Good News You May Have Missed

OLT Protects 25 Acres Safeguarding Oneonta’s Water, Forest Habitat

MILFORD—Otsego Land Trust announced in March the permanent protection of 25 acres on Kelly Corners Road in the Town of Milford through a donated conservation easement from landowners James and Shannon Forbes.

The conservation easement safeguards wetlands, forestland, wildlife habitat and scenic open space while preventing future subdivision of the property. Part of the land is situated at the headwaters of the Wilbur Lake catchment, where upstream land use directly influences downstream water quality. The Forbes family’s woods and wetlands help maintain the high water quality of the City of Oneonta’s drinking water supply by absorbing runoff and preventing erosion and sedimentation, OLT officials said.

According to a press release, the Forbes property is also adjacent to lands already protected by the City of Oneonta, strengthening broader, landscape-scale conservation efforts in the region.

“We wanted to put our property into a conservation easement because this land and these woods are special to both Jim and me and our two daughters,” said Shannon Forbes, landowner. “We walk this land almost daily, throughout each changing season, and appreciate the wildlife and beauty found here. Our daughters grew up on this property, and we believe it helped shape who they are today. By protecting this land, we are preserving its wildness, its water and its ecosystems for the future.”

“This project highlights the vital role private landowners play in protecting Otsego County’s natural resources and drinking water,” said May Leinhart, program director at Otsego Land Trust. “By working in partnership with families like the Forbes family, we are strengthening regional conservation efforts and ensuring that forests, wetlands, and water resources remain protected for generations to come.”

The Forbes property contributes to OLT’s landscape-scale conservation goals, as it is located near eight other Otsego Land Trust–protected properties and within five miles of Milford State Forest and Arnold Lake State Forest. The conservation easement aligns with New York State conservation priorities, local comprehensive plans, and statewide goals to protect open space, water resources, and forestland, officials said.