Oct 31, 2003

Dear Mr Weigert

I am a 33 year resisdent of Putnam county ( Old Peckslip Rd.) and have enjoyed watching the forests of the Hudson Highlands develop toward old growth with the accompanying diversity of flora and fauna. Being a professional potter I draw my inspiration from the beauty of the creatures of the forests. I am extremely corncerned about the proposed cutting of the trees in Nimham forest for an experiment.

This is a fragile watershed. Long time residents know of the scarcity of water on this fractured and folded granite basement rock. Cutting down trees whether through shortsited residential development or through so called forest managment could have a long range debtrimental effect on the water shed as well as breaking up a forest that the animals of the area truly need.

Sincerely
JL