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Challenges to Tearing Down I-787

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It is a popular thing nowadays to want to tear down urban highways and reconnect cities with their waterfronts. Our rivers have never been cleaner in centuries, and as gas prices have increased, the demand for recreation and beauty in our communities has grown larger and larger. It almost seems like a no-brainer to tear down I-787 and “reconnect” Albany to it’s waterfront.

rentny

Yet, it’s not as easy as it first seems.

1) There is a critical set of railroad tracks that runs from the Port of Albany to the mainline, to all points west, up through Tivoli Hollow, and eventually follows along the Mohawk Valley. These tracks haul all kinds of materials to and from the port, including petroleum products, grain, cement, and other basic materials for our economy. Some of the cargo is hazardous and explosive, so burying the tracks would be risky and expensive. If you don’t bury or remove these railroad tracks, then access would be continue to be limited to the Hudson River.

2) The Dunn Memorial Bridge was elevated to it’s current high level over the Hudson River during the highway reconstruction in the mid-1960. It’s predecessor was a much lower, “pedestrian-friendly” bridge, which looking back we had warm and fuzzy memories about, but it was a traffic nightmare, every time the bridge had to lift to allow all but the smallest vessels to proceed up the river. While many of the biggest boats no longer go north of Winter Dock, many still require the freight bridge to the North to be opened — which if the vehicle traffic bridge was lowered — would cause significant delays.

Campsites and Lean-Tos in Catskill Park

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This table is based on the data in the Catskill State Land Master Plan. I believe most of these sites are tent or lean-to sites, some fairly far back in.

Setting Up My Tent

Catskill F.P. Unit Designated Campsites Lean-Tos Major Desinations Unit Yearly Usage
Big Indian Wilderness 5 6 n/a 4,500
Hunter – West Kill Wilderness n/a 2 Hunter Mountain, West Kill Mountain n/a
Indian Head Wilderness 10 3 Echo Lake 8,000
Slide Mountain Wilderness 29 10 Slide Mountain 23,000
Windham-Blackhead Wilderness n/a 2 Blackhead Mountains n/a
Balsam Lake Mountain Wild Forest 15 5 Alder Lake 5,000
Bluestone Wild Forest n/a n/a n/a n/a
Colgate Lake Wild Forest n/a n/a Colgate Lake n/a
Delaware Wild Forest n/a n/a n/a n/a
Dry Brook Ridge Wild Forest n/a n/a Dry Brook Mountains n/a
Halcott Mountain Wild Forest n/a 1 n/a n/a
Elm Ridge Wild Forest n/a 1 Windham High Peak n/a
Overlook Mountain Wild Forest n/a n/a Overlook Mountain n/a
Phoenicia – Mt. Tobias Wild Forest 0 2 n/a n/a
Rusk Mountain Wild Forest n/a n/a n/a n/a
Shandaken Wild Forest 10 n/a n/a n/a
Sundown Wild Forest 60 0 Kaaterskill High Point n/a
Willowemoc Wild Forest 2 12 n/a n/a
Crystal Lake Wild Forest n/a n/a n/a n/a
Catskill Total 131 44 – –

Campsites and Lean-Tos in DEC Region 7 (Central NY)

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Today we look at Campsites and Lean-tos and other “developed” camping opporunties in DEC Region 7, which consists of lands in Central NY Counties of Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tompkins and Tioga, and is based on data in Region 7 Recreation Master Plan.

Rhododendrons

Current 85 Designated Campsites/Lean-Tos.

