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Normal maintenance activities include mowing, periodic painting, latrine upkeep and litter removal. Maintaining a rustic character in these areas will complement the surrounding natural environment.

The Finger Lakes Trail will be maintained with assistance of volunteers. The land managers will plan for land management actions in the vicinity of the trail to have little impact on the usability of the trail. Re-routes to improve the quality of the trail or to keep the trail open during forest product sales will be coordinated with the respective FLT section manager.

The lean-tos off NYS Route 8 and Dry Brook Road will be maintained.

Construct 2 privies: one at the lean-to site east of Dry Brook Road and the other at the lean-to site west of NYS Route 8.

Construct a foot bridge along FLT on east side of Dry Brook Road.

With the high demand for an ATV trail on public land, an ATV trail system is proposed for certain portions of the Unit. The soil types, which are generally rocky and well or adequately drained with modest slopes, makes this Unit suitable for an ATV trail system.

The ATV Trail System is proposed to be developed in two phases. The first phase would be developed on the Unit west of NYS Route 8 and would consist of two separate segments each approximately 20 miles in length. Phase II will connect the two segments of Phase I and extend the trail east of NYS Route 8 for a total trail mileage of 80 to 100 miles. Phase II will only be considered for development after review and evaluation of compatibility of the Phase I portion of the project to the goals and objectives of the Unit Management Plan.

Only 3 or more wheel ATV’s would be allowed to use Phase I of the trail system. Dirt Bikes would be prohibit from using the trail during Phase I. A section of Phase II east of Route 8 is proposed to be designed for dirt bikes. Input from an advisory committee will be considered in a decision as to whether to allow or not allow Dirt Bikes on the trail west of NYS Route 8.

The trail is proposed to be built only under stringent guidelines and must be compatible with the goals and objectives of the Unit. Only with complete implementation of the following listed criteria, including a supporting budget is this trail being proposed:

a. A public advisory committee will be formed prior to start of construction to address issues regarding the ATV trail system and make recommendations to the DEC for actions. Invitation to participate on the advisory committee would be extended to a representative from or for : the NYS Trails Council, the Delaware-Otsego Audubon, New York State Off Road Vehicle Association(NYSORVA), town supervisors from each of the Towns of the Unit, the Delaware-Otsego-Chenango Snowmobilers, the Finger Lakes Trail and the Empire State Forest Products Association.

b. Trail design and layout shall be the responsibilities of the land managers of the Unit. The trail system shall be designed to have minimal adverse impact on the land and other users. The trail system shall be laid out and constructed to provide a pleasant rolling and winding woodland trail system.

c. Trail layout will absolutely avoid wetlands and sites of endangered or threatened species.

d. An animal and plant study for the proposed trail corridor will be conducted prior to trail construction. If threatened or endangered species presence is identified, the location of the proposed trail will be moved to protect that species and site. The study will also be conducted to establish a base line of data, monitor species and assess the impact on species in the trail areas over a period of years.

e. Trail layout will avoid wet soils and riparian zones where possible. Trail surfaces on wet or poorly drained soils will be hardened. Riparian zones and water courses will be crossed at right angles and trail surfaces hardened. Stream crossings, as well as intermittent stream crossings, will be either stoned in fords, culverts or bridges.

f. The trail layout will not be an origin- to-destination type trail system, but instead a winding, rolling series of loops. The trails will be narrow with numerous pulloffs to accommodate passing traffic. The trails will be two-way trails, with a recommended direction of travel on loops.

g. Trail design, layout and construction will be directed to reduce speeds, prevent and curtail erosion and minimize the impact of noise. The design will make use of natural features and changing directions on elevations to control erosion and make the trail more interesting and challenging. Rolling dips and banked turns on curves and switch backs will be constructed to maintain soils and divert water from the trail.

h. Distances from private development will be maximized, where practical.

i. Competition events will be prohibited.

j. ATV use will be restricted on the Unit to designated trails only. Off-trail riding will be strictly prohibited. This restriction is within current DEC Rules and Regulations.

k. ATV use will be restricted to seasonal use, beginning the Friday of Memorial Day weekend and continuing to September 30th.

l. ATV use will be restricted to the hours between sunrise and sunset.

m. All ATVs must be registered and comply with Vehicle and Traffic Laws of NYS.

n. Noise levels will be addressed as follows:

