DEC Announces Land Acquisition to Preserve More Than 3,300 Acres in Herkimer County

Advances New York’s ‘30 x 30’ Open Space Protection Goals and Helps Connect New Yorkers to the Outdoors

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the acquisition of more than 3,387 acres of forest and wetlands located in the towns of Salisbury and Norway, Herkimer County. The parcel, purchased from the Open Space Institute (OSI), will be managed for forest products, expanded recreational access, protection of critical drinking water sources, and enhancement of ecosystem resilience.

“The Spruce Creek acquisition marks a major win for clean water, climate resilience, and connecting New Yorkers to the outdoors,” said DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton. “Thanks to Governor Kathy Hochul’s historic support of the Environmental Protection Fund and Open Space Institute’s partnership, New York State is advancing our shared goals to protect natural resources and improve public access to open space.”

The property includes hardwood and softwood forests, nearly 900 acres of wetlands, and several miles of Spruce Creek, a tributary of the East Canada Creek which eventually flows into the Mohawk River. The property sits just outside the southwestern boundary of the Adirondack Forest Preserve and connects to more than 150,000 acres of DEC's Ferris Lake Wild Forest.

The wetlands and forests on the parcel provide habitat for a wide range of species including black bear, white-tailed deer, bobcat, river otter, and fisher. These features also play a vital role in filtering rainwater that serves as part of the drinking water supply for the city of Little Falls.  

Ten acres of the property will be added to the Adirondack Forest Preserve, while the remaining acreage located just outside of the Adirondack Park boundary will be state forest.

Region 6 Director Randall Young said, “This acquisition reflects DEC’s commitment to protecting the natural resources that define Region 6. The Spruce Creek property safeguards critical wildlife habitat and clean water as it expands the network of conserved lands that make the Adirondack region so special.”

President and CEO, Open Space Institute Erik Kulleseid said, "The conservation of the Spruce Creek property is a significant achievement in OSI's long history of bold, strategic land protection in the Adirondacks, where we have saved almost 60,000 acres of land to date--with more to come. We were proud to work with our partners at DEC to permanently protect this special place and the wealth of benefits it offers. We are also deeply grateful to the Wyss Foundation for making this moment possible, and we appreciate the support provided by the Environmental Protection Fund in preserving a vital source of clean water for the people and businesses of Little Falls and beyond."

Although the purchase and transfer of the Spruce Creek property are now complete, public access is currently limited to one location off Dairy Hill Road just south of the junction with Guideboard Road. DEC staff are working to establish additional safe and sustainable access points that will support future recreational use while protecting natural resources. The public is asked to respect the limited access during development of these additional points. DEC will provide updates and announce when these improvements are completed.

The acquisition was made possible by OSI’s $3 million land purchase from Datum 9 Forestry LLC. DEC subsequently acquired the 3,387-acre parcel using $3 million from the EPF. Among the many environmental achievements in the enacted 2025-26 State Budget, Governor Hochul increased the EPF’s historically high level to $425 million. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers. The EPF also supports New York’s 30x30 initiative, which commits to conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030.