February
17, 2006
Richard Fenton, Supervising Forester
NYSDEC
701 South Main Street
P.O.Box 1316
Northville, NY 12134
Dear Mr. Fenton,
The New York State Ornithological Association,
formerly The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs, is
pleased that the DEC in its Draft Unit Management Plan is proposing
to limit the group size of people allowed to camp and hike in the
Blue Ridge Wilderness Area.
The plan proposes retaining the now obsolete Wakely Mountain Fire
Tower, rebuilding a helipad and mounting communication equipment
on the tower, all of which are at the summit. The State Land Master
Plan requires the DEC to remove the fire tower, the cabin and the
helipad – all are non-conforming structures. The
New York State Ornithological Association urges the DEC
to comply with the Adirondack State Land Master Plan and remove
these non-conforming structures so the area can be classified as “Wilderness”. Of
further concern is the status of the Bicknell’s Thrush. Wakely
Mountain is one of the few areas within New York State that this Species
of Special Concern is found. Any structure at the
summit (Bicknell’s Thrush habitat) fragments and thus diminishes
the already severely reduced habitat that is critical to the survival
of this species.
Another section of the Draft Unit Management Plan is the proposal
to cut vegetation at the summit of Sawyer Mountain to provide a
vista for hikers. Cutting trees on a Forest Preserve is a
violation of the “Forever Wild Clause” (Article XIV)
of the New York State Constitution. Large tracts of wilderness
are becoming increasingly rare and any fragmentation of the forest
allows predators to prey on those species that require deep woods.
The New York State Ornithological Association strongly
urges the Department of Environmental Conservation to comply with
the State Land Master Plan which dictates that Wilderness and Primitive
Areas should be, “protected and managed so as to preserve,
enhance and restore, where necessary, its natural conditions.” Fire
towers, helipads, cabins and cutting the mountaintop vegetation
are clear violations of the “Forever Wild Clause” and
the Adirondack State Land Master Plan.
Sincerely
yours,
Gail
M. Kirch
Conservation
Co-chair
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