The Finger Lakes Land Trust has purchased 218 acres near Bear Swamp State Forest in Cayuga County. The move aims to protect water quality in Skaneateles Lake, Syracuse’s primary unfiltered water source.
The trust plans to transfer 141 acres to New York State to expand the forest. The remaining 77 acres will be sold with a perpetual conservation easement to preserve the land.
Bear Swamp Creek, a key tributary to the lake, runs through the site, helping to filter water and support wildlife habitats.
