TOWN OF ERWIN, N.Y. (WENY) -- The Finger Lakes Land Trust recently completed it's largest conservation project in its history. The nearly 1,000 acre property in Steuben County is full of wildlife, waterways, and miles of already existing trails.

In its 35 year history, the Finger Lakes Land Trust have not had a project completed at this scope. The 992 acre Bad Bear Hill property is located along Interstate 99 just Southwest of Corning in the towns of Erwin and Lindley.

With the protection of this land water quality in the nearby Canisteo River can improve as the property fronts the river for over a mile. Unique wildlife like bald eagles and black bears will be able to enjoy protections as well.

Recreation can be found on the property thanks to existing hiking trails. The Land Trust looks to eventually transfer the property to the state in order to combine it with the nearby McCarthy Hill State Forest.

"I think with these larger parcels, one of the most valuable things about them is, there's room to serve multiple objectives. So here, there's wildlife such as black bear, there's miles of trails to use, bald eagles, there's river frontage. So there's enough room so that you can support recreation, wildlife, in this case, it will also be managed by the state for selective harvest of timber," said Andy Zepp, FLLT's executive director.

The Finger Lakes Land Trust expects the Bad Bear Hill property to be opened for public use in Spring of this year. The land is also expected to help with the recreational tourism market in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes Region.