Natural Infrastructure funding for three land conservation acquisitions
Tompkins County
Summary
The county's Natural Infrastructure fund would help protect 130 acres in Newfield, 86 acres in Danby, and 18 wetland acres in Caroline — a new preserve, an addition to Lindsay-Parsons, and a wetland transfer. Members debated whether Cayuga Lake watershed location should be a priority and worried the fund (paused since 2024, balance ~$379K) may not be replenished given the tight budget.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 5
- Last 30 days
- 1
Last discussed Sep 3, 2026.
Impact analysis
$94,425 from a fund whose balance would drop to about $285,000, with no replenishment in the last three budget years.
County residents get permanently protected forests, wetlands, habitat corridors, flood mitigation, and water quality benefits at a fraction of full market cost.
No groups negatively affected
Mentions & discussions (5)
Tompkins County Extension Awarded $671K for Open Space Conservation
Tompkins County Extension Awarded $671K for Open Space Conservation Finger Lakes Daily News
Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality Committee - Regular Meeting — September 3, 2026
The Land Trust has protected thousands of acres in the county, focusing on water quality, the greenbelt around Ithaca, and farmland. It's under contract on a 37-acre Newfield parcel surrounded by county forest and hopes the county will buy it to protect the larger forest block.
Tompkins County Legislature - Regular Meeting — August 18, 2026
The county put $94,425 of reserve funds into three Finger Lakes Land Trust deals protecting 234 acres — a new Newfield preserve, a Danby biodiversity preserve addition, and a Caroline wetland that feeds Ithaca's drinking water source. One legislator asked whether the program needs clearer long-term goals.
Planning, Energy, and Environmental Quality Committee - Regular Meeting — August 6, 2026
The county's Natural Infrastructure fund would help protect 130 acres in Newfield, 86 acres in Danby, and 18 wetland acres in Caroline — a new preserve, an addition to Lindsay-Parsons, and a wetland transfer. Members debated whether Cayuga Lake watershed location should be a priority and worried the fund (paused since 2024, balance ~$379K) may not be replenished given the tight budget.
Facilities and Infrastructure Committee - Regular Meeting — June 18, 2026
A plan to spend $82,000 from the Natural Infrastructure Capital Program to buy 37 acres on Chaffee Creek Road in Newfield was pulled from the agenda without objection — it may return later.
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