Friday, January 23, 2015
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/regions_pdf/owasco.pdf
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Parks & Trails New York awards capacity building grant to Owasco Flats Nature Reserve
Owasco Flats Nature Reserve is one of nine not-for profit park and trail groups selected to receive a Capacity Building Grant from the statewide advocacy organization, Parks & Trails New York. The awards are designed to help groups increase organizational visibility and generate community support, grow membership, and attract additional volunteers.
“Grassroots groups play a key role in the development and promotion of our state’s many parks and trails which make such a significant contribution to the economy of our cities, towns and villages as well as to the health and well-being of their residents,” said Robin Dropkin, Executive Director, Parks & Trails New York. “Made possible by a generous private donor, these nine grants are a small investment in strengthening our state’s not-for-profit park and trail organizations that will reap big benefits, enabling these groups to leverage more private funding and marshal more volunteer power to better fill the gaps in government spending created by challenging economic times.”
Owasco Flats Nature Reserve received $1,500 for graphic design of a logo and newsletter template and newsletter printing.
“This funding will help us to better communicate the opportunities available in the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. Our hope is to grow a foundation of support amongst youth, families and communities. A visual presence will help us to do that”, commented Sandie Doran, Chairperson of the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve.
Awards were also granted to:
- Brooklyn Greenway Initiative, Brooklyn, Kings County
- Friends of Grimes Glen, Naples, Ontario County
- Friends of Kinderhook Trails, Kinderhook, Columbia County
- Friends of Taconic State Park, Copake Falls, Columbia County
- Friends of Rockland Lake and Hook Mountain, Inc., Valley Cottage, Rockland County
- Erie-Cattaraugus Rail Trail, Inc., Orchard Park, Erie and Cattaraugus Counties
- Friends of Connetquot, Oakdale, Suffolk County
- Association for Conservation of Recreational and Natural Spaces, Inc., Stafford, Genesee County
Parks & Trails New York received 55 applications from organizations located in 30 counties throughout the state. This is the second year that Parks & Trails New York has offered this funding assistance.
Parks & Trials New York is a statewide not-for-profit organization that has nurtured New York’s park and trail movements for more than 20 years, helping hundreds of groups and municipalities build, maintain, and promote parks, greenways, and more than 1,200 miles of multi-use trails
The Owasco Flats Nature Reserve, Inc. is a 501(C) 3 organization working to protect the ecological integrity of the Owasco Flats through stewardship and conservation. OFNR trails can be accessed from Rte 38 just south of cascade. For more information visit : http://owascoflatsnaturereserve.blogspot.com/protect the ecological integrity of the Owasco Flats through stewardship and conservation.
More information on the grant program and Parks & Trails New York can be found on the website, www.ptny.org or by calling 518-434-1583.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
2009 Projects in the Owasco Flats
In 2009, the OFNR will be putting up signage in the Flats. Thanks to the Millard Fillmore 4-H Group, who raised the money to purchase the signs by conducting bake sales during 2008. The signs will be placed along the trail, at the trailhead on Route 38 and at the marina entrance. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Sandie at owascoflats@gmail.com
Canoe/Kayak Trips
We will be scheduling our annual Canoe/Kayak trips for the summer of 2009. Please contact OFNR if you are interested in participating or leading a trip, please contact owascoflats@gmail.com
Invasive species treatment grant
The OFNR received a $55,000.00 Invasive Species grant to treat Japanese Knotweed along the Owasco Inlet and along Route 38. We are looking for in-kind services as a match. We will also be contacting landowners in the near future to discuss treatment of this highly invasive species. For more information, please contact owascoflats@gmail.com
We will also be administering the 2nd phase of the Aquatic Invasive species grant (a $30,000.00 grant received in 2006) this year. For more information, please contact owascoflats@gmail.com
We will continue to treat garlic mustard by pulling plants in early May to reduce the spread of this highly invasive plant. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact owascoflats@gmail.com
Poision ivy is found in the Owasco Flats, so please make sure that you wear long pants, and boots or shoes to prevent walking through poision ivy.
Cayuga County Parks and Trails will help us maintain the trails, which includes spraying for poision ivy along the railroad bed.
Educational Kiosk
The OFNR wishes to install a covered, wooden educational kiosk that will display the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve, the trail system, canoe launch, and important information about the ecology of the Flats. We have been trying to raise the necessary funds to purchase the lumber and the signage needed for the kiosk. If you would like to contribute to this effort or to the OFNR, please contact owascoflats@gmail.com
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Jack Phillips, Board Member for 15 years resigns
Jack grew up in Long Island, New York at the time when Long Island was mostly rural. He witnessed the growth and expansion of New York City out on the island. During a 20 year period, Jack became increasing concerned about the loss of open space for people and for wildlife. He missed exploring the agricultural fields and woods that seemed to go on forever.
