Adirondack Park Agency Approves

Raquette Boreal Area Unit Management Plan

In early December 2006, the Adirondack Park Agency approved the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Raquette Boreal Area Final Unit Management Plan (UMP). ADK is proud to report that the final adopted UMP does not provide for new snowmobile or motor vehicle access into this remote and ecologically sensitive area of the Forest Preserve.

The Raquette Boreal UMP encompasses several parcels of forest preserve and conservation easements the state owns in the towns of Hopkinton, Colton, and Piercefield in St. Lawrence County. The Raquette Boreal area includes that Raquette River, an important canoeing and kayaking resource from Piercefield to Carry Falls Reservoir and the Jordan River, another high quality canoeing opportunity. The Forest Preserve portion includes the Raquette-Jordan Boreal Primitive Area (11,936) acres and the Raquette River Wild Forest (3,057 acres).

ADK had expressed to DEC our great concern about proposed management actions outlined in the initial draft UMP, released in September 2006, which called for increased motorized access to the Raquette Boreal area. The draft UMP set forth numerous proposals for motorized access into the eastern portion of the Raquette River Wild Forest. These proposals were of great concern to ADK due to the fact that the Raquette River Wild Forest abuts the ecologically sensitive Raquette-Jordan Boreal Primitive Area. In response to our comments, DEC made it very clear in the final UMP that no action would be taken to increase motorized access to the Raquette Boreal Area. ADK submitted a letter to the Adirondack Park Agency in November approving of DEC’s decision.

The final UMP also provides for the following management actions, which ADK supports:

* Close the Bear Brook snowmobile trail and designate and maintain as a hiking trail.
* Designate Carry Falls Trail as a maintained hiking trail.
* Assess the Raquette River Corridor and identify and mark suitable canoe portages    where necessary.
* Pursue agreement with private landowner for public use of the trail on private land to the top of Jamestown Falls.
* Designate trail near Jamestown Falls as a hiking trail.
* If an agreement can be reached with International Paper for a carry on its lands, close existing carry from Route 56 to the river below Moody Falls.

Read ADK's comments to APA on the Final UMP for the Raquette Boreal Area

Read ADK's comments to DEC on the Draft UMP for the Raquette Boreal Area