The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has acquired conservation easements covering about 1,624 acres in northern New York. The land was purchased from the Open Space Institute (OSI), with 1,414 acres located in Clinton County and another 210 acres in Essex County.
“These lands in the Adirondacks will help protect forests from development, encourage ongoing, responsible forest management, and provide year-round recreational access,” said DEC Commissioner Lefton. “These protections connect people with their outdoor community and encourage more of the public to follow the lead of Governor Hochul’s initiative to get offline and get outside in the unparalleled beauty in the Adirondack Park.”
The Clinton County portion is known as the CRMI Conservation Easement and covers more than 1,400 acres across Dannemora and Saranac. This easement was originally bought by OSI before being transferred to DEC. It protects against future development and allows public access along a former Delaware & Hudson Railway corridor that stretches for about 16 miles. Activities permitted on this section include biking, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ATV use. However, fishing, hunting, and trapping are not allowed on this easement.
In Essex County, the Tahawus Core Historic Area Conservation Easement protects 210 acres near Upper Works Road in Newcomb. This area includes historic features such as MacNaughton Cottage from around 1854 and an old stone blast furnace built over 150 years ago. The site provides trailhead parking for several popular trails leading into the High Peaks Wilderness Area. Recreational activities here include non-motorized uses like hunting, fishing, trapping, skiing, and nature study throughout the year; motorized access is limited to Upper Works Road.
Deborah Boyce of Boeselager Forestry and CRMI stated: “Chazy Resources is committed to working with New York State for the continued recreation on the 16 mile corridor between Dannemora and Lyon Mountain. We encourage users to join one of the clubs that maintain the corridor.”
Erik Kulleseid, President and CEO of OSI added: “OSI has worked for decades to protect and preserve the Adirondacks’ remarkable landscapes, ecology, and legacy. At Upper Works, we’ve invested more than $2.1 million over 20 years to add trails and make the land more welcoming for users of all abilities, promote sustainable recreation, and provide thoughtful stewardship. We are proud to work with our partners at DEC and the Town of Newcomb to ensure this special place continues to be enjoyed by generations to come.”
Both areas are now open for public recreation under guidelines set out in their respective Interim Recreation Management Plans (IRMPs). The DEC is also collaborating with local groups through Volunteer Stewardship Agreements (VSAs) aimed at maintaining these corridors.
Conservation easements like these allow private landowners to retain ownership while placing permanent restrictions on development or certain uses; these agreements are held by New York State even if ownership changes hands later.
Funding for these acquisitions came from New York’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), which supports efforts such as climate change mitigation projects as well as protecting open space across New York State.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced an agreement intended to streamline legal procedures related to securing open spaces statewide—a move designed to help speed up similar conservation projects that benefit water quality protection, wildlife habitat preservation efforts, rural economies support initiatives focused on climate resilience.
