DEC Announces Suite of Actions to Protect Public Safety and Promote Sustainable Use of State Lands

 

Fourth Year of 'Love Our New York Lands' Campaign Continues to Encourage Responsible and Respectful Recreation in Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced new and continued efforts for the 2024 outdoor recreation season to protect public safety and promote sustainable recreation in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve. DEC's actions are designed specifically to improve Adirondack and Catskill visitor safety and build on ongoing wilderness protection support strategies to improve safety, sustainability, and equitable access of those enjoying the outdoors during the upcoming warm weather months. 

"The natural beauty of the Adirondacks and Catskills draws visitors from across the country and beyond eager to experience New York State’s great outdoors and contribute to local economies," Interim Commissioner Mahar said. "Together, with our State and local partners, DEC is encouraging visitors to get outside, but to do so safely and responsibly to protect themselves, other visitors, and the incredible natural resources supported by our parks." 

 Visitation to State Forest Preserve lands is typically highest during the summer months. In partnership with State agencies, local municipalities, and private entities, DEC is working to protect public safety, improve the visitor experience during the busy season, and safeguard sensitive ecosystems. Using recommendations outlined by the High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group (HPAG) and Catskills Strategic Planning Advisory Group (CAG), as well as input from local and community partners and outdoors enthusiasts, New York State continues to implement strategies and adaptively manage the ongoing safety and resource needs of both Forest Preserve regions. In addition, the 2024-25 enacted State Budget continues to support New York’s Forest Preserve with $10 million – an increase of $2 million over last year - to the Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserve to invest in sustainability and stewardship initiatives. 

Protecting Public Safety

 

Pedestrian safety continues to be a significant concern, particularly in the Route 73 corridor of the Adirondack High Peaks and on Route 23A in the Catskills. DEC works closely with New York State Police, the State Department of Transportation, and local law enforcement to address pedestrian traffic, illegal parking, and roadside stops. There is no parking allowed on the roadside in unsafe sections of Route 73 in the Adirondack High Peaks or on Route 23A in the vicinity of Kaaterskill Falls and several other Catskill destinations. Measures include: 

• Fawn’s Leap Restrictions. DEC continues working with the town of Hunter, community stakeholders, and other local partners to help address challenges created by increased use in areas such as the Kaaterskill Clove Riparian Corridor along Route 23A. DEC is prioritizing strategic investments in health and safety upgrades at locations throughout the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, including increased Forest Ranger patrols and implementing restricted area regulations as appropriate. In response to public safety and emergency response concerns regarding cliff jumping at a location in the Kaaterskill Clove Riparian Corridor known as Fawn’s Leap, DEC installed new restricted area signage in the area that warns the public against entering within 15 feet of cliff edges above the Fawn’s Leap waterfall. The new signage posted at the site indicates the boundary of the limited restricted area. 

• The pilot parking reservation system for visitors to the Adirondack Mountain Reserve (AMR) returns for 2024. Following another successful summer in 2023, safety initiatives designed to mitigate risk to pedestrians and motorists along a busy stretch of Route 73 in the town of Keene returned. The pilot parking reservation program requires visitors to make a no-cost parking reservation in advance of their visit to access trails and trailheads located on AMR lands. Since the launch of the reservation system in 2021, more than 52,500 users registered to make parking reservations. In addition to promoting visitor safety, reservations assist with trip planning by guaranteeing a parking spot. In the past, it was not uncommon for parking spots to fill before dawn. Reservations can be made by visiting AMR's website.

• DEC hired 21 Assistant Forest Rangers to assist Forest Rangers and provide on-the-trail stewardship in areas of high use, including five in the Catskills, 12 in the Adirondacks, and four in high-use areas in DEC Regions 8 and 9, including Zoar Valley; 

• DEC is sharing weekend parking and reservation status via @NYSDECAlerts on X - https://twitter.com/NYSDECAlerts - and DEC's website. In addition, DOT's 511 traffic management system will note when certain parking locations on Route 73 reach capacity and provide information about the AMR reservation system. Visitors are encouraged to check these resources before and during travel to make adjustments if parking availability changes. First-come, first-served parking lots at popular trailheads and roadside destinations in both the Adirondacks and Catskills often fill quickly and early, leaving some visitors to find alternate parking or new destinations entirely; 

• "Your Speed Is" signs and delineators installed along Route 73. The signs and delineators are in addition to ongoing parking enforcement by DEC, State Police, and local law enforcement; and 

• Continued closure of the Molly Smith parking area on Route 23A in the town of Hunter to improve visitor safety. DEC recommends visitors access Kaaterskill Falls by parking at the Laurel House Road, Schutt Road, or South Lake parking areas. Visitors are advised the Laurel House Road and Schutt Road parking areas fill up early during the summer and are encouraged to plan accordingly. 

