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From the May 2008 issue
New Draft of Catskill Park State Land Master Plan
A new proposed Catskill Park State Land Master Plan has been released that incorporates significant changes to balance recreational opportunities with enhanced environmental protection. The revised draft plan will guide the future management of the state's 292,000-acre holdings within the Catskill Forest Preserve. Key revisions focus on trails open to mountain biking, boundaries of the Colgate Wild Forest and the control of invasive species.
One of the key changes to the master plan concerns trails open to mountain biking
The Catskill Forest Preserve is part of the Catskill Park, which consists of 705,500 acres of public and private lands. Since its creation in 1885, the Catskill Forest Preserve has grown from 34,000 acres to nearly 300,000 acres of public land within Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties. Forest preserve lands are protected under Article 14 of the State Constitution as "forever wild" and cannot be logged, leased or sold and must be managed to protect wilderness values. The state pays local property taxes on all forest preserve lands.
In August 2003, a proposed draft revision of the Catskill Master Plan was released for public review and comment. In response to comments received in writing and at public meetings, DEC has incorporated several changes into the revised 2008 draft Catskill Park State Land Master Plan. The most significant of these reflect comments about bicycle use.
Public Comments
DEC is accepting comments on the revised draft Catskill Park State Land Master Plan until May 19, 2008. Comments should be addressed to: Peter J. Frank, Bureau Chief, Forest Preserve Management, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4254, or by e-mail to lfcat@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
The draft plan is available on DEC's website.
