For Release: Thursday, December 22, 2005
DEC Issues Draft Unit Management Plan for Blue Ridge Wilderness And Wakely Mountain Primitive Area
Public Meeting Scheduled for February 7, 2006 at the Adirondack Museum
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the release of the Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP) for the Blue Ridge Wilderness and Wakely Mountain Primitive Area. The Blue Ridge Wilderness Area consists of more than 47,000 acres of State Forest Preserve lands in the central Adirondacks in the towns of Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant, Arietta, and Long Lake in Hamilton County. The adjacent Wakely Mountain Primitive Area consists of 235 acres of State Forest Preserve lands located within the Town of Lake Pleasant, Hamilton County.
"We are continuing to make progress on completing unit management plans in the Adirondack Forest Preserve," Commissioner Denise Sheehan said. "The release of the Draft UMP for the Blue Ridge Wilderness and Wakely Mountain Primitive Area is 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 to date, providing us with important information and recommendations incorporated into the Draft UMP."
A public meeting will be held at on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the proposals in the Draft UMP. DEC will also accept written comments on the Draft UMP until February 24, 2006.
The Adirondack Museum is located on State Route 30 in the hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake, approximately 1 mile north of the intersection with State Route 28.
The Blue Ridge Wilderness and Wakely Mountain Primitive Area are located in the Central Adirondacks near the Hamlets of Raquette Lake, Blue Mountain Lake, and Indian Lake. The Wilderness Area's northern and eastern boundaries are roughly defined by Route 28 as it arcs from the South Inlet of Raquette Lake to Cedar River Road. The area is bounded on the south by Cedar River Road and on the west by the Moose River Plains Wild Forest and Great Camp Sagamore. The famous Northville-Lake Placid Trail, established in 1922, follows the Cedar River Road, enters the Blue Ridge Wilderness Area through private land, and continues to Lake Durant Campground on Route 28. The Wakely Mountain fire tower, observer cabin, and helipad are located in the Wakely Mountain Primitive Area. The most popular activities include hiking to the Wakely Mountain fire tower, hunting, and hiking the Northville-Lake Placid Trail.
A partial list of proposed management actions in the Draft UMP include:
- Restoring the Wakely Mountain fire tower, observer cabin and helipad for radio communications, recreational use, and historic preservation;
- Relocating the Northville-Lake Placid Trail from Cedar River Road to a new route in the Blue Ridge Wilderness and adjacent Moose River Plains Wild Forest;
- Marking and maintaining several existing unmarked trails, including trails near Great Camp Sagamore, the Death Brook Falls trail, the Wilson-Cascade crossover trail, and the Sprague Pond trail;
- Retaining the ruins of the original Great Camp Sagamore hydroelectric plant, subject to the forces of nature; and
- Adopting regulations to protect the wilderness environment, such as limiting camping groups to 8 people and day use groups to 15 people.
A UMP 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 Pataki's strategic plan to complete unit management plans 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 the 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 will be available for public review at DEC's central office 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 Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant, Arietta, and Long Lake . Copies are available in electronic format for distribution on compact disc and may be requested by calling (518) 863-4545. A limited number of printed copies are available as well.
Public comments will be accepted until February 24, 2006, and may be sent to Rick Fenton, Supervising Forester, NYSDEC, P. O. Box 1316, Northville, New York 12134, or emailed to r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Compact discs and some printed copies of the Draft UMP are also available by writing or e-mailing to the above addresses.
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