LOCKE - According to Kristy LaManche, an environmental planner for the Central New York Regional Planning & Developmental Board, the Finger Lakes region is becoming even more popular.

"A lot of people have come to the Finger Lakes region for vacation and decided to stay," LaManche said Tuesday. "People these days are realizing the advantages a rural community provides."

LaManche is currently working on The Finger Lakes Water Resources, Agriculture, and Open Lands Conservation Project.

The goals of the project are multi-dimensional and deal with the ever-changing face of the Finger Lakes region. The project hopes to maintain the traditional character of the Finger Lakes region, protect water sources, conserve open land and promote inter-municipal cooperation.

Farmlands are decreasing, and population and housing are increasing at steady rates. Issues with watersheds in the area could be affected in the future, LaManche said, so people need to realize that their actions could be impacting not only their own town, but surrounding ones, too.

"The best thing to do is to find some sort of balance between promoting these advances and keeping the town's well-being," LaManche stated. "But the most important part is public participation and involvement."

LaManche encourages interested people to attend town meetings and address these issues with town boards.

The project has been going on for more than 2 1/2 years and is receiving assistance from the Cayuga County Planning Board, The Department of Agricultural & Markets and GrowNY.