The Western New York Land Conservancy has an agreement in place to purchase 168 acres of the College Lodge Forest from the Faculty Student Association (FSA), provided it can raise $790,000 by Dec. 31.
The College Lodge Forest is a community gathering place and one of the most beautiful natural areas remaining in Western New York. The property was purchased in 1939 by SUNY Fredonia students, with their own funds, for the main objective of promoting healthy outdoor activities and nature study.
Since then, the land has been a prized learning laboratory for thousands of teachers, researchers, and students from around the globe. At least 144 species of birds, 15 species of reptiles and amphibians, 15 species of mammals, and more than 400 species of plants — including several orchid species and three plant species considered very rare in New York State — exist on the property. It boasts a network of hiking trails, a pristine wetland, and old-growth forest. It was noted that old-growth forests are rare in Western New York, and the College Lodge Forest is one of the best preserved patches in the region. Interestingly, the land sits on a continental divide: on one side rainwater drains toward Lake Erie and the Atlantic Ocean, while on the other side it drains toward the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition, the College Lodge Forest’s unique position on the Portage Escarpment above the Lake Erie plain places it in an important bird migratory corridor.
FSA has owned the property and operated a historic lodge on the site since 1969. The cost of maintaining the land and all of the buildings is high, so the FSA decided to sell the forest to the Land Conservancy. By purchasing 168 acres from FSA, the Land Conservancy will protect the forest and FSA will be able to invest funds from the sale into the stewardship of visitor facilities on the portion of the property it retains. FSA will continue to own and operate the lodge and the surrounding 33 acres.
SUNY Fredonia Department of Biology Professor Jonathan Titus and his wife, the WNY Land Conservancy's staff ecologist, Priscilla Titus, are actively engaged in the campaign to protect the forest. Dr. Titus stated, “The College Lodge forest is an irreplaceable natural resource. The old growth forest is unique and the marsh is one of the most pristine in the region. It is critical that the lands are permanently protected and properly managed.”
The 168-acres of forest that the Land Conservancy will purchase includes miles of hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country ski trails. Once purchased, the Land Conservancy will maintain it as a publicly accessible nature preserve that will continue to benefit Fredonia students, faculty and staff, as well as the Fredonia-Dunkirk community and the entire region.
To learn more about the College Lodge Forest and the WNY Land Conservancy efforts, visit online at wnylc.org.
