Learn more about what is happening at Finger Lakes National Forest by reading the most current Forest Happenings newsletter (featured in the Schedule of Proposed Actions) or by viewing the stories below.

Old Farmstead Archaeology Project: Recent Research and Current Plans

HECTOR, NY. Working in conjunction with the Backbone Ridge History Group and Western Michigan University, officials from the Finger Lakes National Forest are inviting the public to special presentation about the “Old Farmstead Archaeology Project.” The event will be held on Wednesday, May 25, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM.

Archeologist, Dr. LouAnn Wurst and several of her students will focus the discussion around archaeological research being conducted on the Finger Lakes National Forest.  The presentation will include results from last summer’s work at the R. Henry and A.C. Wickham Farms. Dr. Wurst and her students will also describe the goals and objectives of this year’s field work, and summarize their future plans.

In addition, four students will present a brief overview on their research using data collected from the Finger Lakes National Forest. Some of the topics that will be discussed include: Preconditions of Farm Abandonment, Land Classification and Agricultural Productivity, Landscape Analysis of Agricultural Production and the Transformation in Domestic Production – specifically Food Preservation Technology and Impact of Household Age Structure and Kin Networks on Consumer Behavior.

“This is yet another great opportunity for the public to learn about the Farmstead Archaeology Project that has been happening for a number of years on the Finger Lakes National Forest. We encourage the public to join us for what is certain to be an interesting and educational experience,” said Jodie Vanselow, Hector District Ranger.   

Dr. Wurst’s presentation will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2011 from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at the Presbyterian Church, located on State Route 414 in Hector, NY.

 

Old Farmstead Walking Tour

HECTOR, NY. The Finger Lakes National Forest, working in conjunction with the Backbone Ridge History Group and Western Michigan University would like to invite the public to an “Old Homestead Walking Tour” which will be held on Saturday, May 7, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM.

The walk will be led by Dr. LouAnn Wurst, an archeologist, who will point out the cultural features associated with each farm site and discuss the nature of the archaeological and historical context for each farm.  The following farm sites will be visited; Albright, McNetton, Creighton, R. Henry, Smith, Ball and Chesley, as well as Schoolhouse #29.  These farm sites have been excavated over the last decade as part of the Finger Lakes National forest Farmstead Archaeology Project.

Please be prepared for all types of weather. In addition, the tour will cover some rough terrain, and many of the sites are overgrown. The tour will depart promptly at 1:00 PM from the South Burnt Hill Pond parking area located on Burnt Hill Road in the Town of Hector.

“This is a great opportunity for the public to learn more about the History of the old farms that make up part of the Finger Lakes National Forest,” said Ranger Jodie Vanselow.  

Finger Lakes National Forest Set To Remove Unauthorized Tree Stands and Ground Blinds

HECTOR, NY. Officials on the Finger Lakes National Forest remind local hunters that all tree stands and ground blinds must be removed from the Forest upon conclusion of New York State’s regulated hunting seasons.  A forest closure order issued on November 17, 2010, prohibits the use and occupancy of temporary tree stands and ground blinds on the Finger Lakes National Forest from January 1 thru September 1 of each year.  In addition, the closure order prohibits the use and occupancy of temporary tree stands and ground blinds that are not clearly identified with the owner’s name and address in legible English.

“This has been an issue on the Forest for a number of years, and is a direct violation of state law. We will be doing a sweep of all known stands on the Forest, of which there are many, and impounding them.  It is my hope that hunters will take this local closure order seriously and remove their stands and blinds prior to April 24, 2011 so that they are not fined and find their stands and blinds confiscated,” said Jodie L. Vanselow, District Ranger for the Finger Lakes National Forest. If you have any questions or comments, please contact Jodie L. Vanselow at (607) 546-4470.

