The Great Flats Nature Trail is a protected wetland habitat mostly located in the town of Rotterdam, New York, United States.

At that time it was a mainly cleared area which held water well enabling crops to be grown but had good drainage to prevent flooding.

The area was at the time a nature preserve and environmental groups were concerned that the building of the mall would endanger wildlife and pollute the wet lands.

Eventually a permit was given containing numerous deed restrictions These restrictions, were put in place in order to protect this critical area, prohibit any further construction or excavation activities, improvements or changes of any kind or nature, except as permitted by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for a wildlife sanctuary, park, and nature trails.

[4] Today, the area has been tidied up and contains a variety of protected habitats for both woodland and wetland species of animals and birds.