At the end of a narrow, gravel dead-end road lies a hidden treasure and a life-source to the St. Lawrence River. A place of magnificent beauty and untamed nature, where water emerges from the soil to embrace the open air. It is an origin of nourishment and energy that pulses through the entire web of life here in the Thousand Islands, and a place that elicits involuntary “wows”. The Panunzio Farm is two adjacent parcels at the end of Hunneyman Road in the Town of Alexandria. It is a trove of all things wild, and this year, TILT has proudly protected 224-acres of this treasured landscape.
With funding assistance from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), these two acquisitions mark a significant milestone for several of the Land Trust’s conservation objectives. “Aside from preserving some of the most stunning and productive wetlands in the Thousand Islands, the Panunzio properties are also ideally positioned at the intersection of headwaters of the Crooked Creek and the median of the A2A Wildway,” said Spencer Busler, TILT’s Assistant Director. “It’s a truly multi-dimensional landscape, and we’re thrilled to know that these lands will remain wild and natural.” Crooked Creek is the largest, contiguous emergent wetland complex in the Thousand Islands region. Protecting its upper watershed is vital for providing long-term ecological integrity and water quality of Chippewa Bay and the broader St. Lawrence.
The properties host an impressive array of habitats, from mature hardwood ridges to vibrant meadows speckled with emergent wetland pockets. In fact, a United States Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish & Wildlife restoration took place on the property 20+ years ago. This project incorporated water control structures allowing active management of the wetlands, ensuring maximum functionality for wildlife and other natural values. The diversity and remoteness of the Panunzio lands make them the perfect home for countless rare and threatened species, from Pied-billed grebe to Northern long-eared bat and Least bittern.
Terry Panunzio, the eldest of the Panunzio brothers, approached TILT in the summer of 2022 to discuss options for conserving his 119-acres on Hunneyman Road. “Our family has the utmost respect for the outdoors. We’ve spent decades on this land, and knowing that it will remain natural was very important to us,” Terry stated. TILT purchased Terry’s land in January of 2024, and is closing on the 105-acre Louis Panunzio property this spring.
For more information on how to conserve your land with TILT, please contact Spencer Busler ([email protected]).