Finger Lakes National Forest Announces Date for the 16th Annual Youth Fishing Derby

HECTOR, NY. The Finger Lakes National Forest is pleased to announce that their 16th Annual Youth Fishing Derby will be held on Saturday, May 14 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Potomac Pond, located on Potomac Road in Hector, NY.
Youth ages 2--12 are eligible to participate. Pre-registration is encouraged, since this helps in event planning and ensures there will be enough food and beverages for the celebration, which includes the much anticipated awarding of prizes, afterwards.
Please contact the Hector Ranger District Office at (607) 546-4470 to pre-register. “This event is a special one for us here on the Forest. It is always a thrill to see the look on a kids face when they catch their first fish, or pull out the biggest fish of the day” said Jodie L. Vanselow, District Ranger for the Finger Lakes National Forest.
This event would not be possible without the continued support of the local community and many volunteers. If you are interested in helping, in any capacity, please contact Paul Widowski at
(607) 546-4470 ext. 312.

Opportunity to learn about the proposed Planning Rule and Draft EIS on March 23 at the Hector Ranger District office.

HECTOR, NY. The USDA Forest Service will offer a public meeting to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about a recently released proposed planning rule and draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). The meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 23 at the Hector Ranger District office in Hector, New York. There will be two meetings to choose from with the first being scheduled from 2:00 to 5:00 pm and second from 7:00 to 10:00 pm.

The proposed planning rule and associated draft environmental assessment were released for a 90-day public comment period that will end on May 16. Once finalized, the proposed rule will guide all National Forests across the country in a new way to revise and amend Forest Plans. Federal law requires each National Forest to have a Forest Plan to guide all activities that may take place on National Forest system lands.  The Finger Lakes National Forest in New York last revised its Forest Plan in 2006.  The Forest Plan is not scheduled for revision until 2021.

The meetings will begin with an explanation of the proposed rule followed by a question and answer session. Instructions for how to submit written comments will also be provided. The meetings will be hosted via video conference from the Eastern Regional Office in Milwaukee as part of a national effort to provide the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed rule. Comments will not be collected at the meeting.   Proposed Planning Rule Information

For more information about the public meeting call Jay Strand at (802) 767-4261, or email him at jstrand@fs.fed.us.

Finger Lakes National Forest Acquires New Land

HECTOR, NY. On October 27, 2010 the Finger Lakes National Forest acquired a 30 acre parcel of land from the Finger Lakes Land Trust, a key Forest partner that had previously bought the land in order to keep it from being developed.

Acquisition of this parcel will serve to consolidate a significant portion of an in-holding, conserve public access, prevent fragmentation of productive forest land and provide scenic views along the Backbone Trail, a trail that is popular for hiking, snowmobiling, mountain biking and cross country skiing. The Backbone Trail runs in to the Interloken Trail a well known National Recreation trail.   

The acquired parcel meets many of the Forest Plan guidelines for landownership adjustment, including, consolidating public ownership, improving public access, benefiting a National Trail, providing recreation opportunities and increasing the production of forest products.  Moreover, the property contains two old farmstead structures which contribute to the goal of protecting local and national historic sites. Throughout the acquisition process the U.S Forest Service worked closely with the Town of Hector, The Wild Turkey Federation, Cayuga Trail Club, Finger Lakes Trail Conference, and the Schuyler Chamber of Commerce which have all been strong supporters of this project. 

“We are extremely grateful to all of our partners that have worked to make this acquisition possible,” said Jodie L. Vanselow, District Ranger for the Finger Lakes National Forest. “This is one of those situations where acquiring a small parcel of land will have a huge impact on the health and diversity of our forest as a whole,” said Vanselow.

Recognizing the public value of the property as well as its imminent threat to development, The Finger Lakes Land Trust purchased the land not long after it was listed on the open market. Acting in a good faith partnership effort, the Land Trust held the land for the U.S. Forest Service to purchase when federal funds became available. The property has many benefits, including that it is accessible by road which will eliminate costs affiliated with acquiring right of way easements for management activities, fire suppression and public access. “We were delighted to work together with the Forest Service to secure this parcel which was advertised for sale and could have resulted in a subdivision in the heart of New York’s only national forest,” said Andy Zepp, Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

The Finger Lakes National Forest consists of just over 16,000 acres in the State of New York and is managed in conjunction with the 400,000 acre Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont. For more information, please contact the Finger Lakes National Forest office at 607-546-4470.

