Written comments will be accepted until April 7, 2013. Please be sure and read the comments on this article.

Dear State Forest Stakeholder:

I am pleased to announce that the Twin Sheds Draft Unit Management Plan, which covers both the Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn State Forests, has been completed and is available on the web at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/88726.html You may recall that a public meeting was held at Tompkins-Cortland Community College on February 11, 2010 at the beginning of the planning process. I’ve attached the comment summary from that meeting: http://canaaninstitute.org/docs/Twin_Sheds_Public_Comment_Summary_2.pdf

Please see the new public meeting notice below.

PLEASE SAVE THE DATE -  DEC SEEKS PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT TWIN SHEDS UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN (UMP)

WHEN: Thursday, March 7, 2013, from 3:30 pm to 5:45 pm, and 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm

WHERE: At the Tompkins-Cortland Community College Forum Room, located at 170 North St., Dryden, New York. Directions to Tompkins-Cortland Community College are available at the following link: http://www.tc3.edu/about_tc3/map.asp

WHAT: To invite and accept public feedback on the Draft Twin Sheds UMP. The draft plan is posted on the DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/88726.html A limited number of copies of the plan are available on compact disk (CD). Please contact the DEC Cortland Lands and Forests office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 217 to request a copy. Two separate public sessions will be held; the first  will be held from 3:30 pm to 5:45 pm; the second  session will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm.  The first half hour of each session will be an open house format which provides time for the public to informally discuss the draft plan with DEC Lands and Forest  staff.  Beginning at 4 and 7 pm, respectively, DEC  staff will briefly present highlights of the draft plan.  Following the presentation, the public will have an opportunity to comment on the plan. Those unable  to attend the meeting are invited to submit comments to the DEC by mail to:  NYSDEC, Division of Lands and Forests, Attn: John Clancy, 1285 Fisher Avenue, Cortland,  New York, 13045- 1090, or by email  to: jmclancy@gw.dec.state.ny.us. Written comments will be accepted until April 7, 2013.

WHY: The Twin Sheds Draft Unit Management Plan was developed to address short and long term state forest land management needs, values and opportunities.

***************************
John M. Clancy
Senior Forester, Region 7
NYS DEC Division of Lands and Forests
Bureau of State Land Management
1285 Fisher Ave.
Cortland, New York  13045
(607) 753-3095 or 800-388-8244 ext. 258
FAX:  (607) 753-8532
Email: jmclancy@gw.dec.state.ny.us
B.S., M.B.A., Society of American Foresters CF
Serving Since 1991
- Visit the DEC Web Site at:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/
- DEC Division of Lands and Forests Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/650.html
- DEC Region 7 Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/615.html#Region

- Strategic Plan for State Forest Management
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html
- New York State Conservationist Magazine
http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/conservationist.html
Laws change; people die; the land remains.

- Abraham Lincoln

ITHACA NY - Cornell Plantations and the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University are organizing a workshop aimed at training volunteers to identify and report new hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae) infestations. This newly arrived invasive insect pest threatens eastern hemlock trees and the biodiversity they support, causing a cascade of environmental changes for some amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and plants in response to the increased light and warmer temperatures. Hemlock woolly adelgids were first reported in the central Finger Lakes region in mid-2008, but now inhabit dozens of local sites. Early detection of new sites is a high priority, and local conservation groups are organizing volunteer surveys as a critical first step in managing this devastating invasive species.

The workshops will feature a presentation by Mark Whitmore on the adelgid’s biology and the threat it poses to local hemlock forests. Participants will visit Beebe Lake to observe hemlock woolly adelgids first-hand and gain experience in detection, monitoring, and reporting protocols. Participants will also have the opportunity to volunteer in the “Adopt-a-Hemlock” program to conduct surveys and report new infestations in local hemlock forests. The workshop will be held on Saturday, March 30h from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at Plantations’ Nevin Welcome Center in the Botanical Garden, located at One Plantations Road on the Cornell campus.

