Cattaraugus County to hold Trail Easements Workshop
- Cattaraugus County Economic Development, Planning & Tourism
- Released: April 12, 2007
The Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning & Tourism, in conjunction with the University at Buffalo Law School Environmental Law Clinic, will be holding a workshop on trail easements for equestrian and snowmobile trails in Cattaraugus County. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, April 24th, at 7:00 pm, at the Ellicottville American Legion, 6500 Maples Road, Ellicottville. This workshop will provide an overview of trail easements and conservation easements, with detailed explanations of the various technical aspects of pursuing easements for trail projects.
Cattaraugus County is home to 415 miles of snowmobile trails, numerous miles of equestrian trails, and hundreds of miles of hiking, biking and multi-use trails. Many of these trails traverse private land. Although private landowners have consented to the use of trails on their property, it is by no means permanent, and questions of legal liability and maintenance arise, particularly if public agencies promote trail systems for tourism or public recreation purposes.
One possible solution to these issues is the placement of an easement on the property for trail usage. There are different types of easements, and various components to an easement. With the assistance of the University at Buffalo Law School, Cattaraugus County hopes to inform its equestrian and snowmobile enthusiasts about the issues surrounding trail easements, and how they might be used to secure the recreational enjoyment of these trails for future generations.
Anyone interested in attending this workshop should contact Margaret Puszcz at 938-9111, ext. 2312, or by email at MEPuszcz@cattco.org by April 20th. There is no cost for attending this workshop.