Local land conservation makes a difference for this critically important natural resource.

If you live and work in the Lake Ontario watershed, meaning rainwater that falls here runs into a creek that ultimately flows into the Great Lake, then you know how important it is. But do you know how fragile it is, too?

You may be seeing the changes all around you. From extreme fluctuations in Lake levels to an increase in harmful algal blooms, our changing climate and landscape is impacting the Lake.

That’s where you come in. Every foot of shoreline and acre of land protected helps the Lake’s health. And local conservation can only happen with you — our members and supporters. Thanks to you, our community has nature preserves close to shore - like Cornwall Preserve (Williamson) and Deer Creek Woods Preserve (Ontario). And your decades of donor support and perseverance have already saved more than 9,700 acres of land in the Lake’s watershed.

To double local conservation in the next decade, we need stronger, steadier community support. Please consider scheduling a new monthly gift to help Lake Ontario, and our entire region, remain great. Thank You!

Here are some of the ways your generosity today will benefit your community forever.

4 Ways Lake Ontario Helps Us:

a young white child in a red jacket smiles while pointing at a harvest bin of red apples. — A young child points at a harvest of local apples, by Lori Coleman.

Farming the Fruit Belt

Lake Ontario produces a special microclimate within about 10 miles of the shore. That area, combined with the Lake’s abundant fresh water, is so ideal for growing fruit that Wayne County ranks third in national apple production. (Wayne County hosts an annual Apple Tasting Tour.)

Helping Migratory Birds

Every year millions of birds travel along Lake Ontario and need natural places to rest and refuel on berries, bugs, and seeds.

Dozens of migratory bird species are experiencing population declines due to habitat loss. Conserving the woods, wetlands, and meadows within two miles of the shore ensures these vital stopovers are there for birds like the pictured Lesser Yellowlegs.

a bird with yellow legs, a white breast, and browth feathers with white dots stands on a branch in a wetland. — Joe Wing spotted this Lesser Yellowlegs - a “tipping point” bird experiencing significant population decline - at Cornwall Preserve shortly after we restored the wetlands and created ponds.

Two children in swimsuits and rainbow arm floaties play in the sand at a Lake Ontario beach. The sky is blue and green trees and large rocks line the shore. — Two siblings play with sand at a Lake Ontario beach.

Keeping Fresh Water Clean

About nine million people get drinking water from Lake Ontario, including most homes and businesses in Monroe and Wayne counties.

Wetlands are nature’s water filters. Saving and restoring wetlands close to the shore will help future generations of people and wildlife safely drink and swim.

Supporting Recreation for Millions

Creating open community access points to the shore — like Cornwall Preserve (Williamson) — allows more people to enjoy and explore Lake Ontario.

With 80% of New York’s shoreline privately owned, every public beach, bluff trail, fishing spot, and boating dock along the Lake makes a big difference.

9 teens wear life jackets and sit in 4 canoes near a dock in Sodus Bay. — As part of our former Landscaper Apprentices program, we took a group of teens canoeing in Sodus Bay.