A Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP) for 23 state forests located in Allegany County is now available for public review, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. The public is invited to submit input on the draft plan, which will guide future management of these unique state forest lands in Allegany County and help to ensure healthy, sustainable and biologically diverse forest ecosystems.
The Allegany Unit State Forests include 46,382 acres of forest lands in the towns of Alfred, Allen, Almond, Amity, Angelica, Belfast, Birdsall, Burns, Caneadea, Centerville, Friendship, Granger, Grove, New Hudson, Rushford, Ward, Wellsville, and West Almond. The Unit also includes a 9-mile rail trail, called the WAG Trail, in the town of Willing.
The 23 state forest properties included in the Unit are: Allen Lake, Bald Mountain, Bully Hill, Cold Creek, Coyle Hill, Crab Hollow, English Hill, Gas Springs, Gillies Hill, Hiltonville, Jersey Hill, Karr Valley Creek, Keeney Swamp, Klipnocky, Lost Nation, Palmer's Pond, Phillips Creek, Plumbottom, Rush Creek, Slader Creek, Swift Hill, Turnpike, Vandermark, and the WAG Trail. People can view the Allegany Unit Draft UMP on DEC's website. Copies are also available in electronic format on compact disc and may be requested by calling (585) 466-3241.
DEC will also accept public input on the draft UMP at an open house on April 20 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the following location:
Short Tract Fire Hall
10355 County Road 15
Fillmore NY 14735
DEC staff will be available at this session to provide information about the Allegany State Forests Unit and its history, ecology and current uses, which include forest product sales and recreational use, and discuss ideas about long-term forest management.
In addition to the open house, public comments on the Allegany Unit Draft UMP can be submitted by mail or email to:
Nathaniel Tucker
2524 County Route 2A
Almond, NY 14804(585) 466-3241
r9.ump@dec.ny.gov
All comments must be received by May 4, 2017. DEC will review these comments as it finalizes a UMP for the Allegany State Forests Unit.
