177 Acres Along Honeoye Creek Protected by Genesee Valley Conservancy

Genesee Valley Conservancy continues to protect land this summer with the purchase of 177 acres of highly important wetland, upland brush-shrub, and wooded habitat in the town of Richmond, Ontario County.  Four land parcels were acquired by the Conservancy, adding to the work the organization has been doing along Honeoye Creek for more than 26 years.

The lands protected this summer connect parts of the Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area (owned and managed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation) together with Taylor Marsh Preserve (a private property owned by the not-for-profit Bergen Swamp Preservation Society) and expands upon several family-owned properties protected by conservation easements held by Genesee Valley Conservancy.  In total, nearly 4,300 contiguous acres are now protected in this immediate area adjoining the Honeoye Creek and protecting this freshwater wetland.

This land acquisition secures more than 3,000 feet of protection along Honeoye Creek that flows through a large freshwater wetland complex.  Combined with previous conservation work in the area, the creek now has over 7 miles of protected lands along its borders, helping to preserve the natural functions and environmental benefits of this creek and wetland.

The project also protects over 1,278 feet of scenic road frontage which will remain as intact vistas of the rural landscape that defines Richmond’s character and that of the little finger lakes region to be enjoyed while traveling public roads in the area. 

History of This Land 

Honeoye Lake and its surrounding watershed were formed during major advances of continental ice sheets during fluctuations that occurred during the last Ice Age. The lake drains northward through Honeoye Creek for 16 miles until it turns westward to meet the Genesee River and eventually empties into Lake Ontario.

In the 1920s, the City of Rochester was poised to get its drinking water from Honeoye Lake via draining the lake and building a dam in the spot of this acquisition. That contract was terminated in the 1930s and the City instead opted to receive its water from Hemlock Lake and Lake Ontario.

The Wetland 

Conversion of wetlands for agriculture in New York has been the primary cause of inland wetland loss.  This project helps protect this Silver Maple-Ash Swamp from habitat alteration.  Roughly 75% of the land acquired is relatively undisturbed wetland, while the remaining lands are in agricultural hay production which will continue in the near-term.

These hardwood basin swamps and adjoining grasslands create an eclectic community of plants and animals that benefit from the ecology here. These lands, along with the conservation area at the southern end of Honeoye Lake, allow for a natural solution to major rain and flooding events.

The Town of Richmond has seen increased rainfall and storm events over the past number of years, resulting in dramatic flooding and infrastructure damage.  Wetlands provide an important means to capturing storm surge and slowing water dispersal.  This project prevents the loss of one of the major wetlands in Richmond that is providing these benefits; helping reduce future costs of dealing with storm flooding damage as those events continue to increase in frequency and size in the future.  

Bird Habitat 

Wetland and upland habitats are ideal for many animal species, including a wide variety of birds.  The area has minimal human disturbance, plenty of food sources among the plants and insects, varieties of shelter for nesting preferences, and ample water.

The New York Breeding Bird Atlas, an inventory project that takes place over the course of five years every decade or so, identified 107 species of breeding birds in this block of land.  Of special note are sandhill cranes found here, one of few breeding locations in central & western New York for the species.

Other birds of special interest found here include wood duck, Virginia rail, sora, Wilson’s snipe, American bittern, least bittern, osprey, red-headed woodpecker, yellow-throated vireo, eastern meadowlark.

Cooperative Conservation 

This project is among Genesee Valley Conservancy’s first Cooperative Conservation projects, a new initiative where the organization aims to use its local knowledge, partnerships, and land transaction experience to identify and acquire critical properties that can be transferred to partner organizations for their long-term stewardship.

Where public land protection already exists, as with a State park or a wildlife management area, new adjoining acquisitions are best integrated into the existing place and the Conservancy’s local presence can make such transactions possible.  Adding to existing conservation areas helps keep management more efficient.

With this project, the Conservancy purchased four parcels from a local landowner and is now working to transfer these lands to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to expand upon the Honeoye Creek Wildlife Management Area.  These new parcels will help reduce interior boundaries, bring State ownership to the road for easier access, and put more wetland acres under a single management system.

Funding 

Funding for this project was made possible by donations to Genesee Valley Conservancy’s Acquisition Fund.  The Acquisition Fund was established to support strategic land acquisitions projects that result in permanent conservation, allowing supporters to make special gifts to help fund key land acquisitions locally.

Additional support came from The Nature Conservancy, an unaffiliated non-profit.  The lands acquired ranked highly on their climate-resiliency scale.  This scale ranks properties for their ability to withstand and adapt to our changing climate and the lands ability to continue to provide important benefits into the future.  Their Resilient and Connected Network Grant Program helped support the acquisition of these key parcels and the carrying costs Genesee Valley Conservancy will during our interim ownership period.

In Summary  
Four parcels of land totaling 177 acres were purchased by Genesee Valley Conservancy to protect Honeoye Creek, the surrounding wetlands, and the high-quality bird habitat found here.  This project was unanimously endorsed by the Richmond Town Board and will soon be transferred to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for long-term stewardship, expanding upon their existing wildlife management area that adjoins these newly acquired parcels.

Genesee Valley Conservancy works throughout the Genesee River watershed to protect high quality habitat, open space, and farmland for the community.  The Conservancy now oversees the protection of 29,290 acres, taking a step closer to the quickly approaching 30,000 acre milestone.

Individuals interested in learning more about Genesee Valley Conservancy’s Cooperative Conservation program and how the Acquisitions Fund is being leveraged to protect new places should contact Executive Director Ben Gajewski at 585-243-2190.

Landowners in the Genesee River watershed interested in pursuing permanent conservation options for their property, be it farmland, habitat, or a nature preserve, should contact Land Conservationist Matt Halladay at 585-243-2190.

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Genesee Valley Conservancy is a nationally accredited non-profit conservation organization working to protect the habitat, open space and farmland in the Genesee River watershed.  Over 29,290 acres of natural habitat and productive farm and forest land have been conserved by Genesee Valley Conservancy with private landowners.  The organization also owns nature preserves open to the public year-round for recreation and education.  For more information visit www.geneseevalleyconservancy.org