50-Year Anniversary of the Unique Natural Areas Inventory
 
We’re declaring 2026 to be a year to honor the lands and waters that enrich and support our lives. Each issue of The Green Scene will feature one of our special UNAs open to the public to explore and enjoy. We hope you may find new places to visit or new perspectives on Home throughout the year.

UNA Profile: Cayuga Shores Wildlife Management Area (formerly Bell Station) in Lansing, NY

In the farthest northwest corner of Tompkins County, UNA-195: Nut Ridge on Cayuga Lake encompasses diverse habitats. This special area was identified as unique for its unusual geological features, dramatic steep slopes, and extensive, relatively undisturbed forests supporting rich populations of spring wildflowers and other native plants, including some that are rare or scarce. Most of this UNA was preserved and is accessible to the public via the Cayuga Shores Wildlife Management Area managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

More than twenty streams carve through the 229-acre UNA site, which affords beautiful views of Cayuga Lake as well as hotspots for birding and hiking. The variety of lakeshore, cliffside, forest, woodland, and shrubland community types includes abandoned pasturelands that have reverted to woodlands, and mixed deciduous stands of maple, basswood, red oak, and white oak. These closed canopy deciduous forests support stable populations of diverse and precious spring ephemerals, a sign of healthy well-balanced forest ecosystems.

Having evolved in tandem with temperate forests, ephemeral wildflowers such as trillium and trout lily emerge from leaf litter in early spring to take advantage of sunlight steaming through bare branches. They often create impressive short-lived displays of color in April and May, such as delightful “seas” of pink spring beauty that appear to fill the understory. Many of these delicate plants wait for years until conditions are right before they will flower, and many are dependent on particular mycelia in the soils to support underground bulbs or rhizomes. Most are pollinated by native bees, with some so highly specialized that they visit only one flower species, and many rely on ants to disperse their seeds.

After just a few weeks, as tree leaves open and plunge the forest floor into shade, ephemerals complete their flowering, then lie dormant throughout the summer. When cooler fall temperatures arrive, the plants produce tiny leaves, stems, and flower buds within their bulbs, which overwinter underground to enable a fast emergence the following spring. All these specific soil, temperature, and symbiotic adaptations mean that ephemerals are vulnerable to disturbance. They generally do not spread quickly or over long distances. When forests are logged or ATVs tear up understory floors, it can take twenty years for these plants to re-establish, if they ever can.

Besides the biodiversity found here, the geology of Nut Ridge UNA is also noteworthy. In the gorges are car-sized blocks and layers of light-colored Tully Limestone, a bedrock visible at the surface in only two other locations in Tompkins County, and the only major limestone bed found in the county. Like all the bedrock in our region, this layer tips to the south and dives underground as one travels toward Ithaca. This fifteen-foot thick rock layer was formed from the calcareous shells and skeletons of marine organisms when shallow seas covered our region about 385 million years ago (at the end of the Middle Devonian period.) A relatively hard stone, limestone that overlays softer shales can result in steep gorges with dramatic waterfalls, as streams left high by a receding glacier erode downward. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, limestone’s mineral content was very useful to local farmers and bricklayers, who burned it in lime kilns to produce quicklime for fertilizer and the making of mortar or iron. Cayuga Crushed Stone in Lansing mined this bedrock layer (which means you could find a fossil in your driveway one day.) The high calcium content of this stone enhances soil fertility in the county and contributes to the character and rich assemblage of spring ephemerals found at Nut Ridge UNA.

