Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Executive Summary
The Five Rivers Environmental Education Center (the Center) is a 446-acre center that includes 12 miles of trails and interior roads, 16 ponds and wetlands, and expanses of forest, field and brush land habitats. Two factors make this property an ideal location for the DEC to conduct environmental education programming - its location near Albany in the Capital District of eastern New York, providing close access to more than 250,000 people, and its high diversity of habitats that are linked by walking paths that give visitors convenient access to view and learn from this natural diversity.
The original parcels of the Center property were purchased by DEC's predecessor, the New York State Conservation Department, for use as a research game farm, investigating propagation methods for upland game birds. A rich history of wildlife studies at the Delmar Game Farm produced many important techniques used to this day, including the method of aging deer by tooth wear and replacement, and the use of canon nets for capturing wildlife for study or relocation.
Located just six miles from the Albany City boundary, the Center lies in an area of rapid residential development. The New York State Open Space Plan identifies Five Rivers as a priority area for adding open space lands to public ownership.
Public Review and Comment
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation released the Draft Unit management Plan (UMP) for the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center for public review and comment on March, 2007.
The Department has scheduled public meetings for Wednesday, March 28 from 7PM to 8:30PM; Saturday March 31 from 10AM to 11:30AM and Thursday, April 5 from 7PM to 8:30PM at the Five Rivers Center, 56 Game Farm Road in Delmar. The meetings will allow Department staff to present highlights of some of the proposals in the Draft UMP and provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the Draft UMP. In addition to the meetings, DEC will accept written comments on the Draft UMP until May 10, 2007. Written comments can be sent to NYS DEC, Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar, NY 12054 or via e-mail to 5rivers@gw.dec.state.ny.us
The Draft UMP will be available for public review at the following locations:
Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
56 Game Farm Road
Delmar, NY 12054
(518) 475-0291
DEC Region 4 Headquarters
1130 North Westcott Road
Schenectady, NY 12306-2014 (In Rotterdam)
(518) 357-2068
Bethlehem Public Library
451 Delaware Ave
Delmar, NY 12054
Town Hall
Town of Bethlehem
445 Delaware Ave
Delmar, NY 12054
Town Hall
Town of New Scotland
2029 New Scotland Rd
Slingerlands, NY 12159
The Draft UMP is also available on compact disc by calling Five Rivers at (518) 475-0291. A limited number of printed copies are available as well. Public Comments will be accepted until May 10, 2007.
Five Rivers Draft Unit Management Plan:
Entire Plan with Appendices (4.51 mb pdf - This file is very large and may take a long time to download)
Plan only (153 kb pdf)
Appendices
Program Report Text only (1.2 mb pdf) Appendix 1, Part 1
Project Limits and Existing Building Location Plan (193 kb pdf) Appendix 1, Part 2
Buildings Floor Plans (569 kb pdf) Appendix 1, Part 3
Schematic Design Narrative, Building Elevation and Building Floor Plan (409 kb pdf) Appendix 2, Part 1
Schematic Site Plan (1 mb pdf) Appendix 2, Part 2
Habitats, Lists of Plants and Animals (76 kb pdf) Appendix 3 through 11
Regulated Freshwater Wetlands, Trail System, The Complex, Location of Archaeological Discovery and Town of New Scotland Zoning Map (741 kb pdf) Appendix 12 through 16
Management Areas, Annual Contacts, Field Management Areas and Game Farm Road Geometry (822 kb pdf) Appendix 17 through 20
