Lake George Land Conservancy announced the purchase of 160 acres near Huletts Landing in the town of Dresden on Jan. 29, protecting more than 1,100 feet of stream corridor within the Lake George watershed, including the headwaters of a tributary flowing into Lake George.
The property, known as the Spruce Mountain Addition, adjoins the 488-acre Spruce Mountain protected by the conservancy in 1996 and now owned by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. It also borders the conservancy’s Leeming Jelliffe Preserve near the shoreline in Huletts Landing, creating a connected stretch of protected land.
The conserved land provides habitat for a range of wildlife, including the timber rattlesnake, a species listed as threatened in New York state.
“In addition to safeguarding the water quality of Lake George, this region of the watershed provides important resources for wildlife,” said Mike Horn, executive director of the Lake George Land Conservancy. “By connecting parcels together, we are expanding the safe areas through which wildlife can roam and thrive.”
The conservancy plans to develop a management plan to address past disturbances and improve forest health. The Spruce Mountain Addition does not currently have public access for recreation.