Pre-registration is not required. For more information on hemlock woolly adelgid or to report new occurrences, visit www.cornellplantations.org/hwa

Cornell Plantations is the botanical gardens, arboretum, and natural areas of Cornell University, and is a member of Ithaca’s Discovery Trail partnership. Plantations is open to the public year-round, free of charge, during daylight hours. The Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center is open Tuesday-Saturday from 11am to 4pm. For more information call 607-255-2400, visit www.cornellplantations.org and find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cornellplantations

===

We had a brief discussion about groomed ski trails on the CNSC list serve today. I am NOT a supporter of groomed trails on public lands. Here is my (modified) response to that discussion, briefly explaining why. (1st indent following).  Scroll down for info on ski race.

Also … I need to give folks who are on this bikeski list but not on the other outdoor lists a heads up! The Cayuga Nordic Ski Club is hosting a race this weekend at Hammond Hill (Jan 12th Sat morning). This event happens once a year only if snow conditions permit. The racers have a one time special permit to groom tracks for this event. If you are not racing, please avoid the groomed tracks the night before and the morning of the race :-) Here is a map of the race course http://canaaninstitute.org/photos/2013_CNSC_race%20map.jpg Read the full description below.

Oh, and here is part of the response on that same grooming thread from Jack Rueckheim, CNSC co-president and race coordinator. (I am passing on mostly the part of the letter relevant to grooming and the upcoming race).

Cayuga Classic Ski Race Scheduled for Saturday, January 12, 2013 Here is part of the article from the CNSC website. Full article http://cayuganordicski.org/new/?p=656

Happy New Year,
-Mike :-)

Michael Ludgate
www.canaaninstitute.org

I am pleased to announce that the Rapid Waters Unit Management Plan (UMP), which covers both the Danby and Shindagin Hollow State Forests, has been completed and is available on the web at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/72384.html

Your collective interest and participation in the planning process is very much appreciated and I personally thank you.

A limited number of CD’s are also available on a first-come, first-served basis, free of charge. If you would like one, please email me your mailing address.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/
- DEC Division of Lands and Forests Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/650.html
- DEC Region 7 Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/615.html#Region

- Strategic Plan for State Forest Management

Reminder: Deer hunting season in our area with guns, also known as “regular season” starts Saturday November 17th 2012 and ends December 9th 2012. Deer hunting continues after that with primitive weapons (archery and black powder). See NYS DEC website link below for exact dates on that. Please; whether you hunt, bike, hike or play: wear fluorescent neon colors (like “hunter orange” or “biker neon yellow”) so we can all see each other. The hunters in our area have an excellent safety record … but (for example) it is just as scary for them to think they hear a deer tromping through the woods only to discover it is a naive hiker wearing brown. So; wear neon! Oh and YES! hunting is permitted at Hammond Hill and Shindagin Hollow and generally all similar NYS forests. Deer hunting is not allowed after sunset. Regulations are stricter in areas designated “parks” like Treman or Buttermilk for example. Here is DEC’s web page with hunting dates: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html

There is a special deer hunting season closer to Ithaca in January 2013. A lot of people are asking about it. Here is the link again. There is a very detailed map and full details at this link. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/82382.html

Hi everyone. I hope you are getting a chance to enjoy this nice spring weather.

Once again, I’m writing to ask for your help. As you may know, there has been unauthorized trail building activity taking place on the Hammond Hill State Forest. For example, a section of narrow trail has been built between Cannan Rd. and Y7, along with a small bridge and log ramp east of Y7. The trail and structures have not been approved by the DEC. Unauthorized trail building is of concern because: 1) improperly built trails and structures may create a personal safety hazard, 2) unauthorized trails are not officially mapped or marked, and may confuse and/or frustrate first time visitors or and/or novice recreationists, and 3) improperly located trails may result in chronic erosion and/or maintenance problems and further stretch already thin volunteer and DEC stewardship capabilities.

Please help me get the word out on this. People should not be building new trails or structures of any kind without written authorization from the DEC. I’d like to solve this problem through communication and education if at all possible. People advocating for new trails are invited to contact me and/or participate in the unit management planning (UMP) process. A draft UMP for the Hammond Hill and Yellow Barn State Forests, called Twin Sheds, is currently being prepared. Additional information on the Twin Sheds unit is available at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/62269.html

Please help. If you witness people constructing new trail structures or trails, please immediately report the activity to DEC Forest Ranger Joan Oldroyd (jtoldroy@gw.dec.state.ny.us or 607.798.1797) and provide as much information as you can (i.e., license plate, vehicle color, etc.).

