DEC Seeking
Your Input to Help them Prepare the
Unit Management Plan for the Grass River Unit
The New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has begun the development
of a unit management plan (UMP) for 11,000 acres of Forest Preserve
and 43,000 acres of conservation easements of the Grass River
Complex. This area is located in the northwestern part of the
Adirondack Park in the Towns of Clare, Clifton, Colton and Fine
in St. Lawrence County.
The properties with conservation
easements which will be included in this UMP are the Long Pond
easement and the Tooley Pond Tract of the Champion easement.
A UMP must be completed for this
area before significant new recreational facilities, such as
trails, lean-tos, parking areas or tent-sites can be constructed.
The UMP that will be developed for the Grass River Unit must
balance any recreational uses with the protection of the natural
resources of the area.
Contact the DEC and in your
own words and using any personal experiences or expertise you
may have in this area, tell them that when it develops the UMP:
- DEC must make sure that
it is consistent with Article XIV, the Forever Wild Clause, of
the New York State Constitution, with the State Land Master Plan
and with other pertinent laws and the DEC's Rules and Regulations.
- The DEC must conduct thorough
natural resource studies to identify rare and endangered species
habitats, critical wildlife areas and other sensitive places
in these areas.
- The DEC should include appropriate
recreational opportunities in these areas where those activities
will not harm the natural resources.
If you want to
be included on a mailing list for information about the development
of the UMP for the Grass River Unit or wish to submit written
comments, please contact:
Patrick Whalen
NYSDEC
6739 US HWY 11
Potsdam, New York 13676
(315) 265-3090
Also a special e-mail
address has been established for receiving public comments on
any UMPs being developed by DEC in Region 6, which encompasses
St. Lawrence, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and Herkimer counties.
The address is
r6ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
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