Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE -ÊWawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Inc. has agreed to acquire a 4.5-acre parcel of land on the southeast side of Syracuse Lake.
The acreage comprises wetlands and a wooded buffer known locally as Buck Island.
"Our motive in acquiring these wetlands is to protect the future water quality of Syracuse Lake," WACF chairman Bob Myers said. "These wetlands are the last undeveloped shoreline on Syracuse Lake."
The land came to the attention of WACF when Brad Jackson, owner of the property, notified WACF and the Syracuse Lake Association about his intentions to build a home on the site and to construct a beach by filling in some of the wetlands, according to WACF sources.
Jackson said the reason he contacted them was to get feedback and input about his proposed project.
Approximately 70 Syracuse Lake property owners attended a meeting last year to voice objection to Jackson's plan. In coordination with SLA, WACF negotiated a contract with Jackson to purchase the entire tract. The tract contains approximately 1,000 feet of wetland shoreline on both sides of the CSX Railroad that bisects the property.
"I think it worked out for both parties," Jackson said.
A component of the contract called for Jackson to remove crushed asphalt that had been used to build a road to the property and has already been removed.
WACF has six months to raise donated funds and close the acquisition. A down payment has been made and a purchase agreement has been signed.
"WACF has a passive management policy for acquired lands and, by that, we meant the land will stay in a natural state," Myers said.
He said the road where the asphalt had been will be planted in grass, wildflowers and trees.
The acquisition price was not disclosed by WACF or Jackson.
Jackson said he never planned to begin building his home on the Syracuse Lake property right away. Since he has agreed to sell that property to WACF, Jackson said, "We're just kind of looking around for another lot on the lake (to build a home)."
WACF is a nonprofit group formed in 1992 to identify and resolve threats to the 26,000-acre Turkey Creek/Wawasee/Syracuse watershed. WACF is a member of the national Land Trust Alliance.
WACF owns and manages seven parcels (70 acres). They are in final negotiations on four parcels for approximately 50 more acres.
