12/31/03

Subject: MT Nimham Model Forest Plan

Dear Supervising Forester Weigert:

I am writing to you to comment on the proposed model forest project at Mount Nimham. As a concerned citizen of Putnam County 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. 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 Putnam County and New York state would benefit.

Sincerely,

MLW
Carmel, NY