  • Balsam Pond State Forest (Chenango 17) – 1 campsite at Baker’s pond
  • Balsam Pond State Forest (Chenango 34) – 9 campsites 3
  • Beaver Creek State Forest (Madison 12) – 2 campsites at the assembly area 4
  • Charles E. Baker State Forest (Madison 1) – 14 campsites at Moscow Hill 4
  • Charles E. Baker State Forest (Madison 1) – 2 lean-tos
  • Charles E. Baker State Forest (Madison 1) – 8 campsites at Cherry Ridge 3
  • Danby State Forest (Tompkins 1) – 2 lean-tos (Finger Lakes Trail)
  • Gee Brook State Forest (Cortland 17) – 6 campsites at Calico Pond
  • Long Pond State Forest (Chenango 35) – 8 campsites
  • Ludlow Creek State Forest (Chenango 6) – 1 lean-to (Finger Lakes Trail)
  • Mariposa State Forest (Chenango-Madison 1) – 1 lean-to (Finger Lakes Trail)
  • McDonough State Forest (Chenango 1) – 3 campsites at Whaley Pond
  • Morgan Hill State Forest (Cortland 4) – 1 lean-to
  • Morgan Hill State Forest (Onondaga 1) – 9 campsites at Spruce Pond 1
  • New Michigan State Forest (Chenango 5) – 1 lean-to (Finger Lakes Trail)
  • Robinson Hollow State Forest (Tioga 3) – 1 lean-to
  • Shindagin Hollow State Forest (Tompkins 3) – 1 lean-to (Finger Lakes Trail)
  • Stoney Pond State Forest (Madison 13) – 12 campsites 2
  • Taylor Valley State Forest (Cortland 2) – 12 campsites 5
  • Tuller Hill State Forest (Cortland 9) – 1 lean-to
  • Whaupaunaucau State Forest (Chenango 31) – 1 lean-to
  • Wiley Brook State Forest (Chenango 7) – 1 campsite

1 DEC Camping permit required. Call (607) 674-4036 to have a permit mailed to you.

2DEC Camping permit required from April 15-October 15th. Call (607) 674-4036 to have a permit mailed to you.

3 Vehicle accessible.

4Horse Assembly and Camping-area.

5 Currently undesignated sites (lacks “Camp Here Markers”) on an old loop road that was part of CCC Camp in Taylor Valley.

Related Maps.

Reed Hill

Pavilion

Morning shadows

Waterfall on the Long Path

Shoreline

DEC’s Future Plans for Region 7

1. Develop 31 additional campsites in Region 7. Twenty-eight of these will be open campsites and three will be lean-tos. A portion of the new campsite development will occur on Hall Island State Forest (Oswego 10), as noted in items b and c. The Department will consider the option of permanently closing any or all of the Island campsites if patrol or enforcement problems become an issue. Fiscal constraints and public demand will determine if any additional campsites are to be developed within the Region.

a. Development of the new campsites will be in compliance with the guidelines for access by people with disabilities.

b. Develop 12 to 15 open campsites on Hall Island State Forest (Oswego10). These campsites will be located on the south side of the Salmon River Reservoir and will only be accessible by water. A permit will be required to occupy these sites. Three of these sites will be developed for people with disabilities . c. On Hall Island State Forest (Oswego 10), upgrade two designated campsites on Burdick Island and two campsites on Huckleberry Island in the Salmon River Reservoir. A permit will be required to occupy these sites. Two of these sites will be developed for people with disabilities.

Households That Make Less then $30k

d. Develop one lean-to campsite along the Finger Lakes Trail on Perkins Pond State Forest (Chenango 22) in the Town of Otselic.

e. Develop two open campsites on the Marsh Pond State Forest (Broome 4) near the pond. One of these sites will be developed for people with disabilities.

f. Develop three campsites on Robinson Hill State Forest (Tioga 3) near Tricounty Pond. The exact number of sites will be determined from local demand. One or two of these sites will be developed for people with disabilities. Install kiosk and develop area brochure.

g. Develop one lean-to on the Genegantslet State Forest with access from Creek Road. The access trail to the lean-to will be approximately 0.7 miles of hiking trail.

h. Develop an open campsite in stand C-7 on Long Pond State Forest (Chenango 35) designed for access by canoe or boat.

i. Develop three open campsites on Oakley Corners State Forest (Tioga 2). One of these sites will be developed for people with disabilities. Use of these sites will be by permit only.

j. Upgrade and designate three formal sites on the Salmon River State Forest (Oswego 8). A permit will be required to occupy these sites.

k. Rebuild the lean-to along the trail on Chateaugay State Forest (Oswego 4 & 5).

Cherry Ridge Camping Area Sign

l. Build one lean-to on Cuyler Hill State Forest (Cortland 6).

m. Inspect and, if necessary, repair or replace lean-tos on the Finger Lakes Trail.

