Lil Salmon
03-22-2005, 11:30 AM
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=smalldark vAlign=top>I grabbed this from another forum because I thought it would be of some interest to all.</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>
State vows to preserve land on Salmon River
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
By Delen Goldberg
Staff writer
Niagara Mohawk recently turned over 2,800 acres along the Salmon River to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
DEC officials say the transfer will help preserve the Salmon River and protect the area's natural resources. But the deal also will mean less tax revenue for Oswego County.
"The DEC doesn't have to pay county taxes on state reforestation lands, so it's a hit for the county," Legislator David Waters, R-Pulaski, said last week. "But if the state uses the land for recreation trails, parks and access for fishermen, it could very well be a positive thing. It could help promote tourism in this part of the county, which would generate more commerce and sales tax."
The DEC has acquired almost 3,000 acres of riverfront land in Richland, Pulaski, ******, Albion and Redfield. Niagara Mohawk agreed in January to transfer the property to the state as part of a broader settlement to reduce power-plant pollution.
In Richland, Pulaski, ****** and Albion, the DEC will pay municipal and school taxes on parcels that include at least 500 contiguous acres. The state won't pay county taxes on those properties, nor will it pay taxes on parcels with less than 500 contiguous acres.
"For the vast majority of properties we bought, we'll be paying taxes," said David Forness, supervising forester for the DEC. "But there are a few properties that aren't quite big enough."
The situation is different in Redfield. There, the state will pay town, school and county taxes on the almost 600 acres it acquired.
"We are somewhat of a unique town," Redfield Supervisor Michael Yerdon said. "Back in the '20s, legislation was made that the state would pay taxes on land here. That agreement certainly has come back to help our community in this day and age."
Yerdon, like other town officials, said he was pleased with the agreement.
"We're pretty thrilled about it, as are, I think, the majority of people in the community," Yerdon said. "When you have a body of water as unique as the Salmon River Reservoir, and it's real clean and pure, it's certainly very important to keep it as pristine as possible so people can enjoy it. We've been hoping something like this would happen."
The state had been trying to acquire land from Niagara Mohawk for seven years. DEC officials wanted to stop a development boom that had begun to mar the shores of the Salmon River, Forness said.
Niagara Mohawk had owned and protected much of the riverfront land for decades, Forness said, but the company began selling large parcels to companies and private owners in the 1990s. Niagara Mohawk had been ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to sell all land not needed for generating or transmitting energy.
The DEC's "acquisition tries to balance that subdivision with protection," Forness said. "While we like to see some level of development for the sake of economics, we want to protect the shoreline. This land will be open for public access forever because of our acquisition."
DEC officials plan to use the land to create hiking trails, parks and access routes for anglers. The state also will use some of the land to create a trail system in Pulaski and help Altmar expand its cemetery.
"We're real happy this is finally coming together," Forness said. "The Salmon River provides people an opportunity to be in an environment unlike anywhere else, with pristine wilderness, seclusion, tranquility and great fishing."
© 2005 The Post-Standard.
BELOW IS THE MAP FROM THE ARTICLE SENT TO US BY METALSLAYER - THANKS AGAIN! http://www.salmoncrazy.com/images/misc/nimo_dec_land.gif
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State vows to preserve land on Salmon River
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
By Delen Goldberg
Staff writer
Niagara Mohawk recently turned over 2,800 acres along the Salmon River to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
DEC officials say the transfer will help preserve the Salmon River and protect the area's natural resources. But the deal also will mean less tax revenue for Oswego County.
"The DEC doesn't have to pay county taxes on state reforestation lands, so it's a hit for the county," Legislator David Waters, R-Pulaski, said last week. "But if the state uses the land for recreation trails, parks and access for fishermen, it could very well be a positive thing. It could help promote tourism in this part of the county, which would generate more commerce and sales tax."
The DEC has acquired almost 3,000 acres of riverfront land in Richland, Pulaski, ******, Albion and Redfield. Niagara Mohawk agreed in January to transfer the property to the state as part of a broader settlement to reduce power-plant pollution.
In Richland, Pulaski, ****** and Albion, the DEC will pay municipal and school taxes on parcels that include at least 500 contiguous acres. The state won't pay county taxes on those properties, nor will it pay taxes on parcels with less than 500 contiguous acres.
"For the vast majority of properties we bought, we'll be paying taxes," said David Forness, supervising forester for the DEC. "But there are a few properties that aren't quite big enough."
The situation is different in Redfield. There, the state will pay town, school and county taxes on the almost 600 acres it acquired.
"We are somewhat of a unique town," Redfield Supervisor Michael Yerdon said. "Back in the '20s, legislation was made that the state would pay taxes on land here. That agreement certainly has come back to help our community in this day and age."
Yerdon, like other town officials, said he was pleased with the agreement.
"We're pretty thrilled about it, as are, I think, the majority of people in the community," Yerdon said. "When you have a body of water as unique as the Salmon River Reservoir, and it's real clean and pure, it's certainly very important to keep it as pristine as possible so people can enjoy it. We've been hoping something like this would happen."
The state had been trying to acquire land from Niagara Mohawk for seven years. DEC officials wanted to stop a development boom that had begun to mar the shores of the Salmon River, Forness said.
Niagara Mohawk had owned and protected much of the riverfront land for decades, Forness said, but the company began selling large parcels to companies and private owners in the 1990s. Niagara Mohawk had been ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to sell all land not needed for generating or transmitting energy.
The DEC's "acquisition tries to balance that subdivision with protection," Forness said. "While we like to see some level of development for the sake of economics, we want to protect the shoreline. This land will be open for public access forever because of our acquisition."
DEC officials plan to use the land to create hiking trails, parks and access routes for anglers. The state also will use some of the land to create a trail system in Pulaski and help Altmar expand its cemetery.
"We're real happy this is finally coming together," Forness said. "The Salmon River provides people an opportunity to be in an environment unlike anywhere else, with pristine wilderness, seclusion, tranquility and great fishing."
© 2005 The Post-Standard.
BELOW IS THE MAP FROM THE ARTICLE SENT TO US BY METALSLAYER - THANKS AGAIN! http://www.salmoncrazy.com/images/misc/nimo_dec_land.gif
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