elm ridge wild forest ump amendmenti. introduction elm ridge wild forest draft ump amendment –...
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Forfurtherinformationcontact:
JoshuaBorst–SeniorForesterNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation65561StateHighway10Suite1Stamford,NY12167(607)652‐7365Email:r4.ump@dec.ny.gov
DivisionofLands&ForestsRegion4
ElmRidgeWildForestUnitManagementPlanAmendment
TownsofJewettandWindham
GreeneCounty
AndrewM.Cuomo,Governor JosephJ.Martens,Commissioner
June 2015
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M E M O R A N D U M
TO: The Record From: Joseph J. Martens SUBJECT: Elm Ridge Wild Forest The amendment to the Elm Ridge Wild Forest Unit Management Plan has been completed. The UMP is consistent with the Catskill Park State Land Master Plan, Environmental Conservation Law, and Department Rules, Regulations and Policies and is hereby approved and adopted.
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TableofContentsTableofContents........................................................................................................................................................................3
I.Introduction..............................................................................................................................................................................1
II.InventoryofFacilities..........................................................................................................................................................2
A.Trailheads(2).....................................................................................................................................................................3
B.Trails(11.9Miles)............................................................................................................................................................3
C.Bridges(6)...........................................................................................................................................................................3
D.PublicRoads(6)................................................................................................................................................................3
E.TrailRegisters(3)andInformationalKiosks(3)...............................................................................................3
F.ScenicVistas(1)................................................................................................................................................................3
G.Spring(1).............................................................................................................................................................................4
H.PrivateEasements...........................................................................................................................................................4
I.ExteriorBoundaryLines.................................................................................................................................................4
III.ProposedManagementActions.....................................................................................................................................5
A.Names....................................................................................................................................................................................5
B.Signage..................................................................................................................................................................................7
C.Trails......................................................................................................................................................................................8
D.RecreationalOpportunitiesforPersonswithDisabilities............................................................................12
AppendixA‐ResponsetoPublicComments................................................................................................................13
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I.Introduction
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I.IntroductionArticleXIVoftheNewYorkStateConstitution(“ArticleXIV”)providesabasicguidelineformanagementoftheState’sForestPreservelandsintheAdirondacksandCatskills.Furthermore,theEnvironmentalConservationLawassignsresponsibilityforthecare,custody,andcontroloftheForestPreservetotheDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation.The2008CatskillParkStateLandMasterPlan(“CPSLMP”)establishedfiveclassificationsofStateLand:wilderness,wildforest,intensiveuse,administrative,andprimitivebicyclecorridors.Eachclassificationcallsforadifferentlevelofresourceprotectionandpublicuse,whilestillconformingtoArticleXIV.TheCPSLMPdescribesdifferentgeographicunits,eachfallingintooneofthefiveclassifications.Unitmanagementplans(“UMPs”)aredevelopedforeachunitofstatelandandadheretotheCPSLMPguidelinesforeachclassification.TheElmRidgeWildForest(formerlypartoftheWindhamHighPeakWildForest)isidentifiedassuchaunit.AwildforestisaclassificationofForestPreservewheretheresource,thoughprotected,canwithstandahigherdegreeofhumanusethanawildernessarea;itcanaccommodatepresentandfuturepublicrecreationneedsinamannerconsistentwithArticleXIVwhileoftenlackingthesenseofremotenessfoundinwildernessareas.TheCPSLMPidentifiestheElmRidgeWildForestasanareawherethereareopportunitiesforincreasedbicycleuse.Inresponsetothissuggestionandtotheincreaseinpopularityofmountainbiking,anamendmenttotheElmRidgeWildForestUMPwascompletedinJanuary2009thatcalledforthedesignandconstructionofnewmultiple‐userecreationaltrails.Withinthepast6years,theunithascontinuedtoseeconsiderablegrowthinrecreationaluse,particularlybymountainbikers.Muchofthisincreaseisduetothecontinuedriseinpopularityofmountainbikingaswellastheinstallationofthenewtrailscalledforinthe2009UMPamendment.Asofthesummerof2014,theDepartmenthascompletedalloftherecommendationsinthe2009amendment.ThiscurrentUMPamendment(2014)proposestheestablishmentofadditionalrecreationaltrailsthatbuilduponthe2009UMPamendmentandaddressesthegrowthinuseseenoverthepast6years.Theproposedlayoutwillmaximizetheuserexperience,whilestillconformingtowildforestguidelines,aswellaslimittheamountofmaintenanceneededtokeepthetrailsinthebestconditionpossible.Allofthetrailsproposedinthisamendmentwillbeopentomultiplenon‐motorizeduses,includinghiking,mountainbiking,andx‐countryskiing.