Conserving a place as special as Nut Ridge/Cayuga Shores often requires collaboration and considerable effort by multiple organizations and agencies. Owned by NYSEG, Bell Station (as this property was then called,) was slated for the development of a nuclear power plant in the 1970s, but environmental advocates defeated the plan. After many years the Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) recognized its high ecological and aesthetic value and desired to protect it. By about 2018, the Town of Lansing changed the preferred use designation for this property in their revised comprehensive plan from “industrial” (a holdover from the nuclear power plant plan) to “recreational.”  At about the same time, the EMC conducted a thorough ecological inventory and identified it as a Unique Natural Area. When NYSEG decided to sell this parcel, they were required to put it up for auction on the open market. Together with the efforts of local elected officials and civic groups, and with UNA scientific data in support, more than 4,000 citizens signed a petition requesting cancellation of the auction. Governor Kathy Hochul intervened and required NYSEG to negotiate directly with FLLT for the sale. Acquired in 2022, the lakeshore portion was then transferred to the DEC to be managed for recreational uses including hiking, wildlife watching, hunting, and fishing.

UNA 195: Nut Ridge on Cayuga Lake includes some private lands that are not within the wildlife management area. The UNA is bounded by Cedar View Road on the north and by the site of a former coal-fired power plant, now proposed to become an AI data center, on the south. Public access to UNA land in the Cayuga Shores Wildlife Management Area is from Nut Ridge Road. 1.5 miles of trails lead from parking at the end of Nut Ridge Road down wooded hillsides to over 3,400 feet of Cayuga Lake shoreline. Please stay on trails to protect these special habitats.

Do not park in front of the entrance to the preserve. Do not block the driveway across from the preserve. Be sure to engage your emergency brake on the steep hill. Dogs are welcome if on leash. Check with New York State DEC for hunting seasons and regulations. https://www.fllt.org/preserves/bell-station/

Monday, March 9
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
City Hall, 108 E. Green St., Ithaca, NY 14850
Monthly meeting of the Sustainability & Climate Justice Commission. 

TCAT plans to launch an on-demand, affordable electric car and van service this spring to reduce transportation barriers that have long caused hardships for many living in Ithaca’s West Hill, West End, and Flats areas.

The pilot program, called eRide Ithaca, is part of the state-funded Ithaca Electric Transportation Access (IETA) Project aimed at expanding clean transportation options to disadvantaged residents while giving them more access to essential goods and services.

Fully qualified drivers, who will be hired by TCAT, will operate affordable door-to-door service using a fleet of electric sedans and ADA-accessible vans. Residents will be able to schedule rides via a soon-to-be unveiled mobile app or through the 2-1-1 call center (also with soon-to-be announced details.)

The public is invited to learn more about eRide Ithaca at two community meetings scheduled in the BorgWarner Room at Tompkins County Public Library (TCPL), 101 E. Green St., Ithaca.

For more details, please visit TCAT’s IETA webpage at https://tcatbus.com/ieta/ or contact IETA Project Manager Giuseppa Melice at [email protected] or Administrative Assistant Amy Yanosh at [email protected].

Those needing accessibility accommodations to attend the information sessions should contact TCAT at least five days in advance at (607) 277-RIDE or email at [email protected] (Please write eRide in the subject line.)  Also, please contact TCAT (same number and email as above) if you have no TCAT service or any other transportation options available to attend and we will make every effort to find you a ride.
View it on website

The Town of Ithaca's Conservation Board invites nominations for their 23rd annual Richard B. Fischer Environmental Conservation Award. This award honors the late Dr. Fischer for improving Ithaca's natural environment. A Cornell professor, nature lover, and member of our Conservation Board, he erected many bluebird houses and helped establish New York's bottle law to reduce waste and litter.

Since 2003, the Town's Conservation Board has honored a different individual or group each year, including Richard Schoch, Adrianna Hirtler, the Friendship Donation Network, Finger Lakes ReUse, and Primitive Pursuits. Please see https://townithacany.gov/richard-fischer-award/ for the complete list of former winners.

Individuals or organizations who have helped improve Ithaca's natural environment are eligible for nomination. Selected awardees will have their names added to a plaque in Town Hall and attached to a tree planted at a celebration in their honor in a Town park or trail. Birch, beech, maple, oak, poplar, sycamore, juneberry, hemlock, hazelnut, pine and apple trees have been dedicated at 22 ceremonies celebrating the many ways Ithaca’s environment has been improved by honored winners.

