Final Master Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement For Allegany State Park June 30, 2010 David A. Paterson Governor Carol Ash Commissioner Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Allegany State Park Final Master Plan/FEIS: Notice of Completion SEQR NOTICE OF COMPLETION OF A FINAL EIS Date of Notice: June 30, 2010 Lead Agency: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Title of Action: Adoption and Implementation of a Master Plan for Allegany State Park SEQR Status: Type I Location of Action: Allegany State Park is located in the Towns of Red House, Carrollton, Cold Spring, South Valley, Salamanca, and Great Valley in Cattaraugus 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 Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been completed and accepted on the Adoption and Implementation of a Master Plan for Allegany State Park. Copies of the Final Plan/FEIS are available from the agency contacts. The Executive Summary of the Master Plan and FEIS is attached. It contains a brief summary which describes the proposed action, the environmental setting, alternatives, potential environmental impacts and mitigation. Availability of FEIS: Copies of the Draft Plan/DEIS are available for review at the Park Office; at the offices of the agency contacts; and at the Salamanca Public Library, 155 Wildwood Ave, Salamanca, NY, the James Prendergast Library, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, NY and at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, 1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY. The online version of the Final Plan/FEIS is available at the following publically accessible web site: http://www.nysparks.com/inside-our-agency/public- documents.aspx Agency Contacts: Mike Miecznikowski Thomas B. Lyons, Director Regional Director Resource Management Allegany Region NYS OPRHP NYS OPRHP Agency Building 1, Empire State Plaza 2373 ASP Route #1 – Suite 3 Albany, NY 12238 Salamanca NY 14779 Phone (716) 354-6575 (518) 474-0409 Page iii Allegany State Park Final Master Plan/FEIS: Cover Page Final Master Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement for Allegany State Park June 30, 2010 New York Cattaraugus County Towns of Salamanca, Great Valley, South Valley Cold Spring, Red House, and Carrollton City of Salamanca Village of Limestone Prepared by The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Completed: June 30, 2010 Contact: Michael Miecznikowski, Regional Director Allegany Region 2373 ASP Route #1-Suite 3 Salamanca, NY 14779 (716) 354-6575 [email protected] Thomas B. Lyons, Director of Resource Management NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Empire State Plaza Agency Building 1 Albany, NY 12238 (518) 474-0409 Fax: (518) 474-7013 [email protected] Page v Allegany State Park Final Master Plan/FEIS: Acknowledgements Acknowledgements The Allegany State Park Final Master Plan/Final Environmental Impact statement is a result of a cooperative effort by many persons. The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) acknowledges the time and effort of all who participated in the master plan process leading to the development of this Final Master Plan Document. In a cooperative effort, the Agency worked with and coordinated input from the following agencies: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation New York State Natural Heritage Program Cattaraugus County Carol Ash, Commissioner Andy Beers, Executive Deputy Commissioner Tom Alworth Deputy Commissioner for Natural Resources Mark Thomas Western District Director OPRHP Core Plan Team Members Allegany Region Staff Michael Miecznikowski, Regional Director Brad Whitcomb, Park Manager Jim Toner, Capital Facilities Manger Joe Rychcik, Quaker Area Manager Gary Quattrone, Red House Area Manager Albany Office Staff Thomas Lyons, Director of Resource Management Robert Reinhardt, Director of Planning Karen Terbush, Assoc. Environmental Analyst Salim Adler, Park Planner Diana Carter, Assoc. Natural Resource Planner Marcia Kees, Assoc. Planner Page vii Allegany State Park Final Master Plan/FEIS: Table of Contents Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................ vii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................. ix List of Figures................................................................................................................................................................... xi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................................... xii Executive Summary........................................................................................................................................................ 13 Introduction..................................................................................................................................... 13 Park Background............................................................................................................................. 13 Environmental Setting .................................................................................................................... 13 Vision, Goals and Policies .............................................................................................................. 13 Analysis & Alternatives.................................................................................................................. 15 The Master Plan .............................................................................................................................. 15 Implementation ............................................................................................................................... 20 Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 1: Introduction................................................................................................................................................... 25 Planning and Environmental Review.............................................................................................. 25 Q&A About This Plan .................................................................................................................... 25 Introduction to the Park .................................................................................................................. 26 Chapter 2: Park Background.......................................................................................................................................... 27 Location and Access ....................................................................................................................... 27 Economic Contribution (Impact of the Park).................................................................................. 27 Recreational Needs Assessment ..................................................................................................... 28 Adjacent Land Uses ........................................................................................................................ 31 Legal Constraints, Designations and Other Programs .................................................................... 33 Chapter 3: Environmental Setting ................................................................................................................................. 39 Physical Resources.......................................................................................................................... 39 Natural Resources ........................................................................................................................... 42 Cultural Resources.......................................................................................................................... 45 Scenic Resources ............................................................................................................................ 46 Subsurface Resources ..................................................................................................................... 47 Recreational Resources/Activities .................................................................................................. 48 Emergency Plans and Services ....................................................................................................... 52 Infrastructure................................................................................................................................... 53 Operations and Maintenance........................................................................................................... 57 Chapter 4: Park Vision, Goals, and Agency Policies.................................................................................................. 75 Agency Mission Statement ............................................................................................................. 75 Park Vision.....................................................................................................................................