In January of 2023, a 161-acre parcel in the Town of Sempronius was transferred from The Nature Conservancy to the Owasco Lake Watershed Management Council (OLWMC). The parcel was acquired by the Conservancy just over a year ago through a Water Quality Improvement Project grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to help protect drinking water supplies and reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms. The transfer of this parcel, as an important natural resource and source for public drinking water, to OLWMC is part of the Conservancy’s effort to empower local community organizations in managing water resources.

The protection of the 161-acre property, which OLWMC will call the Fillmore Nature Preserve, is critical for protecting water quality in Owasco Lake, which provides drinking water to more than 70% of Cayuga County. A study by The Nature Conservancy ranked the property within the top 10 parcels in the Owasco Lake watershed with the greatest impact on water quality. The land includes diverse forests and approximately 40 acres of freshwater wetlands and is located near the birthplace of President Millard Fillmore and Fillmore Glen State Park.