Photo Courtesy of Stefanie Delaney

Photo courtesy of Andy Zepp

One of the most memorable sights along the Chemung River in New York is the Palisades. Instantly recognizable, the palisades are a collection of cliffs that give the hillside a wrinkled look. But they’re more than an interesting landmark. The Palisades provide important habitat for bald eagles, black bear and other wildlife.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust acquired two new parcels of land, including the Palisades, along the Chemung River in 2019. The first parcel was acquired in June and encompasses a total of 104 acres and more than 4,000 feet of shoreline along the Chemung. The second piece of land, purchased in August, covers 211 acres on the opposite side of the River. The Finger Lakes Land Trust works in collaboration with the Town of Big Flats, the State of New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Friends of the Chemung River Watershed to conserve the Chemung River Valley. The land acquisition was partially funded by The Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes.

Both of these parcels are intended to be transferred to New York State in the future and will become part of the Big Flats Wildlife Management Area. The area will be open to the public for a variety of recreational opportunities including paddling, hunting, and hiking.