For Release: Friday, July 8, 2005

DEC Seeks Public Input on Two Draft Unit Management Plans

Meetings, Comment Periods Announced for Broome and Tioga State Forests

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the release of the draft Tioga State Forests Unit Management Plan (UMP) and draft Broome State Forests UMP.

"The two draft Unit Management Plans have been developed to address management activities on these State Forests," Commissioner Sheehan said. "The proposed UMPs will help maintain healthy, sustainable, and biologically diverse ecosystems for fish and wildlife, while providing continued opportunities for recreational use, environmental education and research."

The Tioga UMP includes four State Forests that encompass 3,692 acres. The largest is the 1,349-acre Jenksville State Forest located in the towns of Berkshire and Newark Valley. Also included in the Plan are Fairfield State Forest, Ketchumville State Forest and Oakley Corners State Forest.

The four Tioga County State Forests covered by the proposed Plan offer many recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, bird watching, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and improved all terrain vehicle (ATV) access for people with mobility impairments.

Proposed management actions in the draft Plan include:

Implementation of forestry and best management practices (BMP's) that sustain or enhance overall ecosystem health and wildlife species diversity by providing diverse habitats and by protecting water resources;
Maintenance of the 28 miles of highly valued recreational trails on the Unit in partnership with Adopt-A-Natural Resource (AANR) volunteers;
Construction of an additional parking lot, informational kiosks for each State Forest, and three permit only campsites;
Construction of a new 4,200-foot long trail loop to improve ATV access for people with mobility impairments; and
Continued public opportunities for hunting, fishing and trapping.

The draft UMP also recommends that the DEC allow the leasing of State Forests in the Tioga Unit for oil and natural gas exploration and development with significant restrictions on surface disturbances to protect wetlands, streams, and recreational uses. The Plan continues to prohibit ATV use by the general public on the Unit. However, individuals with qualifying mobility impairments who possess a valid permit from the DEC may operate ATVs on specifically designated and signed accessible trails.

The public comment period for the draft Tioga UMP will continue until August 27, 2005 and be accompanied by a public meeting on Wednesday, July 27, 2005, from 6:30-8:45 p.m. at the Candor High School Auditorium located on Academy Street in the Village of Candor. The public meeting will include a brief presentation by Region 7 DEC Forestry staff to explain the highlights of the plan. This will be followed by an opportunity for the public to provide comments.

Public comments on the draft Tioga UMP can be submitted to the following by August 27, 2005: NYS DEC, Division of Lands and Forests, ATTN: Tioga UMP Comments, 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland, NY 13045-1090, or by e-mail to John Clancy at jmclancy@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Copies of the draft Tioga UMP are available during normal business hours at the following locations:

DEC Division of Lands and Forests Office, 1215 Fisher Ave., Cortland
DEC Region 7 Headquarters, 615 Erie Blvd. West, Syracuse
Berkshire Free Library, 12519-1 State Route 38, Berkshire
Candor Free Library, 2 Bank St., Candor
Coburg Free Library, 275 Main St., Owego
Town of Berkshire, 18 Railroad Ave., Berkshire
Town of Candor, 101 Owego Road, Candor
Town of Newark Valley, 109 Whig St., Newark Valley
Town of Owego, 2354 State Route 434, Apalachin, Owego

The draft Broome UMP includes eight State Forests that encompass 5,373 acres in the towns of Sanford, Windsor, Vestal, and Kirkwood in Broome County and the town of Owego in Tioga County. The State Forests in the Unit include; Hawkins Pond, Marsh Pond, Skyline Drive, Cascade Valley, Beaver Pond, Whittaker Swamp, Cat Hollow and Tracy Creek State Forests.

The Broome unit's forests offer numerous recreational opportunities including hiking, camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, fishing, hunting, trapping, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

Proposed management actions in the draft UMP include:

Designating 360 acres as Natural or Protected Areas, where surface disturbances such as logging and trail construction will be prohibited;
Completing and maintaining two camping sites at Marsh Pond State Forest;
Maintaining 2.2 miles of trail open to ATV use by people with mobility impairment at Whittaker Swamp State Forest;
Maintaining 2.2 miles of cross-country ski trail at Hawkins Pond State Forest; and
Installing an informational kiosk at each forest and preparing an informational brochure for the Unit.

The draft Broome UMP also describes the process the DEC follows prior to leasing the State Forests in the Unit for oil and natural gas exploration and development. The Plan provides for sustainable timber management and includes a proposed schedule of timber sales. The Plan also contains aerial photos and forest type maps that depict the tree species composition of the forest stands, and proposed stand management directions.

A public meeting on the draft Broome State Forests UMP will be held on Tuesday, July 26, 2005, from 7 - 9:45 p.m. at the Windsor High School Auditorium located on Route 79 South in the Village of Windsor. DEC Region 7 Forestry staff will be making a brief presentation to explain the highlights of the plan. This will be followed by a public comment period.

Copies of the Broome draft UMP are available for review during normal business hours at the following locations:

DEC Kirkwood Sub Office, 1679 Rte. 11, Kirkwood
DEC Division of Lands and Forests Office, 2715 Rte. 80, Sherburne
DEC Division of Lands and Forests Office, 1285 Fisher Ave., Cortland
DEC Region 7 Headquarters, 615 Erie Blvd. West, Syracuse
Broome County Library, 185 Court St., Binghamton
Broome County Environmental Management Council, Edwin Crawford County Office Building, Binghamton
Vestal Library, 320 Vestal Pky East, Vestal
Town of Sanford, 91 Second St., Deposit
Town of Windsor, 124 Main St., Windsor
Town of Kirkwood, 70 Crescent Drive, Kirkwood
Town of Owego, 2354 Rte. 434, Apalachin

Comments in writing or by e-mail on the draft Broome UMP are welcome and are due by August 26, 2005. Please send written comments to: NYS DEC, Division of Lands and Forests, ATTN: Broome UMP Comments, 1679 Rte. 11, Kirkwood, NY 13795. E-mail should be directed to Gerry Kachmor at gakachmo@gw.dec.state.ny.us

All proposed new construction of facilities and trails on both units will follow Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, the Principles of Universal Design, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG). Additionally, both draft UMPs will soon be available on DEC's Division of Lands and Forests web page. A limited number of paper copies are available upon request.

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