For Immediate Release: November 15, 2006
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY – The Adirondack Park Agency is accepting public comments on Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (APSLMP) compliance for the following unit management plans: Moose River Plains Wild Forest, White Hill Wild Forest, Raquette-Boreal Wild Forest and Raquette/Jordan Boreal Primitive Area. Final draft plans were recently completed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and were subject to a series of public meetings and public input during the planning process. The Adirondack Park Agency will now consider compliance of these final draft plans with the State Land Master Plan prior to final adoption by DEC. The Agency will accept public comments on the proposals contained in the draft plans until December 6, 2006.
Moose River Plains Wild Forest
The Moose River Plains Wild Forest lies in the southwestern Adirondack Park. It sits within Hamilton County in the Towns of Arietta, Inlet, Long Lake, Lake Pleasant and Morehouse. The unit also lies in Towns of Webb and Ohio in Herkimer County. The DEC estimates the size of the planning area at 85,467 acres. Numerous lakes and streams, including a portion of the traditional Adirondack canoe route from Old Forge to Saranac Lake, the South Branch of the Moose River, the Cedar River Flow, as well as numerous lakes and ponds provide for a variety of water based recreational activities. During winter months, snowmobiling is a major activity on this unit. The Limekiln Lake- Cedar River Road provides a connection between the hamlets of Inlet and Indian Lake.
Some important Master Plan compliance issues relate to public camping, snowmobiling and access opportunities for person with disabilities in conformity with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Moose River Plains Wild Forest Unit Management Plan is available for download from the Adirondack Park Agency website:
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/State_Land/UMPs/index.htm#MooseRiver
White Hill Wild Forest
The White Hill Wild Forest lies in the northwestern Adirondack Park. It sits within St. Lawrence County in the Towns of Parishville. The White Hill Unit is bounded on the north by the Adirondack Park Boundary, on the east by the St. Lawrence-Franklin County Line, on the south by the West Branch of the St. Regis River, the Stark-Joe Indian Road, and State Highway 56, and on the west by the Adirondack Park Boundary. This Unit is located near the following hamlets: 2 miles south of the Hamlet of Parishville, 4 miles east of the Hamlet of South Colton, 6 miles east of the Hamlet of Colton, 10 miles southeast of the Village of Potsdam, and 15 miles due east of the Village of Canton.
Highlighting the many resources of the White Hill unit are five ponds. They are Lilypad, Long, Clear, Rock and Little Rock Pond.
Master Plan compliance issues focus on public access to these water resources, controlling illegal All Terrain Vehicle use and access opportunities for person with disabilities in conformity with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The White Hill Wild Forest Wild Forest Unit Management Plan is available for download from the Adirondack Park Agency website:
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/State_Land/UMPs/index.htm#WhiteHill
Raquette-Boreal Wild Forest and Primitive Areas
The Raquette –Boreal Unit lies in the north central Adirondack Park. It sits primarily within St. Lawrence County in the Towns of Colton, Hopkinton and Piercefield. The Raquette Boreal Unit is a mix of State owned Forest Preserve lands and privately owned lands subject to Conservation Easements. Forest Preserve lands are classified as either Primitive or Wild Forest.
The Raquette River Wild Forest consists of lands lying west of the Lassiter Main Haul Road and several smaller detached parcels. These detached parcels include; Garlough, Stark, Catamount and Parameter, all lands acquired from Niagara Mohawk.
The Raquette-Jordan Boreal Primitive Area includes State lands laying east and south of the Lassiter Main Haul Road and west of the St. Lawrence-Franklin County line. The State - owned lands comprising the Raquette River Corridor from the Colton-Piercefield town line to the dam at Piercefield Flow are also part of this Primitive Area.
The Raquette Boreal Unit occupies the southern most extent of the transitional zone between the boreal forests to the north and the mixed forests of the south. There are eleven notable ecological communities and four rare animal species as well as two rare plant species in this unit.
Master Plan compliance issues focus on motorized use and access.
The Raquette Boreal Wild Forest Wild Forest and Primitive Area Unit Management Plan is available for download from the Adirondack Park Agency website:
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/State_Land/UMPs/index.htm#Raquette
Public Comment Period extended for Lake Eaton Public Campground
Lake Eaton Public Campground is located two miles north of Long Lake Village, in the town of Long Lake, Hamilton County. The campground sits on the eastern shore of Lake Eaton. The 135 campsites are light to moderately forested with 53 lake frontage sites. Varieties of recreational opportunities are available at the campground including canoeing, boating, fishing, hiking, and bicycling. The campground also contains a day use area highlighted by a 400 foot sand beach.
The plan addresses rehabilitation of water and electrical system; stabilization of the campground shoreline; resurfacing campground roads and parking areas; improvement of an existing nature interpretive trail; invasive species management; renovation of bathhouses; construction of a picnic pavilion and sanitary facility improvements. The number of campsites and the size of the day use area will not change.
Master Plan compliance issues include carrying capacity for boating on the lake and vegetation management. Contact Thomas R. Folts, General Manager Forest Parks, NYSDEC at 518.457.2500 for a copy of the Lake Eaton Public Campground Plan.
Please address all written comments pertaining to State Land Master Plan compliance to: Richard Weber, Supervisor Regional Planning Planning Division, Adirondack Park Agency P.O. Box 99 Ray Brook, NY 12977
The Adirondack Park Agency Board may consider compliance of DEC’s Unit Management Plans with the State Land Master Plan at the December 14 and 15 Agency meeting. Any written comments received by December 6 will become part of the public record. Written comments received after December 6, will be provided to board members on meeting day but will not be part of the official record. If board action on any of these plans is delayed then the public comment period may be extended.