For Release: Friday, May 23, 2008
DEC Proposes New Permit System to Regulate Commercial Float Plane Access to Lows Lake
A proposal for a new permit system that would allow commercial float planes to continue to land on Lows Lake in Hamilton and St. Lawrence counties was announced today by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
The proposal is part of a draft amendment to the Bog River Flow Management Complex Unit Management Plan (UMP) that would impose new restrictions on the location, timing and frequency of float plane access to the lake. Under the proposal, the new permit system would remain in place for a period of 10 years, or until the elimination of private motorboat rights on the lake - whichever occurs first. The proposal postpones a ban on float plane access to the lake that was to be effective starting this year.
The Bog River Flow Management Complex UMP encompasses approximately 35,000 acres of state-owned and easement lands in the towns of Colton and Piercefield in St. Lawrence County, Long Lake in Hamilton County, and Altamont in Franklin County. Much of the shoreline of Lows Lake is owned by the state and is part of the forest preserve. However, several private inholdings also exist, and the owners of the inholdings are entitled to use motorboats on the lake.
As required by the UMP, DEC evaluated 23 lakes and ponds as possible alternatives to Lows Lake for float plane access. Each of the potential alternatives was determined to be unsuitable based on factors such as ease of access by other transportation means, lack of sufficient surface area to accommodate float plane landing and take-off, existing prohibitions against aircraft use, or inappropriateness due to resource considerations.
Prior to proposing the amendment, DEC surveyed Lows Lake visitors to better understand how paddlers in the area were affected by float planes and motorboats during their visits to the lake. The results of the survey indicated that most users supported less restrictive management alternatives than an immediate ban on float planes, including institution of a mandatory permit system.
The full proposal can be found on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22579.html . Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until June 30, 2008, and should be sent to Peter Frank, NYS DEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233.
