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DEC Seeking
Public Input on the Development of Unit Management Plan for the
William C. Whitney Wilderness Area
The New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has initiated the development
of the Unit Management Plans (UMPs) for the approximately 20,570
acres of State Forest Preserve lands consisting of the William
C. Whitney Wilderness Area, and the Nehasane and Partlow Lake
Primitive Areas. These areas are located in the Town of Long
Lake, Hamilton County in the west-central portion of the Adirondacks.
A UMP must be completed for these
areas before significant new recreational facilities, such as
trails, lean-tos, parking areas or boat launches can be constructed.
The plans contain an analysis of the natural features of the
area and the ability of the land to withstand use by the public.
The William C. Whitney Wilderness Area offers great recreational
opportunities such as canoeing, hunting, fishing, hiking, and
cross country skiing, but this use must be balanced with the
protection of the natural resources of the area.
The UMP will encompass all lands
and resources in this area except for the Remsen-Lake Placid
Travel Corridor that is managed by the Department of Transportation
and the 80-acre Little Tupper Lake Headquarters Administrative
Area that houses DEC facilities and the Student Conservation
Associations Adirondack Program.
The William C. Whitney Wilderness
Area was formed in 2000, when the 14,700 acre William C. Whitney
Area was classified as wilderness and combined with the adjacent
5,870 acre Lake Lila Primitive Area which was reclassified as
wilderness. The wilderness area is bounded on the east by Route
10, on the northwest by the Remsen to Lake Placid railroad right-of-way,
and by private land holdings on the south, west and north. (taken
from DEC's Press Release)
This Wilderness area contains
the 2,300 acre Little Tupper Lake and Lake Lila, which is 1,400
acres and is the largest lake entirely surrounded by Forest Preserve
lands.
You have an opportunity to comment
on the development of the Unit Management Plans for these areas
by sending or e-mailing your comments to DEC.
In your own words and using
any personal experiences or expertise you may have in these areas,
tell DEC:
- 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.
You can submit written comments at anytime by contacting:
Thomas Kapelewski
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
701 South Main Street
P.O. Box 1316
Northville, New York 12134
Telephone (518) 863-4545
E-mail: tvkapele@gw.dec.state.ny.us
A special e-mail address also has been established to receive
public comments on any UMPs being developed by DEC in Region 5.
r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us
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