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For Release: Wednesday, October 25, 2006

DEC Issues Draft Unit Management Plan for Ferris Lake Wild Forest

Public Meeting Scheduled for November 6 in Caroga Lake, Fulton County

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the release of the draft Unit Management Plan (UMP) for Ferris Lake Wild Forest. The unit consists of 147,454 acres of State Forest Preserve lands located on the southwestern edge of the Adirondacks in the Towns of Salisbury and Ohio in Herkimer County; the Towns of Morehouse and Arietta in Hamilton County; and the Towns of Stratford, Caroga, Oppenheim, and Ephratah in Fulton 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 Ferris Lake Wild Forest 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 which have been incorporated into the draft UMP."

A public meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6, 2006 at the Caroga Town Hall in Caroga Lake, NY. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to comment on the proposals in the draft UMP. The meeting facility is wheelchair accessible. Please call (315) 866-6330 with any requests for specific accommodation at least one week in advance of the meeting. DEC will also accept written comments on the draft UMP until December 1.

The Caroga Town Hall is located in the old school building on Route 29A across from the Nick Stoner Golf Club. This site is roughly 15 miles north of New York State Thruway (I-90) Exit 28. Upon exiting I-90 take Route 30A north (toward Fonda). Continue on 30A through Johnstown to the intersection with Route 29A (East Fulton Street). Turn left onto Route 29A north and follow for 10 miles into Caroga Lake.

The Ferris Lake Wild Forest is roughly bounded on the north and west by Route 8, on the east by Route 10, and on the south by the Adirondack Park "Blue-Line." Surrounding nearby state lands include the Black River Wild Forest and West Canada Lake Wilderness to the north, and Shaker Mountain Wild Forest and Silver Lake Wilderness to the east. The unit's most distinguishing characteristic is its old growth spruce stands which still exist and can be found along the Powley-Piseco Road, the north side of Alderbed Stream, around Blind Man's Vly, and on the slopes of Big and Little Alderbed Mountains. The attractiveness of this area lies in its numerous ponds, lakes, and streams which draw sportsmen and women and other outdoor enthusiasts throughout the year.

The Ferris Lake Wild Forest is readily accessible by car, lying approximately 20 miles north of the Mohawk Valley. The Powley-Piseco Road, one of the last old Adirondack dirt roads, extends about 17 miles from Route 10 near Piseco Lake to Stratford, and cuts through the approximate center of this large, diverse, and interesting piece of Forest Preserve land. It provides the public with motor vehicle access through practically unbroken forest.

The draft UMP contains proposed management activities including:

  • Improving trail information and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities, including the development of accessible camping sites and two canoe access sites;
  • Designating and improving approximately 8.8 miles of existing unmarked foot trail and developing of approximately 7.0 miles of new foot trail;
  • Closing approximately 16.7 miles of snowmobile trails due to lack of public use on dead end trails, maintenance considerations, environmental concerns, and the elimination of redundant trails. The trails will remain open for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding;
  • Posting a number of roads against motor vehicle use, posting open roads for continued motor vehicle use, and temporarily closing one road to public motor vehicle use until it is rehabilitated. The majority of road closures involve roads less than 0.5 miles long that lead to private inholdings or do not provide significant access to DEC programs. The longer road sections begin on private lands with unclear public access rights;
  • Recommending reclassification of the West Lake Boat Launch to an Intensive Use Area;
  • Enacting special regulations to manage public use at Stewart Landing, such as parking, camping, swimming and trailered boat launching restrictions; and
  • Establishing and maintaining several quality fisheries.

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. Implementation of the UMP management actions will provide protection of the natural resources of the Forest Preserve and outdoor recreational opportunities for the people of the State.

Governor George E. 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 allocation of funds to the stewardship of these lands from the State's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), will dramatically improve the State's ability to manage these lands.

The draft UMP 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 also will be available for review at the town offices of Salisbury and Ohio in Herkimer County; Morehouse and Arietta in Hamilton County; and Stratford, Caroga, Oppenheim, and Ephratah in Fulton County.

Copies are available in electronic format for distribution on compact disc from the DEC's Herkimer Office and may be requested by calling (315) 866-6330. A limited number of printed copies are available as well. The complete document will be available on DEC's Unit Management Plan website. Public comments will be accepted until December 1 and may be sent to Eric J. Kasza, Senior Forester, NYSDEC, PO Box 89, 225 N. Main Street, Herkimer, NY 13350, or emailed to r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us