For Release: Wednesday, July 7, 2004
DEC to Prepare Management Plan for Mckenzie Mt. Wilderness
Public Meeting to Be Held in at DEC Office in Ray Brook on August 4
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 36,200-acre McKenzie Mountain Wilderness located in western Essex County. The McKenzie Mountain Wilderness includes State Forest Preserve lands in the Towns of North Elba, St.Armand and Wilmington.
"Developing a management plan for McKenzie Mountain Wilderness 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."
A public meeting on the McKenzie Mountain Wilderness will be held on Wednesday, August 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the DEC Region 5 headquarters in Ray Brook. The meeting 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 McKenzie Mountain Wilderness is bordered on the north by the Saranac River, the Franklin Falls Reservoir, and the Wilmington-Franklin Falls Road; on the east by Whiteface Mountain Memorial Highway, the Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and the West Branch of the Ausable River; on the south by Lake Placid and Route 86; and on the west by the Saranac River and Moose Pond.
The Wilderness Area's major natural features are McKenzie Mountain, Moose Mountain and the western slopes of Whiteface Mountain. The Saranac and Ausable Rivers, Moose and McKenzie Ponds, Lake Placid and the Franklin Falls Reservoir are large boundary waters, but the area also includes small interior waters such as Bartlett Pond, Loch Bonnie and Lincoln and French Brooks.
Hiking the trails up McKenzie, Moose, and Haystack Mountains is a popular activity, as is hunting. Fishing the border waters and interior brook trout streams and camping on the shores of the border waters are commonly enjoyed as well.
Some of the issues that will be considered during the development of the management plan include the illegal use of mountain bikes, access into the wilderness from the north, and trail access from the shores of Lake Placid.
Governor George Pataki's strategic plan to complete UMPs 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 and 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 Ray Brook 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: Supervising Forester Kris Alberga, NYSDEC, PO Box 296, Ray Brook, New York 12977-0296 (518)897-1291. 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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