Jack moved to Moravia and began exploring the open space of the Finger Lakes Region. Then he discovered the Owasco Flats. It was the one place that gave him the sense of wonder and freedom that he knew as a child. Jack wanted to help protect this valuable area for the public, mostly children, to enjoy. One day, Jack was visiting the Flats, picking up trash and talking to other visitors, when he met a group of people who were also concerned about protecting the Flats. They were outraged that the Flats was being used as a dump, that the road was impassible, that the trails were non existent and the wetland areas were being ditched and drained. It was then that Jack was introduced to OFNR original members, Jean Siracusa, Paul Lattimore and others and immediately joined the committee.
Jack dedicated 15 years of his life as a land steward; maintaining trails, picking up trash, educating the public on the importance of the Owasco Flats wetlands. He explained that Owasco Lake was Auburn's drinking water source, as well as lake owners and that the Owasco Flats wetlands work to filter drinking water, provide important spawning areas, absorb flood water and provide valuable habitat for wildlife. He became a respected steward of the Owasco Flats. In addition, he did his best to make every meeting, bringing along pictures, and sharing his stories.
Jack and his wife, Judy moved to Auburn in 2007. His family has grown up and moved on, but still expanding with son-in-laws and grandchildren. In November 2008, at the OFNR Annual Board meeting, Jack announced his resignation from the OFNR board. Jack said it was time to spend more time with his family and enjoy the simple pleasures of retirement. If you happen to run into him at the Flats, tip your hat and thank him, for if not for people like Jack and Jean and Paul and many others, the Owasco Flats would have been developed, an extension of the many homes along the lake, or a commercial business. The wetland would have been filled like Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, and the area would not be open to the public to enjoy.
Jack will remain an honorary member of the Owasco Flats.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
CLUB RECOMMENDS FAMILY FRIENDLY GOALS FOR TRAIL
In May seven Junior members of the Millard Fillmore 4-H Club were asked to serve as consultants to the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. Youth, afterall, add a unique perspective about trail use - especially when the question is "how can we make this trail and natural area more family friendly".The youth, grades 4th - 9th, hiked the loop trail and came up with several no-nonsense goals for the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. The most basic of the responses included formalizing the trail. "How would someone know that this is a trail?" stated Brenna O'Brien as the group hiked the overgrown old railroad bed that parallels Rte 38. Club members also thought that a kiosk with information about the unique plants and animals in the area, and the history of the LeHigh Valley Railroad would be interesting, informative and would attract attention. They also suggested that signs near the water showing the common fish you can catch would be of interest to the fisherman. The other very common observation related to the overgrowth of poison ivy in the area. In many locations it was knee deep, and in all instances it is growing up the trees along the trail path. "There must be a way to get rid of poison ivy, other nature trails have to do it", commented Anna Carmichael, 11.
A couple of other very simple suggestions were offered: "The trail needs a litter clean up and signs to help people remember to clean this beautiful area up", commented Cara Carmichael, 10. Most of the trash found was left by fisherman using the area. Fishing line as well as bait containers and beverage bottles littered the Inlet side of the trail. And while the group counted more than 11 fire rings informally built by fisherman using the area, the youth thought that these areas could be formalized for safety and beautification. "If people are going to build fires here anyway, there should probably be fire pits where there is less of a chance of a forest fire", stated Brenna O'Brien, 11.
More sophisticated ideas were also suggested to enhance the use of this area by families. Club members suggested: a boardwalk over the muddy areas, and another boardwalk into the wetland area as a bird observatory, and occasional benches for watching the water and wildlife. And "If you really want to make this place fun for kids, you should add a forest playground, or swings to the parking area", added Summer MacAdam Gorham, 11. The youth also discussed the benefits of widening the trail for use by mountain bikes.
Club members appreciated being introduced to the scenic landscape and recreational trail offered by the Owasco Flats Nature Reserve. They really appreciated that their opinions were asked and that they were listened to. Since last May the Millard Fillmore 4-H Club has raised money to buy trail markers for the nature trail, helping to fix one of the problem areas that they saw. They have also taken a kayak/canoe trip up the Inlet and are committed this year to learning more about the history of the Owasco Flats and Cascade. No doubt, these youth are pleased to be partners in spreading the word about the gem that we have in this natural area.