Landowner Stories

Wayne County’s Spruce Lake Farm Protected

Floyd Schnakenberg has always enjoyed camping and hiking on his land, home to undisturbed forests, a pristine glacial lake and boreal sphagnum bog, as well as a diverse mix of plants and wildlife. He never wanted to chance his property one day being subdivided and developed.

Looking for a way to permanently protect his land, Floyd found Delaware Highlands Conservancy and put 189 acres of his property, Spruce Lake Farm, under a conservation easement to protect it from subdivision. And although there is a financial incentive in putting land under an easement, Floyd’s reasoning concerns protecting the natural beauty of his land and the wildlife on his property so it can be enjoyed for years to come.

Spruce Lake Farm is an exceptional property because although it is largely forested, within it there is also a beautiful glacial lake and boreal sphagnum bog. The pristine lake is both aesthetically appealing and serves as a habitat and a source of water for the large number of animals that reside on Spruce Lake Farm. The boreal sphagnum bog is equally important, as it is home to a diverse number of plants including a number of rare and threatened species. Floyd’s land also serves as a sanctuary for birds, hosting nearly thirty different types, and boasts several fields of blueberry and cranberry bushes, all adding to the diversity and beauty of Spruce Lake Farm.

Now Floyd still has a beautiful tract of land that he can use for recreation, but it is now protected for future generations as well. And although Floyd has agreed not to subdivide his land or allow mining or timber harvesting, he has still reserved many rights including fishing, hunting, and bird watching. He can even build two houses on his land in the future, and plant indigenous trees and plants. Having no regrets, Floyd is now free to use his land as he has specified without fear that it will disappear one day.