News: Catskill Park Advisory Committee Approves Charter And Thanks Regional Fire Fighters

From the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference:

Catskill Park Advisory Committee Approves Charter - Thanks Regional Fire Fighters

May 12th, 2015 - ARKVILLE, New York---The Catskill Park Advisory Committee announced today the approval of its first organizational charter, establishing guidelines for its voting members and advisory groups. The organization, in operation informally for a number of years, was established by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, in consultation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Jeff Senterman of the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference and acting Committee Chair said, “The approval of Catskill Park Advisory Committee’s charter is a big step in bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the Catskill Park to collaborate on opportunities and face challenges together.  Since its creation, the Committee has been a forum to address issues important to the Park and an opportunity to have interdisciplinary discussions.  Many thanks to the agency representatives, organizations and volunteers who have helped create and grow the Committee.  I look forward to working with the Committee in the future.”

 “In response to one of the largest forest fires in the Catskills in recent memory, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers, State Police and the many, many volunteers from local Fire Departments deserve a huge amount of gratitude for their efforts.  They tackled a fire in very difficult terrain and worked together, bringing resources from a number of different agencies to contain the fire and prevent it from impacting residences and public recreation facilities.  It is my honor, both personally and on behalf of the Catskill Park Advisory Committee to say thank you to everyone who took part in fighting the fire on Hunter Mountain this spring.”

The purpose of the Committee is to provide assistance, advice and guidance to the Department, New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other land managers in the management of the NY State Forest Preserve, the Catskill Park and recreational uses of watershed land.

Approval of the charter was the Committee’s first act, followed by an official act of gratitude towards our region’s firefighters, thanking them for the tremendous work they’ve done to control recent forest fires. The first of which had consumed roughly 150 acres near Heavenly Hollow. That fire was suppressed with assistance from the Office of Emergency Management as well as the New Brunswick Fire Department. We also thanked firefighters in DEC Region 3 who’d suppressed at least 2,759 acres of fire in the Shawagunks. Local volunteers were immensely helpful in controlling the fire, along with support from Red Cross and a local Dunkin’ Donuts franchise, that provided meals for the volunteers.

The Catskill Park Advisory Committee (CPAC) was established by the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development and the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference in consultation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Committee seeks to provide assistance, advice and guidance to DEC, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and other land managers in the management of the New York State Forest Preserve, the Catskill Park and the Catskill Watershed.