FAQs

TILT’s mission is to conserve the natural beauty, diverse wildlife habitats, water quality, and outdoor recreation opportunities of the Thousand Islands region for present and future generations.

Since 1985, TILT has preserved the Thousand Islands’ unique character through conservation easements, land preservation, and the creation of public spaces for hiking, biking, fishing, hunting, birding, and kayaking. While safeguarding our region’s vital natural resources, TILT promotes informed land use decisions that provide long-term benefits to taxpayers and municipalities.

Conservation is crucial in the Thousand Islands because it helps protect the region’s unique ecosystems, which support diverse wildlife, clean water, and local livelihoods. The area’s connection to the A2A region, linking the Adirondacks to the Algonquin Park, and its role in the Atlantic Flyway, makes it a vital corridor for migrating species. The St. Lawrence River watershed, which drains the Great Lakes, provides the world’s largest supply of surface freshwater. TILT’s efforts safeguard these critical habitats, protect endangered species, and preserve scenic areas for recreation. By maintaining these natural resources, TILT also supports local tourism, which is key to the region’s economy. Without TILT, these valuable landscapes and the wildlife they sustain would be at greater risk, and the balance between conservation, recreation, and economic vitality could be lost.

Yes! TILT has a vision for the future that aims to support strong ecosystems, healthy communities, and a vibrant economy. In 2023, TILT created a Strategic Plan that outlined its goals for the next five years (2023-2028). TILT’s long-term goal is to responsibly protect and steward natural landscapes, ensuring their ecological health and accessibility for future generations. Through science-based conservation, community engagement, and sustainable management practices, we strive to create a lasting, positive impact on the land, wildlife, and communities we serve.

Yes! TILT’s Signature Preserves are open year-round to the public and have trails for hiking, biking, skiing and more. You can enjoy public access at:

• Grindstone Island Preserves and Potters Beach
• Chippewa Bay Preserve
• Crooked Creek Preserve
• Foster-Blake Woods Preserve
• Otter Creek Preserve
• S. Gerald Ingerson Preserve
• Sissy Danforth Rivergate Trail
• Zenda Farms Preserve

Other lands that are conserved through conservation easements are private property and not open to the public. Be sure to look for trail and preserve signs to know where public access is permitted!

TILT offers a range of recreational activities for the public, including:

• Over 21 miles of trails for walking, hiking, biking, birdwatching, and cross-country skiing open to the public year-round
• Kayaking and fishing at some of TILT’s Signature Preserves, including Crooked Creek and Otter Creek Preserves
• Hunting opportunities through TILT’s permit system
• Environmental Education programs like TILTreks and KidsTreks, encouraging outdoor activity for individuals and families
• The Conservation Connections Program offers local school districts the opportunity to get students out on the land for a class field trip or benefit from a lesson in their classroom
• The Zenda Community Garden at Zenda Farms Preserve, featuring over 6,000 square feet for planting, expert support, and fresh produce for local community members. Visit our Programs page to learn more.

Scenic quality is crucial because tourism is a $379+ million-dollar industry in the Thousand Islands, supporting local jobs and businesses. Visitors return year after year to enjoy the stunning scenery and environmental quality, which includes clean rivers and lakes, abundant fish and wildlife, historic buildings, and diverse outdoor activities. These are the very features that TILT works to conserve in our community.

Yes! TILT stands out among land trusts by not only conserving land but also actively managing it to enhance habitats for native species. Each property is assessed for its natural resources, special species, and historical uses, then given a management plan to preserve its unique ecosystems—whether wild or actively maintained as grasslands, shrublands, forests, or wetlands.

TILT also partners with organizations to restore key habitats, including nesting sites for Common Terns, grasslands for songbirds, shrublands for Golden-winged Warblers, and wetlands for aquatic species.

TILT’s conservation efforts rely on support from donors, volunteers, staff, and the community. You can help by:

• Becoming a member
• Donating land
• Including TILT in your estate planning
• Becoming a business underwriter
• Joining a TILTrek
• Attending events
• Volunteering

Yes! TILT’s commitment to excellence in land conservation has been recognized with National Accreditation from the Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Commission in 2009, and reaccredited in 2014 and 2019. The accreditation seal represents the highest national standards for excellence and conservation permanence.