II.InventoryandFacilities
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II.InventoryofFacilities
Figure1InventoryofFacilitiesMap
II.InventoryandFacilities
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A.Trailheads(2)
1. NYRoute23nearEastWindham.NorthterminusoftheEscarpmentTrail.Accommodatesapproximately30vehicles.
2. PeckRoadnearMaplecrest.Accommodatesapproximately12vehicles.
B.Trails(11.9Miles)
1. Therearecurrently11.9milesofrecognizedtrailsbythedepartment.Thesetrailsarecurrentlyopentoallnon‐motorizeduses.
C.Bridges(6)
1. Therearecurrently6bridgeslocatedontheunitandaremaintainedbyrecognizedadministrativepersonnel.
D.PublicRoads(6)
1. NewYorkRoute23travelsthroughthenorthwestcorneroftheUnitfor1.25miles.2. CrossRoad(TownofWindhamhighway)crossesthesamenorthwestcornerfor0.6miles.3. OldRoad(OldNY23)istheUnit’snorthwestboundaryforabout0.4miles.4. CountyRoute56intheBlackDomeValleypassesthroughtheUnitfor0.3miles.5. RidgeRoad,anun‐maintainedTownofWindhamRoad(reportedly),travelsthroughtheUnit
acrossElmRidgefor1.5miles;mostofitispartofthefoottrailsystem.6. SlaterRoad(TownofWindhamhighway)isborderedbyForestPreserveforapproximately100
feet.
E.TrailRegisters(3)andInformationalKiosks(3)
1. InformationalKiosklocatedattheNYRoute23Parkinglot.2. InformationalKioskandTrailregisterlocatedapproximately0.2milessouthofNYRoute23on
theEscarpmentTrail.3. InformationalKiosklocatedattheparkinglotonPeckRoad.4. TrailRegisterlocatedapproximately0.1milesnorthofPeckRoadparkinglot.5. TrailRegisterforLongPathextensionis100feetnorthofCrossRoad.
F.ScenicVistas(1)
1. ForestPreserveaccessparkinglotonNYRoute23inEastWindham.
II.InventoryandFacilities
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G.Spring(1)
1. ElmRidgetrailfromPeckRoad.Thespringislocated0.65milestowardjunctionwiththeEscarpmenttrailand0.25milessouthoftheEscarpmentTrail.
H.PrivateEasements
1. AprivateparceloflandofftheendofSlaterRoadhastherighttopipewaterfromaspringonStatelandinLot89oftheStateLandTract.Rightsweregiventhrougha1934Deed(267/315)whenthelandwaspurchasedbyNYS.MapNo1927.PresentownerisMamaroneckFishandGameClub.
I.ExteriorBoundaryLines
1. Thereare11.1milesofexteriorboundaryintheUnit.
III.ProposedManagementActions
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III.ProposedManagementActions
A.Names
CurrentSituationCurrentlytrailsareidentifiedbyanumbersystemandidentifystackedloops.Recreationalusershavestatedthatthistendstobeconfusingattimes.Atrailidentifiedbyonenumbercanruninalldirections;north,south,east,andwest.Ithasbeenrequestedthatthetrailsbenamedandidentifiedinamannerthatuserscaneasilyfollow.
ProposedManagementActions
1. TrailsintheElmRidgeWildForestwillbenamed(Figure2)inthisamendmentaswellas
configuredinawaytopromotesmoothtransitionsbetweentrailsandlessstoppingattrailjunctions.Namingofthetrailswillbedoneinaccordancewithcurrentdepartmentnamingpolicies.TheproposedtrailnamescanbefoundontheTrailNamesmaponthefollowingpage.
2. Onceevaluatedanddeemedtobesuitableasformaltrails,theunauthorizedtrailslocatedinthesouthwestportionoftheparcelwillbenamedinaccordancewithcurrentdepartmentnamingpolicies.
