CEA Summary Sheet: SITE CODE: CEA-18 ACRES: 1947.640

Latitude: 42° 29' 50.074" N Longitude: 76° 25' 49.565" W

Publicly Accessible: No Ownership: Private

UNA #: 67, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 STATE WETLANDS CLASS: 1, 2

FEDERAL WETLANDS: Lake, Freshwater Emergent Wetland, Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland, Freshwater Pond, Lake

Description: This area contains Tompkins County Unique Natural Areas 67 (Dryden Lansing Swamp), 84 (Sheldon Road Wetland), 85 (DEC Mapped Wetland-Code TA2 & TA3), 86 (DEC Mapped Wetland-Code TA5), 87 (Fringed Gentian Meadow) and 88 (Airport Ponds, Wetlands) which should be specifically referred to when evaluating impacts. State designated rare and scarce flora and fauna and several Cornell natural areas are found in this area. The pygmy shrew (Sorex hoyi) and least weasel (Mustela nivalis) are among the notable fauna listed as present. It serves generally as a significant migratory and grassland bird habitat and contains a heron rookery. It includes a Class A stream. Threats: Encroaching development and development of the site. Changes in surface or ground water. Recommended Mitigation: Limit development in this area, and use best management practices as defined by the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation when harvesting timber. Projects in this area involving chemicals, or the transportation of chemicals shall require immediate spill containment and response on all sites and nearby roadways. Use of stormwater controls, buffers to tributaries, and wetland protection including but not restricted to state and federal permits are essential. Projects within 300 feet of wetlands should be evaluated for impacts to amphibians and their migration.

General Description: CEA- 18

Rationale for designating as a CEA:

The designation of a CEA is based upon criteria as found in the New York Code of Rules and Regulations part 617.G (6 NYCRR 617.G)

The State Environmental Quality Review Act Critical Environmental Area Criteria:

• a benefit or threat to human health;

The proposed CEA #18 provides a benefit to human health in wetland function related to water quality.

• a natural setting (e.g., fish and wildlife habitat, forest and vegetation, open space and areas of important aesthetic or scenic quality);

CEA #18 includes a variety of habitats associated with the numerous wetlands found in this area. This area is also a headwater area for Cayuga Lake, a public drinking water source, and regional recreational resource. It is also a drainage area for Fall Creek, another public drinking water source as well as recreational resource.

• agricultural, social, cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, or educational values; or

The site is privately held, and so is not conducive to public access for many of these values, and there is no agriculture on the site as of 2012. However, the area does include research facilities for Cornell University and provides many opportunities for research and nature observation and study.

• an inherent ecological, geological or hydrological sensitivity to change that may be adversely affected by any change.

As indicated in the six related UNA reports, the area is bordered by limited housing, and the report sites encroaching development, or other disturbances, as much of the area is currently “pristine” and very sensitive to disturbance. Wetlands included within this CEA provide critical habitat for survival and reproduction of salamanders, frogs, toads, as well as the Pygmy Shrew. The attached UNA reports detail the presence of rare and scarce plant, animal and community types.

Updated CEA Boundary:

Removed a large section in the middle of this CEA that included homes and lacked critical layers.

Summary Report Boundary Acreage: 2264 ac Proposed Boundary Acreage: 1947 ac

Boundary Determination:

Field Indicators: UNA-67, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 studies and maps, State class 1 and 2 wetlands mapping, and federal Lake, Freshwater Emergent Wetland, Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland, Freshwater Pond, Lake as found in the data regarding federal wetlands. Extensive fieldwork accompanied the Unique Natural Areas studies.

GIS Indicators:

UNA, Agriculture Districts, Federal and DEC Wetlands, Steep Slope, and field verified roadside wetlands.

Public Comments:

No comments specific to this proposed CEA were made during the public comment period in December of 2011. However, there were several comments that supported all CEAs in the report.

UNA Report: