Environment DEC
From the September 2005 issue
Draft UMP for Chemung and Schuyler State Lands Issued
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan recently announced the release of the Great Divide Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP) for 2,956 acres of state forests and wildlife management areas in Chemung and Schuyler counties.
"This draft unit management plan will help DEC continue to effectively manage these state forests for this and future generations," Commissioner Sheehan said. "We encourage ongoing public input at the upcoming meeting and during the comment period as DEC seeks to improve public access and ensure the protection of Southern Tier public lands."
Scope of "The Great Divide"
Texas Hollow State Forest
The Great Divide Unit includes state lands in the towns of Hector, Catharine, Montour and Dix in Schuyler County, and the towns of Catlin and Chemung in Chemung County. The draft UMP pertains to Maple Hill State Forest, Catlin State Forest, Texas Hollow State Forest, Catharine Creek Wildlife Management Area and Cayuta Lake Fishing Access Site.
The draft plan offers general information on the unit's history and geology, including an inventory of its resources, such as minerals, types and stages of vegetation, and fish and wildlife habitat. The plan also includes a summary of identified issues, such as access considerations, vegetation management, and oil and gas leasing. Also described are proposed goals, objectives and policy considerations in managing the unit.
Plan Vision
Applying limestone helps to
maintain the grasslands
in Maple Hill State Forest
The vision of the plan is to ensure the biological integrity, improvement and protection of the unit by using the multiple-use concept of management, which strives to serve the needs of the people of New York State while preserving a broad-based, biologically-diverse ecosystem.
Other major objectives of the plan are:
- creating a balance of vegetation types and stages by selling timber, creating grassy areas and enhancing wetlands;
- enhancing and monitoring wildlife diversity by protecting rare and endangered species of plants and animals;
- constructing additional administrative access roads and parking lots;
- complying with Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines when constructing future recreational facilities;
- working with current and future volunteer groups to enhance the area, including recreational opportunities such as the Finger Lakes Trail or habitat enhancement with the Ruffed Grouse Society, among others;
- identifying environmentally sensitive or intensively used recreational areas inappropriate for surface disturbances from oil and gas drilling activities, and
- using best management practices to protect water quality when conducting timber sales, gas well site construction and other uses.
Public Meeting and Comment
A public meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 7, 2005 at the Rural Urban Center, 208 Broadway, in Montour Falls, Schuyler County. The center is one block north of the corner of State Routes 14 and 224 in Montour Falls. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more about the proposed management actions in the draft UMP and to make comments verbally or in writing.
The draft UMP is available for public review at DEC offices in Avon and Bath. The plan is also available at the Watkins Glen Library and Horseheads Free Library. DEC will accept written comments on the draft UMP until October 7, 2005. Comments may be sent to: Gretchen Cicora, Forester, DEC Sub-Office, 7291 Coon Rd., Bath, NY 14810, or e-mailed to: mailto:r8ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us?subject=Great Divide UMP