Yes, TILT owns over 8,500 acres of land. These properties are maintained by TILT to protect their natural values. Examples include Potters Beach on Grindstone Island, the Macsherry Trail in Hammond, Otter Creek Nature Trail in Alexandria Bay, and Zenda Farms Preserve in Clayton, which attract tens of thousands of visitors each year. Learn more about TILT’s 10 Signature Preserves.

TILT raises funds for land conservation and environmental education through private donations, foundation grants, and state and federal grants. In many cases, TILT can leverage $1 of private funding with $3 in state and federal grants.

Yes, when TILT acquires land, it may be removed from the tax rolls to provide public benefits. However, that does not necessarily translate to lost municipal revenue or a widespread increase in property taxes. By conserving these lands, nearby property values are bolstered, helping offset impacts on the overall tax base. In addition, TILT’s conservation easement lands are private and remain on the tax roll. These lands account for nearly 40% of TILT’s conservation portfolio. TILT’s Signature Preserve lands offer excellent opportunities for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and more which are all free and open to the public year-round. Read about the value of land conservation in the Thousand Islands here.

Absolutely. While some believe tax-exempt properties owned by TILT result in lost revenue for municipalities, studies show that open space requires fewer municipal services than other land uses and often generates more tax revenue than the cost of services it needs. Open spaces and outdoor recreation areas also boost the local economy and enhance overall quality of life. Learn more about the value of land conservation in the Thousand Islands here.

A study that was completed in 2018 by the Trust for Public Land, reviewed by Dr. Martin D. Heintzelman from Clarkson University, found that preserves, trails, and open spaces significantly benefit the Thousand Islands economy. Key findings include:

• Increased value of nearby residential properties by $55.9 million
• An annual increase in property tax revenues by $684,000
• Property market values near conserved areas rising by over 20%
• Generation of $16.4 million in labor income and 610 jobs each year
• Contribution of $2.58 million in local taxes and $2.1 million in state taxes annually

Read about the value of land conservation in the Thousand Islands here.

TILT’s Focus Area expands across 17 towns in St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties, excluding water bodies. This area is defined by 21 sub-watersheds that affect the Upper St. Lawrence River. Since 2018, protected acres have grown by over 20%, with TILT’s efforts extending to the Algonquin to Adirondacks (A2A) Wildway and bird conservation areas along Eastern Lake Ontario that support the Atlantic Flyway.

TILT actively acquires and manages lands for conservation, recreation, restoration, and public education within this area. Currently, TILT conserves over 14,000 acres.

Yes! Donations to TILT are tax-deductible. TILT is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, meaning contributions of land, conservation easements, and money are tax-exempt under the Internal Revenue Code. For specific advice about tax deductions, please consult your financial advisor. The tax identification number of the Thousand Islands Land Trust is 22-2629183.

A Conservation Easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust, like the Land Trust, that limits certain activities to protect the land’s natural values. Landowners retain ownership and can still sell or pass the land on to heirs, with the easement ensuring the land is conserved in perpetuity. Easements can be customized to allow for future uses like limited development, tree harvest for firewood, or hunting, as long as they align with the conservation goals of the easement. The Land Trust works closely with each landowner to tailor the easement to their wishes.

Yes! Landowners may donate conservation land to the Land Trust, transferring full ownership for perpetual protection. These donations offer benefits like creating a legacy of conservation and potential charitable tax advantages.

TILT can hold the land, or depending on the donor’s wishes, resell it with a permanent conservation easement to fund stewardship and conservation projects. All conservation land resales honor the donor’s intent and ensure lasting protection through permanent easements.

Yes! In addition to conservation properties, landowners can donate non-conservation properties such as homes or development lots. These properties are typically considered “non-conservation lands”, and are sold without conservation easements. The proceeds are used to support TILT’s mission, including stewardship, education, and conservation initiatives.

For more information, please contact the TILT office at 315-686-5345.