Please nominate a person or a group you feel has contributed to improving and conserving our environment. Nominations for the 2025 award must be received no later than February 28, 2026. For submission guidelines, including a nomination form, see the Town’s website at
https://townithacany.gov/richard-fischer-award/ or contact the Conservation Board at [email protected].
For more information regarding the Town’s Conservation Board please see our website at https://townithacany.gov/boards/boards/ or visit us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IthacaConservationBoard) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/townofithacaconservationboard/).

Contact: Michael Smith, Senior Planner,Town of Ithaca
607-273-1747, [email protected]

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HGCNY Homeowner Native Plant Garden Grant

Start your native garden—with a little seed money and support
Thinking about creating a native plant garden? Wild Ones HGCNY is offering Central NY homeowners up to $200 in “seed money” to help bring their garden plans to life - using plants and seeds from our Native Plant Shopping Guide.
Along with funding, each grant applicant can be paired with volunteer mentors - someone experienced in native gardening who can share advice and encouragement from planning through planting.
Eligibility: Homeowners in Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland, Oswego, or Tompkins counties.
Deadline: Applications are due by March 31, 2026.
Note: A limited number of grants are available.
> Learn more, explore the Shopping Guide, and find out how to apply here:
https://hgcny.wildones.org/hgcny-homeowner-native-plant-garden-grant/
Let’s grow something beautiful together.

(shared by Finger Lakes Native Plant Society and Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners)

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The City and Town of Ithaca will be holding monthly public information sessions about the upcoming Community Choice Aggregation program. The CCA program empowers municipalities to bulk-purchase electricity and natural gas on behalf of local customers to achieve lower costs and higher rates of renewable energy. 

This program will be coupled with a voluntary investment program, dubbed ‘Own Your Power,’ that will enable residents and businesses to build and share in on-site renewable power. 

Today’s repeal of the Endangerment Finding made it clear that the political leadership of the Environmental Protection Agency is untethered to facts or science. The decision is a gift to polluters at the expense of Americans. If it stands, it will raise costs for families and communities and jeopardize the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. 

New York will continue to fight every day to protect New Yorkers from the impacts of climate change and deliver a safer, cleaner, and healthier future.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking public comments on a draft Access and Public Use Plan (APUP) for the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Northern Montezuma WMA includes more than 8,000 acres of DEC-managed properties in Wayne, Seneca, and Cayuga counties.

Northern Montezuma WMA is known for its expansive impounded and natural wetlands, while also featuring forested and grassland habitats that support many game species and several species of conservation concern. This WMA is part of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, a globally significant Important Bird Area and a destination for outdoor enthusiasts across New York State.

The draft APUP complements the existing Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (WMA) 2020 –2029 and addresses management objectives for wildlife-dependent recreation, access features, and facility maintenance over a 10-year period. The draft APUP is available for review on DEC’s “Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area” webpage.

NYS Senate, 52nd District - Lea Webb

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NYS Assembly, 125th District - Dr. Anna R. Kelles
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ITHACA, N.Y. — Somewhere in a warehouse on the outskirts of the San Francisco Bay Area, there’s a pair of brand new city buses emblazoned with Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit’s (TCAT) iconic pale blue panther livery.

The two diesel hybrid buses are undergoing final checks before they make the nearly 3,000-mile road trip across the U.S. In the coming days, specially trained cross-country bus drivers will shepherd the vehicles to their new home in Ithaca.

On Wednesday morning, TCAT General Manager Matthew Rosenbloom-Jones was at bus manufacturer Gillig’s plant in Livermore, California while he spoke with The Ithaca Voice. He had just signed the final paperwork to purchase the hybrid buses.

“You know, it’s actually a really good way of testing the road worthiness of the bus,” Rosenbloom-Jones said. “It’s like a [3,000] mile shakedown test. So any problems that develop during the drive are rectified before the buses go into service.”

Rosenbloom-Jones said that maiden voyage also serves as a good illustration of the range of the new buses. Once in Ithaca, he anticipates the new buses will be able to run their regular routes for two days on a single tank of fuel. 

