July's Forests, Plants & Land Conservation News

This month's topics:

• New Docks Completed at the Stillwater Reservoir in the Western Adirondacks
• Montane Breeding Bird Survey in the Catskill High Peaks
• Asian Longhorned Beetle Pool Surveys
• Public Scoping Session for Shawangunk Ridge Unit Management Plan Update on July 17
• Urban and Community Forestry Corner
  • Upcoming Events: ReLeaf Conference Registration Closes 7/14!
  • NYS Urban Forestry Council Announces Tree City Reward Grant
  • Urban Forestry Grant Applications Are Open Through August 16
  • Community Spotlight
• Take the DEC Kiosk Survey: Your Input is Important to Us!

New Docks Completed at the Stillwater Reservoir in the Western Adirondacks

DEC Region 6 Operations staff in Lowville recently rehabilitated the Stillwater Reservoir docks in Herkimer County. The existing docks had deteriorated with age and significant use and needed to be repaired to ensure public safety and access as the boat ramp is the only location for launching of trailered boats on the reservoir.

The Stillwater Reservoir is a 6,700-acre waterbody located in the western Adirondacks and is a popular destination for motorboating, paddling, and fishing. Forty-six first-come, first-served primitive campsites are located on islands and along the reservoir shoreline, including two accessible sites. The Peaked Mountain Pond Trail, Red Horse Trail, and Wilderness Lakes Canoe Carry Trailheads can all be accessed by boat from the reservoir.

Stillwater Reservoir Docks is one of approximately 30 small but critical projects in the Adirondack and Catskill Preserves this year and is funded through the NYS Environmental Protection Fund Stewardship and Overuse.

Pictured: Completed docks at the Stillwater Reservoir in the western Adirondacks.

Montane Breeding Bird Survey in the Catskill High Peaks

DEC is partnering with the Cary Institute, NY Natural Heritage Program, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, and SUNY New Paltz biology department to monitor birds, such as the Bicknell’s thrush, that nest in rare mountaintop habitats. Three field technicians are surveying dense and shrubby spruce-fir habitats on high peaks in the Catskills for Goldilocks-like montane bird species that nest on or near the ground in trees that are not too big, not too small, but just right.

Finding montane nesting birds is no easy feat—field technicians have to be on these summits before dawn, monitor for montane birds along specific routes in the dark, and identify these birds strictly by their song. In June and July, the birds’ pre-dawn song indicates that they are breeding in the vicinity.

Some goals of this fieldwork:

• Collecting data about the presence of nesting montane birds including Bicknell’s thrush, yellow-bellied flycatcher, white-throated sparrow, dark-eyed junco, and blackpoll warbler.
• Helping DEC determine the impact that informal trail networks and bushwhacking have on montane nesting birds.
• Adding to existing data that DEC is collecting for the visitor use monitoring efforts in the Catskill High Peaks.
• Comparing this season’s bird monitoring data to data collected from Mountain Birdwatch and other sources. This will help DEC make management recommendations to decrease the negative impacts of recreation in order to help protect vulnerable bird species.

To learn more about ongoing research on informal trails in the Catskill High Peaks, visit our website.

For more information on Bicknell’s thrush, check out our webpage.

Pictured: Top- Field technicians Danielle Takacs, CSC Fellow, & Samuel Mateo Jr, Wildlife Photographer, surveying for montane nesting birds and recording data on Hunter Mountain. Bottom- Bicknell’s thrush sitting on its nest, courtesy of Kent McFarland.

Check Your Pool Filter for Asian Longhorned Beetle

Asian longhorned beetle is active from now through Labor Day. DEC invites pool owners to check filters for the invasive insect regularly and submit a report if any are found.

ALB attacks and kills maples, birches, willows, and other hardwoods. They emerge from infested trees in the late summer to find a new host. The beetles are 1.5 inches long, have long black-and-white antennae, and have black-and-white spots on their body.

They should not be confused with the native white-spotted pine sawyer, which has a distinctive white spot on their back, below their head.

No pool? You can still help! Be on the lookout for ALB exit holes, sawdust accumulating at the base of trees, oozing sap, or pits in bark.

If found:

• Email photos to the Forest Health Program; or
• Mail insects to DEC’s Forest Health Diagnostics Lab for identification:
  NYSDEC Forest Health Diagnostic Laboratory
  Attn: Jessica Cancelliere
  108 Game Farm Road
  Delmar, NY 12054.

Learn more about ALB surveys on the DEC website.

