DRAFT Sam’s Point Preserve Master Plan May 30, 2009 Draft Master Plan Sam’s Point Preserve Cragsmoor, New York Prepared by: The Nature Conservancy Open Space Institute Sam’s Point Advisory Council Completed: (May 30, 2009) Contacts: Cara Lee, Shawangunk Ridge Program Director (
[email protected] ) Heidi Wagner, Preserve Manager (
[email protected] ) Gabriel Chapin, Forest and Fire Ecologist (
[email protected] ) The Nature Conservancy Eastern New York Chapter Sam’s Point Preserve PO Box 86 Cragsmoor, NY 12420 Phone: 845-647-7989 or 845-255-9051 Fax: 845-255-9623 Paul Elconin (
[email protected]) Open Space Institute 1350 Broadway, Suite 201 New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-629-3981 Fax: 212-244-3441 ii Table of Contents Table of Contents ii List of Tables iii List of Figures and Maps iv List of Appendices v Acknowledgments vi Executive Summary vii Introduction A. The Northern Shawangunk Mountains 1 B. A Community Based Conservation Approach 4 C. History of Sam’s Point Preserve 4 D. Regional Context - Open Space Protection and Local Government 7 I. Natural Resource Information A. Geology and Soils 10 B. Vegetation and Natural Communities 11 C. Wildlife and Rare Species 15 II. Mission and Goals A. Mission Statement 18 B. Conservation Goals 19 C. Programmatic Goals 20 D. Land Protection Goals 20 III. Infrastructure A. Facilities Plan 26 B. Roads and Parking Areas 27 C. Trails 32 D. Signage, Kiosks and Access Points 35 E. Ice Caves Trail 36 iii IV. Ecological Management and Research A. Fire Management 38 B. Exotic and Invasive Species Control 42 C.