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Kent model forest plan criticized
By MICHAEL RISINIT
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 4, 2003)
KENT — A swath of the forest around Mount
Nimham in Kent was quiet yesterday, save for the whining call
of a catbird and the rush of a swollen stream.
| [note: which is exactly the way we
like it around here.] |
That serenity, though, isn't matched by the public's
reaction to a proposal to turn 415 acres of the 1,100-acre state
property — which abuts New York City's West Branch Reservoir
— into a model working forest. Local officials and residents
this week greeted the proposal with anything but silence.
The project involves cutting down up to 60 percent
of the trees in some areas and the possible use of fire and herbicides
to control the underbrush. Officials this week assured those at
a contentious informational meeting that the proposal is grounded
in science and meant to protect the watershed. If successful,
the model would be used to promote forestry as an economic plan
for private lands surrounding New York City's reservoirs.
But that didn't suffice for many in the audience.
Hickories, oaks, maples and other species blanket the slopes that
early last century still functioned as farm and pasture land.
The property now is a haven for hunters, hikers and mountain bikers
and includes a World War II-era fire tower undergoing restoration.
"If they start doing this, they may expand
it in the future and more and more of the park disappears,"
said Mike Spain, who lives on Whang Hollow Road. He was one of
about 20 speakers at Thursday's meeting at Carmel High School.
Well-managed forests are the preferred land use
for protecting water quality, instead of shopping centers and
parking lots, one of the project's leaders explained. The model
forest, which would be one of four across New York City's almost-2,000-square-mile
watershed, tries to promote economic viability and water quality
protection. The others are on county, city and private land in
the Catskills.
| [note: Mr. Brazill's job is all about
cutting trees, not the preservation of natural landscapes
and ecosystems.] |
"It's important to us to have working forests.
If you have working forests, it keeps things green and keeps the
water clean," said Kevin Brazill, the forestry program manager
for the Watershed Agricultural Council.
The council is a nonprofit organization that
seeks to manage farms and forests in accordance with clean-water
principles. It is one of the project's major players, along with
the state Department of Conservation, the New York City Department
of Environmental Protection and the State University of New York's
College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse.
| [Note: some trees cut? The plan calls
for the removal of between 40-60% of the biomass from the
"study area"! That's A LOT of trees.] |
Work is scheduled to start in May and will include
improving Coles Mill Road and installing erosion control devices
and two temporary bridges. Various sections of the study area
will then see some trees cut and brush removed from the forest
floor in anticipation of research projects that would last for
years.
[Note:The assertion
that Coles Mills road is contributing sediment was unsupported
and if the science is there I'd like to see it. In fact,
the road no longer ends at Coles' Mills long ago being absorbed
by the forest in its lower stretches. While there is no
doubt erosion of this road occurs during heavy rains that
erosion is handled by the natural forest surrounding it
or can be remedied rather easily. If DEC and DEP remove
half of the trees around the road of course they'll have
to spend hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars to "improve
it"!]
Tossed out by one of the staff members
claiming it was a "stream" when he'd seen it the
day before, the issue was quickly rebutted by members of
the audience who mentioned that there had been significant
rain, enough to buckle paved roads(!) let alone run some
water down Coles Mills. However, under the logging plan
The Army Corp of Engineers will be brought in to "improve"
Coles Mills Road for more than 3000 feet including side
roads, landings and staging areas for logging trucks and
tour busses. No joke.] |
Coles Mill Road is a dirt trail. It once led
to the mill of Elisha Cole, which was built along the Croton River
before the Revolutionary War. The road now iseroding, contributing
sediment to the nearby reservoir. The DEP, spokesman Ian Michaels
said, welcomes any improvements to the road and has reviewed the
entire project.
"The DEP thinks that this is a good pilot
project. We have no reason to believe it's harmful to the water
supply," Michaels said.
The foresters stressed that the proposal wasn't
finalized and more opinions would be sought from residents. Many
residents at the meeting voiced displeasure with the DEC's approach
to date, wondering why a plan was already developed and initial
research completed without any public input.
"The approach they're taking now is the
right approach," said County Legislator Terry Intrary, R-Kent.
Robert Herberger Jr., a DEC regional forester,
said a meeting would be scheduled in early December in Kent, where
the various players would respond to the comments and questions
residents offered Thursday. But many audience members found no
advantage in the model forest proposal. The state land is named
after Daniel Nimham, who is recognized as the last great sachem,
or chief, of the Wappingers.
"The squirrels are the only things that
are going to benefit from this because of the nuts from the tall
trees," said Gil "Crying Hawk" Tarbox of Kent,
who is one-quarter American Indian.
For a more thorough view of what the audience
had to say please see:
http://www.planputnam.org/highlands/100203_meeting.htm
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