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INTRODUCED BY: Councilman Liebl

SECONDED BY: Councilwoman Brooks

TEXT:

PERTAINING TO THE NEW YORK STATE DEC UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE WILCOX LAKE WILD FOREST
Requesting Improvements to the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest for Public Access for the Appreciation of Natural Beauty, Recreation, and for the Benefit of the Taxpayers of Stony creek and the Benefit of the People of the State of New York

WHEREAS, the State of New York owns approximately one-half of the land included within the Town of Stony Creek;
WHEREAS, the management and condition of these State-owned lands has immeasurable impact on the well-being of the residents and taxpayers of the Town of Stony Creek;
WHEREAS, the lands of the State of New York, within the Adirondack Park Blue Line are designated as State Forest Preserve,
WHEREAS, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) administers the management plans for these lands,
WHEREAS, the Unit Management Plan for the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest, which includes all of the state owned lands within the Town of Stony Creek currently under review and, when implemented, will direct the management of these lands for at least the next decade;
WHEREAS, limited improvements to the lands of the Forest Preserve are permitted within the framework of preserving their natural character and providing benefits of recreation, healthful outdoor experiences, appreciation of nature, and other public benefits;
WHEREAS, numerous reports have cited the overuse and erosion of the trail experience in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks, and recommended improved access to the Southeastern peaks to distribute the visitors to the region more evenly, thus providing a better Adirondack experience for the visitor and protecting the sensitive High Peaks from overuse;
WHEREAS, the Town of Stony Creek is mandated in State Law to maintain access to cemeteries within the Town;
WHEREAS, the State of New York is mandated to respect the cultural and historic resources within the State;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:
The Town Board of Stony Creek petitions the DEC to:
Provide increased hiking trails to mountain peaks in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest through lands of the State of New York within the Town of Stony Creek, as well as markers, signs, parking space and appropriate facilities in Stony Creek to access these trailheads and State lands along Harrisburg Road;
Provide increased access to the State-owned lands for senior citizens and families with small children including relatively level trails and picnic areas with appropriate parking and facilities;
Provide increased snowmobile and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trails within the Town of Stony Creek, which may be part of longer trails in the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest region;
Provide increased access for those who have impaired mobility because of disability;
Solicit and consider suggestions from other sectors that may seek increased access to Wild Forest, such as trail bikers;
Inventory old roads and abandoned highways for increased access by hunters to State-owned land;
Provide budgetary planning for capital and maintenance, including increased personnel, to meet costs of such improvements to the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest;
Create a fire protection plan for the State-owned lands that provides adequate protection for private property from spread of fire from State Forest Preserve lands and protection of wildlife and natural resources on State Forest Preserve Lands;
Create an advisory committee of representatives of local government, recreationists, sportsmen, and local residents and property owners to assist in the development of the Wilcox Lake Wild Forest Unit Management Plan;
Create a permanent historical and cemetery access advisory committee to investigate and develop policy that is an official part of the implementation of the Wilcox Lake Unit Management Plan to improve access to and preserve cemeteries and historic sites on State-owned land;
Invite the Town Board of Stony Creek to provide a representative on such an advisory committee;
Encourage the State to sell back to private landowners, private citizens or adjoining property owners, landlocked, unmanaged and inaccessible parcels of State land.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Supervisor O’Neill	Yes
Councilman Thomas	Yes
Councilman Liebl	Yes
Councilwoman Brooks	Yes
Councilman Rayder	Yes

I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND EXACT COPY OF THE RESOLUTION AS PASSED BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF STONY CREEK.

Susan I. Harrington
TOWN CLERK

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