For Immediate Release: December 19, 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 Watson’s East Triangle Unit Management Plan. 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 January 3, 2007.
Watson’s East Triangle Wild Forest
The Watson’s East Triangle Wild Forest lies in the west central part of the Adirondack Park. It is located within the Town of Webb, Herkimer County and the Town of Croghan, Lewis County. The unit is bounded on the east by the Five Ponds Wilderness Area, the south by the Pepperbox Wilderness Area, the north by the Aldrich Pond Wild Forest and on the west by the Lassiter easement lands and several smaller private parcels. The western edge of the unit is approximately 12 miles east of the Village of Croghan.
The unit also includes two primitive corridors, the Bear Pond Primitive Corridor and the Tied Lake Primitive Corridor. These primitive corridors are located in the Town of Webb, Herkimer County and consist of rights-of-ways providing access to in holdings within the Five Ponds and Pepperbox Wilderness Areas.
The Watson’s East Triangle Wild Forest area consists of rolling hills and portions of the Oswegatchie and Black River watersheds including eighteen named lakes and ponds as well as 43 miles of rivers and streams.
Some important Master Plan compliance issues relate to motorized access including: preventing illegal ATV use, snowmobile trial configuration and maintenance and access opportunities for person with disabilities in conformity with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Watson’s East Triangle Wild Forest Unit Management Plan is available for download from the Adirondack Park Agency website:
http://www.apa.state.ny.us/State_Land/UMPs/WatsonsEastWF/WEPFUMPa.pdf
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 January 11 and 12 Agency meeting. Any written comments received by January 3 will become part of the public record. Written comments received after January 3, will be provided to board members on meeting day but will not be part of the official record. If board action on this plan is delayed then the public comment period may be extended.