Environmental Events and News for Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming Counties (Region 9)

In this issue:

• Celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November
• Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop at Reinstein Woods
• Free Fishing on Veteran's Day
• Deer and Bear Check Station to Operate on Opening Weekend
• Hike in Rock City and McCarty State Forests
• Lake Ontario Fisheries Public Meetings
• Great Lakes Restoration Meeting

News

November is Native American Heritage Month 

Centuries before the first European settlers arrived in New York, indigenous people (Native Americans) had established civilizations, with cultures and customs that shaped our state. Today, New York has nine state recognized nations, including three of them located in Region 9:
• Cayuga Nation
• Oneida Indian Nation
• Onondaga Nation
• Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
• Seneca Nation of Indians (Erie, Allegany and Cattaraugus counties)
• Shinnecock Indian Nation
• Tonawanda Seneca Nation (Erie County)
• Tuscarora Nation (Niagara County)
• Unkechaug Indian Nation

DEC has an Indian Nations Affairs Coordinator in the Office of Environmental Justice in Buffalo who works with these nine nations that share our same goals of protecting and conserving New York's natural resources.

Visit one of the many museums with exhibits devoted to our first inhabitants to celebrate Native American Heritage Month.

Recreational Information

Reinstein Woods: Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop
Saturday, November 23 from 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve & Environmental Education Center, 93 Honorine Dr., Depew, NY

Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center is located at the Dr. Victor Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve - a unique 292-acre complex of forests, ponds, and wetlands surrounded by suburban development. Reinstein Woods offers a variety of opportunities to explore and learn about nature for families and people of all ages. In addition to free guided tours of the woods, DEC offers a variety of special programs each month, including snowshoe and ski adventures, walks on seasonal topics, and a fall nature festival.

For other events, visit Reinstein's Fall public program schedule.

Free Fishing

November 11 is a free fishing day in New York State. During free fishing days/weekends, anyone can fish the fresh waters of New York State, and no fishing license is required. All other freshwater fishing regulations still apply. Visit DEC's website to find places to fish in Western NY.

Hunters Invited! Voluntary Check Stations Help DEC’s annual Harvest Data Collection and Research Efforts

DEC encourages hunters to visit our deer and bear check station during the opening weekend of regular big game season.

DEC's Region 9 check station, located on Route 16, in Holland, Erie County (northbound about one mile south of the town of Holland), will operate Saturday, Nov. 16, from noon until 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Participation is voluntary and helps DEC gather valuable data to assess the status of the area's big game population.

"Although it is completely voluntary, we encourage hunters to take a few extra minutes to stop by the check station," said DEC Region 9 Big Game Biologist Ryan Rockefeller. "Just a few minutes of your time helps expand DEC's knowledge about this year's big game harvest and provides us with valuable biological data for ongoing and future big game studies."

DEC encourages hunters to bring their deer to the check station where staff will determine deer age and collect other biological and harvest information. With black bear season opening the same day as deer season, wildlife staff will also check harvested bears to collect weight and sex information, along with pulling a premolar tooth to determine the bear's age.

As in previous years, hunters wishing to donate their harvest to "Hunters Helping the Hungry" sponsored by the Venison Donation Coalition, may drop off a deer at the Holland check station during days of operation before 6 p.m. Don’t forget to ‘Take it, Tag it, Report it!’

Highlighted Hike - Rock City and McCarty State Forests

Towns of Mansfield, Little Valley, Ellicottville and Great Valley, Cattaraugus County

Portions of the Finger Lakes Trail and the North Country Scenic Trail run through Rock City and McCarty Hill state forests, which encompass more than 6,000 acres. Look for the huge boulder outcroppings called "Little Rock City," the Civilian Conservation Corp's Camp Seneca, and a historic stone bridge. A "rock city" is a formation of large rocks with narrow pathways between them; to some people, they resemble city streets. Camping sites are available; primitive camping is permitted everywhere, provided sites are a minimum of 150 feet from roadways, trails and water bodies.

Trails: The Little Rock City Natural Trail is a loop that intersects the North Country Scenic Trail and can be followed to Little Rock City Forest Road. The Camp Seneca Loop Trail starts near the pond at Camp Seneca and also intersects the North Country Scenic Trail.

Surface: Natural terrain in wooded areas; dirt and gravel on forest roads
Length: More than 7 miles of forest roads are open to hiking, bicycling and horseback riding.
Difficulty: Moderately steep, with elevations ranging from 1,600 to 2,300 feet

Getting There: From U.S Rte. 219, turn onto Hungry Hollow Road. Go all the way to the top of the hill, turn left and go all the way to the end.

Photo by Wayne Jones

Upcoming Meetings

Lake Ontario Fisheries Public Meetings

DEC will hold a meeting on the status of Lake Ontario's alewife population and the salmon and trout fisheries it supports. It will also hold an online meeting to provide additional opportunity for public participation.

Alewife are small forage fish that make up a significant portion of salmon and trout diets in Lake Ontario, especially Chinook salmon. During the meetings, biologists from DEC and the United States Geologic Survey will present the latest science that will help guide DEC and the Province of Ontario to determine trout and salmon stocking levels for 2020. The public will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.

Wednesday, Nov. 13: 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, Niagara County.

Thursday, Nov. 14: 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.: This meeting will be conducted online. Meeting number: 641 790 213, Password: PCVMcPX3

Upon joining the meeting, the caller will be prompted to connect to audio using their computer. Those who prefer to connect to audio via phone may do so by calling this toll free number: 1-844-633-8697, access code: 641 790 213.

Those who cannot attend a meeting can still provide comments via e-mail at fwfishlo@dec.ny.gov. For further information contact Chris Legard by calling (315) 654-2147 or by mail to: DEC Lake Ontario Unit Leader at the Cape Vincent Fisheries Station.

DEC to Host Work Group Meetings Promoting Partnerships and Projects for Great Lakes Restoration

DEC announced the agency is holding a series of work groups with not-for-profit organizations and the public across the Lake Erie and Lake Ontario watersheds to advance Great Lakes restoration. 

DEC Great Lakes Program Coordinator Don Zelazny said, “The work groups are an essential component of implementing New York’s Great Lakes Action Agenda, not only to achieve the state’s goals for Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, but to ensure restoration and conservation investments support local priorities and benefit community partners.”

New York’s Great Lakes Basin: Action Agenda is New York’s fully integrated action plan guiding restoration, conservation, and sustainable development activities in the state’s Great Lakes watershed. Regional work group meeting in Region 9 is:

• Lake Erie/ Niagara River: Friday, November 15, 1-4 p.m., Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve, Depew. The meeting will focus on local efforts to improve beaches, monitor water quality and coastal impacts of seiche events. 

DEC invites its organizational partners and the interested public to attend the upcoming work group meeting and connect with local partners and learn how they can help protect and restore Great Lakes lands and waters.

Learn more about the Great Lakes Action Agenda and accomplishments on DEC’s website. For more information on the Great Lakes Action Agenda and/or the upcoming work group meetings, contact Greatlakes@dec.ny.gov or 716-851-7070.