For Immediate Release: March 14, 2008
Contact:
Keith P. McKeever | Public Relations | Adirondack Park Agency
contact@apa.ny.gov | (518) 891-4050
RAY BROOK, NY – Adirondack Park Agency Board interprets State Land Master Plan and determines longstanding mileage limit in Department of Environmental Conservation policy is consistent with Basic Guideline for Wild Forest State lands.
On Friday, March 14, 2008, the Adirondack Park Agency Board said that the 848.88 snowmobile trail mileage ceiling for Wild Forest classified State lands stated in DEC Snowmobile Trail Policy ONR-2 was compliant with the State Land Master Plan Wild Forest Basic Guideline 4.
Basic Guideline 4 states, “Public use of motor vehicles will not be encouraged and there will not be any material increase in the mileage of roads and snowmobile trails open to motorized use by the public in Wild Forest areas that conformed to the master plan at the time of its original adoption in 1972.”
APA and DEC staff concluded that 740 miles of snowmobile trails existed in 1972 and requested the Agency Board render an interpretation regarding No Material Increase to help facilitate ongoing Wild Forest unit management planning efforts. Unit Management Plans (UMPs) with snowmobile trail proposals have been held up due to uncertainty over the No Material Increase criteria. The Agency’s advice will help advance UMPs such as Watson’s East Wild Forest and the Moose River Plains Wild Forest. In its deliberations, the Agency acknowledged the importance of snowmobiling to the winter economy for many of the Park’s municipalities.
Chairman Stiles said, “This is a significant interpretation that establishes a baseline for snowmobile trail mileage on lands classified as Wild Forest. It will help DEC and APA staff to plan, evaluate and manage the existing and future trail system and ultimately will result in a superior system for the Park. The Board based its interpretation on the best facts available. DEC staff estimates total trail mileage for existing State lands is approximately 766 miles and well below the mileage limitation currently in DEC policy. This interpretation does not include private land or lands under conservation easements. The resolution does not create any new restrictions on current or anticipated use,” concluded Chairman Stiles.