First - THANK YOU!
More than 300 people generously contributed to the “Save Deer Creek Woods” fundraising effort, and Genesee Land Trust was recently able to purchase the land to keep it safe from development - forever!
Thank you to all who helped support this important project, and special thanks to John Creatura, the landowner who gave us the time and opportunity to make it possible.
To all our members and volunteers - thank you for being champions for local water and land with your donations of time and resources. You make all the work of Genesee Land Trust possible, and there’s much more ahead at Deer Creek Woods!
Where is Deer Creek Woods?
Today, as you drive out of Webster east on Lake Road, you’ll pass historic and new homes, a strip of dense woods, and then a flash of meadow followed by more driveways and houses. That blip of open space - officially 306 Lake Road in Ontario NY - is the secret door to Deer Creek Woods, a hidden gem of woods, meadow, and wetlands nestled against an old-growth forest we’ve already protected. It is not open to the public… yet.
Interesting Natural Features at Deer Creek Woods:
Smooth ground - the forest was once a pasture or field, smoothing the ground and making it easy to tromp around.
Trees of about the same size - the sugar maple, black cherry and cottonwood trees at Deer Creek Woods are all about the same size - they have been growing for at least 50 years.
Large glacial erratics - rocks deposited by glaciers. They are different from the types or rock native to the area, and are fun to step on.
A “Wolf Tree” - this oak is more than 200 years old. The low branches indicate it grew by itself, with room to spread out. It might have been shade for livestock.
A stone wall - this used to be the border/fence of the field. On the other side, you can see what the land would have been like if the original forest hadn’t been cleared.
Rolling hills - at one point, these hills would have been the lake’s edge.
A large meadow along the creek - a bit of this meadow is what you can see from Lake Road. It transitions to wetlands as you move closer to the creek, then becomes woods on the other side.
Next Steps Will Depend on Your Support
Acquiring the land was just the beginning. It will take at least 2- 3 years, additional funding, and your ongoing support to create a new nature preserve from scratch. The property currently does not have trails, boardwalks, bridges over Deer Creek, or an existing entrance.
“As climate change impacts the planet, saving places like Deer Creek Woods is vital for our future. I’m proud to support Genesee Land Trust’s efforts to help people and wildlife by protecting our woods and streams.”
This winter will be devoted to tromping around Deer Creek Woods to better know the land, consider possible improvements, and start planning the many steps needed to make a new nature preserve.
In the meantime, and long into the future, Deer Creek Woods will continue as a natural solution that helps address climate change. The vital woodlands store carbon and provide homes for wildlife. The wetlands filter water on its way to Lake Ontario and minimize storm flooding by absorbing rainwater. The meadow provides important resting space for migratory birds, and the endangered monarch butterfly loves the native wildflowers.
For an aerial video and more info about why Deer Creek Woods is important, visit the campaign page here.