The Finger Lakes Land Trust will host a public meeting later this month to provide an update on its efforts to restore and develop the Shotwell Brook Conservation Area near Skaneateles.
The meeting will be held on July 29, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. James Episcopal Church, 96 E. Genesee Street in the Village of Skaneateles.
Finger Lakes Land Trust President Andrew Zepp will discuss the organization’s plans for the approximately 100-acre conservation area, including restoration efforts and the development of public hiking trails.
The program will begin with an introduction by environmental scientist and Finger Lakes Land Trust board member Charles Driscoll and is co-sponsored by the Skaneateles Lake Association. A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation.
The Finger Lakes Land Trust acquired the 101-acre property in 2024. Located just outside the village, the parcel includes more than 1,000 feet of frontage along Shotwell Brook and more than 1,000 feet of frontage on U.S. Route 20.
The property was identified as a conservation priority because it sits near the headwaters of Shotwell Brook, a major tributary of Skaneateles Lake. Conservation officials say protecting the land will help improve water quality throughout the Skaneateles Lake watershed while creating new opportunities for public recreation.
The meeting is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.
The Finger Lakes Land Trust has protected more than 35,000 acres of undeveloped land throughout the region by working with landowners and local communities. The organization manages more than 45 public nature preserves and holds conservation easements on approximately 200 privately owned properties.
The nonprofit focuses on protecting wildlife habitat, safeguarding water quality, preserving farmland, and connecting conservation lands while also providing educational programs about the Finger Lakes’ natural resources.
