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John Boyd Thacher State Park Master Plan

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John Boyd Thacher State Park Master Plan John Boyd Thacher State Park Master Plan Albany County Towns of Knox, Berne, New Scotland and Guilderland Final Environmental Impact Statement November 13, 2013 Andrew M. Cuomo Governor Rose Harvey Commissioner SEQR NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF A FINAL EIS Date of Notice: November 13, 2013 Lead Agency: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Title of Action: Adoption and Implementation of a Master Plan for John Boyd Thacher State Park (Incorporating the former Thompson’s Lake State Park) SEQR Status: Type I Location of Action: John Boyd Thacher State Park is located in the Towns of Berne, Knox, Guliderland, and New Scotland in Albany County. 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 and FEIS describes the proposed action, the environmental setting, alternatives, potential environmental impacts and mitigation and the agency’s responses to comments on the Draft Plan/DEIS. Agencies and the public are afforded the opportunity to consider the FEIS. This consideration period ends on November 25, 2013. Copies of the Final Plan and FEIS are available for review at the John Boyd Thacher State Park Office; at the offices of the agency contacts; and at the following Libraries: Voorheesville Public Library, 51 School Road, Voorheesville; Berne Public Library, 1656 Helderberg Trail, Berne; and the Guilderland Public Library, 2228 Western Ave. Guilderland, NY. The online version of the Final Master Plan and FEIS is available at the following publically accessible web site: http://www.nysparks.state.ny.us/inside-our-agency/master-plans.aspx Agency Contacts: Alane Ball Chinian Pamela Otis, Director Regional Director Environmental Management Bureau Saratoga-Capital District Region NYS OPRHP NYS OPRHP 625 Broadway, 2nd Floor 19 Roosevelt Drive Albany, NY 12238 Saratoga Springs NY 12866 Phone (518) 584-2000 (518) 474-0409 Or E-mail Comments to: [email protected] John Boyd Thacher State Park Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement: Tables Table of Contents List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................................. vii Table of Figures ........................................................................................................................................................... viii Abbreviations Used ...................................................................................................................................................... ix Conventions Used ......................................................................................................................................................... ix Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................................................... xi Location and Access ................................................................................................................... xi Economic Contribution ............................................................................................................... xi Recreational Needs Assessment ................................................................................................. xi Park Boundaries .......................................................................................................................... xi Adjacent Land Uses .................................................................................................................... xi Legal Considerations .................................................................................................................. xi Programs and Partnerships .......................................................................................................... xi Physical Resources...................................................................................................................... xi Natural Resources ...................................................................................................................... xii Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... xii Scenic Resources ...................................................................................................................... xiii Recreational Resources/Activities ............................................................................................ xiii Operations and Maintenance Overview .................................................................................... xiii Development of Alternatives .................................................................................................... xiii Selection of the Preferred Alternative........................................................................................ xv Environmental Impacts and Mitigation .................................................................................... xvi Chapter 1 – Environmental Setting ......................................................................................................................... 17 Location and Access .................................................................................................................. 17 Economic Contribution .............................................................................................................. 17 Recreational Needs Assessment ................................................................................................ 17 Park Boundaries ......................................................................................................................... 18 Adjacent Land Uses ................................................................................................................... 18 Legal Considerations ................................................................................................................. 18 Programs and Partnerships ......................................................................................................... 18 Physical Resources..................................................................................................................... 19 Natural Resources ...................................................................................................................... 21 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 25 Scenic Resources ....................................................................................................................... 26 Recreational Resources/Activities ............................................................................................. 26 Operations and Maintenance Overview ..................................................................................... 29 Chapter 2 - Development of Alternatives ............................................................................................................... 35 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 35 Natural Resource Protection Strategies ......................................................................................... 35 Natural Heritage Area ................................................................................................................ 35 Bird Conservation Area (BCA) ................................................................................................. 37 Invasive Species ......................................................................................................................... 38 Recreational Resource Development ............................................................................................. 40 The Meadow .............................................................................................................................. 40 Rock Climbing ........................................................................................................................... 43 Page v John Boyd Thacher State Park Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement: Tables High Ropes Adventure Course .................................................................................................. 45 Re-Design the Glen Doone picnic area ...................................................................................... 47 Cave Management ..................................................................................................................... 51 Trails .......................................................................................................................................... 52 Mountain Biking Skills Park and Trail Network ....................................................................... 54 Horseback Riding....................................................................................................................... 55 Snowmobiling ...........................................................................................................................
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