SKANEATELES, N.Y. (NCC News) — To help protect Syracuse’s drinking water, volunteers will plant 3,500 trees in one day as part of a community effort to reduce runoff that enters the city’s drinking water through Skaneateles Lake.
The Central New York Land Trust, or CNYLT, which is organizing this event, works to preserve land and protect watersheds in the area. This tree planting project is continuing what it started in 2025.
“When you live in a place as beautiful as Central New York, we’re right in the Great Lakes watershed, water is so important to all of our communities,” said Patrick Lynch, executive director of the Land Trust. “And knowing that you can save land, give people safe places to go outside and enjoy, and also that you’re cleaning up the water — you’re protecting the drinking water source.”
On April 18, CNYLT is seeking at least 200 volunteers at the O’Neill Family Farm Preserve in Skaneateles. With an 8 a.m. start time, they plan to plant 3,500 trees on the property.
Planting trees at the O’Neill Farm will help stabilize the loose farm soil as tree roots grow. These trees will also absorb water through their roots, and the branches and leaves will act as a canopy, reducing the impact of rainfall that can cause surface runoff. All of this will reduce what seeps into the lake.
“So really, if you’re trying to make sure that the drinking water in Syracuse is protected, the best thing you can do is protect it at its source,” said Devon Dunbar, the development manager of CNYLT. “And that is right here on the northern side of Skaneateles Lake.”
In 2025, CNYLT had its first community tree planting event at the O’Neill Farm. Despite inclement weather, it had 80 volunteers show up and was able to plant 1,500 trees in a day. Now, on its second go-around, it looks to more than double these numbers.
“It went really well. The trees survived, and now we’re looking to ramp up operations. And if things go well this year, we’ll keep going as far as we can,” said Dunbar.
As the efforts continue to help those in the Syracuse community, CNYLT is asking for community members to show up if they can and help put trees in the ground on April 18.