High Peaks Wilderness Complex Unit Management Plan
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Department of Environmental Conservation Office of Natural Resources - Region 5 High Peaks Wilderness Complex Unit Management Plan Wilderness Management for the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park March 1999 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation George E. Pataki, Governor John P. Cahill, Commissioner HIGH PEAKS UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN FINAL DRAFT TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ................................................. 1 NEED FOR A PLAN .......................................... 3 MANAGEMENT GOALS ....................................... 4 SECTION I INTRODUCTION TO THE HIGH PEAKS WILDERNESS COMPLEX AREA OVERVIEW ...................................... 7 UNIT DESCRIPTIONS ................................... 7 Ampersand Primitive Area .............................. 7 Johns Brook Primitive Corridor .......................... 8 High Peaks Wilderness ................................ 8 Adirondack Canoe Route ............................... 8 BOUNDARY .......................................... 8 PRIMARY ACCESS ...................................... 9 SECTION II BIOPHYSICAL RESOURCES GEOLOGY ............................................10 SOILS ...............................................11 TERRAIN .............................................13 WATER ..............................................13 WETLANDS ...........................................16 CLIMATE ............................................16 AIR QUALITY .........................................17 OPEN SPACE ..........................................17 VEGETATION .........................................18 WILDLIFE ............................................23 FISHERIES ............................................29 SECTION III MAN AND THE WILDERNESS ENVIRONMENT HISTORY .............................................36 HISTORIC SITES .......................................39 CULTURAL RESOURCES .................................40 ECONOMICS ..........................................41 High Peaks Unit Management Plan - March 1999 i Table of Contents SECTION IV WILDERNESS USE AND USERS INTRINSIC USES .......................................43 Indirect Use .......................................43 Scientific Use ......................................43 Educational Use ....................................44 Therapeutic and Personal Development .....................44 Clean Air and Water .................................45 RECREATIONAL USE ....................................45 Estimating Number of Users - Total Use .....................46 Distribution of Use ..................................48 Types of Activities ...................................52 Mode of Interior Travel ...............................52 Periods of Use .....................................53 Length of Stay .....................................53 Residence of Visitors .................................53 Characteristics of Users ...............................56 Day Use .........................................56 Use of Trailess Peaks .................................56 Canoe Use ........................................57 Horse Use ........................................58 Guide and Outfitter Use ...............................58 Winter Use .......................................59 Rock Climbing .....................................59 Visitor Perceptions of Use ..............................60 Wildlife Use .......................................61 Fisheries .........................................63 RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ..............................66 NON-CONFORMING FACILITIES ............................67 Ampersand Primitive Area ..............................67 High Peaks Wilderness ................................68 Johns Brook Primitive Area .............................69 Facilities Summary ..................................70 RECREATIONAL USE PROBLEMS RELATED TO FACILITIES ........70 Trailheads ........................................70 Signs ...........................................71 Trail Deterioration ...................................71 Undesired Trails - User Created ..........................72 Campsite and Lean-to Deterioration ........................72 Lean-tos .........................................74 Horse Trails .......................................75 Dams ...........................................75 Litter ...........................................76 ii High Peaks Unit Management Plan - March 1999 Table of Contents Human Waste Disposal ................................76 Wildlife Impacts ....................................76 SECTION V ADJACENT LAND USES STATE LANDS .........................................80 Wilderness Areas ...................................80 Wild Forest Areas ...................................82 Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) ..............83 PRIVATE LANDS .......................................83 Large Landowners ...................................83 Subdivisions/Urban Areas ..............................86 SUMMARY ...........................................86 SECTION VI MANAGEMENT OVERVIEW HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE (before the APSLMP) .................88 TRANSITION ..........................................89 ADIRONDACK PARK STATE LAND MASTER PLAN ..............90 REMOVAL OF NON-CONFORMANCES ........................90 HIGH PEAKS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (1974-1977) ...............91 NEW RULES AND REGULATIONS ...........................92 INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ...........................92 ASSISTANT FOREST RANGER PROGRAM .....................93 CAMPSITE DESIGNATION PROGRAMS .......................93 PARKING FACILITY MANAGEMENT .........................94 WILD AND SCENIC RIVER MANAGEMENT ....................95 FISHERIES ............................................95 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ..................................97 NEW YORK NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM ..................97 NATURAL AREAS REGISTRY ..............................97 REHABILITATION OF ALPINE SUMMITS ......................98 SUMMIT STEWARDS PROGRAM ............................98 ADMINISTRATION ......................................98 FUNDING ............................................99 SECTION VII FUTURE MANAGEMENT DIRECTION HIGH PEAKS CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (1990-1992) ....... 101 ISSUE IDENTIFICATION ................................. 102 PLANNING CONSTRAINTS ............................... 103 Governmental ..................................... 104 Ecological ....................................... 104 High Peaks Unit Management Plan - March 1999 iii Table of Contents Historical Legacy .................................. 104 Sociological ...................................... 105 CARRYING CAPACITY CONCEPTS ......................... 105 MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES .............................. 107 STRATEGY .......................................... 110 SECTION VIII MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS LAND ACQUISITION AND OWNERSHIP ...................... 115 BIOPHYSICAL RESOURCES ............................... 117 Soils ........................................... 117 Air Resources ..................................... 118 Water Resources ................................... 118 Vegetation ....................................... 120 Wildlife ........................................ 123 Fisheries ........................................ 125 FIRE MANAGEMENT ................................... 134 SEARCH AND RESCUE .................................. 135 HUMAN IMPACT ...................................... 137 Cultural Resources .................................. 137 Special Events and Contests ............................ 138 LAW ENFORCEMENT ................................... 138 RECREATION MANAGEMENT ............................. 139 WILDERNESS EDUCATION AND INFORMATION ........... 139 FACILITIES ..................................... 143 Trailheads .................................. 143 Trails ..................................... 145 Trailless Peaks ............................... 148 Signs ...................................... 149 Campsites .................................. 151 Lean-tos .................................... 154 Sanitation ................................... 156 Campfires .................................. 157 Sound Issues and Audio Devices .................... 159 Bridges .................................... 160 Dams ..................................... 161 VISITOR USE .................................... 162 Party Size Limitations ........................... 162 Length of Stay Restrictions ........................ 165 Wilderness Access for Persons with Disabilities ........... 166 Wilderness Permits ............................. 168 Special Use Recommendations ..................... 170 AIRCRAFT USE ....................................... 172 iv High Peaks Unit Management Plan - March 1999 Table of Contents HIGHWAY PERIMETER DE-ICING .......................... 173 SCIENTIFIC STUDY .................................... 174 PARTNERSHIPS AND VOLUNTEERS ........................ 174 ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT ..................... 176 ANNUAL WORK PLANS ................................. 177 PROPOSED RULES AND REGULATIONS ..................... 178 SECTION IX SPECIAL AREA PLANS AMPERSAND PRIMITIVE AREA ........................... 181 CASCADE LAKES ...................................... 182 COLD RIVER (Wild River Management) ........................ 184 COLD RIVER HORSE TRAIL SYSTEM ........................ 185 INDIAN FALLS ....................................... 186 AUSABLE CLUB - ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN RESERVE .......... 187 MOOSE POND - NEWCOMB LAKE .........................