Your input needed - UMP for Stewart and other DEC lands

[GG]

Attend the meeting or submit written comments! Let our voices be heard!! See the following from DEC:


October 24, 2016

Dear Interested Citizen:
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is requesting public input for the development of a draft of the Lower New England-West Unit Management Plan. The plan will guide future uses and management of the approximately 8,130 acres of DEC Managed Public Land within the Management Area known as the Lower New England-West Unit.

Meeting Date and Time: November 17, 2016, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Meeting Location: NYSDEC Region 3 Office, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY Ulster County

The properties addressed in the Unit Management Plan consist predominantly of “green certified” forested public land managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests. The properties are found within Orange and Ulster Counties and include Stewart State Forest, Pochuck Mountain State Forest, Black Creek State Forest, Turkey Point State Forest, Mt. Peter Hawk Watch, Hemlock Ridge Multiple Use Area, and High Woods Multiple Use Area. The plan will focus on developing recreational assets on these lands, increasing public awareness of these assets, and sustainable management of these woodlands to provide a multitude of benefits to their ecosystems and surrounding communities.

The Unit Management Plan will be developed in accordance with the DEC’s Strategic Plan for State Forest Management. The strategic plan can be found at; http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html

Those unable to attend the meeting are invited to submit written comments on the proposal to the DEC’s Region 3 Office, Division of Lands and Forests, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561, attention Matt Paul; or by e-mail at: dec.sm.R3.UMP .

To be included in the decision making process, written comments must be received by December 9, 2016.

Once the draft UMP is ready, it will go out for public comment and we will schedule another meeting to receive input on the draft UMP.


Matthew C. Paul
Senior Forester
NYSDEC Region 3
21 South Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, NY 12561

O: (845)256-3074

[TriassicDoc]

I plan to be there.

[sick4surf]

Also Colgate Lake/Windham Area UMP:

Unit Management Plan Meeting set for Colgate Lake & Windham Blackhead Range Units
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will hold a public meeting to provide information and gather public input for the development of unit management plans (UMP) for the Colgate Lake wild forest unit (1,500 acres) and the Windham Blackhead Range wilderness unit (18,000 acres). The two units are located in the Greene County towns of Windham, Jewett, Cairo, Catskill and Hunter.

The meeting will he held on Thursday, October 27th at 6:00 p.m. at the Mountain Top Library, 6093 Main St., Tannersville. DEC is seeking input to help establish a long-term vision and specific goals for management of these properties.

The Windham-Blackhead Range wilderness is in the northeastern part of the Catskill Forest Preserve and contains some of the highest terrain in the Catskills, including 13 peaks over 3,000 feet in elevation. Many of these peaks make up the Blackhead Mountains, which form the northeastern escarpment of the Catskill Park and are visible for many miles to the north and east. One of the more popular hiking trails in the area, the escarpment trail, spans the entire unit and provides many incredible views along the way. The south end of the unit is bordered by the North-South Lake campground, which has its own system of trails that connect to other Forest Preserve lands to the south.

The Colgate Lake wild forest features the scenic Colgate Lake, which is popular for fishing, kayaking and primitive camping. The yellow-marked Colgate Lake trail travels just over four miles to Dutcher Notch and the escarpment trail. The wild forest is bounded by the Windham Blackhead Range wilderness area on three sides.

DEC will use the information gathered during this process as it develops draft unit management plans for the units. The finalized plans will guide future uses and management of the area and will include an analysis of the natural features of the area and an examination of the land for its ability to accommodate multiple uses.

UMPs are a collaborative effort between DEC and the public in developing long-term plans for DEC-managed public lands. Public involvement is extremely important in the creation and revision of UMPs, as it provides staff with valuable information and insight regarding public priorities and perspectives. Those wishing to contribute to the planning discussion but unable to attend the session may submit comments via mail or e-mail. Additional public input will be sought when a draft plan is released for public review and comment.

Written comments and suggestions regarding the use of the lands will be accepted by DEC until December 12, 2016. Comments should be sent to: Maxwell Wolckenhauer, NYSDEC Region 4 Stamford suboffice, 65561 State Highway 10, Suite 1 Stamford, NY 12167; e-mail: [email protected]
_________________
Michael Vitti
CLIMB President
http://www.climbonline.org
Trips for Kids Affiliate
NY State Trails Council Member

[GG]

Dear Friends of Stewart State Forest: Given the fact that a new 10 year Unit Management Plan (UMP) for Stewart is in the development stage and the DEC is requesting public input we thought an overview of trail building and maintenance may trigger ideas or suggestions from Stewart users. Please refer to previous email from DEC that outlines the UMP process and schedule. The trails at Stewart were not created with sustainability in mind. Think of what Stewart’s trails will look like in 5 or 10 years given the fact that many of them do not meet the criteria for sustainability as defined in the YouTube video link shown below. In response to a question of whether DEC would be supportive of participating in proposals to obtain grants for trail building a DEC spokesperson stated that: “You mountain bikers have too many trails now.” That is his opinion but other opinions are that the non-sustainable trails should be replaced with sustainable trails. The trails at Stewart are heavily used and as outdoor activities become increasingly popular the development of sustainable and additional trails should be a logical conclusion to more evenly disperse the impact on existing trails. Please check out the following video (or see it on our FB page) and think about whether you want to generate input for what you want to see implemented in the new ten year plan for Stewart. Thank you.
http://stewardsofstewart.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4a8644c204408a87472a3e920&id=1765ae2296&e=6cf3225b40

[GG]

The following is from DEC regarding the upcoming Unit Management Plan for Stewart State Forest:

"It has come to our attention that the email link provided in UMP meeting announcement was incorrect and will not work. Comments can be sent to the following email address.

[email protected]

Please pass this along to your members and any additional users you feel would like to be part of our UMP process. Thank you.
Matthew C. Paul
Senior Forester
NYSDEC Region 3
21 South Putt Corners Road
New Paltz, NY 12561
O: (845)256-3074"