Thanks for listening. I personally appreciate all of your work on - and advocacy for - the Hammond Hill State Forest trail network.

Sincerely,

- John

Attachment: Hammond Hill State Forest map and brochure

***************************
John M. Clancy
Senior Forester, Region 7
NYS DEC Division of Lands and Forests
Bureau of State Land Management
1285 Fisher Ave.
Cortland, New York 13045
(607) 753-3095 or 800-388-8244 ext. 258
FAX: (607) 753-8532
Email: jmclancy@gw.dec.state.ny.us

- Visit the DEC Web Site at:
http://www.dec.ny.gov/
- DEC Division of Lands and Forests Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/650.html
- DEC Region 7 Web Site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/615.html#Region

- Strategic Plan for State Forest Management
http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/64567.html

- New York State Conservationist Magazine
http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/conservationist.html

Member, Society of American Foresters
Serving Since 1991

Laws change; people die; the land remains.

- Abraham Lincoln

Tompkins County Council of Governments Sponsors Public Hearing on Proposed DEC Gas Drilling Rules

Thursday, December 1, 2011 from 7:00 - 11:00 p.m. at The State Theatre, 107 West State Street Ithaca, NY 14850

Facebook event https://www.facebook.com/events/307558602595965/

ITHACA - The Tompkins County Council of Governments, TCCOG, announces that it is sponsoring a public hearing on Thursday, December 1st to provide citizens an opportunity to comment on the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (dSGEIS) on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining and regulations that will govern high-volume hydraulic fracturing.

The hearing will be held from 7-11 p.m. in ITHACA’s State Theatre, adjacent to the downtown Ithaca Commons. The proceedings will be transcribed by a professional court stenographer. At the hearing, TCCOG will accept both written and oral testimony and present the comments to the DEC prior to the December 12th comment deadline.

TCCOG Co-Chair Don Barber said ,“TCCOG’s mission for this public hearing is to provide a local venue for citizens to voice their opinions about the Department of Environmental Conservation’s 2011 revised Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS) as it pertains to high volume hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Marcellus and Utica shales”.

According to Martha Robertson, Chair of Tompkins County Legislature, the Tompkins County Council of Governments supports open and transparent government processes and so is proud to sponsor this hearing. While the DEC has scheduled public hearings in other parts of the State, there are none within the Finger Lakes Region. To facilitate participation in the comment process, the TCCOG hearing is for citizens within Tompkins County, the Finger Lakes Region and beyond, to make comments on the dSGEIS.

Caroline Town Councilman Dominic Frongillo will moderate the hearing. Doors will open at 6:30 pm. Anyone wishing to make oral comments must register on a sign-in sheet that will be available at the hearing. Forms will be provided for written comments. People are welcome to come with comments already prepared. This hearing will follow the same format as others held by the DEC, with oral presentations limited to three minutes and speakers presenting in the order registered, as time permits. Those wishing to make comments will be asked to focus their comments specifically on the contents of the draft SGEIS, rather than general statements for or against gas drilling.

The dSGEIS can be viewed at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/75370.html and the proposed regulations at http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/77353.html. A paper copy is available for review at the Tompkins County Public Library.

For questions, please contact: Michelle Pottorff at (607) 274-5434
###

Reminder: Deer hunting season in our area with guns know as “regular season” starts Saturday November 19th 2011 and ends December 11th 2011. Deer hunting continues after that with primitive weapons (archery and black powder). See NYS DEC website link below for exact dates on that. Please; whether you hunt, bike, hike or play: wear fluorescent neon colors (like “hunter orange” or “biker neon yellow”) so we can all see each other. The hunters in our area have an excellent safety record … but (for example) it is just as scary for them to think they hear a deer tromping through the woods only to discover it is a naive hiker wearing brown. So; wear neon! Oh and YES hunting is permitted at Hammond Hill and Shindagin Hollow and generally all similar NYS forests. Deer hunting is not allowed after sunset. Regulations are stricter in areas designated “parks” like Treman or Buttermilk for example. Here is DEC’s web page with hunting dates: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html

ITHACA NY — (by David Hill) The trail registry book at Lick Brook recently had entries made by groups from Hamilton, Ontario, Canastota, Britain and Israel.

