Environment DEC
From the January 2004 issue
State Acquires 187 Acres of Catskill Wilderness
Governor George E. Pataki has announced the acquisition of 187 acres in the Town of Lexington, Greene County. The purchase increases recreational opportunities and consolidates state lands in the Catskill Forest Preserve.
DEC purchased the land for $197,000 through the state Environmental Protection Fund from Cornwall Associates, LLC. The parcel lies on the lower slopes of Mount Sherill and North Dome, both of which are higher than 3,500 feet, at the head of Peck Hollow Road. The land is within the New York City watershed and contains the Peck Bushkill, a significant trout habitat.
The acquisition becomes part of the Catskill Forest Preserve's West Kill Wilderness Area, which offers a variety of recreational opportunities. It will provide uninterrupted access to the public lands, designated as forever wild, that border the property.
The Catskill Forest Preserve is part of New York State's 705,000-acre Catskill Park. Since its creation in 1885, the preserve has grown from 34,000 acres to nearly 300,000 acres of public lands within Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties. Catskill Forest Preserve lands are protected under Article 14 of the state constitution as forever wild and cannot be logged, leased or sold, and they must be managed to protect wilderness values. In addition, the state pays local taxes on the land.