The initial order for the two buses was placed in April 2025. They’re are expected to last between 12 and 14 years, or half a million miles, and cost TCAT $932,867 each.

“They are a pricey bus, but it’s designed to last us quite a long time in service,” Rosenbloom-Jones said.

The new buses will join TCAT’s fleet of about 50 vehicles, most of which are diesel powered. Once they arrive from California, the new hybrids will replace older buses that have surpassed their useful lives. There is currently only one other hybrid bus in active use — one of five older buses donated to TCAT by Capitol District Transit Authority in Albany last April.

“We’ve had hybrids in the past,” Rosenbloom-Jones said. “But these [new vehicles] are a much more advanced bus than what’s available on those [older] buses. The technology has really improved quite a bit. They are like a different generation of bus, but we’re familiar with the basic concept.”

While the new hybrid buses will still use diesel fuel, they boast new technology which allows them to switch between electric and conventional power in a more strategic manner.

“[One new feature] basically allows the bus to shut down the diesel engine in a specific geographic area, so the bus runs in all electric mode,” Rosenbloom-Jones said. “So areas that are particularly sensitive to noise or pollution would benefit a lot from this feature.”

Rosenbloom-Jones said TCAT can essentially draw a map to define electric-only areas using a GPS “geo-fence.” Potential contenders include certain neighborhoods that see a lot of late night service such as the Pine Tree Road corridor on East Hill. 

The hybrid buses will also rely more on their electric power when moving slowly or idling more frequently. Rosenbloom-Jones said that feature will help cut down on emissions in more congested areas like Collegetown or downtown Ithaca.

The transit agency also has six fully electric buses in rotation, also manufactured by Gillig. Rosenbloom-Jones said the electric buses in the current fleet have performed very well compared to an initial set of now-unusable electric buses that TCAT purchased in 2021 from the now-defunct manufacturer Proterra. 

Asked why TCAT opted to go for hybrid over full electric buses, Rosenbloom-Jones said it was a matter of planning and capacity. At present, TCAT’s depot can only accommodate chargers for a maximum of eight full electric buses. The agency had initially set the goal of an emissions free fleet by 2035. 

“Long term […] there needs to be additional investment in the grid,” Rosenbloom-Jones said. “And the problem, as I understand it, is that our facility draws electric power off of a really old creaky substation at the end of South Cayuga Street. If we were to keep adding capacity for charging, that transformer station couldn’t handle that level of load.”

Rosenbloom-Jones said he is hoping to draw on the last of a green infrastructure grant to purchase a few more battery-electric buses. Pending approval from TCAT’s governing board, the purchase could potentially bring the size of the all-electric fleet to its maximum of eight.

In the meantime, Rosenbloom-Jones said he expects TCAT’s new hybrid buses to arrive in the next few weeks. The exact timeframe, he said, just comes down to delivery driver capacity. For now, Ithaca’s new buses will wait in the plant’s “sold lot” among hundreds of other buses destined for transit systems large and small across the country. 

During the interview, Rosenbloom-Jones spotted another pair of buses setting off from Livermore, California to their new home in another Southern Tier transit system — Broome County Transit in nearby Binghamton. 

“Actually, as I’m looking out my window, a bus is just leaving for Binghamton right now,” Rosenbloom-Jones said. “Oh, they’re leaving as a convoy. There’s two of them.”

Ithaca Times | by Philip O’Dell | February 16, 2026 

FLX Strong and Cayuga Lake Environmental Action Now (CLEAN) filed a petition on Jan. 29 in Tompkins County Supreme Court to block the proposed data center in Lansing, claiming the Town of Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) overstepped its authority.

The two advocacy groups filed the Article 78 petition against ZBA and project developers TeraWulf Inc., its subsidiary Lake Hawkeye, property owner Cayuga Operating Company, and applicant Fred DelFavero.

TeraWulf entered a long-term lease agreement in August 2025 with the property owners of the former Cayuga Power Plant. The proposed “Cayuga Data Campus” development at 228 Cayuga Drive is within the Industrial Research (IR) District of the town’s zoning code. 

