Paleontological Research Institution asks Ulysses to take over stewardship of Smith Woods

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The Paleontological Research Institution is looking to the town of Ulysses to potentially steward Henry A. Smith Woods, a 32-acre old-growth forest in Trumansburg.

The 32-acre old-growth forest located in the village of Trumansburg has been protected, owned and cared for by PRI and Cayuga Nature Center (CNC) since 2013, when the merger of the organizations came to fruition. CNC itself has been in charge of Smith Woods since 2007. 

At the Ulysses Town Board meeting on June 10, Marvin Pritts and Brian Bauer, trustees of PRI’s board, said PRI is refocusing its lens to prioritize the sustainable support of a “world class” museum and an exceptional collection of invertebrate fossils. 

PRI owns and operates the Museum of the Earth at 1259 Trumansburg Rd. in Ithaca. 

PRI also manages one of the largest fossil collections in North America and publishes, among other things, the oldest journal of paleontology in the western hemisphere — Bulletins of American Paleontology.

“PRI is interested in finding a good steward for Smith Woods to continue the original education and recreational intent of the [public space],” Bauer said. “Considerable investment was made in Smith Woods, such as establishment of trails, signage, removal of invasive species and a perimeter deer fence.” 

Bauer highlighted the importance of the site, noting how useful it has been for different groups of stakeholders. 

“Hundreds of public tours have been conducted there,” Bauer noted. “Several universities continue to use Smith Woods as a research site, and many Trumansburg residents use Smith Woods for education and recreation.”

The forest is home to various plant and animal species. The most recent list of flora can be found at https://pri.squarespace.com/blog-post/smithwoods-spring2020. The list was compiled by PRI staff in 2018 after they conducted a survey of the species in the woods for about 24 continuous hours.

Smith Woods is protected from the surrounding overabundant deer population with an 8-foot deer exclosure. This deer exclosure allows for forest regeneration and helps wildflower populations escape overgrazing, according to the PRI website. Visitors can access the forest through gate entrances on the north and south sides of the property. Trails are open from dawn to dusk and free to the public. Collection or harvesting is not allowed on the property, and pets are required to be leashed.

Pritts said the PRI board has looked at different entities to assume management and stewardship responsibilities over the land. 

“We thoughtfully considered several entities that could be future stewards of this natural resource, including [New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation], the Finger Lakes Land Trust, the village of Trumansburg and the town of Ulysses,” Pritts said.

“Given that the town has established Tree Committee and Habitat Nature Preserve Advisory Committees, has demonstrated a track record of land stewardship, and Smith Woods is currently located within the town boundary, the Board of Directors of PRI is requesting that the town of Ulysses enter into discussions about assuming management and ownership the Smith Woods.”

Ulysses Town Board Member Rich Goldman asked at the meeting what stewardship of the land would entail. Pritts noted that management was rather simple. 

“So, most of the management involves clearing trees that fall, either on the fence or over the trail,” Pritts said. “It’s the woods, it’s a natural habitat, so there’s no real management beyond just maintenance of the fence and the trails.”

Town Board Member Elizabeth Weatherby asked if the town’s Tree Committee members, citizen pruner volunteers or town Department of Public Works staff could take on that maintenance work.

“I have handled it myself,” he said. “We have cut down a couple of trees there that were big and maybe in danger of falling over the road. So it happens rarely, when a big wind storm comes up and a tree falls down.”

Town Supervisor Katelin Olsen said the town would assume ownership of the property. To help facilitate that, Goldman and Weatherby were named as liaisons between the town and PRI to ensure the land donation is successful. Olsen compared the situation to that of the nature preserve on Salo Drive. The town purchased the 34-acre property in 2018. 

“It could be managed in a similar fashion, because that’s the same thing that has to be dealt with at Salo Habitat — trees coming down and invasive species,” she noted. “And the difference is the Smith Woods trails are in better shape, I think.”

Eddie Velazquez is a local journalist who lives in Syracuse and covers the towns of Lansing and Ulysses. Velazquez can be reached at edvel37@gmail.com.