To All:

Attached is NYSSA's position on the 'No Material Increase' proposed by the APA on setting and enforcing a mileage cap on the Adirondack Park. Please read and send in letters in your own words to the APA at the address listed. NYSSA understands the mileage cap, but disagrees with the current thinking the APA is using. Without your help, this will pe passed by the APA and trails will close.

No Material Increase
Talking Points

NYSDEC is proposing using the existing mileage cap of 848.88 miles as the ceiling for establishing “No Material Increase” (NMI). Any trail mileage that exceeds the 848.88 mileage cap will be considered a material increase (to date no policy has been issued to address material increase). To view the NYSDEC presentation to the APA; go to this link: http://www.apa.state.ny.us/press/slideshow/text.htm
There are two guidelines within the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan (APSLMP) that deal with NMI and they are
• Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan’s Wild Forest Basic Guideline #4: “Public use of motor vehicles will not be encouraged and there will not be any material increase in the mileage of roads and snowmobile trails open to motorized use by the public in wild forest areas that conformed to the master plan at the time of its original adoption in 1972.”
• Roads, jeep trails and state truck trails Guideline #3 as it pertains to snowmobiling: Established roads or snowmobile trails in newly acquired state lands classified as wild forest may be kept open to the public, subject to Basic Guideline #4....provided such use is compatible with the wild forest character of the area.
DEC is interpreting these guidelines in such a way that any snowmobile trails that exist on newly acquired lands will count toward the mileage cap. For example let’s say there are 805 miles of snowmobile trail within the Forest Preserve, DEC purchases land that has 70 miles of snowmobile trail making the total snowmobile trail mileage on Forest Preserve 875 miles; 26.12 miles would be considered a material increase and would have to be removed from the system. This is unacceptable.
The New York State Snowmobile Association is asking its members to write individual letters before the March 4th deadline to the:
Adirondack Park Agency
PO Box 99
Ray Brook NY 12977

NYSSA also recommends club president’s write letters on club letterhead explaining your position, please include the number of members you represent.

These are the issues that NYSSA feels you should include in your letter:
• Land Acquisitions-The Adirondack Snowmobile Plan recommends that whenever possible trails be located on private land. With the state purchasing large tracts of land we feel that eventually all large tracts of land may be owned by NYS thereby making this recommendation moot. On October 19, 2007 NYSDEC Commissioner stated the cap was not a hard cap and not accurate. He suggested that any trails on lands acquired by NYS after 1972 should be added to the cap. Therefore NYSSA recommends all trail mileage located on private lands at the time of purchase to NYS be added to the mileage cap ceiling. For example the mileage cap is now 848.88, if NYS purchases a parcel with 30 miles of existing snowmobile trail the cap ceiling should be raised to 878.88.

• At the February 7, 2008 APA meeting, DEC stated that both APA and DEC staffs completed an inventory of trail mileage they believed to be available in 1972 and both DEC and APA came up with the mileage figure of 740 (using different methods) available in 1972. Today the total trail mileage on Forest Preserve (including motor vehicle roads) is 766 miles. DEC is suggesting that as various UMP’s are completed with many having trails closed it will be a considerable time before we approach the 848.88 ceiling. NYSSA is concerned as to how this policy will affect future generations of snowmobilers. NYSSA is concerned that important trails will be closed just to avoid reaching the mileage cap ceiling.

• In addition to new land acquisitions another factor that may increase trail mileage is environmental issues. For instance the Adirondack Snowmobile Plan recommends we avoid wetlands, steep slopes and other sensitive areas. This may result in a rerouting of trail which could potentially add mileage. The Adirondack Snowmobile Plan also recommends rerouting trails to the periphery of particular units that more than likely will add mileage. Another issue is safety; again the Adirondack Snowmobile Plan recommends that trails not end at a lake and that they be rerouted to go around the lake, which will result in more mileage being added. NYSSA recommends that any additional mileage added to the snowmobile trail system because of Environmental or Safety concerns should result in the mileage cap ceiling being increased.

• Any snowmobile trails that are currently on Motor Vehicle Roads open to the public should not be counted toward the cap as these roads are open to motor vehicles in the non-winter months. An example of this would be the Moose River Plains Recreation Area. NYSSA’s interpretation of State Truck Trails #3 is any snowmobile trails on acquired parcels will be added to the ceiling. This should also include any snowmobile trails that are not on motor vehicle roads. NYSSA recommends that snowmobile trails on motor vehicle roads not count toward the mileage cap ceiling.

