Central & Western: Rome Sand Plains

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Lupine at Rome Sand Plains
© Andy Zepp

Why the Conservancy Selected This Site
This remarkable area contains an amazing diversity of habitats. A mosaic of northern bogs, meadows, wetlands, mixed northern hardwood forests, and pine barrens forests harbor some rare and unusual species, including carnivorous plants like the pitcher plant and sundew, and animals like the red-shouldered hawk and fisher. Rome Sand Plains is one of only a handful of inland pine barrens left in the United States.

Threats
Haphazard residential development threatens to fragment the native habitats of the Sand Plains.

Plants

Pitch pines
pitcher plants
blue lupines
sphagnum moss
cinnamon ferns
grass pink orchids
cranberries and blueberries
sheep laurel
huckleberry

Animals

Pine warblers
whip-poor-wills
spotted turtles
wood turtles
frosted elfin
red-shouldered hawks
hermit thrushes
Nashville warblers
ovenbirds

Directions

Head northwest on NYS Route 69 (Erie Blvd.) in Rome one half mile past McDonald's (which is on the right) to the traffic light at the junction with Routes 46/49.
Turn left (westward) onto Routes 46/49.
Travel about 2.4 miles to Oswego Road on the right; along the way you'll pass the Erie Canal Village.
After two miles, turn right onto Oswego Road and follow it for about 0.8 mile to Hogsback Road.
Turn left onto Hogsback Road and follow it for about 1.7 miles to the Wood Creek parking area on your left.
Along the way, you'll pass a Rome Sand Plains sign and parking area on the right. Park here for the dunes trail.
Or keep going to the small parking area with Rome Sand Plains signage on the left for the Wood creek trails.

Trails

Wood Creek Trail: Follow this gently sloping trail along the crest of a towering dune to the bank of Wood Creek. The trail extends for about three-quarters of a mile to Wood Creek.
Sand Dune Trail: This 0.7-mile loop trail starts at a former sand-mining pit, travels along the top of a sand dune, and continues along old wood roads and logging paths.

Our Conservation Strategy

Protect land to consolidate conservation ownership of sensitive habitats
Restore wild blue lupines to maintain frosted elfin butterflies and prepare for the eventual reintroduction of endangered Karner blue butterflies
Educate and reach out to the public to build awareness of the importance of the Sand Plains and the threats to this fragile ecosystem

Conservation Actions
In 2003, The Nature Conservancy partnered with the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Oneida County to complete a comprehensive management planning process for the Sand Plains.

In 2004, The Nature Conservancy acquired the largest remaining privately held tract at the Sand Plains, a 470-acre property of sand flats, pine forests, and wetlands. Without the Conservancy's action, the property was destined to become a landfill. We are now working with the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation and Rome Sand Plains management team to restore sensitive habitats on the property.

Partners

Rome Sand Plains Resource Management Team
NY State Department of Environmental Conservation
City of Rome
Oneida County
Isaak Walton League of America
Old Erie Audubon Society
West Rome Riders snowmobile club
U.S. EPA
Community Foundation of Herkimer Oneida Counties
NY State Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito
Congressman Sherwood Boehlert
New York Rivers United
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Lowe's Companies, Inc