DEC Seeking
Your Input to Help them Prepare the
Unit Management Plan for the West
Canada Lake Wilderness Area
The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has begun
the development of a unit management plan (UMP) the West Canada
Lake Wilderness Area and three associated primitive areas.
The West Canada
Lake Wilderness Area is located in the southwestern portion of
the Adirondack Park. It contains approximately 168,920 acres
of Forest Preserve lands in the Towns of Arietta, Indian Lake,
Lake Pleasant and Morehouse in Hamilton County and the Town of
Ohio in Herkimer County.
The West Canada Lake Wilderness
Area is bordered on the north by the Moose River Plains Wild
Forest and lands of Finch Pruyn; on the east by Route 30 and
lands of International Paper Company and the Jessup River Wild
Forest; on the south by private lands north of Route 8, the south
Branch of West Canada Creek and lands of the Ferris Lake Wild
Forest; on the west by West Canada Creek and private lands north
and east of Honnedaga Lake.
The West Canada Lakes Wilderness Area contains numerous lakes
and ponds, swamp flats and rolling hills, and steep mountains.
Approximately 28 miles of the Northville-Placid trail pass through
the Wilderness area.
The 2,935-acre West Canada Mountain Primitive Area is the largest
of the three primitive areas that will be included in the management
plan. It is located in the Town of Morehouse and it is bordered
on three sides by private lands. The Buell Brook Primitive Area
is located in the Town of Indian Lake and the Wilmurt Club Road
Primitive Area is located in the Town of Morehouse.
The West Canada Lake Wilderness Area contains few designated
trails, thus providing some of the remotest lands and waters
in the Adirondacks. Maintaining the remoteness will be evaluated
against the desire for additional public access to the area.
Other issues to be addressed
in the planning process include:
- the identification of appropriate
recreational opportunities.
- future status of the Cedar Lakes Dam.
- the management and protection of the wilderness fishery resource.
- the location of possible additional
trails, including a portion of the North Country Scenic Trail.
You
Have an Opportunity to Help Shape the Future of the
West Canada Lake Wilderness Area.
Please Send your Comments to DEC
Please send your comments
to DEC. In your own words and using any personal experiences
or expertise you may have in these areas, tell the staff:
- The new UMP must be 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.
To
submit your written comments, please contact:
Senior
Forester Eric J. Kasza
NYSDEC
225 North Main Street
Herkimer, New York 13350
315-866-6330.
r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
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