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DEC Releases Final Recreation Management Plan for Big
Moose Tract Conservation Easement
Published: May 18, 2024 at
11:15 a.m.
By: Press Release from NYS DEC
DEC Releases Final Recreation Management Plan for Big
Moose Tract Conservation Easement in Herkimer County
Plan Maintains and Improves Upon Current Public
Recreational Access on Easement Lands
The New York
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released the
final recreation management plan (RMP) for the Big Moose Tract Conservation Easement in
the town of Webb, Herkimer County. The RMP guides public recreation
management on the 23,850-acre property, consistent with the
encumbering conservation easement.
The Big Moose
Tract contains commercially managed forestland, several small ponds,
portions of Birch, Fourth, Sunday, and Twitchell creeks, the
Independence River, and the west branch of the Beaver River. Under the
terms of an RMP, a trail to the Stillwater Mountain fire tower and 12.4
miles of public snowmobile trails are open to the public.
The property
borders approximately 18.4 miles of DEC forest preserve lands
(Ha-De-Ron-Dah and Pigeon Lake Wildernesses and Fulton Chain and
Independence River Wild Forests) and 2.5 miles with the Three Lakes Tract
Conservation Easement. Nearly four miles of the Remsen Lake Placid Travel
Corridor pass through the property.
The RMP proposes
the following actions:
- The Stillwater Mountain Fire Tower and access
trail will remain open to the public except for the period
from the second Tuesday in October through Dec. 20 each year (seasonal
closure of this trail is a term of the conservation easement);
- Selective tree cutting will take
place around the Stillwater Mountain Fire Tower to enhance scenic
views;
- Conservation Easement snowmobile trails
currently located on the property will be maintained by DEC and
groomed by a combination of the Brantingham Snowmobile Club and the
town of Webb;
- Alternative snowmobiles trails will be
designated or constructed (0.7 miles of new
construction) for when main trails are closed due to winter
timber harvesting;
- A visitor survey will be conducted at
Stillwater Mountain to inform DEC about visitor experience on the
trail and summit; and
- An interpretive panel highlighting forestry
on the Big Moose Tract will be developed and installed.
The RMP (PDF) can be viewed on the DEC website and all
questions about the Big Moose Tract Conservation Easement can be directed
to the DEC Office in Lowville at 315-376-3521.
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