Otsego Land Trust Acquire 86 Acres on Panther Mountain

Otsego Land Trust (OLT) is proud to announce the recent purchase of 86acres of beautiful forests and trails located on Roses Hill Road in the Town of Otsego.The property was purchased from Otsego County with funds from the Hannah Lee Stokes Land Preservation Fund.The property is located on Panther Mountain and is adjacent to Fetterley Forest Conservation Area, an OLT owned property that is already open to the public for passive recreation.

OLT envisions adding the newly purchased land to Fetterley Forest,thereby increasing opportunities for public use and enjoyment in the future. The protection of this property will also help reduce land fragmentation and conserve wildlife habitats and corridors in this rural area. In the coming year, OLT will be seeking community support to help fund public access improvements. Executive Director of OLT,Patricia Szarpa, said: “The purchase of this property will ensure that a portion of the eastern ridge line of Canadarago Lake, which is cherished by area residents and visitors alike,will be forever conserved.This adds to our land protection up on Panther Mountain, identified by OLT as a conservation focus are within our region.”

Attorney Les Sittler graciously provided pro bono legal assistance to OLT, without which this acquisition would not have been possible.OLT’s mission is to conserve the natural heritage of w