Clarence Fahnestock & Hudson Highlands
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Final Master Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement For Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve December 15, 2010 David A. Paterson Governor Andy Beers Acting Commissioner Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation SEQR NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF A FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Date of Notice: December 15, 2010 Lead Agency: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Title of Action: Adoption and Implementation of a Master Plan for Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve SEQR Status: Type I Location of Action: Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park is located in the Towns of Carmel, Kent, Philipstown and Putnam Valley in Putnam County. Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve is located in the Towns of Fishkill, Philipstown, and Cortlandt, the Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville and the City of Beacon within Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties. This Notice is issued pursuant to Part 617 of the implementing regulations pertaining to Article 8 (State Environmental Quality Review) of the Environmental Conservation Law. A Final Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the proposed action has been prepared and accepted by OPRHP. The Executive Summary of the Master Plan/FEIS describes the proposed action, the environmental setting, alternatives and potential environmental impacts and mitigation. Agencies and the public are afforded the opportunity to consider the FEIS; this consideration period ends on December 24, 2010. Copies of the Final Plan/FEIS are available for review at the Park Office; at the offices of the agency contacts and at the Butterfield Memorial Library, 10 Morris Ave. Cold Spring NY, the Howland Public Library, 313 Main Street, Beacon NY and at the Kent Public Library, 17 Sybil’s Crossing, Kent Lakes NY. The online version of the Master Plan/FEIS is available at the following publically accessible web site: http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/inside-our- agency/master-plans.aspx Agency Contacts: Garrett Jobson Thomas B. Lyons, Director Acting Regional Director Resource Management NYS OPRHP NYS OPRHP Taconic Region Agency Building 1, PO Box 308 Empire State Plaza 9 Old Post Road Albany, NY 12238 Staatsburg, NY 12580 (518) 474-0409 (845) 889-4100 Final Master Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement for Clarence Fahnestock Memorial State Park and Hudson Highlands State Park Preserve Towns of Carmel, Kent, Philipstown, Putnam Valley, Fishkill, and Cortlandt Villages of Cold Spring and Nelsonville City of Beacon Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties Prepared by The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Completed: December 15, 2010 Contact: Garrett Jobson, Capital Facilities Manager Taconic State Park Region P.O. Box 308-9 Old Post Road Staatsburg, NY 12580 Phone: (845) 889-4100 Fax: (845) 889-8217 Thomas B. Lyons, Director of Resource Management NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Empire State Plaza Agency Building 1 Albany, NY 12238 (518) 474-0409 Fax: (518) 474-7013 Fahnestock SP & Hudson Highlands SPP Master Plan: Table of Contents Table of Contents Table of Contents.................................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................................. v Executive Summary............................................................................................................................ vi Chapter 1: Introduction........................................................................................................................ 1 Planning and Environmental Review............................................................................................. 1 Introduction to the Parks................................................................................................................ 2 Chapter 2: Park Background................................................................................................................ 5 The Region..................................................................................................................................... 5 The Parks ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 3: Environmental Setting...................................................................................................... 15 Physical Resources....................................................................................................................... 15 Natural Resources ........................................................................................................................ 21 Historic Resources ....................................................................................................................... 26 Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................... 28 Scenic Resources ......................................................................................................................... 28 Recreational Resources/Activities ............................................................................................... 29 Interpretive/Educational Programs .............................................................................................. 32 Emergency Plans and Services .................................................................................................... 33 Infrastructure................................................................................................................................ 34 Operations.................................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 4: Park Vision and Goals...................................................................................................... 39 Agency Mission Statement .......................................................................................................... 39 Park Visions................................................................................................................................. 39 Overall Park Goals....................................................................................................................... 39 Natural Resource Goals ............................................................................................................... 39 Recreation Goals.......................................................................................................................... 40 Cultural Resource Goals .............................................................................................................. 40 Scenic Resource Goals................................................................................................................. 41 Open Space Protection Goals....................................................................................................... 41 Access Goals................................................................................................................................ 41 Education and Interpretation Goals ............................................................................................. 42 Operation and Maintenance Goals............................................................................................... 42 Facility Development and Capital Investment Goals .................................................................. 43 Communication and Partnership Goals ....................................................................................... 43 Inventory, Monitoring and Research Goals................................................................................. 43 Chapter 5: Analysis and Alternatives ................................................................................................ 45 Introduction.................................................................................................................................. 45 Analysis and Alternatives of Master Plan Elements.................................................................... 45 Master Plan Alternatives.............................................................................................................. 45 Selection of the Preferred Master Plan Alternative ..................................................................... 45 Chapter 6: The Master Plan ............................................................................................................... 47 Designations................................................................................................................................. 47 Natural Resource Protection ........................................................................................................ 47 Page i Fahnestock SP & Hudson Highlands SPP Master Plan: Table of Contents Recreation Facility Development and Programs ......................................................................... 53 Environmental Education and Interpretation (EE&I).................................................................. 57 Cultural Resource Protection ......................................................................................................