Cc: forests@planputnam.org
Subject: Mount Nimham Model Forest Plan
To: jawieger@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Dear Supervising Forester Weigert:

I am writing to you to comment on the proposed 415 acre model forest
project at Mount Nimham. As a concerned citizen of Putnam County, who
has been actively involved in trying to preserve the Hudson Highlands
from overdevelopment, I am against this proposed project.

In my opinion, the state has a duty to protect public lands for the
benefits of the citizens of New York state. The proposed project would
not benefit the residents of Putnam County, and New York City, who use
this land recreationally and for its beautiful vistas. Instead, the
proposed use would be a detriment to an already overdeveloped region.

Preserving Mount Nimham as an untouched forest and eventually
old-growth forest will benefit the community. Allowing loggers to tear
up the property and denude it of 60% of its trees may help businesses
that have political ties to the government, but it will not help Putnam
County. It will result in a degradation of the remaining rural
character of this rapidly developing county. We in Putnam County need
as much help as possible in preserving our rural heritage. We are
simply being overwhelmed with too much development on private property
here. The State should not exacerbate this problem by denuding public
lands as well.

I suggest that if the State wishes to have a model forest program in
Putnam, it should purchase acreage from a private land holder for the
sole purpose of creating a model forest project on it. In this way,
new lands would be preserved from development by beoming part of state
lands, the Mount Nimham recreational and vista uses could be
maintained, and the citizens of New York state would benefit.

Sincerely,

KGS
Putnam Valley