DEC Releases Draft Access and Public Use Plan for Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area

Public Comments Accepted Until March 2, 2022
 
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released draft Access and Public Use Plans (APUPs) for Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The draft plans are available for public comment until March 2, 2022.

Canadaway Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is comprised of 2,190 acres of steeply sloped landscape in the town of Arkwright, Chautauqua County, that is covered primarily with deciduous forest interspersed with conifer plantations. The area drains to Canadaway Creek, which runs through the property.

In conjunction with WMA regulations, APUPs serve as overarching guidance for providing public access to wildlife lands and determining public use activities appropriate for each area.

The draft APUPs for Canadaway Creek WMAs complement existing Habitat Management Plans (HMP) for each site and address management objectives for wildlife-dependent recreation, access features, and facility maintenance. Together, these plans form a comprehensive management plan for the WMAs and guide management for wildlife and public access over a 10-year time period, after which DEC will assess conditions and needs and update the plans as needed.

The draft plan for Canadaway Creek are available on DEC's website. The public is encouraged to submit comments from Feb. 2, to March 2, 2022. Comments can be sent to NYSDEC Bureau of Wildlife, Region 9, 182 East Union Street, Suite 3, Allegany, NY, 14706 or by email to dec.sm.Wildlife.R9@dec.ny.gov with the subject line - Canadaway Creek WMA draft APUP or Hanging Bog WMA draft APUP.

DEC Releases Draft Access and Public Use Plan for Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area

Public Comments Accepted Until March 2, 2022
 
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released draft Access and Public Use Plans (APUPs) for Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The draft plans are available for public comment until March 2, 2022.

Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is comprised of 4,560 acres in Allegany County, north of the village of Cuba. The area contains rolling hills, forest land, fields, and marshes, and is named for the large man-made bog on the property that was created by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the late 1930s. Hanging Bog WMA has a long history of small game management and remains a focus area for ruffed grouse management in New York State.

In conjunction with WMA regulations, APUPs serve as overarching guidance for providing public access to wildlife lands and determining public use activities appropriate for each area.

The draft APUPs for Hanging Bog WMA complement existing Habitat Management Plans (HMP) for the site and address management objectives for wildlife-dependent recreation, access features, and facility maintenance. Together, these plans form a comprehensive management plan for the WMAs and guide management for wildlife and public access over a 10-year time period, after which DEC will assess conditions and needs and update the plan as needed.

The draft plan for Hanging Bog is available on DEC's website. The public is encouraged to submit comments from Feb. 2, to March 2, 2022. Comments can be sent to NYSDEC Bureau of Wildlife, Region 9, 182 East Union Street, Suite 3, Allegany, NY, 14706 or by email to dec.sm.Wildlife.R9@dec.ny.gov with the subject line - Hanging Bog WMA draft APUP.

Project Description:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has determined that the application for an Industrial State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit is complete for the purposes of public review and comment. The draft SPDES permit would authorize the City of Syracuse to treat Skaneateles Lake with the algicide, EarthTec, to decrease the density of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria that contribute to harmful algal blooms near the City of Syracuse's drinking water intakes. The use of EarthTec would occur in the northern portion of the lake, extending 750 foot waterward from the shoreline along a 36,850 foot length of shoreline stretching from the NYS DEC Boat Launch (Fire Lane 15) on the western shoreline of the lake, along the northern shoreline to the eastern shoreline of the lake to Kingston Brook (south of the Skaneateles Sailing Club). The use of EarthTec would occur no more than twice per calendar year within this shoreline treatment area and would be limited to specifications on the product label. The City would provide pre-treatment notification 48 hours prior to an EarthTec application to the state officials, local officials, beach/resource managers, the Skaneateles Lake Association, and to riparian owners and users. The City would also provide daily post-treatment monitoring of microcystin concentration and would notify local and state health departments if the microcystin concentration were at or above the 4 microgram per liter threshold for re-opening a swimming area.

Written Comments:

All written comments concerning the draft permit must either be submitted to the NYS DEC Contact Person at the email address or mailing address indicated below by 5:00 p.m. on March 2, 2022. All public comments on these permits will be reviewed by NYS DEC Staff to determine whether the comments raise substantive and significant issues that warrant further review by NYS DEC staff. Specific comments must be supported by full documentation and references should be limited to readily available information.

Public Comment Hearings:

A virtual public comment hearing will be held on March 1, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. (EST) to receive unsworn statements from the public on the draft permit. Instructions to participate in the virtual hearing session may be accessed at the NYS DEC's website a:t https://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6061.html Persons who wish to receive the instructions by mail or telephone may contact the NYS DEC Office of Hearings and Mediation Services by telephone at (518) 402-9003 or by e-mail to: ohms@dec.ny.gov. Please provide your first and last name, address, and telephone number and reference the City of Syracuse SPDES permit public comment hearing.

Contact: Karyn Hanson, NYS DEC - Division of Environmental Permits, 625 Broadway, 4th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-1750
Phone: (518) 402-9167, E-mail: Comment.Skaneateles2021@dec.ny.gov