For Release: Friday, September 21, 2007
DEC Proposes Draft Unit Management Plan for Chenango Trail
Public Meeting to Discuss the Plan to be Held September 26
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 7 Sherburne office will hold a public meeting on Sept. 26, 2007, at 7 p.m. at the Coventry Town Hall, located at 1839 State Highway 235, Coventry, to accept public comment on the Draft Chenango Trail Unit Management Plan. The meeting is open to the public, and persons are encouraged to attend to express their opinion on the management objectives outlined in the draft plan.
The Chenango Trail Unit Management Plan covers 5,446 acres of land in the town of Coventry in Chenango County. The small villages of Greene, Oxford, Bainbridge and Afton are located on the perimeter of the Unit. Properties included in the Unit are: Coventry State Forest, Bobell Hill State Forest, Beaver Flow State Forest, Bumps Creek State Forest, and Oak Ridge State Forest.
The Unit Management Plan (UMP) address such issues as recreation, timber management, the watershed, wildlife, mineral resources, accessibility, biodiversity, and public information. The Plan identifies goals and objectives for multiple-use management, sustainable forestry, conservation of biological diversity, and engagement of the public in the management of these State forests. Multiple-use management will be achieved through consideration of all of the various natural resources present on these properties and accommodating those activities which are deemed to be compatible. Biological diversity will be conserved through the protection of wetlands, riparian areas, natural areas, and certain wildlife habitats, such as those of the red-shouldered hawk. Interaction with the community will be encouraged through communication with outdoor activity clubs and implementation of the Adopt-A-Natural Resource program.
Public use and recreation opportunities will be offered through several proposals in the Plan. An informational kiosk, including a map and text description of forest features, will be installed at one location on each of the State forests within the Unit. A parking area will also be constructed at each of these locations. As part of the plan, a 1.2 mile designated trail on the Coventry State Forest will be maintained for ATV use by persons with disabilities. This trail offers access to a small pond that is a popular fishing destination. Presently, there are 1.5 miles of snowmobile trail on the forests of the Unit. This trail will continue to be maintained and an additional 2.5 miles of trail will be considered for establishment as an addition to the NYS Snowmobile Corridor Trail System. A recreational trail, compatible with hiking, skiing, bird watching, etc., is being offered for establishment in this Plan through the Adopt-A-Natural Resource program.
The Department will make a dedicated effort to interact with the local community through a variety of public programs. These may include guided walks, workshops, and tree planting programs. Community-based forestry is a participatory approach to forest management that seeks to strengthen the relationship between local people and local forest resources. The Plan proposes to advance community based forestry through public programs, increased participation in DEC's Adopt-A-Natural Resource and Cooperative Forest Management programs, and by maintaining a dialogue with local government about State Forest management.
Those unable to attend the meeting may write, phone or e-mail the Region 7 Forestry office in Sherburne with their comments on the plan. Copies of the plan are posted on the DEC's website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22570.html. One may also view the plan at the Sherburne office. Comments on the plan will be accepted Oct. 26, 2007. The Forestry office is located at 2715 State Highway 80, Sherburne, NY 13460-4507, 607-674-4036; e-mail is: reg7info@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
