For Release: Tuesday, May 27, 2008

DEC to Hold Public Meeting on the Perkins Clearing-speculator Tree Farm Easement Lands

Meeting to Be Held in Speculator on May 30

A public informational meeting on the Perkins Clearing-Speculator Tree Farm easement lands will be held by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on Friday, May 30, at 7 p.m. at the Lake Pleasant High School in Speculator, Hamilton County.

The purpose of the meeting, which is being sponsored by the Speculator Chamber of Commerce, is to provide information on:

DEC's conservation easement program.
Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm easement agreement.
Current public recreational opportunities.
Inter-relationships between public access and the leased camps.
Discussion about the development of a Recreational Management Plan.

Brief presentations will be made by a number of DEC staff involved in managing the easement lands as well as a representative from the landowner - Lyme Adirondack Timberlands, LLC. DEC will also be seeking input from the public as it begins developing a recreation management plan for these lands.

The Perkins Clearing - Speculator Tree Farm and Oxbow area encompass approximately 39,579 acres of conservation easement lands in the towns of Arietta, Lake Pleasant and Wells, Hamilton County. The conservation easement area straddles the village of Speculator, Hamilton County. The area shares borders with the Siamese Ponds Wilderness, the Jessup River Wild Forest and the West Canada Lake Wilderness. The lands contain 31 miles of designated motor vehicle roads are accessible from State Route 30.

The lands are owned by Lyme Timber, which continues to actively log the property. However, public recreational opportunities are provided under a conservation easement agreement with DEC. Trailheads to Spruce Lake, Long Pond and Pillsbury Mountain are accessible from the designated road system. The interior of the area offers great opportunities for fishing, hunting and trapping in a working forest setting. Several of the area's ponds are excellent places for viewing wildlife. Snowmobilers utilize designated roads as part of the local snowmobile trail system in the winter months. One of the most popular recreational activities in the conservation easement area is hunting. The protected property supports a long-standing hunting tradition reflected by its 110 privately leased hunting camps.

A Recreation Management Plan (RMP) is being develop to assess the recreational resources present, identify opportunities for recreational use and consider the ability of the resources and ecosystems to accommodate public use. The recreation management plan is required under the easement and must be completed before new recreational facilities such as trails, tent sites and parking areas can be constructed.

An interim recreation management plan had been developed by DEC to provide for the continuation of established recreational uses and the designation of campsites, roads, and existing trails. The new plan to be discussed at the meeting will expand upon the approved interim RMP, which provided for the continuation of established recreational uses and the designation of campsites, roads, and existing trails.

Issues to be considered while developing the plan include snowmobile trails, ski trails, horse trails, hiking trails, bike trails, camping and recreational access and use of interior roads, ponds and rivers. Potential impacts on the adjoining forest preserve lands will be considered, along with public comments, as the planning team develops the recreation management plan. A draft plan will be developed that identifies a series of management actions to be implemented over a five-year period. The completed draft plan will be distributed for public review and comment, and a public meeting will be scheduled.

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: Forester Marcus Riehl, NYSDEC, PO Box 1316, Northville, New York 12134 (518) 863-4545. In addition, comments may be sent by e-mail to r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us - please include Perkins Clearing/Speculator Tree Farm in the subject line.