A data center is a facility that houses large-scale computing machines that work together to process, store, and share data. The facilities have been instrumental for creating artificial intelligence platforms like ChatGPT.

TeraWulf CEO Paul Prager previously said the proposed facility will engage in activities, such as scientific simulation and modeling, algorithm development and testing, machine learning research and experimentation, data intensive computational research and engineering analysis and investigation. Operations will not include mining cryptocurrency or hosting websites. 

FLX Strong and CLEAN’s petition challenges ZBA’s decision to allow TeraWulf to proceed with building a data center as a general processing facility.

ZBA members voted 3-2 in favor of the data center falling under the general processing category of its zoning rules during their meeting on Dec. 22, 2025. 

In a joint statement, FLX Strong and CLEAN allege ZBA’s proceedings were “marked by bias, legal defects, and procedural irregularities that cannot beallowed to stand.” The two groups claim ZBA “effectively rewritten the Town Code under the guise of interpretation” to approve the data center. 

“The decision is damaging both in the short term, by treating a data center as a permitted use by right, and in the long term, by opening the door to treating any type of business as ‘general processing,’ no matter its character,” according to the statement. “This is an alarming precedent for our community.”

In their filing, the two groups claim ZBA stretched a legacy industrial category meant for "light manufacturing and assembly” to fit modern digital infrastructure, which allowed the project to bypass rigorous environmental reviews and proceed as a permitted as-of-right use. 

Petitioners contend this interpretation sets a dangerous long-term precedent that collapses the town’s carefully drawn zoning distinctions. Because nearly every modern business processes some form of information, the lawsuit warns that the ZBA’s logic could render almost any commercial use a form of "general processing," stripping the Town Board of its legislative authority to control local development.

The filing further alleges the decision was marred by "procedural defects" and a rushed timeline. Despite a public hearing featuring 43 speakers, ZBA reached its conclusion in just 12 days—far short of the two months allowed. This compressed schedule, the petition claims, curtailed essential deliberation on a novel land-use issue with significant community and environmental implications.

The lawsuit alleges ZBA Chairperson Jack Young was biased in favor of the data center’s approval before casting the tie-breaker vote. The petition claims Young expressed hope for the data center’s approval in private emails months before the vote. The petition also cites the chairperson’s public comments where he “prejudged the core legal question—whether a data center was a permitted use under the Ordinance.” Arguing that this "prejudgment" violated procedural due process, the petitioners are asking the Tompkins County Supreme Court to annul the ZBA’s determination. The legal action seeks to remand the matter for a new, impartial hearing that excludes the chairperson. 

The lawsuit follows the Tompkins County Legislature’s 14-1 approval of a resolution on Jan. 20, requesting New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) to reject TeraWulf’s water withdrawal permit and mandate a comprehensive new environmental review for the proposed data center.

During the Jan. 20 legislature meeting, over two dozen residents raised concerns about the data center project and its potential risks to utility rates, water quality, human health, and local wildlife.

Legislator Deborah Dawson said the resolution seeks to hold the "TeraWulf family of entities" accountable by requiring accurate information and a precise explanation of the project’s intended water usage. 

ZBA chair’s response 

Young clarified ZBA does not hold approval authority in this matter and was not voting on whether to approve or reject the TeraWolf proposal.  Instead, ZBA’s involvement was limited to an administrative review, and its role was limited to interpreting the zoning code based on an appeal from the code enforcement officer. He said ZBA is not tasked with examining issues, such as noise, property values, or pollution. The board did not grant an approval but rather provided a formal opinion on how the code enforcement officer interpreted specific definitions within the local code.

“We weren’t voting yes or no to TeraWulf or to the data center,” Young said. “We were just interpreting the zoning code.”

As a member of the code review committee, Young explained that the group proactively reviewed the code following TeraWulf's initial announcement. 

