Tucked within Lake of the Isles, lies a 12-acre expanse of mature oak forests bordered by a pristine shoreline: the Rice-Clay Preserve on Deer Point Island. A conservation endeavor, a decade in the making, has finally come to fruition this spring. Previously threatened by subdivision and development, this property now extends TILT’s Wellesley Island Preserve and Barnett Marsh, forever protecting this wild region of the St. Lawrence River. 

A Wildlife Sanctuary
Robert Rice has very fond memories of Deer Point Island, having owned the land for 45 years. He says, “It is truly a blessing to know that this property will now remain forever wild, thanks to the involvement of the Thousand Islands Land Trust.” He has seen a great diversity of wildlife during his time there, from flying squirrels to loons. Notably, the gentle current of the Lake provides important spawning habitat for sportfish such as bass and pike. The Rices have many cherished memories here, having enjoyed strolls amongst the massive oak trees from which Veeries and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks serenade through the spring to early summer.

In the fall, thousands of Redhead and Canvasback Ducks gather in these waters to prepare for their fall migration. Such sites provide essential resources for migratory waterfowl and neotropical songbirds as they embark on their journey south. Now, this preserve will be a safe haven, benefitting human and ecological health for generations to come.

The Land Trust’s protection of Deer Point Island was made possible with funding from the NYS DEC and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).