Oneida Hills Unit Management Plan
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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands & Forests Bureau of Public Lands ONEIDA HILLS UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN Towns of Ava, Boonville, Floyd, Lee, Steuben, and Western in Oneida County October 2013 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Region 6 Herkimer Sub-Office 225 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350 Governor ANDREW M. CUOMO Commissioner JOE MARTENS State Forester ROB DAVIES Oneida Hills Unit Management Plan A planning unit consisting of 9 State Forests, in Oneida County October 2013 Prepared by the Oneida Hills Unit Management Planning Team: Mary Kay Allen, Senior Forester Dave Cornell, Forest Ranger Dave Erway, Senior Fisheries Biologist Scott Healy, Supervising Forester Steve Heerkens, Senior Wildlife Biologist Steve Litwhiler, Citizen Participation Specialist Jessica Mosher, Forest Technician Kevin Reed, Conservation Operations Supervisor II Bruce Robinson, Lands and Claims Adjuster II Acknowledgments The Oneida Hills Unit Management Planning Team would like to gratefully acknowledge the efforts of all those who contributed to this plan. We particularly would like to thank the following people for information and review they provided: Andrea Mercurio, Senior Forester Dave Smith, Regional Forester New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests Region 6 Herkimer Sub-office 225 N. Main St. Herkimer, NY 13350 315-866-6330 http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/83216.html 1 DEC’S MISSION "The quality of our environment is fundamental to our concern for the quality of life. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State of New York to conserve, improve and protect its natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well- being." - Environmental Conservation Law 1-0101(1) VISION STATEMENT State Forests on the Oneida Hills Unit will be managed in a sustainable manner by promoting ecosystem health, enhancing landscape biodiversity, protecting soil productivity and water quality. In addition, the State Forests on this unit will continue to provide the many recreational, social and economic benefits valued so highly by the people of New York State. DEC will continue the legacy which started more than 80 years ago, leaving these lands to the next generation in better condition than they are today. This plan sets the stage for DEC to reach these ambitious goals by applying the latest research and science, with guidance from the public, whose land we have been entrusted to manage. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS DEC’S MISSION ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 VISION STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................................... 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 3 PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 STATE FOREST OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Legal Considerations ............................................................................................................................................ 5 MANAGEMENT PLANNING OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................... 5 Public Participation .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Strategic Plan for State Forest Management ....................................................................................................... 6 DEC’S MANAGEMENT APPROACH AND GOALS .................................................................................................................... 6 Sustainability and Forest Certification ................................................................................................................. 6 Ecosystem Management Approach ..................................................................................................................... 7 Ecosystem Management Strategies ..................................................................................................................... 7 State Forest Management Goals ......................................................................................................................... 8 LOCATION MAP ................................................................................................................................................... 10 I. INFORMATION ON THE ONEIDA HILLS UNIT ............................................................................................... 11 STATE LANDS IN THE UNIT ............................................................................................................................................. 11 SOILS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 11 WATER RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 Major Streams, Rivers and Water Bodies ........................................................................................................... 14 BIODIVERSITY .............................................................................................................................................................. 14 Common Fauna Species ..................................................................................................................................... 14 Habitat ............................................................................................................................................................... 18 At-Risk Species.................................................................................................................................................... 20 VISUAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 23 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................. 24 History of the Unit .............................................................................................................................................. 24 Inventory of Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Archaeological Site Protection ........................................................................................................................... 26 Archaeological Research .................................................................................................................................... 26 REAL PROPERTY ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Boundary Lines ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Exceptions and Deeded Restrictions ................................................................................................................... 27 Encroachments ................................................................................................................................................... 27 Land Acquisition ................................................................................................................................................. 27 INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Roads and Trails ................................................................................................................................................. 28 Signs/Kiosks ........................................................................................................................................................ 29 Boating and Fishing Facilities ............................................................................................................................. 30 Designated Campsites and Lean-tos .................................................................................................................. 30 Communications Facilities .................................................................................................................................. 30 Utility Transmission and Collection Facilities ..................................................................................................... 30 Seed Production Areas ......................................................................................................................................