East Syndicate Island, located in Stony Lake, was initially placed under a Conservation Easement Agreement (CEA) in 2005 by owner Norman Cowan. This property holds the distinction of being the very first property KLT protected. 

A CEA allows an owner to retain private ownership while also providing them with the resources needed to effectively protect the land.

Norman Cowan generously left ownership of the Jeffrey-Cowan Forest Preserve and the remaining title of East Syndicate Island to Kawartha Land Trust through his final estate. 

The island is the last large, undeveloped island left on Stony Lake and is part of a wildlife corridor between the granite north shore and the limestone south shore.