West of Hudson Draft Unit Management Plan
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West of Hudson UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT Towns of Saugerties, Esopus, Plattekill, Ulster, Hamptonburgh, Montgomery, Warwick, and New Windsor Counties of Orange and Ulster October 2018 DIVISION OF LANDS AND FORESTS Bureau of Forest Resource Management NYSDEC Region 3 21 South Putt Corners RD New Paltz, NY 12561 www.dec.ny.gov This page intentionally left blank 1 West of Hudson Unit Management Plan A planning unit consisting of approximately 8,000 acres encompassing 7 State Forests in Orange and Ulster Counties: Mt. Peter Hawk Watch, Stewart State Forest, Pochuck Mountain State Forest, Highwoods MUA, Hemlock Ridge MUA, Turkey Point State Forest, Black Creek State Forest October 2018 Prepared by the West of Hudson Unit Management Planning Team: Matthew C. Paul, Senior Forester Patrick Miglio, Real Property Surveyor Nathan Ermer, Wildlife Biologist Michael Disarno, Fisheries Biologist William Bernard, Operations Manager Evan Masten, Forester I Pine Roehrs, Senior Natural Resource Planner Acknowledgments The West of Hudson 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 organizations for the information they provided: Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition (SPARC), Stewards of Stewart (SOS), The John Burroughs Association, Fats in the Cats Bicycle Club, and Scenic Hudson New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests Bureau of Forest Resource Management Region 3 2 This page is intentionally left blank 3 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 within the West of Hudson 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 STATE FOREST OVERVIEW Table of Contents WEST OF HUDSON ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Counties of Orange and Ulster ............................................................................................................. 1 DEC’S MISSION ........................................................................................................................................... 2 VISION STATEMENT ................................................................................................................................... 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................... 3 PREFACE ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 STATE FOREST OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 5 Legal Considerations ............................................................................................................................ 5 CP-42 Contact Cooperation, and Consultation with Indian Nations .................................................... 5 MANAGEMENT PLANNING OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................ 6 Public Participation ............................................................................................................................... 6 Strategic Plan for State Forest Management ....................................................................................... 6 DEC’S MANAGEMENT APPROACH AND GOALS .............................................................................................. 7 Forest Certification of State Forests ..................................................................................................... 7 Ecosystem Management Approach ..................................................................................................... 8 Ecosystem Management Strategies ..................................................................................................... 8 State Forest Management Goals ......................................................................................................... 9 LOCATION MAP ........................................................................................................................................ 11 INFORMATION ON THE WEST OF HUDSON UNIT ................................................................................ 12 STATE LANDS IN THE UNIT ......................................................................................................................... 12 Facilities Not Included in this UMP ..................................................................................................... 12 SOILS ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 WATER RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................. 15 Major Streams, Rivers and Water Bodies .......................................................................................... 16 BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Common Species ............................................................................................................................... 19 Habitat ................................................................................................................................................ 21 Representative Sample Areas ............................................................................................................ 21 At-Risk Species .................................................................................................................................. 25 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................... 36 History of the Unit ............................................................................................................................... 36 Inventory of Resources ...................................................................................................................... 41 Historic and Archaeological Site Protection ....................................................................................... 42 Archaeological Research ................................................................................................................... 42 REAL PROPERTY ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Exceptions and Deeded Restrictions ................................................................................................. 43 Land Acquisition ................................................................................................................................. 44 INFRASTRUCTURE ..................................................................................................................................... 44 Roads and Trails ................................................................................................................................ 45 Signs / Kiosks ..................................................................................................................................... 46 Boating and Fishing Facilities ............................................................................................................. 48 Dams .................................................................................................................................................. 48 Designated Campsites and Lean-tos ................................................................................................. 49 Utility Transmission and Collection Facilities ..................................................................................... 49 Buildings ............................................................................................................................................. 50 AGRICULTURE ........................................................................................................................................... 50 NON-RECREATIONAL USES: ......................................................................................................................