Crew Chief: Start Date: Completion Date: T & A Code:

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Cecil Heath
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4 Completed Work Data Work order # Crew Chief: Start Date: Completion Date: T & A Code: Work Complete Comments: Personnel Service: Equipment: Item ID# Hours/Miles Rental Cost Supplies & Materials: Item Invoice# Quantity Unit Cost per Unit Total Cost Contract# Labor Cost: Equip Cost: Material Cost:

5 Big Otter Lake Trail Rehabilitation 2016: Bridge 3 Current Conditions The Big Otter Lake Trail located within the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness is a hiking and horseback riding trail in the non-winter months and a cross country skiing trail during the winter. This former road leads from a trailhead in Thendara to the vicinity of its namesake, Big Otter Lake. When this area was designated as Wilderness, the road was closed, gated and maintained as a trail. However, no further measures were taken to put the road to bed. Numerous culverts remained along its entire length, many of which are too small to handle large storm events and some of which have washed out. Following a few heavy rain events in 2015, the eastern end of this trail has deteriorated with numerous washouts. Note that this workplan has been revised from its original form to reflect a shorter (30ft.) bridge design, the treatment of the culvert and the staging of materials via helicopter under CP-17. Proposed Actions This project is the Third in a series of four all aimed at repairing the damage on this trail. It is expected to begin in the summer of 2017 by a combined effort from the Adirondack Mountain Club s Professional Trail Crew and a volunteer group such as Lean2Rescue. Materials will be staged via a helicopter under CP-17. At approximately 0.9 miles west on the Big Otter Trail from the wilderness gate, another culvert has washed out. If possible, this culvert will be removed. However, given the difficult task of removing a large, heavy culvert without the aid of machinery, removal might not be possible. In this event, the culvert will be left in place. A bridge will be constructed to span the stream. This bridge will be based on the standard Forest Preserve Snowmobile Bridge Design and have dimensions of 6 feet wide by 30 feet long. The attached design shows this bridge in greater detail but note that a railing will be added to this bridge as well. The bridge will be placed at the existing grade of the trail, which will eliminate the need for ramps. In order to facilitate a helicopter lift, a helicopter drop zone will have to be installed adjacent to (west of) the bridge site. The boundaries of the drop zone (roughly a 40 ft. by 40ft. square) are flagged with pink flagging. A tally of the trees 3 D.B.H. that will have to be cut is included below (14 in total, approval under L&F Policy 91-2 is being sought). All trees within the drop zone boundary will be felled, bucked up and to the

6 extent practical removed from the drop zone. Approval for the helicopter flight is also being sought under CP-17. Bridge #3 Drop Zone Tally, 14 Trees in total to be cut. DBH/ Species Scotch Pine Balsam Fir Red Maple Totals Alternatives Considered No Action: Leaving the culvert as-is is unacceptable since the trail will continue to erode into the stream without management intervention. Although currently passable, further deterioration of the trail at this culvert will eventually preclude access across the stream at this location. Rerouting the Trail: Given the stream and associated wetland complex in the immediate area, it appears that the present location of the trail (an old road) is routed through the most appropriate location with the least amount of environmental impact. A reroute around this location would necessitate the construction of new trail likely with greater wetland impacts. Repairing the existing trail appears to be the best option. Replacing the Culvert: Culverts are not a conforming structure within Wilderness areas, therefore, this option cannot be pursued.

7 Staging Materials via Horses: A similar effort in the nearby Pigeon Lake Wilderness revealed limitations in this approach, specifically the physical endurance of horses to haul materials long-distances and the subsequent withdrawal of the respective volunteer. A canvass of the surrounding area uncovered a lack of other teamsters for volunteer work/hire as well, leaving a helicopter drop of materials the only practical option. Big Otter Lake Trail (Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness) Bridge #3 (30 Foot) Materials List All dimensional lumber listed below shall be treated lumber Material Quantity 12 diameter x 30ft. treated barrel poles 4 4 x4 x x4 x8 7 2 x6 x x10 x x12 x8 26 3/4 x 16 Galvanized Dome Head Spikes 10 5/8 dia. x12 Galvanized Dome Head Spikes 10 Rebar #5 (5/8 dia. or larger) x D Type 316 Stainless Steel Ring Shanked Nails 8D Type 316 Stainless Steel Ring Shanked Nails 22 lbs. 5lbs.

9 Location map of the proposed bridge sites along the Big Otter Trail (Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness)

11 A view (looking to the west) of the proposed bridge site (#3) on the Big Otter Trail. The existing culvert is around 48 in diameter by 20 ft. long. Looking upstream (south) at the culvert.