• NYSSA suggests a solution to future land acquisitions. In the past NYSSA has supported the state in purchasing easements as they have added permanence to our snowmobile trail system. There is a concern that the easements are a first step toward the state owning these lands in fee, thereby any snowmobile trails on these properties would suddenly count toward the mileage cap. NYSSA recommends that all future easements or purchases include language that will convey snowmobile trails to municipalities on newly acquired acquisitions.

You may want to include the economic benefits of snowmobiling whether it is anecdotal or if you have hard facts. Tell the APA, the only reason many businesses stay open in the Adirondacks is because of snowmobiling. Describe how you enjoy riding through the Adirondacks admiring the fabulous views and witnessing wildlife.

Can this be moved to the 'sticky' area?

bump

In state and out of state riders-it doesn't matter-the more letters the more we can get our point aired. New Yorkers have supported issues in Yellowstone, Grand Teton and numerous other palces where agenices and governements and NGOs are trying to get snowmobiles banned. Please join in and help us now.

Thanks.

Could this be moved to the 'sticky' area, until the March deadline?

Trying to keep this near the top-if we don't fight this, we have no right to bitch when they start closing trails in the Adirondacks and then other state owned lands around the state.

Here was a post with links, maps, details.

Details here

Please write you representatives.

guys / girls, children,

New York State is going to screw us (again)

take action, even if it means telling the waitress where u eat when u ride
if we do nothing were going to loose trials

the DEC is ruthless

TTT for you Gary!

If we don't stand up for our selfs, no one else will.

Thanks Chris and the others.

Thanks HCS!

I can't believe that there is not more comment on this issue. There is enough people to bitch when the trails are not groomed or the weather sucks. The later we have no control over. I know in my area we are at the mercy of the forest companies and the state. We have always worked around the logging year by year,but they have yet to take the trails completly away from us. That an ageny that can actually tell the state goverment what it will do with the land that was bought with our tax dollars is insane. I is nothing new to me as I live inside the mighty blue line,but enough is enough. The high taxes have force must industries out of NY state. Along with the younger generation of workers. How about we put a ban on greenies in subaru's coming north. After all who do they think there are protecting the the trees from. Us the people who have lived here,must foe sevral genrations. Write the letters call your politions. Lets see how many of them really want to improve the economy of "UPSTATE NY"

I agree-I thought more people would be interested. Guess it's easier to bitch than do something constructive that will help the sport.

I have a Subaru-but I'm no Greenie-can I get a pass? I have some friends headed to Cranberry lake Friday morning-Liberty1 is one of the guys.

Every snowmobiler in the state needs to see this and submit comments before the March 4 deadline. Individuals should write their own letter and NYSSA is specifically urging club presidents to write on behalf of their membership. There is a sample letter available on the Pleasant Riders club web site www.pleasantriders.klink.net.

I'm suggesting that copies be sent to state assemblywoman Teresa Sayward and Senator Betty Little, who represent the Adirondacks, as well as to your local state representatives.

Teresa Sayward
LOB 940
Albany, NY 12248
518-455-5565
http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=113&sh=con


Betty Little
903 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12247
http://www.senatorlittle.com/45/Contact.aspx



Actually, the 848.88 mile cap is bogus to begin with. An article in the North Country Gazette article posted February 25 talks about this:

Fish and Wildlife Management Board of NYS Region 5 is opposing “false cap” on snowmobile trails
http://www.northcountrygazette.org/news/20...oses_false_cap/

I make a few calls on Monday unless there's a way to get through this weekend.

I'll also email them all - this just plain sucks!

I cant believe there was not more public input on this issue. People must be just sitting on there ass not worrying that a large portion of there riding could disappear.. I guess it's more important tp bitch aboyt gas or reg prices,than it is to have trails to ride on.

http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/index.asp

Same story different paper



http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article...rget=%22_new%22

Received this today. Nice to see that NYSSA and Snowmobile Clubs and Municipalities are all in virtual lock step. Thanks to those that sent in letters:

NMI Statement of Compilation from the APA