DiscardedAlternatives
1.TrailsontheElmRidgeWildForestunitwillcontinuetouseanumbersystem.Atthistimemanyusersfindthecurrentsysteminplacedifficulttoread.Thenumbersdescribealoopwhichmeansatrailmayrunnorth,south,east,andwestleadingtheusertobecomedisorientedeasily.
2.Providenonamesforthetrails.Thisalternativewouldprovideuserswithnoinformationaboutwheretheyareandmaycauseissuesifemergencypersonnelneedtorespondtoanaccidentifoneweretooccur.
III.ProposedManagementActions
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Figure2TrailNamesMap
III.ProposedManagementActions
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B.SignageCurrentSituationWhilesignageiscommonandadequateinElmRidgeWildForestseveralcomments/concernshavebeenstated.Signplacementinparticularhasbeenidentifiedasapriority.Oftensignsareplacedhighontreesandfacingonedirection.Usersoftenhavetostopateveryintersectiontoorientthemselves.ProposedManagementActions
1. Signswillbeplacedonpostswithtrailnamesandmileagedisplayed.Signswillbeorientedsothat
userscanviewthesignfromasmanyanglespossible.
Figure3SignsinWilmingtonWildForestAdirondacks
2. Signswillalsobeusedtoacknowledgeallallowedusergroupsthatmaybepresentintheunitand
identifyrecreationalright‐of‐ways.
Figure4ExampleSignofRecreationalRight‐Of‐Way
3. Withanincreaseinusergroupssignagewillalsoattempttominimizeoverlapinuses.Thiswillalloweachusergrouptohaveauniqueexperienceassociatedwiththatactivity.Whileuserscanuseanytrail,theywillbeencouragedthroughsignagetousespecifictrails.Forexamplemountainbikerswillbedirectedawayfromtheescarpmenttrailwherehikingisverypopular.
Figure5ExampleofaDirectionalSymbol
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4. Alltrailinformationwillbeupdatedinthekiosksthroughouttheunitprovidinguptodate
informationincludinginformationabouttheLongPath.
NonPreferredAlternatives
1. Leavethesignageasis.Theunitwillcontinuetooperateasithas.Ifrecreationalrightofwaysignageisnotusedanincreaseinuseroverlapmayoccurduetotheanticipatedincreaseinusage
C.TrailsCurrentSituationTherearecurrently11.9milesofmultiple‐usetrailslocatedintheElmRidgeWildForest.Atthistimethereareseveraldifferentusergroupsthatusethetrails.HikingismostprominentontheEscarpment,ElmRidge,and“funloop”trails.SnowshoeingandXCskiingareallverypopularonthelower“FunLoops”sectionaswell.Mountainbikingoccursregularlyonthe“FunLoops”aswellasthetrailslocatedalongElmRidge.Therearealso2.8milesofunofficialunauthorizedtrailsthathavedevelopedovertheyearsduetotheincreaseduseinthearea.ManagementActionsInrecognitionoftheincreaseddemandformountainbikingopportunitiesintheElmRidgeWildForest,aswellastheidentificationoftheareaintheCPSLMPassuitableforahigher‐intensityofmountainbiketrails,thisUMPamendmentproposesfivesignificantactions:
1. Thereare5newtrailsbeingproposedinthisamendment(Figure6).TheHemlockGroveTrail,NorthConnector,SouthConnector,BogOverlookTrail,andtheNorthTrail.Thesetrailshavebeenidentifiedbythedepartmentassuitablelocationsfortraildevelopmentandwillincreasetheavailablemileagetoeachusergroup.
2. Continuedmaintenanceonallexistingtrailsbythedepartmentandanyadministrativepersonnel.PendingapprovalofthisamendmenttheDepartmentwillmaintaintheElmRidgeTrailonlyforemergencyresponsepurposes.TheconstructionofthePeckTrailandSouthConnectorwillprovideamoresuitableoptionforhikerstoaccessWindhamBlackheadRangeWildernessaswellasbikeandfootaccesstotheotherElmRidgetrails.
