A draft Amendment to the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest Unit Management Plan and a draft Unit Management Plan for the Horicon Boat Launch are available for public review and comment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced today.

Both the draft UMP for the Horicon Boat Launch and the draft UMP amendment for the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest contain proposed management actions that are located within the Schroon Recreational River Area. Pursuant to Part 666 of Title 6 of the Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York—also known as the Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers regulations a public hearing is required.

The public hearing will be held at 1:00 p.m. on July 27 at the DEC Region 5 Warrensburg Office at 232 Golf Course Road, Warrensburg. The hearing will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more on the proposed management actions and to provide comment on the proposals. The meeting facility is wheelchair accessible. Please provide any requests for specific accommodations to 518-897-1361 at least one week in advance.

Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest

The proposed amendment to the Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest Unit Management Plan will allow for improved access for hikers, paddlers and others. The amendments proposes:

• Construction of a parking area and hand launch at Palmer Pond for people with disabilities;
• Replacement of a foot bridge over the Boreas River near Lester Flow;
• Construction of a 5-car overflow parking area near the Moxham Mountain trailhead; and
• Expansion of the parking area at Balfour Lake.

The 91,854-acre Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest in the Eastern Adirondacks expands across Essex, Hamilton and Warren counties. This rugged, mountainous and forested area also contains many lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The lands and waters provide an abundant variety of outdoor recreational opportunities.

The Draft Management Plan is available to view or download on DEC's website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22587.html.  Copies of the Draft Plan are also available on CD at the DEC Region 5 Office in Warrensburg.

Public comments should be sent by August 12, 2016 to Rob Ripp, Senior Forester, NYSDEC Lands & Forests, 232 Golf Course Road, Warrensburg NY, 12885 or e-mailed to R5.UMP@dec.ny.gov.

Horicon Boat Launch

The proposed amendment for the Horicon Boat Launch and Schroon River Area Management Plan will improve efforts to prevent aquatic invasive species from entering or leaving Schroon Lake.

The amendment proposes to create a 20’ x 40’ gravel pad for a boat washing station, and to re-open a gravel lane to provide access to the boat washing station from the Town highway. 

The Horicon Boat Launch is located in town of Horicon, Warren County just above the dam at the south end of Schroon Lake.

The Draft Management Plan is available to view or download on DEC's website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/106812.html.  Copies of the Draft Plan are also available on CD at the DEC Region 5 Sub Office in Warrensburg.

Public comments should be sent by August 12, 2016 to Rob Fiorentino, Biologist, NYSDEC Lands & Forests, 232 Golf Course Road, Warrensburg NY, 12885 or e-mailed to R5.UMP@dec.ny.gov.