2. Propose a change to the current regulations to address the conflicts encountered with camping within 150 feet of a road.

a. Propose a change to the current regulation that prohibits camping within 150′ of any road. The intent of this proposal is to accommodate the style of camping that is common during hunting season.

Number 1

3. Provide camping opportunities on State Forests for people with disabilities. These ADA compliant facilities will be distributed throughout the Region. Most of the designated campsites will have fire rings and several of the sites will have picnic tables. Fire rings, picnic tables and benches will be of Universal Design. Accessible latrines will be located at areas with several campsites, such as Long Pond, Stoney Pond and Charles E. Baker State Forests. All camping areas that can be driven to will have at least one accessible parking space. a. Make alterations to the Moscow Hill campsites on the Charles E. Baker State Forest (Madison 1 & 4) so that at least four of the sites are accessible by people with disabilities.

Hunting Camps Along Reservoir

4. Designate 14 campsites at Moscow Hill, Madison 1, camping area.

5. Maintain 85 existing campsites.

6. Propose a regulation to prohibit camping at Nanticoke Lake Multiple-Use Area and Redfield Island Day-Use Area

Campsite 8

7. Remove the lean-to on New Michigan State Forest (Chenango 5) This lean-to is structurally poor and is no longer located on an active trail. The lean-to proposed in 1. d will replace this lean-to.

Land Uses in Mohawk Valley

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How much of the Mohawk Valley is developed, how much is farmed, and how much is forested? These images give you a clear overview, with all agricultural cropland and pasture colored yellow, all forest lands colored green, waterways colored blue, and developed areas are red. This is based on LANDSTAT and USDA NASS Croplayer data.

Overwhelmingly, the Mohawk Valley is about agriculture, although as elevation increases and farming is no longer profitable, then farm fields revert to tree cover. And while their are certainly single family homes and other rural residents under the tree cover, by no means is development the overwhelming use of the land.

Most of the farming in the Utica-area, occurs south of the city, due to the sandy soils, short growing season, and elevation making farming unprofitable north of city. This map may actually distort how much land north of city is actually farmed, as many of farm fields shown on this map have been abandoned and are slowly reverting to brush and ultimately tree cover.

While not a lot of unique birds at Montezuma out and about as it was a hot and humid day, still nice to explore nad see the wildflowers

As you get around Canajoharie the amount of farming activity picks up dramatically, and except for a small section right next to the Mohawk Valley, most of this area is not developed.

Grass along Teeter Pond

Heading towards Albany-Schenectady, you see more development, but notice how you don’t have to get far from the city for forest cover to be dominant feature, and not agriculture. A lot of this is rural residents, with acreage, and hobby farms around here. Farming stops when you get up on the Rensselear Plateau, although the farm lands right around Brunswick are quite profitable, until you start heading towards Grafton where almost all farming stops.

Many Nights Sunsets

Utica Marsh

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Despite the Utica Marsh being located right off of I-790, and easily viewable from a car speeding into Utica from the North, it’s not quite as easy to get to as a pedestrian, as the former Barnes Avenue Bridge is closed off to all but pedestrians. You now have three options if you want to see the Utica Marsh up and close:

  • Park at the North Genesee Street Park and Ride / Harbor Lock Area, and follow Erie Canal Bikepath west, past NYSDOT building, past an old Utica garbage dump, over the Utica Harbor Lock, under I-790 to Utica Marsh. Roughly 1 mile.
  • Park at the end of Barnes Avenue, and hike over abandoned Barnes Avenue Bridge along abandoned junkyard, to Utica Marsh. Roughly 1.5 miles to over look, but views along western marsh when you hike in this way.
  • Kayak from somewheres on Erie Canal (e.g. somewheres around Utica, Whitesboro, Rome) to underneath most westernly I-790 bridge, pull out of water, walk like 100 ft to Marsh overlook.

Window

I didn’t have my kayak with me this particular weekened, so I chose the Park and Ride lot. Nice hike, and you get to check out the Utica Harbor Lock — and actually cross it too. I didn’t particularly care for the gritty urban neighborhood that Barnes Avenue is located in, and didn’t feel safe parking there. So I recommend parking at the North Genesee Avenue Park and Ride Lot, which is just south of the Erie Canal, when you get off the Thruway.

