When Helen C. and Mary E. Eldrett moved to the Town of Brownville in 1971, they knew they had found some place special. Today that place is known as Downybrook, a 182-acre wildlife sanctuary that the twin sisters have spent more than three decades creating and maintaining. Now they’ve made sure the land they’ve always cared for will remain a natural haven by conserving the land with Ontario Bays Initiative, Inc.
The conservation easement agreement was officially signed on Friday, June 24, 2011 following approval by the 12-member OBI board of directors. It is the secondlargest easement donation received by OBI since the land trust was founded in 1993. The easement will prohibit development on Downybrook, located off Perch Lake Road near the Eldrett’s home.
It also furthers the long-term vision that the sisters have for Downybrook and their wish for it to remain a wildlife haven that future generations of North Country residents may enjoy. The deal allows for expanding public access on the privately-owned preserve, as well as provides wildlife education and thoughtful preservation of a place that is not only scenic but also a home for an impressive variety of plant and animal species.
"Helen and Mary have devoted a lifetime –actually two lifetimes – to create Downybrook, and their vision has allowed this to happen. I am so glad this project has finally come to fruition," said Jim La Plante, Chairpersonof the OBI Board of Directors.
Mr. LaPlante acknowledged the efforts of OBI Land Steward Leland K. Russell and Gerry Smith, a local ecologist and special consultant to OBI, for their work spent over the last several years on the easement.
Earlier this year, OBI was awarded grants totaling $8,250 from the Land Trust Alliance and $2,100 from the Northern New York Community Foundation that will be used to create a management and stewardship plan for the property. The plan will be done in cooperation with the Eldretts and it will identify both long-term and shortterm management needs, as well as define the land’s many ecological and environmental assets.
Grassy fields, marshlands, forests, ponds and a unique alvar community are all found at the private preserve. Natural wetlands created by underground springs have made it a vital habitiat for migrating and nesting waterfowl.
The Eldretts moved to Brownville from Saranac Lake and bought the land off of Perch Lake Road in 1971. The sisters originally started purchasing land to develop it as a wildlife habitat in 1976. They began devoting even more time to their wildlife refuge in 1995, when they both retired from the General Brown Central School District after 33 years of teaching.
Digging ponds, building footbridges, planting trees, erecting birdhouses and creating walking trails sounds like plain old hard work to most, but for the Eldrett sisters it has been a labor of love. Over the years, their many walks on the trails and countless hours spent working their land has deepened their connection.
They call their refuge a "safety zone" for all wildlife. As they considered how dependent the waterfowl, birds and other animals are on the habitat their land provides, theyworried about the future when they were no longer able to look after it.
"We are at the point in our lives where we must make provisions for the future of Downybrook," said Helen. She added that the easement with OBI will ""maintain our vision of a wildlife sanctuary that will endure in perpetuity. Downybrook will always provide protected habitats for the wildlife that live and grow there."
The Eldretts will have lifelong ownership of the property. After that, OBI will take over ownership. The Eldretts have also bequeathed a substantial contribution to OBI’s endowment fund to help care for and maintain the property. OBI will manage the land in a way that is consistent with the sisters’ vision of wildlife conservation.Downybrook is officially recognized as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation, in addition to being an official Wildlife Refuge by the National Campers and Hikers Association. The bluebird boxes on the land are part of the New York State Nest Box Network.
Locally, residents and community leaders recognize Downybrook as an important resource. The easement with OBI is being hailed as important step toward ensuring the wildlife sanctuary’s place in the community
"Conserving this important property both for its inherent natural values and for its inherent natural values and for its recreational values is good for our town, since we see long-term conservation, wise management and the presence of recreational opportunities to be in our best interest," said Brownville town supervisor Leo K. Thompson.
With the help of the Soil and Water Conservation Department, five ponds have been built at Downybrook. A conservation grant allowed for 7,000 trees to be planted. There are 1.5 miles of walking trails and several bridges. It is home to numerous woodland, field, and marsh plant and animal populations.
The total amount of land protected by OBI in Jefferson County now exceeds 600 acres. Land conserved by OBI includes a 400-acre parcel in Lyme and Clayton that is located in the Three Mile Creek Alvar Barrens region of Jefferson County, and 16 acres of woodland in the town of LeRay that is a habitat for the endangered Indiana bat.
