146 Acres Protected in Richmond

Steve & Jan Ashley donated a conservation easement on 146 acres in the town of Richmond, Ontario County, expanding protections along the Honeoye Creek. This project directly adjoins a 2012 project completed by the Conservancy, expanding upon our first project in the area dating back to 1997.

This project continues the private/public dual conservation approach to protecting lands along the Honeoye Creek.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, as a public entity, owns and manages multiple parcels in this area as wildlife management areas. The non-profit Bergen Swamp Society, as a private entity, also owns and manages land for conservation along the Honeoye Creek. The Ashley property project continues the Conservancy’s private-conservation approach through the use of conservation easements. Conservation easements are a tool that allows land to remain privately owned by individuals, but secures land protections (by limiting development and other harmful activities) to ensure the natural resources of the property and area remain intact.

All together, these various conservation projects protect the wetlands and tributaries of the Honeoye Creek and the agricultural uplands that feed into these areas.

This project is the 101st conservation easement accepted by the Conservancy and is the 3rd accepted in Richmond. With this project, the Conservancy now overseas the protection of over 1,000 acres in the Town.