2017 Management Plan Update For THE ALBANY PINE BUSH PRESERVE March 2017 Globally Rare, Nationally Significant, Locally Distinct 2017 Management Plan Update For The Albany Pine Bush Preserve ________________________________________________________________________ Location of Action: Albany County, City of Albany, Town of Colonie, Town of Guilderland, and Village of Colonie Lead Agency: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission 195 New Karner Road Albany, New York 12205 Contact Person: Christopher Hawver, Executive Director Prepared by: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission Date: March 16, 2017 The Mission of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is: TO PROTECT AND MANAGE THE UNIQUE AND ENDANGERED NATURAL COMMUNITIES AND SPECIES OF THE ALBANY PINE BUSH, FOR ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS AND CONTROLLED AND APPROPRIATE PUBLIC RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL USE. ABOUT THIS MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE 1. What is the action? The adoption and implementation of a Management Plan Update for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. 2. Is the action subject to SEQRA? At its September 15, 2016 meeting the Commission classified the 2017 Draft Management Plan Update for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve as a Type 2 Action consistent with the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). 3. Who is proposing to do this? The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. The Commission is comprised of representatives of the Towns of Colonie and Guilderland, the City of Albany, Albany County, The Nature Conservancy, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and four private citizens. 4. Why was this report written? The Legislation establishing the Albany Pine Bush Preserve requires that the Preserve Management Plan be reviewed and, if necessary, updated every five years. The 2017 plan updates the 2010 Preserve Management Plan and FEIS and its associated appendices. It incorporates new data and experience gained by the Commission since that document was originally prepared. This Management Plan Update was written to provide people who have an interest in the Albany Pine Bush Preserve with an opportunity to participate in planning its future. 5. How much opportunity has there been for participation by others? Public meetings were held throughout the processes to draft the 1993 Management Plan and FEIS, the 1996 Implementation Guidelines and FEIS, the 2002 Management Plan and FEIS and the 2010 Management Plan and FEIS for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Additionally public comment was requested through an advertised public hearing on October 25, 2016 held at the Discovery Center and two informational meetings held at the Crossings of Colonie on November 2, 2016 and at the Guilderland municipal library on November 3, 2016. Written comments were accepted through November 25, 2016. 6. How should this report be reviewed? It is really up to the reviewer. One can choose to read the entire report, cover to cover, or can choose to focus only on those part(s) that are of interest. 7. What happens next? The Commission will consider adopting the Management Plan Update at its March 16, 2017 regular meeting. 8. Who can I contact if I have questions? Christopher Hawver Executive Director Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission 195 New Karner Road Albany, New York 12205 Acknowledgements The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission expresses its appreciation to the following individuals and organizations for their assistance with the preparation of this document. In particular the Commission sincerely thanks the members of the Technical Advisory Committee and other Commission representatives for their commitment and energy in preparing this updated Management Plan: Rick Georgeson, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 4 Karl Parker, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Region 4 Nancy Stoner, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Karen Terbush, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Jessica Ottney Mahar, Eastern NY Chapter of The Nature Conservancy Don Csaposs, Town of Guilderland Laura Degaetano, Albany County Mike Lyons, Town of Colonie Paul Russell, Citizen Volunteer Brad Glass, City of Albany Mary Millus, City of Albany Finally, the Commission thanks the many other people who provided useful comments and guidance during the development of the updated Management Plan, including: Christopher A. Hawver, Neil A. Gifford, Amanda Dillon, Steve Campbell, Tyler Briggs, Margaret Stein, Erin Kinal, Blake Etchison, Wendy Craney, Lisa Anthony, Joel Hecht, Jesse Hoffman and all those who submitted comments during the public hearing and public comment period. THE ALBANY PINE BUSH PRESERVE COMMISSION (2017) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Keith Goertz, Region 4 Director, Commission Chair For Commissioner Basil Seggos New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Alane Ball-Chinian, Saratoga-Capital Region Director For Commissioner Rose Harvey The Nature Conservancy New York Jessica Ottney Mahar, Policy Director For Executive Director Bill Ulfelder City of Albany The Honorable Kathy Sheehan, Mayor Town of Colonie The Honorable Paula Mahan, Supervisor Town of Guilderland The Honorable Peter Barber, Supervisor County of Albany The Honorable Daniel P. McCoy, County Executive Mr. Harvey J. Alexander, Ph.D. Citizen Representative Mr. Steven Rice, Ph.D. Citizen Representative Mr. John Brust Citizen Representative/Corporate Liaison Ms. Nancy Pierson Citizen Representative TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... i I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 A. Albany Pine Bush Preserve and Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission ..................... 1 B. Summary of Preserve Planning and Management ........................................................... 2 C. Implementing the 2017 Management Plan ...................................................................... 4 II. COMMISSION VISION AND GOALS .............................................................................. 5 A. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 5 B. Commission Vision .......................................................................................................... 5 C. Ecological Resource and Protection Goals ...................................................................... 5 D. Community Engagement Goals ....................................................................................... 9 III. THE ALBANY PINE BUSH PRESERVE ........................................................................ 10 A. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 10 B. Background .................................................................................................................... 10 C. Ecological Resources ..................................................................................................... 12 D. Ecological Processes ...................................................................................................... 18 E. Rare, Declining and Vulnerable Species ........................................................................ 20 F. Facilities and Trails ....................................................................................................... 24 IV. THREATS.......................................................................................................................... 25 A. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 25 B. Development .................................................................................................................. 25 C. Invasive Plants, Pests, and Pathogens ............................................................................ 27 D. Inappropriate or Excessive Public Use .......................................................................... 28 E. Wildlife Related Impacts ............................................................................................... 28 F. Climate Change .............................................................................................................. 28 V. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT .............................................. 30 A. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 30 B. Ecological Management Objectives ............................................................................... 31 C. Fire Management ........................................................................................................... 34 D. Mechanical Treatment and Use of Herbicides ............................................................... 34 E. Management Guidelines for Rare and Declining Wildlife............................................. 36 F. Research, Inventory, and Monitoring ............................................................................ 39 VI. EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATIONS ............................................. 41 A. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 41 B. Education