You might want to include this in a kayaking trip along the beautiful Erie Canal in this area. While this is urban Utica, the reality the canal is cut into muck soils of the Mohawk River headwaters, and while much of the land is either landfilled or tiled for agriculture around it, it’s still very beautiful kayak ride with only one lock between South Utica and Rome.

This is a really good trip to make when returning from the Adirondacks in the evening — take NY 12 from NY 28 South to the Thruway. Or if your heading West to East in NY State, not a bad stop for an hour or two. Or you can head North from Madison County on NY 8. All worth the trip!

Harbor Lock Rd Dump

No Wake Sign Along Erie Canal

Powerlines Reflect Into Barge Canal

Utica Harbor Lock

Interconnect Lines Over Utica Marsh

The View Under the I-790 Interchange

I-790 Bridges

Whiteboro-Utica Exit Sign on I-790

Utica Marsh

Gray Evening at the Marsh

Plants at Utica Marsh

Utica Marsh 1

I-790 Windmill Ramp

Edge of Marsh

Railroad Bridge Over Canal

Reflections of the Canal

Pedestrian Bridge Over Canal

Setting Sun

Marshlands

Utica from the Marsh

Hills in Distance Beyond the Marsh

Darking Skies

Setting Sun

Into the Clouds

Marsh Plants

Sunball Lowers

After Dusk in Marsh

Cattails

Under the Bridge

Painted Under the Bridge

NY 49 / I-790 / NY 5 Split

Utica Harbor Lock Tower

Utica Harbor Lock Stats

The Lock

Getting Dark Out

Along the Old Dump

Harbor Lock Trail At Dusk

… I hope you enjoyed these pictures, and do check out this urban preserve.

The Pros and Cons of Getting a Camping Permit

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New York State requires you to get a camping permit if you stay in a spot or a campsite for more then 3 nights. I have never bothered to get a permit, unless the rare times I see a forest ranger, and he asks me to fill out a camping permit. I generally do not get camping permits, because I don’t stay more then 3 nights in any one spot – if I was a hunter, setting up a base camp in big game season – it might be different.

Pros.

  • It shows that you are using the land, providing justification for the DEC to spend more funding on that piece of land versus another piece of land.
  • It’s nice to stay at one site for an extend period, if you plan to stay in that general area, so you don’t have to pick up and remake camp every couple of night.
  • You don’t have to necessarily camp at a designated spot or farther then 150 feet from road or water if you get the permit for another place.
  • In case you are reported lost or injured, the forest ranger knows where to look.
  • There is no charge, and all you have to do give forest ranger a call with your license plate and other basic information.

Tent

Cons.

  • You have to plan where you are going a couple of weeks in advance to give the forest ranger a change to mail you the perm
  • Staying in one place leads to more wear on the campsite.
  • It can be be boring to camp in one site for an extended period.
  • Do you really want to tell the government where your camping, so it can track you?

Camping Down By Otter Brook

… in many ways the cons are longer then the pros.

The First Campfire

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Flicker

One of the things I look forward to is the first campfire of the year. I have not been camping since December, and with temperatures starting to warm up, it seems like the it won’t be long until I’m camping again.

Enjoying the Fire

It all starts by gathering up some tinder and some small kindling wood. Crumbling up some paper, stack some kindling. Get out a match, crack open a beer and maybe some honey roasted peanuts. Sit back on the tailgate or a lawn chair, slowly adding fuel to a good fire gets going.

Warm Campfire

Make some dinner up. Maybe clean up a fish I caught, or something else I brought on in. Fry it up in a cast iron frying pan over the fire, or cook something in a dutch oven. Sit back and listen to the evening news on the radio and maybe some music, as I enjoy dinner.

Cookies Box Go Up in Smoke

Toss some more wood on the fire. Clean up the pots and pans, burn up the dinner’s trash. Turn on the lights, sit back and read a book. Look up at the stars and the moon. Watch the fire roar along as the hour gets late. Sit back, and get ready to call it a night.

Reading in the Rain

… I am so looking forward to warmer weather.