Environment DEC
From the October 2004 issue
DEC Enforces Public ATV Access Restrictions in Adirondacks
Enforcement of illegal ATV
use will begin immediately
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty announced that effective immediately, DEC will close certain roads and begin enforcement efforts of the recently approved limitations on all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use within the Adirondack Park. The closure of roads is necessary to eliminate illegal and inappropriate ATV use on New York State Forest Preserve lands and to ensure that the resources of the forest preserve are protected.
APA Approval
The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) approved amendments to the Aldrich Pond, Independence River and Black River wild forests unit management plans (UMP), and these amendments were adopted by Commissioner Crotty. In addition to the UMP amendments, DEC also is taking administrative action in the Watson's East Wild Forest to limit public ATV access on 54 roads in these areas. DEC concluded that all such roads should be closed to unlimited ATV access by the general public, with five roads to be opened by seasonal permit only, for a period not to exceed three years. Limiting ATV access on state Forest Preserve lands conforms with the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law and the Adirondack State Land Master Plan. It does not facilitate trespassing on private property and will not cause environmental degradation. The proposed UMP amendments and notice of administrative action were made available for public comment before the APA approved the amendments at its July meeting.
Now all 54 roads are closed to public ATV access without a permit. Environmental conservation officers and forest rangers will be monitoring ATV access and taking necessary enforcement actions to curtail illegal ATV use.
Five Roads
Five roads will be open for public ATV access by permit only to allow hunters access to primitive camping sites. These include: Jackworks and Maple Hill roads in the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest, and Herkimer Landing, South Shore and Wolf Lake Landing roads in the Black River Wild Forest. These roads will be open for permitted use only from September 1 to December 15. Permits can be obtained by contacting DEC Region 6, Natural Resource Office, Watertown, (315)785-2262.
The five roads named above are slated to be rehabilitated for automobile and truck access by 2006, at which time public ATV access will be eliminated. The vehicle and traffic law prohibits use of ATVs on roads that are open to motor vehicle use, unless the purpose of the road is to provide ATVs with access to areas which they could not otherwise access.
