
Carpenter Falls overlook. Provided
Two Cayuga County land areas have been added to the Old-Growth Forest Network.
Carpenter Falls Unique Area and Bahar Nature Preserve, both in the Town of Niles, have been inducted into the network which Finger Lakes Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Zepp says means their natural beauty will be preserved for generations.
The Old-Growth Forest Network is a non-profit that recognizes lands preserved as natural forests.
While Carpenter Falls is operated by the DEC and the Bahar Preserve is operated by the Land Trust, both areas share a trail system and cover 90 acres of contiguous land near the western shore of Skaneateles Lake.
OGFN Founder Dr. Joan Maloof states, “We are thrilled to welcome this unique and beautiful forest into the Network as the forest representative for Cayuga County. We want to honor and celebrate the Finger Lakes Land Trust, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and all of the people who have stewarded and safeguarded this special forest through time, protecting it for future generations.”
“Carpenter Falls Unique Area is already a Central New York gem, popular with tourists, recreationists, and the community alike,” said DEC Region 7 Forester Christopher Sprague. “DEC is honored that Carpenter Falls now also holds the distinction of providing public access to picturesque forest in Cayuga County which will be protected from harvesting and allowed to mature into old growth forest.”