DEC to Hold Public Meeting on July 16; Public Comments Accepted Until August 18 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking public comment on the Great Divide Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP). The draft plan will guide the future management of the Great Divide Management Area and is an updated Unit Management Plan from what was formerly the Erwin Unit Management Plan and Great Divide Unit Management Plan. In addition, DEC is holding a public meeting on July 16, 2025, to accept public comments on the plan. 

“The draft Great Divide Unit Management Plan establishes management goals and objectives for lands and waters for the next decade,” DEC Region 8 Regional Director Timothy P. Walsh said. “Public input is essential to help make decisions on managing these areas for public enjoyment and resource protection.” 

DEC is hosting a public meeting on July 16, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Horseheads Free Library, 405 South Main Street, Horseheads. The Great Divide Unit consists of three Wildlife Management Areas and six State Forests, in Steuben, Schuyler, and Chemung counties totaling 7,308 acres of public lands. The draft UMP is designed to enhance and monitor wildlife species diversity and protect plant and animals that are designated as rare and endangered species. The plan creates a balance of vegetative types and stages by the sale of timber resources, creation, and maintenance of grassland and wetland habitats. The draft UMP also allows for monitoring for and removing invasive exotic plants and animals. The draft Great Divide UMP is available on DEC’s website. 

The draft UMP includes:  

Big Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Catharine Creek Marsh WMA, Erwin WMA,
Catlin State Forest, Erwin Hollow State Forest, Erwin Mountain State Forest, Maple Hill State Forest, McCarthy Hill State Forest, and Texas Hollow State Forest. 

DEC is accepting public comments until Aug.18, 2025. The public should mail comments to: Gretchen Cicora, Supervising Forester, NYSDEC, State Land Management, 7291 Coon Road, Bath, NY 14810, or email: R8.ump@dec.ny.gov.