pThe governor’s new budget has set aside $1 million for the buffer program that protects Fort Drum training from outside interference./ppLinda M. Garrett, executive director of the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, said she is working with a lengthy list of property owners to add more land to the buffer./pp“We have a lot of places to use the money,” she said./ppThe trust, along with Fort Drum and Ducks Unlimited, secures permanent development rights to properties near the post’s borders, preventing the creation of housing and businesses that would create problems with the post’s operations. The deals typically allow property owners to continue low-impact agricultural activities on their land./ppThe funding is a dip from the $1.5 million offered by the state last year, along with an additional $500,000 from the state Senate. The figure matches the $1 million contributed by the state in 2014. The program received $500,000 in 2013./ppMrs. Garrett said last year’s influx was “kind of a special case. She added that she was told by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s staff and state Sen. Patricia A. Ritchie that the buffer program was a high priority project./ppThe program has spent about $9 million to buy the development rights of 23 properties, covering approximately 6,500 acres./ppThe most recent acquisition was in October, as the program spent $509,000 to buy development rights on a 345-acre property falling in the towns of Antwerp and Rossie./ppThe state money, from its Environmental Protection Fund, is contingent on approval from the state Legislature, along with approval of matching funds from the federal government./ppIn the meantime, Mrs. Garrett said there is a long list of properties along the Route 11 corridor, north of Evans Mills, being considered for the program./ppShe said there are two projects the land trust wants to close by June. An additional 18 projects, representing about 3,500 acres of land, are also being reviewed, Mrs. Garrett said./pp“We’ve got a lot of people waiting,” she said./ppMore information about joining the buffer program can be found at a href="http://wdt.me/GTHeMf"http://wdt.me/GTHeMf/a./p
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