The following section is copied from the Draft Revision Catskill Park State Master Plan August 2003 Pages 73 through 78.  The full plan can be downloaded from the link on our main page.

Major changes proposed in a preliminary draft of the revised CPSLMP include:
1. Creation of a new wilderness area, the Windham Blackhead Range Wilderness, through the reclassification
of the Blackhead Range Wild Forest and portions of the Black Dome Valley and Windham High Peak
Wild Forest units. The remaining portion the Windham High Peak Wild Forest being renamed the Elm
Ridge Wild Forest, and the remaining portion the Black Dome Valley Wild Forest being renamed the
Colgate Lake Wild Forest.
2. Expansion of the West Kill Wilderness to include most of the Hunter Mountain Wild Forest, renaming the
remaining portion the Hunter Mountain Wild Forest the Rusk Mountain Wild Forest.
3. Elimination of the provision requiring that all Wild Forest lands and waters above 2700 feet in elevation be
managed in accordance with wilderness guidelines.
4. Prohibition of the use of bicycles on all lands classified as Wilderness, restricting the use of bicycles to
designated bicycle trails on lands classified as Wild Forest.
5. Allowing for the development of snowmobile trails below 3100 feet in elevation (rather than 2700 feet) in
Wild Forest areas.
6. Limiting the size of camping groups to 12 in Wilderness areas and 20 in Wild Forest areas.
7. A change in the definition of Wild Forest and Intensive Use lands.
8. Conforming the guidelines for acquiring new Forest Preserve lands and easements in the Catskill Forest
Preserve counties with Conserving Open Space in New York State, commonly known as the Open Space
Plan.
9. Expanding the jurisdiction of the document to include parcels of Forest Preserve land outside the Catskill
Park boundary and applying Wild Forest guidelines to their management.
10. New sections providing guidance related to:
11. Lists of conforming and nonconforming structures in intensive use areas.

Location: The draft revised CPSLMP applies to all State lands administered by DEC within the Catskill Park, as
well as parcels of Forest Preserve land situated within the counties of Ulster, Greene, Delaware, and Sullivan but
outside the Catskill Park boundary.
Reasons Supporting This Determination: As a part of the development of the original CPSLMP in 1985, an
environmental impact statement was prepared. The EIS addressed the potential impacts of adopting the CPSLMP.
The present determination of significance, because it pertains to the revision of the original CPSLMP, only
addresses the changes proposed in the draft revision.
In fundamental terms, the revised draft CPSLMP does not propose to change the concept of management for the
Catskill Forest Preserve. The basic framework of land classifications and the approach toward managing public
use embodied in the management guidelines given for each classification remain essentially unchanged. Article
14, Section 1 of the New York State Constitution, which requires that the Forest Preserve be forever kept as wild
forest lands, as well as existing laws and regulations, are reflected throughout the draft revision. Two new public
use limitations are proposed: prohibiting of the use of bicycles in Wilderness areas and restricting the use of
bicycles to designated trails in Wild Forest areas; and the imposition of camping group size limitations in
wilderness and wild forest areas. The restrictions on the use of bicycles will necessitate the establishment of new
regulations. These new limitations are considered to be consistent with the approach to Forest Preserve
management embodied in the original CPSLMP.

While most of the changes proposed in the draft revision are elaborations or refinements of the guidance given in
the original CPSLMP, there are some important differences. Major changes and their environmental implications
are described below:
1. Creation of the Windham Blackhead Range Wilderness - The new wilderness area, containing about
18,000 acres, would be created by reclassifying existing Forest Preserve lands currently classified as wild
forest. Because there are more restrictions on development and public use in wilderness areas, the
reclassification would result in more restrictive regulation of public use of the area's natural resources, and
so would have a positive impact on the environment.
2. Expansion of the West Kill Wilderness - The expanded Hunter West Kill Wilderness Area, containing
nearly 27,000 acres, would be created by reclassifying about 7,000 acres of existing Forest Preserve lands
currently classified as wild forest (a large portion of the Hunter Mountain Wild Forest). Because there are
more restrictions on development and public use in wilderness areas, the expansion/reclassification would
result in more restrictive regulation of public use of the area's natural resources, and so would have a
positive impact on the environment.