The combination, it occurred to Finger Lakes Land Trust Executive Director Andy Zepp, shows the appeal and potential of trails in the region.

Zepp will talk more about trails’ attraction and potential at the Finger Lakes Trails and Greenways Conference Sept. 23 and 24 at Cornell University. The Land Trust and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York scheduled the conference to share success stories and ideas on creating, improving and linking trails for hiking and multiple users, both for the recreational benefit of local residents but also as an amenity for tourists and immigrants.

“We not only want to offer tools and strategies for effective trail advocacy, promotion and development, but also strengthen and broaden the increasingly diverse trails constituency to foster greater understanding and new working relationships among the trails, planning, business, tourism and health care communities,” Parks & Trails Executive Director Robin Dropkin said in the announcement.

Ithaca was chosen in part because the Finger Lakes Land Trust was involved but also because it’s at the center of growing interest in trail development, said Frances Gotcsik, director of programs and policy for Parks & Trails. It also offered chances for field visits on Sept. 23 to the Lick Brook Gorge Trail, the Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Cascadilla Gorge Trail inside the gorge and the Catharine Valley Trail in Montour Falls.

Another point of emphasis will be trails as attractions. A scheduled speaker on the second day is Craig Della Penna, who runs a bed and breakfast along a trail built from a former rail line in Northampton, Mass., and a real estate company that specializes in trail-side property.

Other speakers will talk about how trails helped revitalize their communities, including Pittsford along the Erie Canalway Trail, and the Harlem Valley Rail Trail Association in Dutchess County. Finally, discussions are planned on water trails in rivers, canals and even lakes, such as a network of landings with services envisioned along Cayuga Lake for canoeists and kayakers.

Organizers hope for 150 to 200 attendees, Gotcsik said. More information is at www.ptny.org or Parks & Trails New York at (518) 434-1583.

Article by David Hill - Star Gazette - http://www.stargazette.com/article/20110821/NEWS01/108210349/Ithaca-conference-push-trails-attractions-amenities

Registration for Conference http://www.ptny.org/greenways/conference/registration.shtml

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 5:30-7:30PM - Networking reception. Explore the new award winning Nevin Welcome Center at Cornell Plantations while joining in lively conversations with friends old and new.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 - Experience a dynamic mix of keynotes, workshops, and panel discussions at Robert Purcell Community Center on Cornell University’s North campus featuring timely issues, implementation tools and strategies, and interesting case studies designed to develop the skills to build, maintain, and advocate for trails that support healthy active living, tourism, economic development, sustainability, and alternative transportation. Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and morning and afternoon breaks.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 - An opportunity to get out in the field and see first-hand what others are doing to design terrific trails, raise funds, overcome challenges, and motivate volunteers.

Catharine Valley Trail, Montour Falls, 1-5PM, $20
Walk along a 1.5-mile section of this 9-mile stone dust trail in the area of Montour Falls and learn how this former rail and canal corridor, owned by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), is being developed and managed as a multi-use trail by OPRHP in partnership with the non-profit Friends of the Catharine Valley Trail. The Friends will offer tips on trail programming based on their experiences with history and birding walks, senior wellness programs, and a newly launched OnCell initiative that allows trail users to access interpretive information and trail directions on their MP3 player or cell phone. Includes bus transport from Ithaca. Meet at the parking lot for Ithaca Children’s Garden on Route 89, Taughannock Blvd., at the southern end of Cass Park.

Cascadilla Gorge Trail, Ithaca, 2-5PM, $8
See why people say that Ithaca is Gorges. The lower section of Cascadilla Gorge is truly a “gorges” display of rock, water and trees. Cascadilla Creek drops 400 feet from Cornell’s campus to downtown Ithaca, carving through 400 million year old bedrock. Cornell Plantations Natural Areas Director Todd Bittner will discuss the major renovation of the Cascadilla Gorge Trail, and cover topics related to maintaining trails in urban and riparian settings. Meet at Cornell Plantations Nevin Welcome Center parking lot.

