For Release: Tuesday, May 11, 2004
DEC to Prepare Management Plan for West Canada Lake Wilderness Area
Public Meetings Will Be Held in Piseco Lake on June 22 and in Inlet on June 23
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Erin M. Crotty today announced that DEC will begin development of a unit management plan (UMP) for the West Canada Lake Wilderness Area and three associated primitive areas. Located in the southwestern portion of the Adirondack Park, the West Canada Lake Wilderness Area represents approximately 168,920 acres of State Forest Preserve lands in the Towns of Arietta, Indian Lake, Lake Pleasant and Morehouse in Hamilton County and the Town of Ohio in Herkimer County.
"Developing a management plan for West Canada Lake Wilderness Area is another important step in New York State's continuing efforts to improve public access and ensure the protection of the Adirondack's precious natural resources for the future," Commissioner Crotty said. "DEC encourages and appreciates the involvement of the public during this stage of UMP development, as it enables information and recommendations from our communities to be later incorporated into a comprehensive draft management plan."
Two public meetings will be held on the West Canada Lake Wilderness Area. The first will be held on Tuesday, June 22 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Community Center in Piseco Lake. The second will be held on Wednesday, June 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Town Hall in Inlet. The open houses will provide an opportunity for the public to meet with DEC staff and share their thoughts, ideas, and suggestions regarding management of State lands within this particular unit. This will be the first of many opportunities for the public to be involved in the planning process.
The West Canada Lake Wilderness Area is roughly bordered on the north by the Moose River Plains Wild Forest and lands of Finch Pruyn in the vicinity of Snowy Mountain and Squaw Mountain; on the east by Route 30 and lands of International Paper Company and the Jessup River Wild Forest; on the south by private lands north of Route 8, the south Branch of West Canada Creek and lands of the Ferris Lake Wild Forest; on the west by West Canada Creek and private lands north and east of Honnedaga Lake.
The Wilderness Area's major attribute is its numerous lakes and ponds, including Spruce Lake, Whitney Lake, the Cedar Lakes, as well as the wilderness's namesakes, the West Canada Lakes, which were once the home of the famous Adirondack hermit French Louie. The unit's terrain ranges from swamp flats and rolling hills to steep mountains such as Panther, Lewey and Fort Noble. The peaks of Pillsbury and Snowy Mountains lie just outside of the wilderness, but the views from the fire towers that reside there take in the West Canada Lake Wilderness Area. Approximately 28 miles of the famed Northville-Placid trail pass through the wilderness. Hiking and hunting are popular activities, but the area is well known for its native brook trout fishing.
The 2,935-acre West Canada Mountain Primitive Area is the largest of the three primitive areas that will be included in the management plan. Located in the Town of Morehouse on the western side of the unit, it is bordered on three sides by private lands. Buell Brook Primitive Area is located in the Town of Indian Lake in the northeastern portion of the unit and the Wilmurt Club Road Primitive Area is located in the Town of Morehouse in the southern portion of the unit. Both are road corridors that access private inholdings.
The West Canada Lake Wilderness Area contains few designated trails, thus providing some of the remotest lands and waters in the Adirondacks. Maintaining the remoteness will be evaluated against the desire for additional public access to the area. Other issues to be addressed in the planning process include the identification of appropriate recreational opportunities, future status of the Cedar Lakes Dam, the management and protection of the wilderness fishery resource, and the location of possible additional trails, including a portion of the North Country Scenic Trail.
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. In conjunction with the allocation of unprecedented resources for the stewardship of these lands through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act, these plans will dramatically improve the State's ability to manage Preserve lands for public recreation.
A UMP must be completed before significant new recreational facilities, such as trails, camping sites, and parking areas can be constructed. The plans involve an analysis of the natural features of an area and the ability of the land to accommodate public use. The planning process will culminate in a series of management actions to be implemented over a five-year period. Possible adverse impacts from the UMP may include temporary minor erosion, increased hiking traffic in certain areas, and minor noise impacts during the construction of new facilities.
Public involvement in the development of UMPs is essential to constructing a sound, viable plan, and DEC looks forward to the valuable input from all concerned parties as we being the planning process. There will be ample opportunities to provide comments during the process, and individuals can also contact DEC's Herkimer Office with suggestions that will be useful in the formation of the UMP.
DEC has primary responsibility for developing management plans for each Forest Preserve unit, as identified under the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (APSLMP). The APSLMP guides the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) in developing classifications for Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack Park as Wild Forest, Primitive, Canoe or Wilderness, which define the range of uses allowed within each classification. The APSLMP places further management guidelines on the allowable uses and these guidelines define the basis for developing management plans for each Forest Preserve unit.
In the Adirondacks, UMPs are developed by DEC staff in consultation with APA staff, who are responsible for ensuring that the plans are consistent with the APSLMP. Upon completion of the inventory of natural resources, analysis of recreational use and review of public comments, a draft plan will be prepared. Once the draft plans are published, they are widely distributed for public review and comment, and a public meeting is scheduled. Typically the planning process takes about two years.
Any interested individual or organization wanting to be included on a mailing list for information about the development of the unit management plan or wishing to submit comments is encouraged to contact: Senior Forester Eric J. Kasza, NYSDEC, 225 North Main Street, Herkimer, New York 13350, (315)866-6330. In addition, a special e-mail address has been established for receiving public comments on any UMPs being developed by DEC in Region 5, which encompasses central and eastern Adirondack counties. The address is r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us
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