Elm Ridge Wild Forest UMP AmendmentI. Introduction Elm Ridge Wild Forest Draft UMP Amendment – June 2015 1 I. Introduction Article XIV of the New York State Constitution (“Article

Forfurtherinformationcontact:

JoshuaBorst–SeniorForesterNewYorkStateDepartmentofEnvironmentalConservation65561StateHighway10Suite1Stamford,NY12167(607)652‐7365Email:[email protected]

DivisionofLands&ForestsRegion4

ElmRidgeWildForestUnitManagementPlanAmendment

TownsofJewettandWindham

GreeneCounty

AndrewM.Cuomo,Governor JosephJ.Martens,Commissioner

June 2015

Thispageintentionallyleftblank

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.


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


I.Introduction

ElmRidgeWildForestDraftUMPAmendment–June2015

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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



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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.



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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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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.



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Figure2TrailNamesMap



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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.



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4. TheDepartmentmayestablishconnectingtrailsbetweenprivatelandownersandtheexistingtrailsintheElmRidgeWildForestUnit.Thelocationofthesetrailswillbedecidedbasedonthemostsuitablelocation.Connectionsmaybeplacedanywhereontheunittoprovideaccess,butformalagreementsoreasementswiththeprivatelandownersmustbeinplacebeforetrailconnectionsareestablished.Theconnectiontrailsshownonthemapsinthisamendmentareforvisualizationonlyanddonotrepresenttheexactlocationorallavailableconnectionsthatmaybecreated.

5. Aportionofthelongpathwillbere‐routedtoavoidproblemsections.DiscardedAlternatives

1. AlternativelocationshavebeensoughtoutbytheDepartment.Atthistimelocationsotherthantheareasidentifiedinthemanagementactionshavebeendeemedunsuitablefortraildevelopmentbasedonfactorssuchastopography,drainage,andpotentiallyheavymaintenance.



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Figure6ProposedTrails‐RedTrails



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Figure7Unauthorizedtrailstobeevaluated–PurpleTrails



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D.RecreationalOpportunitiesforPersonswithDisabilitiesCurrentSituationCurrentlytherearenoaccessiblefeatureslocatedonElmRidgeWildForest.ManagementActionsTheproposedtrailsinthisamendmentareinteriortrailswhichmeansthesetrailswillnotbeconnectedtoanytrailheadorparkingareaandthereforetheyhavenotbeenconsideredforaccessibledevelopment.Alongwiththelocationoftheproposedtrails,oneoftheprimaryusesoftheexistingandproposedtrailsonElmRidgeWildForestisformountainbiking.InordertobringthesetrailsintocompliancewiththetechnicalprovisionsfoundintheForestServiceTrailAccessibilityGuidelines(FSTAG),thefundamentalpurposeorfunctionofthesetrailswouldbealtered.



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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.



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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



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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.

Documents

Elm Ridge Wild Forest UMP AmendmentI. Introduction Elm Ridge Wild Forest Draft UMP Amendment – June 2015 1 I. Introduction Article XIV of the New York State Constitution (“Article