Public Scoping Session for Shawangunk Ridge Unit Management Plan Update on July 17

DEC is seeking public input to improve recreational opportunities and natural resource protection through a revision to the existing Shawangunk Ridge Unit Management Plan (UMP) at a meeting on July 17, 2023, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Mamakating Town Hall located at 2948 US-209, Wurtsboro, NY 12790. Following a short presentation, DEC staff will be available to answer questions and accept public comments.

Originally adopted in January 2017, this UMP encompasses approximately 6,810 acres of publicly owned lands located within Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster counties. The lands covered under this plan are "green certified" forested public lands managed by DEC's Division of Lands and Forests.

The updated plan will focus on:

• Maintaining and expanding recreational facilities and opportunities;
• Improving public awareness of these lands; and
• Maintaining these lands as green-certified through sustainable forest management.

The original Shawangunk Ridge UMP (PDF, 34 MB) can be viewed on DEC's website. The UMP update will be developed in accordance with the DEC's Strategic Plan for State Forest Management and State Forest Certification.

In addition to the public meeting, comments regarding the management and any potential opportunities to enhance public access and recreation that could be included in the Shawangunk Ridge Unit Management Plan revision can be submitted by:

• Email to r3.UMP@dec.ny.gov; or
• Mail to Evan Masten, NYSDEC 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561.

Comments must be received by Aug. 20, 2023.

Upon completion of the public comment period, the DEC will review and consider all comments received and will develop a draft revision to the Shawangunk Ridge Unit Management Plan. The draft revision will then be released for public review and comment. Comments received during the public review process will help guide the final plan which will dictate the management of these public lands. For more information, read the June 29 press release.

Urban and Community Forestry Corner

Upcoming events: ReLeaf Conference Registration Closes 7/14!

LAST CHANCE! 2023 ReLeaf Conference– July 20–22 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY

This year’s conference will be held at Hofstra University July 20-22 and will feature:

• Keynotes from Dan Lambe, CEO of Arbor Day Foundation, and Vinnie Simeone Director - Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park;
• A visit to Clark Botanic Garden;
• A tree planting demo; and
• Opportunities to network with fellow tree-people at the Friday night picnic at Jones beach state park.

Registration closes on July 14! To register and find more information, visit the NYS Urban Forestry Council’s website.

NYS Urban Forestry Council Announces Tree City Reward Grant

DEC is pleased to share the following grant opportunity from NYS Urban Forestry Council:

Funds are available for communities to host a public tree planting event to celebrate their consistent and continuing involvement in the Tree City program. Only New York communities that have been named a Tree City for the last five consecutive years (2018-2022) are eligible to apply for up to $1,000 to plant one or more trees in a prominent, publicly accessible location within the municipality, for the benefit of their community forest canopy.

Eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to, trees, mulch soil, and event-related costs like advertising.

Applications are due (postmarked or emailed) by August 30, 2023. For more information and to apply, visit the NYS Urban Forestry Council’s website or email the NYS Urban Forestry Council.

Urban Forestry Grant Applications Are Open Through August 16

Approximately $3 million in Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) grant funding is available from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund for tree inventories, community forest management plans, tree planting, and tree maintenance. The Request for Applications (RFA) (PDF) outlines deadlines, eligible applicants and projects, application scoring, and a list of local DEC urban foresters who can provide technical assistance to applicants. Applications for Tree Planting and Tree Maintenance grants (UCF2) are still accepted until August 16, 2023. Please note that the deadline for tree inventories and management plans has passed.

Community Spotlight

Glens Falls and the Feeder Canal Alliance didn’t let a little rain stop their second annual Arbor Day event! Seven people attended a walk led by retired DEC Forester Jeff Speich and Washington County Planner Pam Landi. Participants learned about tree species and signs of the emerald ash borer (EAB). Although EAB has been around in Western New York for years and has impacted many ash trees, it is just beginning to impact ash trees in the northern part of the state. Learn more about the Feeder Canal and their other upcoming events by visiting their website.

Take the DEC Kiosk Survey: Your Input is Important to Us!

Give us your feedback and win a gift card to a sporting goods store! DEC would like your opinion on our informational kiosks. Kiosks are small, open, wooden structures that provide cover for educational/informational signs. These kiosks are located at various state properties such as state forests, wilderness areas, conservation easement lands, wildlife management areas, boat launches, and more.

Take our survey to let us know what you think and be entered to win a $50 sporting goods store gift card and a free subscription to the Conservationist magazine! Winners will be announced each month through Jan. 2024. A grand prize winner will be announced in Jan. 2024 and will receive a $200 sporting goods store gift card and a free Conservationist magazine subscription.

By providing input, you can help us improve your outdoor experience! For prize rules and regulations, please visit DEC's website.