• Trail layout is to be away from private development and other recreational facilities, where practical;
• Trail layout is to use natural features to buffer noise levels;
• Restrict trail use to a season when leaves are on the trees to help buffer sound levels;
• Restrict ATV use of the trail to daylight hours between sunrise and sunset;
• ATVs must have properly functioning exhaust systems meeting a decibel testing level of less than 99 decibels, using the 20 inch 45 degree test; and
• Trail head parking areas will be away from private land and development.

o. Horses are prohibited from using the ATV trail system.

p. ATV use of Public Forest Access Roads, haul roads and access trails is prohibited unless designated for ATV use.

q. Access to the trail system will be only from designated trail head parking areas. ATV access for neighboring ATV owners desiring access to the system other than the trail head parking areas will be evaluated on a case by case basis through the Temporary Revocable Permit (TRP) process. The applicant must submit a TRP proposal for trail placement from private land to connect with the trail system. The applicant will be responsible for trail segment construction and maintenance.

r. Mountain bikes are prohibited from using the ATV trail system.

s. Current staffing levels are inadequate to devote required administrative attention dedicated to the trail system. Additional staffing is needed to design, layout, construct and maintain the system. Enforcement staff is also required to ensure compliance with applicable statutes, rules and regulations, procedures and to maintain safe use of the trail. The requirements are:

• one additional Forest Ranger position
• one additional Land Manager position
• two seasonal trail stewards/maintenance assistants
• one laborer supervisor
• three seasonal laborers during construction periods.

Staffing time will need to be dedicated to the trail system. Anticipated needs are:

• one-half year land manager’s time during construction phases
• one-quarter year land manager’s time thereafter for administration
• one year laborer supervisor’s time during construction phases
• one-quarter year laborer supervisor’s time annually thereafter for trail maintenance and reconstruction projects
• three years seasonal construction crew’s time during each of the construction phases
• two years seasonal maintenance/trail stewards’ time annually after initial construction of Phase I
• 150 days Forest Ranger’s time dedicated to enforcement patrol and user education on the trail system annually.

t. Funding for construction, maintenance, administration and enforcement could come from recreation program funds, donations, grants and volunteer in-kind sources.

u. Ranger positions assigned to ATV trail responsibilities will not be restricted to regional boundaries for patrol enforcement and education on the trail system. Ranger districts will be modified so that the districts of the new ranger positions and the two current ranger positions will each have a township of the Unit and vested responsibilities to the ATV trail system. One hundred fifty person days of time from the ranger positions is expected to be dedicated to the patrol, enforcement and educational needs of this trail system and the Unit itself.

v. This trail is only being proposed provided the job can be done right. All the listed items and budget to accompany attaining those needs are critical. Without the dedication of staffing items, equipment, supplies and materials this proposal will not be acted upon. If approved, the plan intends to initiated development of the trail system starting in the year 2001. Should the funding and/or dedicated staffing not be in place the project would be postponed. The schedule found on page 36 will guide administration on a go-no-go situation for proceeding with the project. Funding or staffing items assigned must be secured to proceed with the respective part of the trail project.

Snowmobiles routinely use roads on the Unit. A segment of the NYS Corridor Snowmobile Trail System Route # 7 is on the Unit on the Delaware County side. The NYS Corridor Snowmobile Trail System is a network of public accessible snowmobile trails traversing through much of upstate New York. The Department will work cooperatively with user groups in efforts to extend the Corridor Trail segment east to west through the Unit. The Corridor System requires that each segment must end at points of public access. No additional loops or connecting trails will be constructed for snowmobiles as snowmobile trail design and an ATV trail designed to limit speed are not compatible. There is insufficient area to have a separate quality snowmobile trail system and the intermixing of two trail systems would lead to unacceptable problems and complications. Snowmobiles will not be prohibited from using the ATV trails.

OHV Trail System - An off-highway vehicle trail system for vehicles heavier than ATV’s was not deemed suitable with the goals and objectives of the Unit nor compatible with other recreation planned uses.

Dirt Bike Trail System - Most requests for a dirt bike trail system were for a 100 mile trail that was narrow , tactically challenging and had hill climbs. It was judged that this type of recreation was more of an extreme sport looking to push rider and machine to its limits often to the point of damage to the site, and danger to user and others. A portion of phase II of the 80 -100 mile ATV trail is proposed to be designed for dirt bikes in a design that would be tactically challenging, yet environmentally acceptable.

Nordic Ski Trail - A trail already exists within the general area of the Unit with a trail on Oquaga Creek State Park. Skiers are welcome to ski on the forest roads, and trails and may go off trail if so desired.