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The Adirondack and Catskill regions are perfect places for a summer getaway and we want everyone to enjoy these natural treasures safely and with a minimum of hassles. The Department of Transportation is proud to have worked with our partner agencies to implement these safety measures. We urge everyone to plan ahead, obey all posted speed limits and only park in designated parking areas. By working together, we can make safety our priority, so everyone enjoys a great time – and a great summer!”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “While enjoying the landscape this summer, we ask that everyone do so in a considerate manner for themselves, others and to preserve the environmental character that makes New York distinct. We remind everyone to be mindful of their speed, be alert for pedestrians, and park only in permitted areas to prevent road obstructions and unnecessary accidents. I thank the DEC for their shared commitment to protecting public safety and preserving the natural foundation New York is built upon.” 

 

Visitor Use Management

 

New York State continues to implement HPAG and CAG recommendations to encourage sustainable use in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. In addition, DEC is enhancing its actions to improve the user experience and prevent trash and other human impacts on State lands, including: 

• DEC and Otak, Inc., kicked off the Visitor Use Management Project last spring in the Adirondack High Peaks and Kaaterskill Clove project areas. The two-year Visitor Use Management (VUM) planning contract will help develop sustainable recreation solutions in two highly visited regions of the Forest Preserve. Otak, Inc., will assist with developing strategies that ensure these popular destinations provide positive visitor experiences while continuing to protect the Forest Preserve; 

• DEC is preparing a draft Visitor Use Management Plan for the formerly trail-less Catskill High Peaks to protect unique habitats and sensitive species that are being impacted by informal, user created trails; 

• Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve Managers continue to coordinate final and interim recommendations of HPAG and CAG and advance actions to address increased visitation in each preserve. This includes finalizing a Work Plan Policy to ensure consistent management and best practices for recreational facility development across the Forest Preserve, while ensuring transparency and opportunities for public input on all new construction projects; 

• DEC will continue to require a permit for visitors to the Peekamoose Blue Hole and Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor along Rondout Creek in the Catskills from May 15 to Sept. 15. DEC will also have stewards at these locations to support enhanced public education efforts. Major upgrades to the Blue Hole parking and access, which will improve the visitor experience and safety, are planned for later this summer; 

• DEC continues to improve the Hudson River Recreation Area and Shelving Rock, including designating parking and campsites, barricading unauthorized motor vehicle access points, improving signage, and contracting with the towns of Warrensburg, Lake Luzerne, and Fort Ann for routine maintenance, including increased trash pickups; and

• DEC deployed portable toilets in high use areas of the Adirondack and Catskill Parks to help reduce waste in the environment. In areas where portable toilets are not available, visitors are encouraged to learn more about how to dispose of human waste outdoors to prevent negative impacts on the environment and public health. 

Visitor Education

 

Both the High Peaks and Catskills advisory groups identified increased visitor education as a critical component of sustainable visitor use management. Including those listed above, DEC is implementing the following education and awareness efforts in 2024: 

• 'Love Our New York Lands' campaign. Launched in 2021 in response to the steady increase in the number of visitors to State lands, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the decade prior, Love Our New York Lands includes helpful educational information for the thousands of New Yorkers and visitors from other states and countries eager to experience the State’s public lands in a responsible way. For details and more information, visit the Love Our New York Lands page on DEC's website. DEC is continuing to partner with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) to further amplify the Love Our New York Lands message and reach even more New Yorkers visiting the outdoors. Along with Parks & Trails NY, DEC will host Love Our New York Lands stewardship days, including Adirondack and Catskill Park Day on Sept. 7 and Fish and Wildlife Day on Sept. 28. DEC also launched a monthly photo contest encouraging visitors to capture ways to safely and responsibly enjoy DEC’s outdoor offerings; 

