NYS Buys Forest Land Along The Taconic Ridge
Submitted by the Office Of Governor Cuomo
New York State has completed the acquisition of four parcels of land along the Taconic Ridge which runs for 37 miles along the New York, Vermont and Massachusetts borders. The land was purchased from The Conservation Fund using $4.85 million from the state’s Environmental Protection Fund. The purchase involves what was once know as the Cowee Forest parcels, known as the Nugent, Stickles, East Mountain and Misery Mountain tracts and, according to the press release, will double the size of the Taconic Ridge and Berlin state forests.
Governor Cuomo is quoted as saying “getting outside and enjoying nature has been one of the few pleasures for many New Yorkers during these challenging times and with the continued expansion of preservation we are providing even more opportunity for recreation while ensuring that critical open spaces are protected.”
According to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the purchases also protect tributaries of the Little Hoosick River, one of New York’s wild trout streams. As part of the DEC’s state forests, these lands will be managed for multiple uses, including timber production, watershed protection, wildlife habitat and recreation.