3. Elimination of the 2700-foot elevation provision - DEC proposes to eliminate the elevation provision to
afford managers more flexibility in providing opportunities for types of recreation that are appropriate in
wild forest areas, but not permitted in wilderness. The New York State Constitution charges DEC with the
protection of the wild character of Forest Preserve lands, regardless of their classifications. As a
consequence, wild forest guidelines, as set forth in the original CPSLMP and the draft revision, are
sufficiently strict to assure that no new recreational development proposals would be made as a result of
the elimination of the elevation provision that would have significant adverse impacts on the environment.
The provision applying wilderness guidelines to upper elevation lands in wild forest areas arose from the
intent to give special recognition and protection to those lands, thought generally to have qualities that
imparted more "wilderness character" and made them more vulnerable to impacts from recreational use
than areas at lower elevations. Attributes cited in arguments supporting greater protection for upper
elevation lands included:
a. Old Growth Forests - Stands of "old growth" occur generally above 3,000 feet.
b. History of Minimal Human Disturbance - For the most part, farming and road building did
not occur above 2,900 feet.
c. Thin Soils - Bedrock is generally closer to the surface at higher elevations.
d. High Peaks - In the Adirondacks, all but one of the "high peaks," those above 4,000 feet in
elevation, are in wilderness areas. On the other hand, ten of the 35 Catskill high peaks--those
above 3,500 feet–were in Wild Forest, as classified in the 1985 CPSLMP. As proposed in the
draft revision, 25 of the high peaks are in wilderness, two are partially in wilderness, partly on
private land, one is completely on private land, five are in Wild Forest and two are in state
forest (outside the Catskill Park).
e. Concentrated Recreational Use - Because mountain summits are popular trail destinations,
concentrated human activity can cause excessive physical and social disturbance.
The application of wilderness guidelines to upper elevation wild forest lands has, in effect, applied the
wilderness classification to these areas. The reason that they were not formally classified as Wilderness
appears to be that they were not large enough to meet the 10,000-acre minimum size requirement
contained in the wilderness definition.

Wilderness treatment has afforded strong protection to the wild character, as well as the physical and
biological resources of upper elevation wild forest lands. However, experience with the CPSLMP since its
adoption has shown that, with the elevation provision in place, some desirable proposals for types of
recreational development that are appropriate in Wild Forest areas, such as new snowmobile and horse
trails, could not be carried out. With the proposed ban on bicycle use in Wilderness, the development of
bicycle trails also would be restricted. The blanket protection of upper elevation Wild Forest lands
afforded by the current CPSLMP constitutes a blanket restriction on all but pedestrian and some horse use
on most trails. Because much of the land of the Catskill Forest Preserve is steep and occupies higher
elevations, opportunities are limited for the development of trails of any length that would not cross the
2,700-foot contour at some point. In practical terms, therefore, the retention of the elevation provision
would eliminate the possibility of constructing new snowmobile, horse, and bicycle trails on
approximately 53,000 acres of Wild Forest land. On the other hand, by restoring Wild Forest management
guidelines to all Wild Forest lands, DEC would be afforded the flexibility to offer appropriate new
recreational opportunities for snowmobilers, equestrians, and bicyclists. Managers could make detailed
management decisions based on site-specific information rather than being constrained to treat a large,
diverse area according to a single set of uniformly restrictive guidelines. Actually, many areas above 2700
feet are as capable of withstanding recreational use as lower elevation areas. And despite the potential for
new impacts related to new structures, improvements, and types of recreational use, the restoration of Wild
Forest guidelines to upper elevation Wild Forest lands would not constitute a significant reduction in their
level of protection.