Forest Service Allocates more than 10 Million toward Recovery Act Projects in Vermont and New York

CHITTENDEN, VT. October 22nd.   U.S. Forest Service officials, business leaders, congressional staff, municipal leaders and partner organizations gathered at a ribbon cutting ceremony today to celebrate significant milestones for the forest-related economic recovery projects that received more than $10 million from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The landmark legislation was signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009.

Flanked by partners and U.S. Forest Service employees, Colleen Madrid, Forest Supervisor for the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, announced the distribution of funding to dozens of projects throughout the roughly 416,000 acres of national forest systems lands in Vermont and New York. Using Lefferts Pond Dam as a backdrop, Madrid showcased the importance of the Recovery Act and thanked the contractors and construction employees who worked diligently in recent months to upgrade and improve the dam, which was originally built in the early 1900s. “This funding has not only helped to improve our infrastructure and reduce our deferred maintenance, but it has also helped to drive economic activity in rural communities forest-wide,” said Madrid.

Alteration and re-construction of the dam began in May and is expected to be complete in October. The historic dam, which had become structurally deficient over the years, helps to retain water in Lefferts Pond a very popular recreation site on the Green Mountain National Forest. To form and pour concrete, a temporary dam was built so that workers could access the deteriorating structure. Also on hand at the event was Kent Belden, President of the Rutland based Belden Company who served as the general contractor for the project. “We are very proud of the work that we have done here over the 2010 construction season and I want to thank the U.S. Forest Service for their support and partnership,” said Belden. The total cost of the dam re-construction project was just over $1.4 million.             

In addition to the Lefferts Pond Dam project, the U.S. Forest Service has worked with several other partners to restore and maintain public roads, trails, recreation sites and facilities throughout the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests. The U.S. Forest Service as a whole received $1.15 billion dollars in Recovery Act funding, with the Eastern Region receiving about $93 million. The Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests received more than $10 million in Recovery Act funding, which ranked it third in terms of funding received by a single national forest in the Eastern Region. For more information about the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests, please visit: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/greenmountain/index.htm. Information on other Forest Service ARRA projects and related economic recovery efforts can be found at: http://fs.usda.gov/economicrecovery.

New Forest Supervisor on Green Mountain Finger Lakes National Forest

RUTLAND, VT.  April 12th.  Colleen Pelles Madrid recently accepted the Forest Supervisor position for the Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forest. Madrid will oversee the forest which encompasses more than 400,000 acres in southwestern and central Vermont, forming the largest contiguous public land area in the State, and the Finger Lakes National Forest of more than 16,000 acres.

Prior to working here, Colleen worked as the District Ranger on the Cave Creek Ranger District in Arizona for four years, and the Zigzag Ranger District in Oregon for six years. As District Ranger she worked with public partnerships, and state and federal agencies to help facilitate collaborative resource management and resolve important, and often controversial, issues of local and national significance.

Much of Colleen’s past experience has been living and working in rural communities in Oregon, Utah, and California as well as large metropolitan areas in Arizona. She started her career as a wildlife biologist, worked as the Forest Service Liaison to the California Department of Fish and Game, served as a Forest Biologist and Regional Wildlife Program Manager before becoming a Ranger on the Mt. Hood National Forest, and more recently on the Tonto National Forest. Colleen did her undergraduate work at the University of California Davis and received her Master’s degree from San Jose State University. Throughout her life, Colleen has held a strong passion for local and global environmental issues. She has worked collaboratively with partners and local communities to meet conservation challenges and believes in public participation in natural resource management.

Prescribed Burning in April

Prescribed burns are planned for April, 2010. Smoke will be visible from locations near Foster Pond, in Hector and adjacent to County Rte. 143 and East Townline Road in Lodi. If weather allows, burning may also be done on Satterly Hill north of Burdett and on the west end of Seneca Road in Lodi. Please slow down along Forest road intersections with trails where hikers or firefighters may be in the vicinity.

The History of Fossenvue, and the Queen’s Castle

Fossenvue was the name of a summer camp on Caywood Point, on the eastern shores of Seneca Lake, New York, and it was a summer-time get-away for suffragettes and children of wealthy social reformers. It was the lakeside retreat, and few of its kind existed. It was started by women, which was not the norm, and was in existence from 1875 to the early 1900’s. Details...

 

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