Complements Recent and Future Easement Purchases and Supports Governor Hochul’s 2025 State of the State Goals and New York’s 30 by 30 Initiative
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and The Nature Conservancy in New York today announced the State’s addition of 92 acres to Owasco Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in the town of Moravia, Cayuga County. The acquisition more than doubles the size of the WMA and offers new and enhanced public recreation opportunities.
“Doubling the acres of Owasco Flats Wildlife Management Area is great news for Owasco Lake water quality, habitat preservation of diverse wildlife and fish species, and public recreational opportunities for people of varying ages and abilities,” said DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “DEC is grateful to The Nature Conservancy for its leadership and partnership in protecting and enhancing nearly 100 acres of wetlands, floodplain riparian buffers, open fields, and forested areas.”
“The Nature Conservancy is pleased to partner with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to expand the Owasco Flats Wildlife Management area," said Bill Ulfelder, The Nature Conservancy's New York Executive Director. "Part of a major pathway for migrating birds, the property sits in the Owasco Inlet floodplain and provides vital, natural flood storage during large storms, buffering communities from flooding and droughts and providing habitat to birds, fish, and other wildlife. The Nature Conservancy commends Governor Hochul and the DEC for their leadership to protect and restore healthy wetlands."
The parcel features public access to 5,000 feet of Owasco Inlet shoreline, enhancing fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, brown trout, northern pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, brown bullhead, and white sucker. The inlet is one of the primary spawning streams for rainbow and brown trout in the Owasco Lake watershed and also provides spawning habitat for northern pike.
DEC manages Owasco Flats for wildlife conservation, habitat, and wildlife-associated recreation, including hunting, trapping, fishing, wildlife viewing, and photography. The WMA is located within a major migratory bird corridor, the ‘Greater Summerhill Important Bird Area’ as designated by the Audubon Society, and the Owasco Lake Waterfowl Winter Concentration Area. It is proximate to the Finger Lakes Grassland Bird Focus Area. Visitors to the WMA may observe a range of resident and migratory birds including mallard and wood ducks, Canada and snow geese, bald eagles, and songbirds. Owasco Flats provides nesting habitat for waterfowl and songbirds and acts as foraging habitat for raptors like hawks and eagles, white-tailed deer, and wetland-dependent species like muskrat, mink, and beaver.
DEC acquired the parcel as a donation from The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy originally acquired the former farmland as a donation from the Dale C. Parmley Trust. Beginning in 2019, The Nature Conservancy seeded the area with native vegetation and planted 2,000 trees along the riverbank and uplands to help prevent erosion and protect water quality.
DEC and partners plan on continuing to enhance and expand wetlands on Owasco Flats WMA. In 2024, DEC awarded Ducks Unlimited, Inc. (DU), more than $252,000 from the State’s Water Quality Improvement Project program funding to create and restore wetlands on the WMA. When implemented, the new shallow floodplain wetlands will improve waterfowl habitat and mitigate flood impacts to protect water quality in Owasco Lake and the inlet.
“DU has long aimed to support the DEC in expanding and restoring habitat in this high-priority area,” said Matt Wagner, DU Regional Biologist – NY/VT. “We're excited to partner with DEC and TNC to enhance these floodplain wetlands, showcasing the water quality benefits of wetland restoration and balancing multiple goals for wildlife, waterfowl, and people.”
The Owasco Inlet is the largest tributary to Owasco Lake, making it an important source of water and nutrients entering the lake. The addition of 92 acres to Owasco Flats WMA aligns with the priorities of the Owasco Lake Nine Element Plan (PDF) to identify priority areas and continue to use easements, acquisition, and other conservation tools to meet hydrologic resilience targets and help managers continue to meet water quality goals for the lake. Owasco Lake serves as the drinking water source for more than 40,000 people.
Making Open Space Available for All
In the 2025 State of the State, Governor Kathy Hochul prioritized creating and protecting parks and green spaces to ensure more people can enjoy time outdoors. To expand these efforts, Governor Hochul is providing funding for land conservation to protect open spaces and farmland. Recognizing the need for streamlined processes, the Governor is championing several key initiatives including modernizing the use of title insurance to expedite land acquisitions, granting DEC the authority to independently acquire conservation easements, and reducing the financial hurdles faced by not-for-profit organizations in their land conservation efforts. These changes and investments will empower the state to more effectively protect our natural heritage for future generations.
Additional information about Owasco Flats Wildlife Management Area can be found on DEC’s website.
View a map of the acquisition area (PDF).
For more information on New York’s lands and forests, visit DEC’s website.
