DEC is taking comments on snowmobile trail near Newcomb
NEWCOMB — The state Department of Environmental Conservation is taking public comments on a draft recreation plan for a small conservation easement tract near Newcomb.
The DEC will take comments until Friday, March 29 on its draft plan for the 726-acre Upper Hudson Woodlands Hyslop Tract Conservation Easement on state Route 28N about 3 miles east of the hamlet.
The DEC is proposing a linear multi-use trail for snowmobilers, equestrians, hikers, skiers and bicyclists. The proposed trail would roughly bisect the tract, but due to existing skid roads and trails, only a small part of the trail would be new construction. The plan says that DEC will upgrade 1.35 miles of existing trails and build 0.3 miles of new trail to Class II snowmobile trail standards. The department would also build several new bridges to accommodate the trail, which will become part of a community connector trail network that connects Newcomb and Minerva.
The DEC projects the entire project will cost $40,000.
Conservation easements are privately owned lands, and the DEC signs agreements with the land owners to provide public recreational access. The land owners typically get monetary incentives for doing so.
Public comments can be mailed to Forester Robert Ripp, NYSDEC, 232 Golf Course Road, Warrensburg, NY 12885 or emailed to r5.ump@dec.ny.gov.
To see the proposed plan, go to www.dec.ny.gov/lands/116082.html.