The petition alleges that the appeal passed by a narrow margin with Young casting the tie-breaking vote for the developer. Young maintains that his voting record demonstrates impartiality. Young said he previously broke a 2-2 deadlock to deny a related warehouse appeal and voted against a research lab proposal. Young argued that had his goal been to ensure TeraWulf’s success, he would have approved the warehouse project. He said he could not have predicted whether his subsequent vote on the final general processing appeal would be the deciding factor.

The petition highlights a Sept. 4, 2025, email from Young to the Town Supervisor Ruth Groff, sent before the ZBA appeals were pending. In the message, Young reportedly stated that the town "could use the money" from the project and expressed a personal hope that the data center would eventually be approved. The petitioners claim the exchange shows a predetermined bias toward the development before the board's formal review began. 

Young countered that the email predated the appeals by two months and stemmed from his research for the Town Zoning Advisory Committee, conducted at Groff’s request.

“This work wasn’t related to the eventual appeals heard by the ZBA, and was done at a time when everyone in the Town government appeared to be assuming that a data center was an allowed use in the proposed location,” Young said. “It’s unrelated to the substance of the interpretive appeals that were eventually filed with the ZBA, and is clearly stated as a personal opinion.”

Young said the full quote from the email reads, “Bottom line – we could use the money, and if this new project can deal with water, noise and (possibly) heat issues, I personally hope it will eventually get approved. (Based solely on what I know about it so far, of course.)”  

Regarding his comments cited in the petition, Young said the TeraWulf project might be a good idea if all externalities can be addressed. He clarified that his stance was based on a hypothetical scenario rather than finalized plans.

Young said his position on the TeraWulf proposal will depend on the company’s ability to mitigate local impacts. He stressed that he would oppose any project that creates hazardous conditions or fails to address onsite waste disposal. Young said it is impossible to take a definitive stance for or against the development until a detailed, concrete proposal is submitted for review.

“I don’t think I would have an opinion on TeraWulf until after it’s gone through planning board review and they have come up with a final proposal,” Young said.

Young said the town planning board is responsible for reviewing the full TeraWolf application. He anticipates it will be an extensive and systematic process, likely taking about a year, with a special meeting dedicated to the proposal every month. The planning board will address externalities and public concerns.

The Cayuga Lake Watershed Internship Program (WIP) is a collaboration of local watershed-based organizations offering internship opportunities for young adults. It gives interns insight into working in the fields of watershed protection, management, access, and education from a variety of perspectives. Interns are hosted by partner organizations in line with their interests and skills, where they are paid to work on program-specific projects. They also participate in weekly activities that enhance and enrich their collective learning experiences. Eligible participants are age 18-25 who are interested in exploring the concept of a 'sustainable watershed', in increasing their professional skills, and/or enhancing their college experience. 

The program runs from early June to mid-August, and the application period is now open. The early deadline to apply is March 9th.

More information and the application form can be found here: https://discovercayugalake.org/watershed-internship/
Questions can be directed to Astrid Jirka at [email protected]

Job postings

This training is designed to support individuals entering the green jobs economy - no prior training is necessary!

Earn up to $2,500 while you complete an Environmental Literacy Pre-Apprenticeship and earn key industry certifications such as OSHA 10, Building Science Principles certification, and Boot Camp for Weatherization Installers. Following the 12 weeks, interested trainees may be able to pursue advanced industry certifications (e.g. heat pump installation) at no cost.

Training takes place in the City of Ithaca from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, Monday - Friday. Applications are now open and will be accepted until March 13. Applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis. Spaces are limited, so apply now! 

To learn more about the Energy Warriors program, visit www.energy-warriors.org. If you need support with transportation or childcare to attend this training, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Energy Warriors Spring 2026 Training Outline

Norma Gutierrez (she/her)

Communications Coordinator, Energy & Climate Change Team

Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County

615 Willow Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850  |  ccetompkins.org

(607) 272.2292 Ext. 162  |  [email protected] 

 Tompkins County: Tompkins Workforce NY Career Center

DEC Environmental Notice Bulletins for NYS can be found here. 

 Nothing new to report.

New York State discharge alerts can be found here.

Nothing currently in our area.