Our Mission
Friends of the Shawangunks is dedicated to protecting the Shawangunk Mountains of New York from adverse environmental impacts. Please Join Us
News
Minnewaska Now Open for Hiking and Biking
Carriageways in Minnewaska State Park Preserve are now open for mountain bikes. Closures made necessary by last December’s ice storm have been lifted. Restrictions on hiking in the park were removed several weeks ago.
(Posted June 14, 2009.)
Shawangunk Domino Dairy Farm Saved
In a press release dated May 13, 2009, the Open Space Institute (OSI) announced that, in partnership with the town of Rochester, it has acquired a conservation easement on the 149-acre Domino dairy farm on Airport Road in the town of Rochester. The easement allows for dairy operations to continue on the historic farm, but ensures that the land, owned by Margaret DeWitt and managed by the DeWitt family, will not be developed. The preservation project is part of OSI’s ongoing Two Valleys Campaign, which focuses protection efforts on working farms in the Rondout and Wallkill valleys, an area of scenic beauty and abundant farmland.
To read the entire press release, go to Open Space Institute.
(Posted May 15, 2009.)
Open Space Institute Adds to Sam’s Point Preserve
The Open Space Institute (OSI) has acquired 35 additional acres of undeveloped mountainous land on the eastern side of the Shawangunk ridge as it works toward its goal of a 7,500-acre Sam’s Point Preserve. Consisting of two separate parcels, the new acquisitions protect the headwaters of the Verkeederkill Stream and the eastern escarpment of the Ridge as it looks out over the town of Shawangunk. With these new additions, the Sam’s Point Preserve now totals approximately 5,700 acres. To read the OSI press release, go to Open Space Institute.
(Posted April 21, 2009.)
Basha Kill Assoc. Lawsuit Against Mushroom Plant to be Dropped
The Basha Kill Area Association has decided to drop its lawsuit against the proposed Yukiguni Maitake mushroom plant, according to an article in the Shawangunk Journal. The article goes on to say that the Association is not abandoning the fight but instead is shifting its focus to the various permits the plant will need to obtain, making sure that the permitting agencies hold the plant to the highest standards. For the complete article, go to Shawangunk Journal.
(Posted April 14, 2009.)
Controlled Burns Planned on Ridge
The Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership will be opening their 2009 prescribed burn window for Mohonk Preserve from April 6 - December 15, 2009. Burns are planned for areas near Spring Farm (Town of Marbletown), Glory Hill/Duck Pond (Town of New Paltz) and Undercliff Road/Rhododendron Bridge (Town of Rochester). The exact dates, times and locations of individual burns are dependent on weather and other conditions. The purpose of these burns will be to improve oak forest health and regeneration and reduce woody species invasion into old fields at Mohonk Preserve. The SRBP will also be using State Wildlife Grant funding to conduct research on how these burns affect oak forest and grassland habitat and, as always, these burns provide education and training opportunities to build fire management capacity in the Shawangunks.
For more information on the prescribed burn program and/or why fire is important in the Shawangunks, go to Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership.
(Posted March 30, 2009.)
Economic Benefits of N. Y. State Parks
According to an economic analysis just released by Parks & Trails New York, the leading statewide park and trail advocacy organization, the New York State Park System is a valuable economic asset to the Empire State, supporting up to $1.94 billion in output and sales for private businesses, plus 20,000 jobs. The study shows that NYS parks produce more than $5 in benefits for every $1 in costs.
To see the full report, go to Parks and Trails New York.
(Posted March 29, 2009.)
Seven Peaks Project Public Meeting Summary
The Town of Mamakating Planning Board held a public meeting on February 24, 2009 regarding the proposed Seven Peaks at Mountain Road project. The developers, Mountain Road Preserve, LLC, did a presentation in which they attempted to address every point earlier made in a letter from the Shawangunk Ridge Coalition to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation requesting that DEC assume lead agency status. The planners are going to great efforts to meet these issues head on at this point. Whether or not they’re followed through with in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is to be monitored closely.
Some specific points addressed by the developers included:
- A trail route is being planned along the westernmost (steep slope) edge of the development area.
- A viewshed analysis is supposed to be done for each of the structure sites. They indicated that they are looking into various ways to reduce the visibility of the structures.
- Surveys of specific species and species communities have already been carried out and the relative rarity ratings of species in question indicate they do not need to be concerned beyond some possible pro-active protection of chestnut oak communities.
- Basha Kill watershed issues seemed to be addressed by their planning a large “conservation” area near the headwaters of the tributary streams and reduced disturbance in other construction areas.
There were indications that a site in the north-west corner of the property may be intended for a 200-room hotel. So far there seems to be no evidence that the hotel is being considered in the overall impact for the development by either the DEC or the developers.
Several local residents expressed support based upon the supposed local tax revenue the project would generate. One person expressed the sentiment that this “environmentally sensitive development” is a far better one than having another 500-unit condo development which could be the alternative.
Concerns not mentioned that need to be addressed include: the effect on the water table and the communities below, and the ridge’s susceptibility to fire and the danger that presents to multi-million dollar homes buried back in the trees.
The developers indicated that they’ll prepare a response after reviewing the written comments and the meeting transcript. March 6th is the deadline to submit further comments, to be directed to: Town of Mamakating Planning Board, Mamakating Town Hall, 2948 Route 209, Wurtsboro, NY 12790
Edited from a summary prepared by Larry Wheelock, NY West Hudson Regional Representative, New York - New Jersey Trail Conference. (Posted Feb. 27, 2009.)
New Threat: Major Development Proposed for Southern Shawangunks
A major development project, called “Seven Peaks on Mountain Road,” has been proposed for the southern Shawangunks. The Seven Peaks property envelops 650 acres of the Shawangunks as it drapes over the ridge top and down both the eastern and western slopes. See: Map.
This venture incorporates three phases:
- Phase 1 entails building a gated community with 49 houses, each 8,500 square feet, with 6 bedrooms and 7+ bathrooms. Each $8 million house would be on a lot 5 acres or larger.
- Phase 2 is comprised of a 200 room hotel, and a conference center, spa and restaurants.
- Phase 3 involves further residential development on parcels of 17 and 10 acres.
Notably, this proposal’s environmental review must scrutinize Seven Peak’s impact at full build-out (all three phases). Analyzing only one phase at a time, or segmentation, is a violation of the State Environmental Quality Act (SEQR).
For further information, contact: Shawangunk Ridge Coalition (of which Friends is a member) at 156 Ramapo Valley Rd., Mahwah, NJ 07430; 201-512-9348 x25; info@shawangunkridge.org (Posted Feb. 12, 2009.)
Save the Lakes
Friends of the Shawangunks is acting as fiscal agent for Save the Lakes, a group working to stop the inappropriate development of Williams Lake Resort in Rosendale. To make a tax-deductible donation to Save the Lakes, send us a check made out to Friends of the Shawangunks, with “Save the Lakes” in the memo space. Or you can donate on-line, putting “Save the Lakes” in the “Designate my donation” box.