Camping, Wildlife Viewing, and Hiking in New York

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 11/21/2017 09:00 AM EST
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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Camping, Wildlife Viewing, and Hiking in New York

Hand Hollow State Forest Opens New Accessible Amenities!

DEC staff recently completed updates to Hand Hollow State Forest, which include an accessible parking area and fishing pier. Qualified permit holders can obtain motorized access to a 0.7-mile trail, leading to a fishing pier.

Protect Water Sources

Report Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells

Abandoned wellPerhaps no one knows the fields and forests of New York State better than outdoors enthusiasts. So whether you’re heading out to hunt, hike or watch wildlife, help protect critical habitat and water sources by identifying abandoned oil and gas wells.

In addition to being potentially dangerous to people, pets and wildlife, unplugged, abandoned oil and gas wells can leak, threatening aquifers, streams and ponds. Keep an eye out for wells that lack identification and/or are in visibly poor condition; these wells may be abandoned.

Abandoned well

If you think you’ve located an abandoned well, don’t touch it!  If you can, take photos and GPS coordinates from a safe distance, and contact a DEC Mineral Resources regional office at:

  • (518) 402-8056 for Regions 1-5
  • (585) 226-5376 for Regions 6-8
  • (716) 372-0645 for Region 9

For more information, visit DEC's Finding & Identifying Oil & Gas Wells webpage. Thank you for doing your part to protect our lands and wildlife habitat!

 Only You Can Prevent Aquatic Invasions
Clean, Drain and Dry Your Fishing and Boating Equipment After Every Use