Eastern Lake Ontario Draft Unit Management Plan
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Eastern Lake Ontario UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN DRAFT Towns of Albion, Boylston, Orwell, Richland and Sandy Creek County of Oswego June 2017 DIVISION OF LANDS AND FORESTS Bureau of State Land Management, Region 7 1285 Fisher Avenue Cortland, NY 13045 (607) 753-3095 ext. 217 www.dec.ny.gov Eastern Lake Ontario Unit Management Plan A planning unit consisting of four State Forests, in Oswego County June 2017 Prepared by the Eastern Lake Ontario Unit Management Planning Team: Daniel J. Sawchuck, Senior Forester Acknowledgments The Eastern Lake Ontario 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: Linda Collart, Mineral Resources Specialist Glenn Wolford, Land Surveyor 3 (Retired) Scott Jackson, Forest Ranger 1 Scott Prindle, Aquatic Biologist 1 Mike Putnam, Wildlife Biologist 1 Thomas Swerdan, Conservation Operations Supervisor 3 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests Region 7 1285 Fisher Avenue Cortland, NY 13045 (607) 753-3095 www.dec.ny.gov 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 Eastern Lake Ontario 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. 1 Table of Contents DEC’S MISSION ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 VISION STATEMENT ............................................................................................................................................... 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................................. 3 PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................................ 7 STATE FOREST OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Legal Considerations ............................................................................................................................................ 7 MANAGEMENT PLANNING OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................... 7 Public Participation .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Strategic Plan for State Forest Management ....................................................................................................... 8 DEC’S MANAGEMENT APPROACH AND GOALS .................................................................................................................... 8 Forest Certification of State Forests ..................................................................................................................... 8 Ecosystem Management Approach ..................................................................................................................... 9 Ecosystem Management Strategies ................................................................................................................... 10 State Forest Management Goals ....................................................................................................................... 10 LOCATION MAP ................................................................................................................................................... 13 I. INFORMATION ON THE EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO UNIT .............................................................................. 14 STATE LANDS IN THE UNIT ............................................................................................................................................. 14 Table I.A. – State Lands in the Unit .................................................................................................................... 14 Facilities Not Included in this UMP ..................................................................................................................... 14 SOILS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Table I.B. – Predominant Soil Types Found on the Unit...................................................................................... 15 WATER RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 16 Watersheds ........................................................................................................................................................ 16 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................................................ 16 Streams, Rivers and Intermittent Streams ......................................................................................................... 16 Water Bodies ...................................................................................................................................................... 17 Spring Seeps and Vernal Pools ........................................................................................................................... 18 Table I.C – Water Resources of the Unit ............................................................................................................. 18 BIODIVERSITY .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Fishery Resources and Fish Species .................................................................................................................... 19 Wildlife Resources .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Species of General Interest ................................................................................................................................. 20 Species of Greatest Conservation Need ............................................................................................................. 21 Table I.D. Species of Greatest Conservation Need by Species Group Likely to be Found On or In the Vicinity of the Unit .............................................................................................................................................................. 22 Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern Species ......................................................................................... 24 Table I.E – Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern Species ....................................................................... 24 Found on or in the vicinity of the Unit.* ............................................................................................................. 24 Forest Type ......................................................................................................................................................... 29 Table I.F - Vegetative Types and Stages within the Unit .................................................................................... 30 Representative Sample Areas ............................................................................................................................. 30 High Conservation Value Forests........................................................................................................................ 32 Table I.G – Representative Sample Areas and High Conservation Value Forests of the Unit ............................. 33 Resource Protection Areas ................................................................................................................................. 34 VISUAL RESOURCES ...................................................................................................................................................... 34 HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................