Harwood Lake Multiple Use Area

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Size: 301 acres

Harwood Lake MUA is located northeast of the Village of Franklinville in the Town of Farmersville in Cattaraugus County.

Day Use Activities and Recreational Opportunities

Entry and parking lot to Harwood Lake MUA

Hiking
Hunting
Trapping
Wildlife Observation

A few activities are prohibited: off road vehicular travel (i.e. cars, trucks, snowmobiles, motorcycles and all terrain vehicles), swimming, boating with motors and camping.

Watchable Wildlife

Users of the area are likely to encounter a variety of wildlife species. The more common species are beaver, muskrat, mink, raccoon, mallards, wood ducks, black ducks, Canadian geese, deer, ruffed grouse, woodcock, herons and bitterns and a variety of song birds.

History

Harwood Lake is a 38 acre lake that was constructed in 1965 as a cooperative venture by the State and Federal Government's Soil Conservation Service. It is part of the Ischua Creek Small Watershed Protection Plan. The general topography of the area is rolling with active farm land confined to the valleys. The area was actively farmed in the late 19^th and 20^th centuries. However, with the changing economy and decline in farming, the land supported few marginal farms up to 1963.

The Bureau of Fisheries maintains a fishing access site on the lake and the Bureau of Wildlife manages the upland area.

Management

The primary management objective for the area is to maintain high quality wildlife habitat through a grassland management plan. Several wildlife species will utilize the area and will benefit from these practices. Secondary management objectives are to protect and maintain special wildlife habitats that exist on the area such as deer wintering areas, raptor nest sites, and the wetland areas surrounding the lake.

For more information, call or write to:

NYS DEC
Region 9 Wildlife Manager
182 East Union Street, Suite 3
Allegany, NY 14706
716-372-0645

Directions

From Interstate 86: Take Exit 26, head north on route 16 to Franklinville and head north on Route 98