3. Theunauthorizedtrailsidentifiedmayormaynotbesuitabletraillocations(Figure7).TheDepartmentwillevaluatetheunauthorizedtrailsduringthe2015fieldseasontoidentifywhicharesuitabletobeofficiallydesignatedasmultiple‐usetrailsintheircurrentlocation,orwhetheranyofthemmaybere‐routedtomeetthecriteriaofasustainabletrail.Thosetrailsthatbecomeofficialwillbenamedsimilarlytotheothertrailsinthesystem.
III.ProposedManagementActions
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4. TheDepartmentmayestablishconnectingtrailsbetweenprivatelandownersandtheexistingtrailsintheElmRidgeWildForestUnit.Thelocationofthesetrailswillbedecidedbasedonthemostsuitablelocation.Connectionsmaybeplacedanywhereontheunittoprovideaccess,butformalagreementsoreasementswiththeprivatelandownersmustbeinplacebeforetrailconnectionsareestablished.Theconnectiontrailsshownonthemapsinthisamendmentareforvisualizationonlyanddonotrepresenttheexactlocationorallavailableconnectionsthatmaybecreated.
5. Aportionofthelongpathwillbere‐routedtoavoidproblemsections.DiscardedAlternatives
1. AlternativelocationshavebeensoughtoutbytheDepartment.Atthistimelocationsotherthantheareasidentifiedinthemanagementactionshavebeendeemedunsuitablefortraildevelopmentbasedonfactorssuchastopography,drainage,andpotentiallyheavymaintenance.
III.ProposedManagementActions
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Figure6ProposedTrails‐RedTrails
III.ProposedManagementActions
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Figure7Unauthorizedtrailstobeevaluated–PurpleTrails
III.ProposedManagementActions
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D.RecreationalOpportunitiesforPersonswithDisabilitiesCurrentSituationCurrentlytherearenoaccessiblefeatureslocatedonElmRidgeWildForest.ManagementActionsTheproposedtrailsinthisamendmentareinteriortrailswhichmeansthesetrailswillnotbeconnectedtoanytrailheadorparkingareaandthereforetheyhavenotbeenconsideredforaccessibledevelopment.Alongwiththelocationoftheproposedtrails,oneoftheprimaryusesoftheexistingandproposedtrailsonElmRidgeWildForestisformountainbiking.InordertobringthesetrailsintocompliancewiththetechnicalprovisionsfoundintheForestServiceTrailAccessibilityGuidelines(FSTAG),thefundamentalpurposeorfunctionofthesetrailswouldbealtered.
III.ProposedManagementActions
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AppendixA‐ResponsetoPublicCommentsApproximately33commentswerereceivedduringthecommentperiod.Mostcommentswereinsupportoftheamendmentandrequirednofurtherresponsebythedepartment.Severalothercommentsraisedquestionsandconcernsthatwillbesummarizedandrespondedtobelow:
1. AmoredetailedexplanationofArticleXIVwouldbehelpfulforthepublic’sunderstandingofconstraintsonrecreationaldevelopmentwithintheForestPreserve.
a. Response–TheconstraintsdirectlyimposedbyArticleXIVonthedevelopmentofrecreationalfacilitiesontheForestPreservehavelargelybeenguidedbycaselaw,thedetailsofwhicharenotappropriateforthisUMPamendment.TheCatskillParkStateLandMasterPlan,whichhasnotbeenfoundtobeinconsistentwithArticleXIV,providesguidelinesformanagementanduseforeachoftheForestPreservelandclassifications.
2. WiththeplannedincreaseinvisitationwhywasconsiderationnotgiventowardstheexpansionoftheparkinglotsonRoute23andPeckHollowRd?
a. Response–Currentcapacityoftheparkinglotshasbeendeterminedtobesufficient.ThedepartmentwillcontinuetomonitortheparkingareasandifpotentialproblemsbecomeapparentthedepartmentwilladdressthesewithafutureUMPamendment.
3. Willtrailconnectionstoprivatelandownersforpublicusebeincludedinanotheramendment?
a. Response–Thisamendmentallowsforfuturetrailconnectionstoprivatelands,ontheconditionthatformalagreementsoreasementsbeobtainedfromtheprivatelandownersfirst.AnynewtrailsforaccesstoElmRidgethroughprivatelandswillbedesignedandlaidoutaccordingthebestmanagementpractices.
