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October 6, 2003 |
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Catskill Park State Land Master Plan
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This is an exciting time for people who enjoy outdoor recreation in the Catskills. Recently there has been a flurry of activity around the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve. First and foremost is the draft revision of the Catskill Park State Land Master Plan, released by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in August. The Master Plan guides the DEC’s classification and management of all of the public Forest Preserve lands in the Catskills; currently amounting to approximately 287,000 acres. The original Master Plan went into effect in 1985, and set out the classification of Forest Preserve lands into Wilderness, Wild Forest, Intensive Use, and Administrative Areas. The Master Plan requires that each Forest Preserve unit have a Unit Management Plan (UMP) that outlines specific actions and considerations regarding natural resources, recreational use, and DEC management of the Forest Preserve lands, all of which are subject to the ‘forever wild’ clause of the State constitution, current State law, and other overarching policies outlined in the Master Plan.
The most significant change proposed in the revised Master Plan is the repeal of the ‘2,700 Foot Rule’ (which specified that all Wild Forest lands above 2,700’ in elevation were to be managed as if they were classified as Wilderness), coinciding with the expansion of lands in the Forest Preserve classified as Wilderness. The Plan would re-classify several areas of former Wild Forest to create one new Wilderness Area, the Windham-Blackhead Range Wilderness Area of about 18,000 acres, and expand the Westkill Mountain-North Dome Wilderness Area, which will be renamed the Hunter-Westkill Wilderness Area, to now include approximately 27,000 acres. Some smaller parcels of land in these areas will remain Wild Forest, such as the Elm Ridge Wild Forest near Windham and the Rusk Mountain Wild Forest on the ridge north of Spruceton Valley and around the Hunter Mountain Fire Tower. These changes will result in approximately 50% of the Catskill Forest Preserve being classified as Wilderness.
Other safeguards for the natural resources of the Forest Preserve include a blanket ban on snow-mobile trails above 3,100 feet elevation, and limitations on maximum group camping sizes in Wild Forest and Wilderness Areas. The Draft Plan also proposes that mountain bikes be limited to only designated, marked trails in Wild Forest and Intensive Use Areas, and prohibited from Wilderness. This last proposed management change has proven to be the single-most contentious issue identified in the public hearings for the revised Plan, with many people in the mountain biking community requesting more liberal access to Forest Preserve lands. The public comment period for the Draft Plan has been extended until November 15th.
Following closely on the heels of the release of the revised Master Plan, is the release of the Draft Shandaken Wild Forest Unit Management Plan. This 5,375-acre Forest Preserve Unit lies primarily in the Town of Shandaken, and is well-known to many of us who live in the area. This Wild Forest Area includes Rochester Hollow in Big Indian; much of Peck Hollow in Shandaken and over the line in Lexington; State land in Allaben adjacent to the cemetery; and the old Reisser Farm at the end of Lower Birch Creek Road in Pine Hill. Slated for these various areas is the upkeep and maintenance of certain access roads, parking areas, and primitive camping sites, as well as the addition of two new parking areas and two new lean-to’s. There will also be improvements and increased access for people with mobility impairments or other disabilities. The State plans to designate most of the buildings at the Reisser Farm, such as the house and barn, as an Administrative Area so that they can be used and maintained rather than being removed. The DEC also plans to make a limited Intensive Use Area out of the neighboring ponds and fields so that they also can be maintained, used as construction area for new lean-to’s, and continue to be enjoyed for passive recreation by the public.
All of this, combined with numerous events being planned by various groups in relation to the Catskill Park 100 Year Anniversary in 2004, and the people of the Catskills certainly have quite an opportunity right now to learn more, provide input, and get involved with this great gem in our backyards that is the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve.
- Chris and Aaron
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