Draft Catskill Creek Unit Management Plan (UMP)
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Catskill Creek UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT Towns of Broome, Conesville, Fulton, Gilboa, Middleburgh, and Rensselaerville Counties of Albany and Schoharie February 2020 DIVISION OF LANDS AND FORESTS Bureau of State Land Management, Region 4 65561 State Highway 10, Suite 1 Stamford, New York 12167 607-652-7365 www.dec.ny.gov Catskill Creek Unit Management Plan A planning unit consisting of nine State Forests and one Wildlife Management Area in Schoharie and Albany Counties February 2020 Prepared by the Catskill Creek Unit Management Planning Team: Vicki Cross, Forester 2 Robert Cross, Forester I Donald Guest, Forester 1 Acknowledgments The Catskill Creek 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: Bruce Hulbert, Surveyor III Josh Houghton, Natural Resource Planner New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests Region 4 65561 State Highway 10, Suite 1 Stamford, New York 12167 607-652-7365 https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4979.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 Catskill Creek 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 CATSKILL CREEK ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 Counties of Albany and Schoharie ................................................................................................................. 1 DEC’S MISSION ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 VISION STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................................... 2 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 .................................................................................................................... 6 Forest Certification of State Forests ..................................................................................................................... 6 Ecosystem Management Approach ..................................................................................................................... 7 Ecosystem Management Strategies ..................................................................................................................... 8 State Forest Management Goals ......................................................................................................................... 8 Location Map ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 INFORMATION ON THE CATSKILL CREEK UNIT ..................................................................................................... 11 STATE LANDS IN THE UNIT ............................................................................................................................................. 11 SOILS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 11 GEOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Surficial Geology................................................................................................................................................. 12 Bedrock Geology ................................................................................................................................................ 13 WATER RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 Major Streams, Rivers and Water Bodies ........................................................................................................... 17 BIODIVERSITY .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Common Species ................................................................................................................................................ 19 Habitat ............................................................................................................................................................... 19 At-Risk Species.................................................................................................................................................... 20 VISUAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 22 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................. 22 History of the Unit .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Inventory of Resources ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Archaeological Site Protection ........................................................................................................................... 23 Archaeological Research .................................................................................................................................... 23 REAL PROPERTY ........................................................................................................................................................... 23 Boundary Lines ................................................................................................................................................... 23 Exceptions and Deeded Restrictions ................................................................................................................... 24 Encroachments ................................................................................................................................................... 25 Land Acquisition ................................................................................................................................................. 26 INFRASTRUCTURE ......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Roads and Trails ................................................................................................................................................. 27 Signs / Kiosks ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 Boating and Fishing Facilities ............................................................................................................................. 29 Utility Transmission and Collection