More access is being sought for Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park. P-J file photo

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy wants to improve access to its Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park with a new driveway.

Twan Leenders, the organization’s director of conservancy, attended the February Pomfret Town Board meeting to seek assistance for the effort.

Leenders said the current entrance to the park is from what is informally called “Old Route 60,” a section of the road that was bypassed decades ago but kept as a side street. The park access point is on a part of the street that is no longer maintained.

“It would benefit us to have a direct access point from Route 60 in there,” Leenders said.

Leenders wondered if Pomfret would need to be lead agency on a State Environmental Quality Review of a driveway construction project. Town Attorney Jeff Passafaro told him the New York State Department of Transportation would probably be the lead agency, with Route 60 being a state road.

Leenders acknowledged that gaining easements for the project could be challenging. “Ownership sounds like a total patchwork” in the area, he said.

Passafaro said Pomfret’s involvement in a driveway project would be “limited.” That’s because there is no town property or rights-of-way involved.

Pomfret Town Supervisor Dan Pacos told Leenders he should approach the state DOT with the plan. If that agency doesn’t help, Pomfret will try to lend a hand, Pacos said.

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy manages more than 1,250 acres on 35 preserves in Chautauqua County. Most of the preserves are in the south county. In fact, Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park is currently the northernmost one, though two smaller preserves are on the lakes just to the south.

“The Cassadaga Lakes Nature Park protects 1,100 feet of Cassadaga Lakes’ shoreline,” according to the conservancy’s Internet page. “The site includes 26 acres of high ecological value lake front wetlands as well as 51 acres of rolling forest covered terrain that is mostly hemlock and white pine, which is ideal habitat for all kinds of birds, frogs, salamanders, snakes and waterfowl. More than 175 species of birds have been identified there, making it one of the most diverse birding sites in Chautauqua County. The park also recently earned a spot on the New York State Birding Trail list.”

​The park contains “two moderately developed trails” and “a wildlife viewing platform with benches and a bird blind location on the edge of Mud Lake as well as a welcome kiosk pavilion near the entrance and parking area. No other facilities or amenities are provided on site.”

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