a variety of environmental projects and programs administered by the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Founded in 1988, the Lake George Land Conservancy is a nonprofit land trust dedicated to working with willing landowners and other partners to protect the world-renowned water quality of Lake George and to permanently preserve the natural, scenic, historical and recreational resources of the Lake George region.
Photo Courtesy Of Lake George Land Conservancy