13 Looking east at the culvert from the Big Otter Trail. Looking north (downstream) at the culvert.

Date Received Central Office Department Authorization # 931 12/14/2016 L&F E-1 NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CONCEPTUAL USE PLAN FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACCESS BY MOTOR VEHICLE

22 Date Received Central Office Department Authorization # /14/2016 L&F E-1 NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION CONCEPTUAL USE PLAN FOR ADMINISTRATIVE ACCESS BY MOTOR VEHICLE OR AIRCRAFT INTO WILDERNESS, PRIMITIVE AND CANOE AREAS For Aircraft Use in Wilderness: This Conceptual Use Plan must be approved by the Director of Lands & Forests and the Commissioner of DEC prior to submittal of a Request for Use of Aircraft for Program Support form. NOTE: Due to flight scheduling requirements, please submit this application 60 days prior to any proposed Wilderness flight(s). For Calendar Year: 2017 Part A: Applicant Information Name Michael Marsh Phone Number x118 Division Lands and Forests Program Forest Preserve Office Location Herkimer Part B: Area(s) to be Accessed and Intended Use Forest Preserve Unit(s) To Be Accessed Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness Site(s) to be Accessed (list each trail, road, water body ) Purpose for Motor Vehicle/Aircraft Use Big Otter Lake Trail (Ha-De-Ron-Dah WA) Transport building materials for three replacement bridges within the Ha-Da-Ron-Dah Wilderness. Lumber and poles will be dropped off in close proximity to their respective sites using a helicopter sling load. 1 Conceptual Use Plan for Annual Administrative Access by Aircraft into Wilderness, Primitive and Canoe Areas Appendix E Rev

23 Alternatives to Motor Vehicle/Aircraft Use -Transport building materials 1.0 miles, 1.8 miles and 2.6 miles in by horses/hand to the project sites within the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness. -Use native materials. Impacts to Program if Aircraft Access in Wilderness is Eliminated -Horse teams have locally proven difficult to enlist/hire for these projects so materials probably would have to be staged by hand carry. -Greater staff time necessary to transport heavy materials long distances by hand over challenging terrain. -Increased frequency of maintenance associated with the shorter lifespan of native materials. Proposals to Reduce Use of Aircraft in Wilderness (Explain how this meets your Division s Wilderness Flights Reduction Plan) The use of treated materials will increase the lifespan of the bridges subsequently reducing the need for future aircraft operations into these areas. This flight serves multiple projects within this wilderness area and will be combined with other projects to the extent practical. Motor Vehicle/Aircraft Type UMP Authorized Project? Number of Flights/Trips (of each type) Frequency of Use Will You Be Landing? Duration Helicopter Yes (attach applicable pages from approved UMP) X No explain next box One X More than one specify next box X Daily Weekly Monthly Other specify next box Yes X No If Yes, explain why and for how long in next box Estimated Start Date: 01/01/ /15/2017 The APSLMP s Guidelines for Wilderness Management and Use permits the maintenance, rehabilitation and construction of necessary foot/horse bridges. An estimated 20 trips (flights) to haul materials in. Flight will be coordinated to occur within one to two work days, possibly longer if necessary. Estimated End Date: 01/01/ /15/2017 Estimated Time for Each Entry (hours): 8 Consolidated Flight? Yes, specify DEC Program next box X No Has this program been contacted and agrees to consolidated flight? Yes No 2 Conceptual Use Plan for Annual Administrative Access by Aircraft into Wilderness, Primitive and Canoe Areas Appendix E Rev

24 1/3/17

25 Digitally signed by Robert Davies Date: :46:03-05'00'

27 PUBLICATION OF NOTICE OF: Tree Cutting Notice Type of Notice: Tree Cutting Notice SEQR Status: Type 1 Unlisted _X_ DEC Region: 6 County: Herkimer Lead Agency: NYSDEC Project Title: Big Otter Lake Trail Rehabilitation Contact Person: Michael Marsh Address: 225 North Main St., Herkimer, NY Phone Number: michael.marsh@dec.ny.gov Project Location: Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness Area, Town of Webb, Herkimer County, NY Project Description: Removal of a total of 60 trees 3 inches at Diameter Breast Height adjacent to three bridge construction sites along the Big Otter Lake Trail (Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness Area). These areas (each approximately 40ft. by 40ft. in size) are to be cleared to facilitate a drop of bridge construction materials from a helicopter. The drop zone boundaries were inspected, selected and marked with Pink Flagging by Senior Forester Michael Marsh. Trees will be felled by DEC Operations Staff, cut into smaller pieces and left outside of the drop zone. A list of the identified trees is attached. DO NOT PRINT THIS BOX IN ENB - FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY If you have any questions on the above call Linda Kashdan-Schrom (518)

Crew Chief: Start Date: Completion Date: T & A Code:

Completed Work Data Work order # Crew Chief: Start Date: Completion Date: T & A Code: Work Complete Comments: Personnel Service: Equipment: Item ID# Hours/Miles Rental Cost Supplies & Materials: Item Invoice#