Boreal wild land in northern NY -- motorized access will be encouraged if DEC plan adopted

There is no classified "boreal" area in the Binghamton area. When I think of this term, I think of the northwoods in Canada.

There is a boreal region in upper NY which is not far from the Canadian border. The region is largely unknown to many in the Southern Tier. I can get you there by road -- it is north of Tupper Lake on Rt 56 to Potsdam. (And Potsdam just follow Rt 56 to Sevey's Corners -- you will be passing by the boreal region). From Binghamton, take Rt 81 N to Watertown and Rt 3 East to Rt 56 and drive just north -- you will be there.

This is a special area of NY. It is the watershed area drained by the Raquette River which begins around Long Lake, NY and travels north to the St. Lawrence River. Much of the river is known to canoists in the Long Lake and Tupper Lake regions. North of Tupper Lake, the Raquette is a series of dams and reservoirs controlled by the Brookfield Corporation of Ontario, Canada. The land surrounding this area is the "boreal region" that is now being considered by the NYSDEC for a new management plan. Most of these forests were logged and owned by logging companies. The logging companies have been divesting their holdings and NY state has been acquiring the properties through purchases and easements. (Sorry for the sad summary as the land purchases and easements are much more complicated than a blogger can explain in this format)

The management plan document makes noises about preserving the area for boreal birds and forest. The trouble with all this -- politics is interfering with the best interests of the forest and boreal habitat.

The north country is also used by recreational interests and they are not the snowshoers and canoeists of the Long Lake/Tupper area. The recreational interests are the motorized recreational vehicles -- gas powered racing machines that patrol the groomed trails further south. ATVs in the summer, spring and fall, and snowmobiles in the winter months when the snow depth is too deep to traverse the trails.

The problem with the north country is access. Road and trails might be ok but rivers are a problem. A "bridge to nowhere" needs to be built. The term nowhere has meant various things in US history --- once nowhere was anywhere where there were no settlers and now it means anywhere where there are no motorized vehicles. So, a bridge is need to traverse the Raquette River with snowmobiles and ATVS. The boreal forest will be quiet no longer. A bridge will make it easy for the motorized vehicle to enter the area.


Please read about one of the last rare regions in NY state. If you think we should ride over the area in motorized "off the road" vehicles, then you will be satisfied. If you are concerned that this is one of the "last great places in NY" you will write to the DEC and anyone in the State Legislator and tell them -- save the wilderness character of the land.

We are getting too crowded here in the US and we need this land for what is left of the wildlife in the Eastern United States. How much wilderness can be left now that we are a country of 300 million? And we will reach 400 million in 40 years or less if our demographers are correct.

It is important not to trample the boreal forest with our motorized recreational vehicles.

Please send the DEC your comments!

DEC will be accepting public comments until October 20, 2006. Written comments should be sent to:
Keith Rivers
New York State DEC
7327 State Route 812
Lowville, NY 13367
or e-mailed comments can be sent to: r6ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us


Here are some other related links
The DEC Raquette River Draft Unit Management Plan Web Page
The Adirondack Conservancy
The Adirondack Council web page on the Raquette River Boreal region
Land reclassification from 2005 APA -- see the champion and lassiter section relating to the Raquette River area (boreal forest)
Sierra Club Web Page describing the importance of boreal forests
Boreal Birds
Cornell University Lab of Orinthology Boreal Wildlife