New York’s $28.25 million purchase preserves nearly 750 acres of pine barrens, wetlands and shoreline while opening a path toward public trails and beach access.

New York has completed the largest Long Island land acquisition in the history of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, permanently protecting nearly 750 acres around the former Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant in Suffolk County. This significant Shoreham land acquisition emphasizes the state’s commitment to preserving natural resources.

The $28.25 million purchase covers land in Shoreham and Wading River along Long Island Sound. It protects rare pine barrens, forests, tidal wetlands and nearly a mile of natural shoreline. State officials also say it will help safeguard Long Island’s sole-source aquifer, the underground water supply on which the region depends.

The announcement matters well beyond Long Island. It shows how New York can combine drinking-water protection, wildlife conservation and public recreation in one large land deal. Those same goals are familiar in the Mohawk Valley, where forests, wetlands and connected trails also support clean water, tourism and quality of life.

What New York purchased in Shoreham

The property surrounds land once intended for the Shoreham nuclear power project. The plant was abandoned in 1989 and decommissioned in 1994, while much of the surrounding land remained undeveloped. DEC had identified the site as a conservation priority for more than a decade. It appeared in the state’s 2016 Open Space Conservation Plan and again in the draft 2026 plan.

DEC acquired the tract from National Grid. Funding included support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Long Island Sound Partnership Program, the New York Clean Water Infrastructure Act and the 1996 Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act.

The land contains a wide range of connected habitats:

• Sand and gravel beaches along Long Island Sound
• Coastal bluffs reaching about 100 feet
• Maritime shrublands and coastal oak-heath forests
• Globally rare pine barrens ecosystems
• More than 40 acres of tidal marshes and shrub swamps
• Habitat used by osprey, endangered piping plovers, rare native plants and maritime wildlife

The parcel also contains Split Rock, a large glacial boulder complex that has spiritual significance for several Indigenous peoples, according to the state announcement. That cultural value adds another reason for careful long-term management and respectful public access.

Why water protection is central

Long Island relies on groundwater for drinking water. Protecting undeveloped land helps rain and snowmelt soak into the ground instead of running across pavement and carrying pollutants into streams, bays and the Sound. Forests and wetlands also slow stormwater, store carbon and provide room for coastal ecosystems to adjust as conditions change.

Conservation groups supporting the purchase emphasized that the property sits within the Central Pine Barrens Core Preservation Area. They said its forests, wetlands and watershed lands help recharge the aquifer and reduce pollution reaching bays, harbors and Long Island Sound.

That connection between land use and water quality is also important in Central New York. The details differ from Long Island’s aquifer system, but the basic lesson is the same: protecting wetlands and intact forests can reduce runoff, preserve habitat and avoid higher restoration costs later.

Public access will come in stages

DEC will manage the property. The agency plans to design and install public-access improvements over the coming years, including parking, marked trails, beach access and accessible multi-use trails. Those improvements are not all open yet, so visitors should wait for DEC to publish maps, rules and access notices before planning a trip.

Accessibility is especially important because public land only fulfills its broad promise when people with different mobility needs can use it. A well-designed trail network can also protect sensitive habitat by directing foot traffic away from nesting areas, wetlands and fragile plants.

New York released official drone footage showing the Shoreham landscape. The video is embedded from the beginning because the footage starts with the site itself and does not contain a countdown or delayed speaking segment.

Watch the official Shoreham drone footage on YouTube.

Part of New York’s 30×30 goal

The acquisition is part of New York’s 30×30 initiative, which aims to conserve 30 percent of the state’s lands and waters by 2030. Reaching that target is not only a matter of counting acres. The location and condition of protected land matter because connected habitats generally do more for wildlife and water than isolated parcels.

This Shoreham property is unusually significant because it links forests, pine barrens, wetlands, bluffs and shoreline in one contiguous area. Its scale also creates room for both conservation and carefully planned recreation.

Readers can review the full state announcement and the DEC explanation of New York’s 30×30 initiative.

What Mohawk Valley communities can take from the deal

Central New York is not Long Island, and the Shoreham purchase does not directly fund a Mohawk Valley project. Its relevance here is the model it offers. Large conservation purchases often require several funding sources, long planning horizons and cooperation among state agencies, federal programs, utilities and nonprofit advocates.

The Mohawk Valley has its own opportunities to connect natural areas with public access. Recent state awards for trails and safer streets in Boonville, Clinton and Herkimer County show how recreation, mobility and community development can overlap. Another state purchase protecting Seneca Lake shoreline and former camp property illustrates a similar approach in another upstate region.

For local officials and land trusts, the practical lesson is to identify priority parcels before development pressure becomes urgent, document their water and habitat value, and build a funding plan that can draw from several programs. For residents, public planning periods are the time to raise questions about trail access, disability access, habitat protection and long-term maintenance.

What happens next

DEC must now prepare the property for public use without damaging the resources the purchase was meant to protect. That will involve planning parking and trails, setting rules, evaluating sensitive areas and communicating when sections are ready to open. No opening date for the full trail and beach-access system was included in the announcement.

Residents interested in visiting should rely on future DEC notices rather than entering undeveloped areas on their own. People can also follow the state’s open-space planning process and look for public-comment opportunities connected to management plans.

The lasting value of the purchase will depend on stewardship. Buying the land prevents development, but continued habitat monitoring, safe access and maintenance will determine how well it serves wildlife, drinking water and the public over time.

What kind of public access would you prioritize on a newly protected property: accessible trails, wildlife viewing, beach access or quiet habitat areas? Share your perspective with the Utica Phoenix community.