In autumn of 2005 the DEC acquired the first two of three parts of the largest acquisition projects ever on the Tug Hill Plateau. Known as the East Branch of Fish Creek Project, the People of the State of New York acquired a "working" forest conservation easement on approximately 44,000 acres of land south of the G & W Road (the old railroad bed of the Glenfield and Western Railroad) in the towns of Martinsburg, West Turin, Osceola, and Lewis in Lewis County. As part of the project, the DEC acquired full ownership of a 1,350-acre corridor of land along several miles of the creek to become the East Branch of Fish Creek State Forest.
The third component of this acquisition project, is an easement on approximately 14,000 acres of land held by TNC north of the G & W Road in the towns of Martinsburg, West Turin, Montague, and Osceola. Tug Hill Tomorrow Land trust worked with The Nature Conservancy and NYS DEC to create a map of these lands which will clearly explain what areas are opened to the public for which activities and at what times access is allowed. We are also working with other landowners in the area surrounding this project to create a buffer area of working forests conservation easements.
