The original 1983 legislation that created conservation easements, Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 49, Title 3, was a long sought effort by conservationists and environmental groups to bring this important conservation tool to use in partnership with willing private land owners across New York State.
A majority of the conservation easements held by the Department (DEC) contain clauses that allow the easement to be modified with concurrence of DEC and the private landowner. Regulation 6 NYCRR Part 592 builds upon ECL Article 49 Title 3 by formalizing the standards and procedures DEC will follow when modifying a conservation easement.
Modifications under Department review
- East Branch Fish Creek Conservation Easement. The Nature Conservancy (Landowner), Towns of Montague, Martinsburg, Osceola, and West Turin, Lewis County.
Approved Modifications
- Angle Fly Preserve Conservation Easement, Town of Somers (Landowner), Town of Somers, Westchester County.
- Long Pond Conservation Easement, JT Granshue Timberlands LLC (Landowner), Towns of Clifton and Colton, St. Lawrence County.
- Valerio Conservation Easement, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (Landowner), Town of Kent, Putnam County.
