Find Your Adventure - August 2023

Annual 16-Day Open House for WMAs in Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties

Wildlife Management Areas, or WMAs, are areas of state land managed by DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife to help bolster habitats while providing for wildlife-centered activities like wildlife watching, fishing, hunting, and trapping. Between August 16 - 31, DEC will open three otherwise restricted areas WMAs in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties to the public for an annual open house. All three locations are featured on the Adirondack-North Country Region of the NYS Birding Trail and provide excellent birding opportunities for all skill levels.

• Perch River WMA encompasses nearly 8,000 acres in the towns of Brownville, Orleans, and Pamelia. Perch River WMA can be accessed from State Route 12, and Allen, Buckminster, Vaadi, and Perch Lake roads. The Perch Lake proper (accessed by Perch Lake Road) will be open from noon until sunset each day. Fishing will be allowed, but motorized boats are not permitted.
• Upper and Lower Lakes WMA is located approximately two miles west of the village of Canton along State Route 68 in St. Lawrence County. This WMA, the largest in the region, is an 8,770-acre upland/wetland complex between the Grasse and Oswegatchie rivers. This property also encompasses the Indian Creek Nature Center.
• Wilson Hill WMA in northern St. Lawrence County is approximately six miles west of the village of Massena off State Route 37. Situated along the St. Lawrence River, the 4,000-acre area consists of several large pools of open water marsh bordered by a combination of dense cattails, brushy wetlands, forest, and upland meadow. Fishing is not allowed in Nichols Pool.

During the open house, DEC may be conducting habitat and wildlife management projects on these WMAs, so visitors are advised to avoid any operating machinery and pay attention to temporary signage. For additional information about WMA annual openings, rules and regulations, as well as bird lists and maps, contact the DEC's Regional Wildlife Office at 315-785-2263, or visit the Region 6 WMA page.

Photo Credit: Osprey at Wilson Hill WMA by Ben Dixon, St. Lawrence County Trails

Visit DEC at The Great New York State Fair

The Great New York State Fair will take place Wednesday, August 23 – Monday, September 4 in Syracuse. Stop by the DEC Aquarium Building to see the gamefish in DEC’s large tanks and conveniently purchase your hunting and fishing licenses. At our Conservationist booth in the Aquarium Building, you can receive a special rate on subscriptions to the New York State Conservationist Magazine and be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a Lifetime Fishing License or Sporting Goods gift card. Free seedlings provided by the Saratoga Nursery will also be given away daily. On Saturday, August 27 from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. join DEC staff for a free family fishing clinic. You can participate even if you don't have a New York State fishing license. Rods and bait will be provided, and DEC staff will be on hand to assist.

Recreating Safely During Air Quality Alerts

Earlier this summer, smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires created hazy, orange skies, the smell of smoke, and poor Air Quality Index levels throughout the State. Throughout this summer, NYS issued Air Quality Health Advisories due to the smoke. Wildfire smoke contains several pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide, which can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, wheezing, coughing, and trouble breathing. Exposure to high concentrations of smoke can aggravate pre-existing health problems, including triggering asthma attacks and exacerbating the effects of many other lung and heart conditions. Young children’s lungs are especially susceptible to the harmful effects of inhaling smoke because they are still growing.

While planning time for outdoor fun this season, make sure to reduce smoke exposure for yourself and those you care about by following these tips from DEC’s Division of Air Resources:

• Be aware of your air: Before heading out to work, exercise, or to the park with the kids, check the AQI forecast and adjust your outdoor activities if there is poor air quality. Plan ahead by signing up for email air quality alerts.
• Stay inside: Keep windows and doors closed to keep indoor air clean. If smoke gets inside, buy or make your own portable air cleaner to reduce particles indoors, or use HEPA air filters in your HVAC system.
• Wear a mask: If you must go out, a properly worn N95 / KN95 mask can filter out large smoke particles, reducing the amount of PM you breathe in.
• Take it easy: Avoid strenuous outdoor activities that may cause you to breathe heavier.
• Protect the vulnerable: Caretakers of children, the elderly, and those with asthma should be especially careful. When the AQI is elevated, be sure to limit their outdoor activities to keep them safe.
• Take care of four-legged friends: Keep outdoor trips with your pet brief and low-key to protect them from the same nose, eye, throat, and lung irritation people experience.

Photo Caption: Smoke-filled skies obscure the view of Taughannock Falls in Trumansburg, NY, on June 7, 2023.

Take a Ride to Your Favorite Public Lands

As summer winds down, take advantage of several free public transportation services across the state to get you to your favorite DEC and State Parks lands. To visit some of Western New York’s most popular parks, take a ride on the free Saturday bus service, the Parks Adventure Bus. Just announced, the bus will be offering transportation to both upcoming Fall Festivals at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve on September 23 and Como Park on September 30. This service departs from the bus station in downtown Buffalo (181 Ellicott Street).

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy (MHLC) and the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) have also partnered together again to offer free Saturday CDTA bus service to connect City of Albany residents to parks and outdoor spaces around Albany. Ride the Nature Bus to places including DEC’s Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, MHLC’s Normans Kill West Preserve, or the Albany County Rail Trail. Services will run through Saturday, October 15. Nearby residents in Schenectady may also take advantage of MHLC and CDTA’s Nature Bus Trolley, which will offer its final service of the season to Collins Park and Sanders Preserve on Saturday, August 26,

Fall For the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge

With cooler temps and changing colors, fall is a great time to take the 2023 Catskills Fire Tower Challenge! To enter, visit all six Catskill Fire Towers within the 2023 calendar year and submit an online or paper (PDF) hike log along with a favorite photo from your adventure. All participants will receive a challenge patch, as well as a chance to win various outdoor prizes. Repeat finishers who have completed a past Catskill Fire Tower Challenge will also be awarded a commemorative mug.

For a bonus entry, submit a photo practicing Leave No Trace™ while out on your hikes. Make sure to plan ahead and prepare for your journey by learning more about the challenge and hikes and deciding when the best time is for you, your family, friends, or hiking companions to hit the trails!

Photo Credit: Joseph Smyczynski

Upcoming Events:

Tues. Aug. 15: Free Pop-Up Fishing Clinic at Riverside Park (New York County)
Wed. Aug. 16: Wild Wednesdays at Five Rivers (Albany County)
Thurs. Aug. 17: Free Saltwater Fishing and Crabbing Event at Corey Beach (Suffolk County)
Sat. Aug. 19: Vlomankill Trail Walk at Five Rivers (Albany County)
Sat. Aug. 19: Woods Walk at Reinstein Woods (Erie County)
Wed. Aug. 23 – Mon. Sept. 4: The Great New York State Fair (Onondaga County)
Thurs. Aug. 24: Monarch Larva Monitoring at Five Rivers (Albany County)
Thurs. Aug. 24: Free Pop-Up Fishing Clinic at Canarsie Pier (Kings County)
Fri. Aug. 25: Fish Friday at the NYS Fair (Onondaga County)
Tues. Aug. 29: Free Pop-Up Fishing Clinic at Harlem Meer (New York County)
Wed. Aug. 30: Paddle the Hudson Educational Canoe Trip in Stockport (Columbia County)
Sat. Sept. 23: Fall Fest at Reinstein Woods (Erie County)
Sat. Sept. 23: Fall Fest at Five Rivers (Albany County)