For Release: Wednesday, May 4, 2005

DEC Issues Draft Unit Management Plan for Jessup River Wild Forest

Public Meeting Scheduled for June 30 at the Lake Pleasant Central School in Speculator

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced that DEC has released the Draft Unit Management Plan / Draft Environmental Impact Statement (UMP/DEIS) for the Jessup River Wild Forest. The Wild Forest consists of 47,350 acres of State Forest Preserve lands in the towns of Arietta, Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Wells in Hamilton County.

"We are continuing to make progress on completing unit management plans in the Adirondack Forest Preserve," Commissioner Sheehan said. "The release of the Draft UMP/DEIS for the Jessup River Wild Forest is yet another significant milestone in our efforts to improve public access and ensure the protection of the Adirondacks for future generations. As always, the public's participation has been extremely valuable throughout the planning process, providing us with important information and recommendations incorporated into the Draft UMP/DEIS."

A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on June 30, 2005, at the Lake Pleasant Central School in Speculator, Hamilton County. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the proposals in the Draft UMP/DEIS. The DEC will also accept written comments on the Draft UMP/DEIS until August 1, 2005.

The Jessup River Wild Forest is bordered by Route 28 to the north and Route 30 to the southeast, as well as three wilderness areas - West Canada Lakes Wilderness to the west; Siamese Ponds Wilderness to the east, and Silver Lake Wilderness to the south. The State lands in this unit border, or are in close proximity to, the communities of Indian Lake, Piseco, Speculator and Wells. Route 30 bisects the Unit and serves as the main access corridor.

Many people enjoy hiking to the fire towers on Pillsbury or Snowy Mountains, snowmobiling between Piseco Lake and Indian Lake, canoeing on Fall Stream, or camping on Mason Lake. Hunting, fishing and trapping are also popular activities throughout the unit, but particularly in and around Perkins Clearing, the Jessup River and the Miami River.

A partial list of recommended management actions in the Draft UMP/DEIS include:

Improving trail information and recreational opportunities for people with mobility impairments, including the development of accessible camping sites;
Constructing new parking areas and foot trails including moving a portion of the Northville-Lake Placid Trail off public highways onto Forest Preserve land;
Constructing lean-tos at Fawn Lake, Fall Stream, and Fall Lake;
Preserving area fire towers and observer cabin on Pillsbury Mountain and facilitating educational efforts at the summits of Snowy and Pillsbury mountains;
Developing and designating waterway access sites on Indian Lake, Mason Lake, Gilman Lake, Jessup River, Sacandaga Lake, and Oxbow Lake;
Enacting various measures to manage public use within 500 feet of the Forest Preserve shoreline of Indian Lake including special regulations; and
Facilitating snowmobile access between local communities.

UMPs must be completed before significant new recreational facilities, such as trails, lean-tos, or parking areas, can be constructed. The plan includes an analysis of the natural features of the area and the ability of the land to accommodate public use. The planning process is designed to cover all environmental considerations for the unit and forms the basis for all proposed management activities for a five-year time period.

UMPs are required by the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan for each unit of State land in the Adirondack Park. The plans integrate the goals and objectives of the Master Plan, related legislation, and resource and visitor-use information into a single document.

Governor George E. Pataki's strategic plan to complete UMPs for all State Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks is continuing. Governor Pataki's initiative is the first comprehensive attempt to complete all outstanding management plans in both the Adirondack and Catskill parks to ensure that the public's longstanding investment in the acquisition of public lands is maximized through careful planning and implementation of those plans. This, coupled with allocation of funds to the stewardship of these lands from the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, will dramatically improve the State's ability to manage these lands.

The Draft UMP/DEIS will be available for public review at DEC headquarters in Albany, DEC regional offices in Watertown and Ray Brook, and at the DEC's Northville, Warrensburg, Herkimer, Lowville, and Potsdam regional suboffices. The plan will be available for review at the town offices of Arietta, Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant, and Wells. Copies are available in electronic format for distribution on Compact Disc from the DEC's Northville Office and may be requested by calling (518) 863-4545. A summary of the Draft UMP/DEIS may be viewed on the DEC website. A limited number of printed copies are available as well.

Public comments will be accepted until August 1, 2005, and may be sent to Thomas Kapelewski, Senior Forester, NYSDEC, P. O. Box 1316, Northville, NY 12134, or emailed to r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Directions to the Lake Pleasant Central School, which is located on Elm Lake Road in the Village of Speculator, are as follows:

From the south: Take the NYS Thruway to Amsterdam (Route 30). Take Route 30 north to Speculator (approx: 1 hr). At the 4-corners in Speculator, take a right onto Elm Lake Road. Proceed a 1/4 mile and the school will on the right.
From the west: Take the NYS Thruway to Verona (Route 365). Take Route 365 east until it ends. Take a left onto Route 8 north. At the 4-corners in Speculator, go straight onto Elm Lake Road. Proceed a 1/4 mile and the school will on the right.
From the north: Take Route 30 south to Speculator. At the 4-corners in Speculator, take a left onto Elm Lake Road. Proceed a 1/4 mile and the school will on the right.

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