The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released the final unit management plans (UMPs) for the Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower Historic Area and the Saint Regis Mountain Fire Tower Historic Area, Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

“The completion of the management plans allows us to move forward with restoring these historically significant resources and opening the fire towers to the public,” Commissioner Martens said. “Throughout the 20^th century, fire towers played a critical role in the protection of New York State’s natural resources. Now they attract many people who want to learn about the role of fire towers, the people that worked in them and the natural resources they protected.”

The 35-foot Hurricane Mountain fire tower was discontinued for use as a fire observation station in 1979, and the 35-foot Saint Regis Mountain fire tower was shut down in 1990. Both structures have been closed to the public ever since.

The completion of the UMPs allows DEC to begin working with two volunteer groups to restore the two fire towers to a condition that will accommodate full public access of the structures and include interpretive materials related to the towers’ history.

DEC anticipates beginning restoration work on both fire towers next summer with assistance from the Friends of St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower and the Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower Friend’s Group, respectively.

The Hurricane Mountain Fire Tower Historic Area UMP may be viewed and downloaded at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/78001.html and the Saint Regis Mountain Fire Tower Historic Area UMP may be viewed and downloaded at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/78006.html. More information on these and other fire towers may be found in the Fire Tower Study for the Adirondack Park at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/62283.html.