4. Howwillcarryingcapacitybeaddressedwiththepotentialincreaseinuse?
a. Response–Monitoringanypotentialdegradationtothenaturalresourceisparamount.Thetrailsmentionedinthisamendmentweredesignedtoaccommodateahigherlevelofuseaswellastodisperserecreationistthroughouttheunit.Anypotentialresourcedegradationwillbemonitoredandmitigatedthroughroutinemaintenanceandbestmanagementpracticesbythedepartmentandvolunteergroups.
Regardingsocialcarryingcapacity,theDepartment’sexperiencewithsimilarmultiple‐usetrailnetworksinotherwildforestareassuggeststhatadditionaluseonthetrailsintheElmRidgeWildForestwillstillbeconsistentwildforestguidelines,asoutlinedintheCatskillParksStateLandMasterPlan.
III.ProposedManagementActions
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5. HowdoesElmRidgeWildForestasapotentiallymajorbikingareafitintothePark’soverall
recreationaldevelopment?
a. Response–InAugust2008theCatskillParkStateLandMasterPlanwasapproved.Inthesectiontitled“BicycleTrailsinWildForest”foundonpage43andpage44,ElmRidgeWildForestwasspecificallyidentifiedasanarea“appropriatetodevelopbicycletrails”.
6. Istheredatabehindtheassumptiontowardsincreasedvisitoruseandwillitbeincludedintheinventory?
a. Response–Thedepartmenthasreviewedtrailregistrydatafromtrailheadkiosksanddeterminedthatoverthepastseveralyearsoverallvisitationhasincreasedinthearea.Registrationbyvisitorshasalmostdoubled.
7. Theinventoryshouldincludetheunauthorizedtrailsandthereisconcernthatwhoeverhasdevelopedthesetrailshasnotbeenheldaccountablefortheiractions.Theacceptanceofthesetrailsdoesnotseemtobeadeterrenttothefuturedevelopmentofunauthorizedtrails.
a. Response‐Thedepartmentdoesnotincludetheseunauthorizedtrailsinitsinventoryofofficialtrailsbecausetheyarenotrecognizedasactualfacilities.Theunauthorizedtrailsarediscussedandshownonseveralmapsforthepurposeofidentifyingwheretheyneedtobeevaluatedforconsiderationasofficialtrails.Thisamendmentwasdevelopedinparttoaddressconcernsoffutureunauthorizedtraildevelopment.TheDepartment’sDivisionofForestProtectionstaffwillcontinuetomonitortheareaenforceallstatelaws,withspecialemphasisonEnvironmentalConservationLaw.
8. AdditionalinformationabouttheLongPathshouldbeprovidedattheRoute23crossing/kiosk.
a. Response–Informationwillbeupdatedatallinformationalkiosksontheunit.PleaseseerevisedmanagementactionsinSectionIII,B.SignageAction#4
III.ProposedManagementActions
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9. ElmRidgeWildForestislocatedwithintheNYCWatershedBoundary.Howhasthedepartment
addressedpotentialimpactstowaterquality,wetlandimpacts,anderosionalissues?
a. Response–Thedepartmenthascompletedafullenvironmentalassessmentformandhasdeterminedthatthisprojectwillresultinnosignificantadverseimpactsontheenvironment.Intheconstructionanddesignofthesetrailsthedepartmentwillcarryoutbestmanagementpractices.Thelocationofthetrailsproposedintheamendmenthasbeencarefullylaidoutwitherosionalissuesinmind.Thesetrailsarenotlocatedonanyoldwoodroadsorfarmlanesandwillgenerallyhavenoslopegreaterthan10%.Thesetrailwillincorporaterollinggradedipsandgradereversaldesignandthereforenosignificantstructureswillbebuiltintothetrails.
10. Howwilltheconstructionofthesetrailsbefunded?
a. Response–TrailconstructionwillbefundedthroughtheEnvironmentalProtectionFund.
11. Willtherebeanyopportunitiesforpersonswithdisabilities?
a. Response–Atthistimenofacilitieswillbedevelopedforpersonswithdisabilities.UpdatedtexthasbeenincludedinSectionIII,D.RecreationalOpportunitiesforPersonswithDisabilities.
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