Although some types of structures are permitted in Wild Forest areas that are not permitted in Wilderness,
it is unlikely that the elimination of wilderness guidelines from Wild Forest lands above 2,700 feet would
result in the construction of any new structures. The most potentially significant change would be the
creation of opportunities for the limited construction of new horse trails, as well as the designation of
existing roads and trails or the limited construction of new trails for use by snowmobilers and bicyclists.
In reality, however, there are few opportunities for the designation or construction of snowmobile, horse,
or bicycle trails in areas above 2,700 feet. Snowmobile trails will not be designated or constructed above
3100 feet to prevent impacts to high elevation spruce-fir forest communities as well as to reduce user
conflicts. Additionally, just as for lower elevations, any proposals involving new types of trail uses at
higher elevations would be made only after their potential impacts on physical and biological resources
and the recreational experiences of visitors had been assessed. Only the types and levels of use that would
not degrade the wild character and natural resources of wild forest lands would be promoted. DEC would
protect fragile resources at all elevations in Wild Forest areas by tailoring management actions to areas
specifically identified through the unit management planning process. State Environmental Quality
Review Act requirements for specific management proposals would also be addressed as part of the
process of preparing unit management plans.
4. Prohibition of bicycle use in Wilderness, restricting the use of bicycles to designated bicycle trails on
lands classified as Wild Forest. - The current CPSLMP does not restrict the use of bicycles on the Forest
Preserve. The prohibition of their use in Wilderness, as well as their restricted use in Wild Forest areas
will protect the recreational atmosphere appropriate to wilderness and reduce user conflicts and potential
erosion in wild forest areas, thus having a positive effect on the environment.
5. Allow for the development of snowmobile trails below 3100 feet in elevation in Wild Forest areas-The
current Master Plan prohibits the use of snowmobiles in areas above 2700 feet in elevation (with one
exception). As discussed in issue #3, Elimination of the 2700-foot elevation provision, the revised Master
Plan proposes to raise this blanket snowmobile prohibition to allow for consideration of appropriate new
recreational opportunities for snowmobilers at a more realistic elevation given the very nature of the
region. Regardless of elevation, any new snowmobile trail proposal would be made only after the
potential impacts on physical and biological resources and the recreational experiences of visitors had been
assessed on a site specific basis. Note: snowmobiles are restricted to designated trails throughout the
Forest Preserve, and both the current and proposed Master Plan prohibit the development of snowmobile
trails on lands classified as Wilderness, regardless of elevation.
6. Limiting group size - The current CPSLMP does not restrict the size of groups who use the Forest
Preserve. The limitation of the size of camping groups to 12 in Wilderness areas and 20 in Wild Forest
areas would reduce the physical and sociological impacts caused by large groups, thus conferring a
positive environmental impact.
7. A change in the definition of Wild Forest and Intensive Use lands - The new definition more concisely
conveys the sense of the original definitions. They are not intended to change the original in any
substantive way, but rather to make them more easily understood and interpreted.
8. Conforming acquisition guidelines with the Open Space Plan - Conserving Open Space in New York
State, commonly known as the Open Space Plan, in part sets forth the official State policy that guides the
addition of lands to the Catskill Forest Preserve and the acquisition of conservation easements in the
Catskill Park. The draft revised CPSLMP has been updated to reflect that policy. State Environmental
Quality Review Act requirements were addressed as part of the preparation of the Open Space Plan.
9. Detached Parcels - Parcels of Forest Preserve land outside the Catskill Park boundary but within the four
Catskill Forest Preserve counties are commonly referred to as "detached parcels." Currently their
management is not governed by any official guidelines. Including detached parcels in the CPSLMP and
applying Wild Forest guidelines would give direction and consistency to their management. No adverse
environmental impacts are anticipated as a result of this change.
10. New sections
11. Lists of conforming and nonconforming structures in Intensive Use Areas - By developing a list of the structures that may and may not be constructed in Intensive Use Areas, managers would be given better guidance about the nature of the facilities that may exist on Forest Preserve lands of this classification. The list would help assure that the development of intensive use areas would be appropriate in their Forest Preserve setting and consistent in their appearance and character. The addition of these lists would thus have a positive environmental impact.