To the Editor:

I want to thank North Country This Week for the wonderful article about our progress with the St Lawrence County Multi-Use Trail System and our Brasher Community Connector. As I read the article I realized that a few very important partners were not included.

The DEC has been an invaluable partner involved in trail planning and construction. The DEC included the trail in the St Lawrence Flatlands Unit Management helping us develop placement of trail; developed work plans to execute building of the trail, and implemented Phase 1 and 2 of the work plans, including the construction of a bridge (Kennehan Trail), tree cutting, trail clearing, grading and gravel placement.

Fred Munk our Region 6 Natural Resources Supervisor’s experience and knowledge was a great resource with trail planning. Tony Sparacino, DEC Forester for State Forests has worked hard on helping us bring this trail to near completion.

After mud season, the DEC plans to complete the construction (Phase 3 & 4) of the 7.2 miles of off-road trail, located on Brasher State Forest. Henry Dedrick and Tony Sparacino took time out of their busy schedules to walk, review and assess the trail with me last week thru the Phase 3 and 4 portions of the trail in Brasher Forest and the County parcel.

This new multi-use recreational connector trail is being developed on 8.7 miles of DEC maintained trails and roads in the Brasher State Forest. The connector trail will provide for a variety of recreational uses, including hiking, skiing, horse riding, and snowmobiling.

The trail will also help provide a connection between ATV trails beyond the state forest and ATV access for hunting and other recreational activities along the trail. Trails and roads will receive improved drainage, surface hardening, and improved wetland crossings to provide access for motorized recreational use.

The plan was developed with considerable public input which helped assess the natural, physical, social and recreational resources of the unit's state forests. Information obtained and reviewed through the planning process helped build a solid foundation to support goals, objectives and management actions

The goals of the St Lawrence Flat Lands UMP are to provide: a healthy, sustainable and biologically diverse forest; forest-based recreational opportunities; economic benefits to local communities and to the state of New York; and sound stewardship.

We will be meeting with Matt Brown, county forester, next to develop a work plan to complete 1.2 miles of county forest trail to complete our new 10 mile section of multi-use trail being added. Volunteers will be working on the county parcel as DEC operations continue working on the state forest to hopefully complete for summer.

Town of Lawrence discussed opening portions of two additional roads at their regular meeting last Wednesday. Town of Stockholm will meet to discuss opening a portion of one additional road. The two towns and the county will be holding local laws in April. This will ensure May 15 opening to North Lawrence.

This trail would not be where it is today without our trail partners. The Trails Advisory Board consists of representatives, volunteers and advisors from: SLC Board of Legislators, Wide Variety of Trail User Groups, SLC Soil & Water Conservation/County Foresters, NYS Dec, Sportsmen Groups, Local Business, SLC Highway Dept., NYS DOT, Private Landowners/Managers, Law Enforcement Agencies, SLC Chamber Of Commerce, Town Council Members.

Deb Christy

St. Lawrence County Trail coordinator