CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Canadice Supervisor Kris Singer is celebrating.

She got news last week that a big land deal in her town escaped a statewide spending freeze.

“It’s the crowning moment in all my years as supervisor. I never expected this right now. I was like, ‘Yes!’” said Singer. “Once this goes into (state Department of Environmental Conservation) hands it stays wild forever and ever, amen.”

Singer is referring to 7,100 acres of watershed land plus two gems — Hemlock and Canadice lakes — which Rochester will soon sell to New York state. On Thursday, the state DEC declared the Rochester land sale exempt from a new state austerity program to halt purchase of land for conservation. That’s shorthand for: The deal will go through.

“This is fantastic news,” said Robert Morrison, director of Rochester’s Department of Environmental Services, which oversees Rochester’s water system. Hemlock and Canadice lakes have supplied fresh water to Rochester for more than 100 years. The deal retains water rights for the city.

“We have been optimistic and tried to stay that way for the past six or eight months,” said Morrison. “We’re very happy to hear the governor is going to fund this project.”

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