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We are thrilled to announce that we have been awarded a $675,000 state grant toward the acquisition of the Bear Lake Preserve in the town of Stockton (Chautauqua County). The grant (EPF 251076), announced in late December by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) through the 2025 Regional Economic Development Council initiative, is part of $25.4 million distributed through the state’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to support 49 projects across New York.
Protecting the Bear Lake Preserve is a rare opportunity to conserve nearly the entire southern shoreline of this important lake. Once acquired, the property will become a publicly accessible nature preserve. The surrounding forests and wetlands help protect water quality and provide important habitat for wildlife. The Bear Lake Preserve connects with our College Lodge Forest and Floating Fen, creating a hugely significant 709-acre corridor of permanently protected land within the WNY Wildway.
We are deeply grateful to New York State and OPRHP. This award puts us well on our way to conserving one of the most ecologically important landscapes in our region. Watch our video below to see how special this property is. And read all about it in today's Buffalo News (it made the cover!)