Lick Brook Gorge, Ithaca, 2-5PM, $8
Join Land Trust executive director Andy Zepp for a tour of Lick Brook Gorge and a popular segment of the Finger Lakes Trail. Located just outside of Ithaca, Lick Brook features several waterfalls, nesting ravens, and mature forests of hemlock and hardwoods. Andy will provide an overview of the site’s ecological features, its history of conservation, and both the current and future management challenges associated with public access to the site. This trip will involve hiking up steep trails so participants should be in good physical condition. Meet at the trailhead. Directions to the trailhead.

Cayuga Waterfront Trail, Ithaca, 2-5PM, $8
Walk a 2-mile loop of the first phase of the 6-mile Cayuga Waterfront Trail with trail designer and coordinator Rick Manning, ASLA. The focus of the presentation will be on the development of trail amenities, including the trailhead, overlooks and special gardens, interpretive signage, brochures and furnishings. Site history and the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce partnership will also be discussed. Rick will also provide an overview of the Ithaca Children’s Garden, for which he prepared a master plan and designs for the Growing Gardens and Gaia the Turtle Sculpture. Meet at the trailhead at Cass Park Rink and Pool parking area. Directions to the trailhead.

DRYDEN NY - It looks like Hammond Hill State Forest escaped the worst of the wind and water damage that many other parts of NYS received from the hurricane. We do have some wind damage. There are a lot of small branches and trees down on the trails, most of this can be cleaned up by conscientious trail users if they take the time to do a little each time they are out.  For example, my small exercise group removed 2 medium sized trees with help from my handy little folding trail saw this past Tuesday night.

Send BIG tree locations to me and I will post them here on this forum thread http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1756#1756 in anticipation of the upcoming fall trail session … so we have kind of a list.

We (”Friends of Hammond Hill”) will be posting a date and time soon (here on this BLOG) for our annual fall trail cleanup. This is in anticipation of the winter recreation season and is traditionally a combined effort of many different trail users: equestrians, mountain bikers, hikers, xc-skiers and so forth.

UPDATE: Date set for trail work session at Hammond Hill: Trail Work Session Sat Oct 15th 2011 at 10:00 am starting at Ann & Charlie Leonard’s house. Their driveway is on the left just before the HH parking lot.

General Trail Use Alert; NYS DEC has finally released the statewide recreational plan for NYS forests: http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/68400.html Recreational user groups should examine the plan for language that affects their uses of state forests and send feedback to NYSDEC. For cyclists: IMBA, a national lobby group that supports sustainable mountain biking has already issued a statement. Cyclists should read the draft plan themselves and send email and snail mail comments to DEC. The plan stipulates: “Mountain bikes are permitted to travel on any existing road or trail on State Forests unless the road or trail is posted as closed for this use.” This is good! However, the plan also continues to say: “Due to environmental concerns and conflicts with other users of the state forests, mountain biking is acceptable only on trails that have been assessed and approved for such use.” This is ambiguous language and problematic for mountain bikers; NYS should remove this passage. FULL STORY MORE LINKS http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeski/viewtopic.php?p=1657#1657

TRAIL number changes AND General TRAIL WORK at Hammond Hill — “Friends of Hammond Hill” is the loose group that has an agreement to maintain the trails at HH with an all volunteer network. These are multi-use trails for hiking, mt biking, skiing, horseback riding, hunting and so thus includes the Ski Club, Equestrian Club, BikeSki, Cycle-CNY and other user groups. Part of what we do is for example is the big trail clean up day starting from Ann’s home in the fall every year (this went well again by the way!). Also in the works at the moment, we (BikeSki) in coordination with NYSDEC are re-tagging all the officially designated trails with new colored disks (ie: R1,R2,Y4 and etc…)

This project is now done! All numbers remain the same except for two changes: the section of mostly east-west trail between B1 and Canaan Rd (west side of Canaan) that used to be labeled Y5 has been correctly relabeled as Y6 — it is labeled Y6 on all the NYS DEC maps and the map on our website and the ski club (CNSC) website already. The section of Y2 north of Star Stanton Rd on the east side of the “MC Escher Loop” was labeled Y3 on some old maps and on some trees in the forest. The erroneous Y3 tags were removed and replaced with Y2 tags to match the current DEC map. Now the yellow tags in both sections match the NYS DEC map. Updated Hammond Hill map from NYS DEC is here http://canaaninstitute.org/bikeskiblog/?page_id=891