• 'Get Outdoors & Get Together Day'. On Saturday, June 8, events at more than 20 locations across New York State brought together people of all abilities, ages, identities, and backgrounds for fun, healthy activities. As part of the State’s ongoing efforts to broaden the diversity of users and ensure inclusivity of access to State lands, DEC and State Parks, in partnership with the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Veterans' Services, hosted free events to connect people to nature and provide increased access to the outdoors; 
  

• Hiker Information Station program. This successful initiative is entering its fourth year. The mobile information station further enhances hiker education at various locations during the summer hiking season in the Adirondacks High Peaks region. In 2024, Environmental Education Assistants will be stationed at key front-country access points and trailheads between Memorial Day weekend and Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend;
  

• Trail steward programs in the Catskills. To assist in educating the public who visit several of the region's most frequently visited trails, the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development will station trailhead stewards at Kaaterskill Falls (Kaaterskill Wild Forest), Peekamoose Blue Hole (Sundown Wild Forest), as well as a ridge runner on the Devil's Path. Catskill Mountainkeeper will station stewards at the Neversink Fishing Access Site in Claryville, Beaverkill Covered Bridge and Campground, and Big Pond (Delaware Wild Forest). The Catskill 3500 Club will station volunteer stewards at the Slide Mountain trailhead and Woodland Valley Day Use Area. In addition, New York New Jersey Trail Conference stewards will be working in the Catskill High Peaks. There will also be Catskill Center Fire Tower Stewards at Overlook, Hunter, and Balsam Lake Mountain fire towers on weekdays, complemented by volunteers for weekends; and
  

• New trailhead steward program at popular trailheads in the Adirondack High Peaks. To assist in educating the public at more frequently visited trailheads, this new program will support hiker safety and preparedness along Route 73 in the Adirondacks. 

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, "When exploring New York's amazing public lands and recreational opportunities, State Parks encourages visitors to recreate safely and responsibly. We are committed to helping create responsible stewards of the environment so future generations can continue to enjoy these special natural resources and collaborating with our State and local partners to ensure all people of all abilities feel welcome to experience all that we offer." 

 

Executive Director of the Catskill Center Jeff Senterman said, “The Catskill and Adirondack Forest Preserves are New York's crown jewels in terms of wild lands and recreational opportunities. We look forward to welcoming tens of thousands of visitors to the Catskill Park and Forest Preserve through our Catskill Stewards Program and at the Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey Catskills Visitor Center. Our collaborative efforts across the Park help visitors understand our Forest Preserve, provide a sense of place, and connect visitors to responsible recreational opportunities and to the communities of the Catskills. We're grateful to be able to partner with the NYSDEC in so many different ways to protect, preserve, and provide responsible outdoor recreation opportunities in the Catskills. We look forward to continued advocacy for Forest Preserve funding, strengthening our partnerships, implementing the recommendations of the CAG's Final Report, and doing the hard work to love and enjoy our lands responsibly.”

 

Adirondack Park Agency Chair John Ernst said, “Safe and responsible recreational use benefits both New Yorkers and their public lands. The Adirondack Park Agency is excited to work with partners and stakeholders to advance sustainable use strategies that support these outcomes. We thank Governor Hochul for her strong leadership. The prioritization of funding in this year's budget will support the implementation of these important initiatives.”

 

The Open Space Institute Chief Conservation Officer Kathy Moser said, “The Open Space Institute applauds the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for their promotion of responsible recreation in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve. New York’s public lands are among the greatest treasures the state has to offer. These efforts will help ensure visitor safety and safeguard our beloved and ecologically sensitive landscapes for generations to come.”    

 

Sustainable Trail Development

 

To ensure New Yorkers and visitors can enjoy the beauty of the State's Forest Preserve for generations to come, DEC is once again increasing the size of the EPF-funded primitive trail maintenance and development contract for the Adirondacks and Catskills. The State's ongoing trail building efforts will protect public lands through trail maintenance and similar stewardship activities that encourage responsible use of the State's lands and waters. 

 

EPF Investment

 

Many of these projects and other initiatives to bolster sustainable use are funded through the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Among the environmental victories in the enacted 2024-25 State Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders maintained the historically high level of $400 million in EPF funding. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.