Snowmobile Trail System - A self enclosed snowmobile trail loop system within the Unit was determined to be incompatible with the planned trail system. The riders of newer and larger machines want and need essentially roads to travel on, while the proposed ATV trail will be a continuous series of turns and rolling dips often unsuitable for snowmobiles. Snow fall is often a limiting factor in providing a reasonably long period of use.

Horse Trails - Not allowing horses on the ATV Trail System will promote user safety and mitigate the compounded trail impact when ATV use and horse use are combined. (See draft report Environmental Conditions of the Brookfield Trail System - Recommendations). There are currently two major horse trail systems serving the area in Bear Spring Wildlife Management Area and the Brookfield Horse Trail System, thus another major system was not deemed appropriate for the area.

Nature Trail - A marked nature trail is located on Oquaga Creek State Park.

ATV Camp Ground - One of the objectives of the plan is to not compete with, but to actually promote use of the Oquaga Creek State Park. The park has numerous camping sites, however ATV’s are not allowed to operate in the Park. Perhaps with adequate demand the Park may consider development of a camping area to link with the proposed trail system.

Oquaga Creek State Park - Specific requests with respect to the Park were not addressed in this plan for the Unit.

Fund/dedicate Land Manager position to the project.

Trail layout and design begins at start of fiscal year and is completed for Phase I.

Flora & Fauna Study is contracted, designed and initiated.

Site location modification made if necessary for threatened or endangered species.

Administration prepares to have the needed staff assigned and supplies, material and equipment ordered for year 2.

Advisory committee is formed and meetings begin.

Fund/dedicate positions for Land Manager, Ranger, Laborer Supervisor, and three Seasonal Laborer.

Equipment, supplies and materials for construction and patrol purchased by beginning of Fiscal Year

Construction begins and is completed in year 2.

Begin trail construction for 35 to 40 miles of ATV trail on Chenango RA #9 & #15, Broome RA#2 and Delaware RA#5 with the following estimated needed improvements:

• Construct two ATV Trail Head parking areas 80' x 300' each with information and registration board, loading/unloading ramp and composting toilet
• Culvert replacement on Public Forest Access Road on Chenango RA #9 to accommodate two-way traffic and ATVs off-road shoulder
• Install 46 culverts
• Install 3 timber bridges
• Harden 11,000 feet of trail underlain with filter fabric, installing an estimated 5,500 tons crusher run gravel in those sections and with culvert installations
• Make and install trail signs
• Install vehicle barriers at all ATV trail intersections with roads
• Harden all turns and switch backs with trail compactor
• Install a gate on Blowers Road
• Install a gate on Lord Road.

Flora and Fauna Study continues.

Advisory Committee meets to discuss issues.

Year 3 - Trail Opens -Maintenance of ATV trail

Fund/dedicate positions for Land Manager, Ranger, Laborer Supervisor and two seasonal Trail Stewards/Maintenance Assistants.

Fund necessary equipment and supplies for annual maintenance.

Continue Flora and Fauna Study and Advisory Committee.

Advisory Committee continues to meet as necessary.

Fund/dedicate positions for Land Manager, Ranger, Laborer Supervisor and two seasonal Trail Stewards/Maintenance Assistants.

Fund necessary equipment and supplies for annual maintenance.

Continue Flora and Fauna Study and Advisory Committee and prepare report.

Advisory Committee continues to meet as necessary.

Make decision on continuation of trail project, start of Phase II or shut down Phase I.

If shutting down the trail system funding for Seasonal Laborers, Ranger and Land Manager is needed for another year to remove structures, close trail, and patrol against illegal use.

If beginning phase II initiate steps for needed staffing and supplies.

Should Phase II not be funded, but Phase I stays open the following funded items are needed:

Fund positions for Land Manager, Ranger, Laborer Supervisor, Two Seasonal Trail Stewards/Maintenance Assistants, and Three Seasonal Laborers

Funding for supplies and materials to construct one Trail Head Parking Area and 45 to 60 miles of trail.

Layout trail and begin construction of Phase II.

Conduct flora and fauna study to evaluate site for threatened or endangered species.

Phase II opens upon completion of construction.

If construction costs are not fully funded, portions of Phase II could be constructed.

Annual maintenance funding is needed for Land Manager, Ranger, two Seasonal Trail Stewards/Maintenance Assistants and supplies/materials.

Need for additional funding for reconstruction will be evaluated on a year to year basis.

Periodic data collection on Flora and Fauna Study to extend value of impact study.