Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat News
The Newsletter of the Great Lakes
Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Volume 10, Number 4 • Fall 2002
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat NewsThe Newsletter of the Great Lakes
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By: Maria Maybee
Strength through partnerships is the key to the ongoing successes in permanently protecting the Klydel Wetlands in North Tonawanda. On June 27, 2002, the Western New York Land Conservancy acquired the 17 acre "heart" of the Klydel Wetlands from Herman Probst. The addition of this key parcel to the existing 18 acres nearly doubles the size of the land under protection.
Herman Probst agreed to sell the land for the appraised value. "This property is the largest solely owned parcel in the Klydel Wetlands," stated WNYLC Land Protection Manager Amy Holt. "We thank Mr. Probst for accepting our offer and enabling the transfer to take place as quickly as possible. "
All of the protected land in the Klydel Wetlands will be added to the newly dedicated (October, 2001) North Tonawanda Audubon Nature Preserve. Buffalo Audubon will eventually hold title to the Preserve with the Western New York Land Conservancy holding a conservation easement. This will provide a double-layer of protection ensuring that the Preserve forever remains an open space oasis in the City of North Tonawanda.
We thank the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, U. S. Fish and Wildlife, Niagara County Environmental Fund, E. I. DuPont de Nemours, the U. S Army Corps of Engineers, WNYLC and Buffalo Audubon members and the neighbors of the Klydel Wetlands for their support of this project.
Who are the conservation partners and what role have they played in protecting the Klydel Wetlands?
The Western New York Land Conservancy acts as the conservation buyer, negotiating contracts with the private landowners of the Klydel Wetlands parcels and managing the wide variety of funds that have been dedicated to the Klydel Wetlands project.
The Citizens for a Green North Tonawanda is the locally led group that placed the Klydel Wetlands in the spotlight as a community resource in need of protection. They have acted as an advocacy and educational resource, keeping residents and community leaders updated on the project's status and promoting the benefits of having a permanently protected nature preserve in their back yard.
The Buffalo Audubon Society, under the direction of former President Tony Wagner and Executive Director William McKeever, has spearheaded the fundraising effort, raising the significant amount of funds needed to cover acquisition, closing, and ongoing stewardship costs. Buffalo Audubon will manage the North Tonawanda Audubon Nature Preserve as an outdoor education area and wildlife preserve.
Maria Maybee |