Dutchess/Putnam AT 2004 Goals

HIGH PRIORITY “Plus”

1. Fill out Monitor ranks [ongoing]–catalog vacancies!
2. Graymoor Friary–yearly availability to be determined
22. RPH Well -
a. Determined we are waiting for Michelle at ATC.
b. Bottom of well was concrete, does need to be bashed.
c. MAJOR PRIORITY! ATC needs to get quotes!
16. Determine status of Caretaker Agreement for Nuclear Lake...seems lost at NPS...
46. Work with NPS and ATC to acquire Revolutionary Hut Site property on Canopus Hill Road adjacent to Inoculation Station
* See if we can locate an Archaeologist to speed activity on this project!

High Priority

3. Management Plan 5 year update - Walt is completing GPS of trail features; discuss at 3/04 meeting.
* [former 18.] Update management plan text to include road crossing sign(s).
4. Resolution of remaining acquisitions and survey needs --
a. determine if any planned acquisitions are not yet complete
b. Determine status of surveying of “internal” borders between fee/easement holdings
19. Review of water supply issues [ongoing]... Fall 2003 review not done–needs comprehensive review of continuing problems!
21. HVPC ATV access...Still more work to be done on this:
* Walt Daniels will undertake GPS tracking in Spring 2004; Frank Dogil’s sketch mapping is essentially complete
21a. Depot Hill Access Road - locks and keys. Mike Arthur was unable to find them, and we need to request new locks and keys
* Ron will follow through with the request ASAP!
21b. Jane Geisler needs to install a lock at Hoyt Road ....
* Confirm whether it really need to be locked [presumably yes, if there is no SUP agreement] – review with Jane Geisler in early 2004
* Key may not operate the lock provided; Jane to bring the hardware to Ron 3/04
20. Verizon Route 20 project – underway [was not completed in 2003]
24. Upgrade well pads - [Concrete base under well, so splash water goes away from well and doesn’t go back down hole] YRDC did improvements to Wiley in October 2003. Similar work needed at Morgan Stewart.
*Mike Arthur will check with Pete Senterman to see what he has done/can do...
* [Proposed as new#45] Also design pad for Messerschmitt well platform!
25. Bulletin board redesign and replacement–Boy Scout Troop 40 Eagle Candidate will do 3 boards [RPH, Route 52, Depot Hill Road] in 2004, YRDC plans to do additional boards.
27. Have another look at Hiller Brook realignment possibilities and debris removal -
a. we can do debris removal. HIGH PRIORITY. [possible Group Project for 2004]
b. Possible East Hudson Crew project?? Summer/fall?
c. It was suggested that we manage the area as a grassland bird habitat.
d. We should attempt to locate a new farmer to keep the area between the train tracks and the boardwalk open.
e. [Former 38] Look at ballast on RR crossing at Hiller Brook/Swamp River. When Metro North last did track work, they did not install enough ballast to allow for vehicles to cross the tracks.
* Ron will contact local farmer Dykeman (West Dover Road) to see if he is interested.
* Contact FROGS (the “Friends of the Great Swamp” group) to see if they can work with us on mowing the site if we cannot find a farmer (Jim Utter suggested we should do it).
* [had been new: #41] We need to determine if debris in Hiller Brook is causing additional flooding near W end of existing boardwalk, and determine if extending the boardwalk/puncheon is desirable. If so, need to begin permitting process with DEC [and others?]
28. Steps for west side of County 20...Mike Arthur has people for this, but waiting for materials [preferably, Verizon will leave us the old phone poles]
* Scheduled as part of Mitzvah Day 4/25/04
47. [New 1/04] 500+ feet of puncheon/boardwalk needed at north end of Hammersley Ridge (town of Dover) from the green trail to the yellow trail
44. Overall weak blazing along trail – 2004 priority
* See if Ralph Ferrusi would like to organize a blaze update day for maintainers!

Medium Priority

12. West Dover Oak protection from parking...
a. Determine who has jurisdiction over the area...
b. Jane Geisler has checked with the Highway Superintendent–may provide signs.
c. May need to check with County DPW since it is a county road through Pawling.
d. Consider hiker signs?
33. Open Field mowing: ONGOING project–I84 overlook probably needs mowing in 2004. We should check with Michele on Corbin Hill top field.
39. Add a Pawling side trail– now that the Town of Pawling has purchased Holiday Hills YMCA, reopen discussions with the Town to implement a side trail from Telephone Pioneers shelter to Holiday Hills, and perhaps to Murrow Park.
43. Route 52 Parking Lot–erosion problems [both AT and side trail from parking]:
*2004: Study Problem, determine best handling.

Medium/Low Priority

14. D/P AT Brochure: Were able to go through 2003 with existing stock of D/P brochure– pick up in 2004 for Fall 2004 [change address for TC, etc.]; NYNJTC needs to budget for this for October 2004.
* Brochure should make it clear that use of ATV’s on the CORRIDOR is unacceptable!
*Perhaps contact Eastern Mountain Sports to be a sponsor, given they have a new store in Poughkeepsie???
40. Work with DOT to convert the hiker crossing signs at major roads to the new bright yellow design.–need to contact the current Regional Maintenance Engineer.

Low Priority

29. Planning for buildings for Messerschmitt.
30. Wheelchair Access for Nuclear Lake, using access road to dam area.
32. Improve parking areas for Long Hill Road:
a. Consider gravel fill... Some down by Town in 2003.
b. Have ATC look at this and its possible closing, perhaps a Gate. Need to check with Town of East Fishkill.
35. Parking around Old Route 55/Route 55 intersection.– Jane continues to research this...
23. Hoyt Road relo...may not be necessary since it’s dried out?
a. Easy to make relo if weather conditions are okay.
b. Horseback riding caused the major problems.
42. [suggested by Tim Messerich and Mark Hudson] Tent platform(s) at Stewart; iceberging [to keep tents in designated sites]

HOLD (No action planned at present, but project may resurface)

11. Schagticoke -
a. Maintainer/monitor access– land purchased and surveyed 2003
b. Road gating( at both ends of where road comes out of park service land-- needs gating to try and limit ATV use.
* 11/03: Move to HOLD status–may be impractical and/or unnecessary?
13. Nuclear Lake interpretational sign... HOLD for now [early 2004]

HOLD–DROPPED PROJECT

15. Nuclear Lake Campsite...MOVED TO PERMANENT HOLD– THIS PROJECT DROPPED!
* concerns with sanitation and water supply issues
31. Research alternative privy designs for RPH, HELD due to extreme cost

Completed

17. Routed AT crossing signs...
**. Canopus Hill waterbars, sidehilling
**. Taconic Parkway approach–complete repair of new trail route
5. Cleanup of Hiller Brook old boardwalk materials - Completed during May 4, 2003 Mitzvah Day; materials still remain in foundation east of Railroad tracks.
8. TP Shelter Privy relo completed November 8, 2003
10. Corbin Hill Planting (done) for 2003 - survival status of top Corbin Hill field plantings-- about 1/3
37. Middle-height bridge railing for the Duell Hollow bridge. [Done in early 2003]
36. Gutter for Wiley shelter.. Completed 10/2003
34. Relocation around Old Route 55, near Peni house site. Done 2003 Jim Haggett.
4c. [Remaining survey needs] Confirmed survey completed for additional Schagticoke acquisition(s) [done in 2003].

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