Galloo Island conservation easement protects 1,410 acres in Jefferson County
A conservation easement will permanently protect 1,410 acres of Galloo Island in Lake Ontario, the largest conservation project by acreage in the Thousand Islands Land Trust’s 41-year history.
By Jessica Hale, ClickNNY North Country Desk
A conservation easement will permanently protect 1,410 acres of Galloo Island in Lake Ontario, the Thousand Islands Land Trust announced. The protected area represents about 70% of the island’s roughly 2,000 acres and is TILT’s largest conservation project by acreage in its 41-year history.
The easement covers forests, wetlands and shoreline, as well as habitat used by waterfowl and monarchs during migration. Galloo Island is about six miles offshore from the Town of Hounsfield in Jefferson County.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement that limits certain uses of land to protect its natural features. TILT says the landowner keeps ownership, while the property remains privately owned and on the tax roll.
TILT has worked since 1985 through conservation easements, land purchases and public spaces. The organization says its conservation work now covers more than 15,000 acres, including land it owns and property protected through easements.
Galloo Island is uninhabited, according to state filings. The island is also home to Galloo Island Light, built in 1820 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A Coast Guard station was built there in 1936.
More information about conservation easements and TILT’s work is available through the Thousand Islands Land Trust.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
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