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DEC plan for recreational trail, other opportunities in St. Lawrence County; state forests up for discussion Dec. 1 in Brasher

Posted 11/7/14

BRASHER FALLS -- A Dec. 1 meeting at St. Lawrence Central High School will be open for presentations and discussion on a proposed Department of Environmental Conservation plan to open up recreational …

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DEC plan for recreational trail, other opportunities in St. Lawrence County; state forests up for discussion Dec. 1 in Brasher

Posted

BRASHER FALLS -- A Dec. 1 meeting at St. Lawrence Central High School will be open for presentations and discussion on a proposed Department of Environmental Conservation plan to open up recreational opportunities in 30,000 acres of forest land in St. Lawrence and Franklin counties.

Included in the plan are alternatives for a multi-use recreational trail through the Brasher State Forest.

The state forests included in the area are Brasher, Bombay, Buckton, Fort Jackson, Grantville, Knapp Station, Lost Nation, Raymondville, Sodom and Southville. The state forest lands total 30,810 acres and are located in the Franklin County towns of Bombay and Moira, and the St. Lawrence County towns of Brasher, Madrid, Norfolk and Stockholm. The unit also includes six widely scattered parcels of detached forest preserve lands located in the towns of Lisbon, Louisville, Massena, and Waddington in St. Lawrence County. These properties range in size from three to 350 acres.

The DEC has released a Unit Management Plan for the St. Lawrence Flatlands area that offers "greater land access for sportsmen and sportswomen as well as other outdoor recreationalists,” DEC Region 6 Director Judy Drabicki said.

“The plan develops recreational access to forest lands, increases public awareness of outdoor opportunities on these state forests in Northern St. Lawrence and Franklin counties and ensures sustainable forest management. Under the UMP, DEC would manage these state forest lands to promote a healthy ecosystem and enhance landscape biodiversity while protecting soil productivity and water quality,” Drabicki said.

A new multi-use recreational trail (including ATVs) is proposed through the central portion of Brasher State Forest. An approved route will be selected from the options that are presented. Trails and roads would require maintenance including improved drainage, surface hardening, and improved wetland crossings to provide access for motorized recreational use.

The Draft St. Lawrence Flatlands Unit Management Plan contains proposed actions for the unit over a 10 year period, including recommendations for improvements to infrastructure, timber management, and recreational facilities development. These state forests offer many recreational opportunities, including: hiking, skiing, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, trapping, birdwatching, snowmobiling and horseback riding. Also proposed are several new access points along the Deer and St Regis Rivers, parking areas, kiosks, and trails for persons with disabilities. Some habitat will be managed for early successional stages to benefit specific wildlife species such as songbirds and game species.

The meeting will be held on Monday, Dec. 1, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Central High School Auditorium, 1039 State Highway 11C, Brasher Falls.

The first half hour will be an open house format to allow for an informal discussion of the draft plan with DEC staff. At 7 p.m., there will be a brief presentation of the draft plan highlights. Following the presentation, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the plan.

The draft plan is available on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22578.html. Copies of the plan on compact disk (CD) are also available for public review at the DEC Region 6 Headquarters office, 317 Washington Street, Watertown, 13601

(315-785-2263), and the DEC Potsdam Sub-office, 6739 US Highway 11, Potsdam, NY, 13676 (315-265-3090)

For those who cannot attend the meeting, DEC will accept comments on the draft plan through Jan. 15 by mail to NYSDEC, Division of Lands and Forests, Attn: Aaron Graves, 6739 US Highway 11, Potsdam, NY, 13676 or by e-mail to R6.UMP@dec.ny.gov.