Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 169th Meeting
Tuesday, March 12, 2001 7:00 PM East Fishkill Library Cross Conference Room

Attendance: Ron Rosen, Jane Geisler, Jim Haggett, Frank Dogil, Mike Arthur, Fred Gerty, Salley Decker, Walt Daniels, Pete Senterman, Karen Lutz (ATC), Don Owen (NPS), Dick Redfield, Gerry Richardson, Sara Ohliger (count=14).

The meeting was called to order by Chair Ron Rosen at approximately 7:10PM in the Rotunda area of the Library (the staff had double-scheduled the Cross Conference Room).

The following FYA ("For Your Action") items were circulated [action items indicated in brackets]: New Corridor and Boundary Monitoring forms from Chris Florack (ATC): [please make comments on back!]; any projects for Chris Florack re boundary maintenance? [list on back]; Student Kimberly Zaleski request re historical AT Putnam County maps [Walt Daniels has already responded]; Mitzvah Day brochure [indicate if you will help with projects].

2. Meeting Centerpiece: Don Owen of the National Park Service AT Park Office presented a slideshow of cultural resources along the AT, including a large variety of structures including bridges, shelters, monuments and memorials, farmscapes, and many more.. He explained that a number of the AT features are now eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and that the Trail (and/or the Trail Project) itself may be a candidate for inclusion as well. He briefly described the NPS’ development of a plan for managing cultural and natural resources along the A.T., including developing a list of cultural resources and projects related to cultural resources that would then be circulated for comment and thereafter prioritized for implementation. Karen Lutz mentioned that there is a "pot of money" that is/will be dedicated for these Resource Assessment and Management projects. Gerry requested historical help for his meeting

3. Other items, updates, etc.

1. Acquisitions and Survey update: Ron reviewed the known additions that the Committee is aware of for tracts that should be included in the new round of Hartmann surveys. Possible additions include 278-28 (Kelly) on Hosner Mountain, the Lillis property at the North end of Schaghticoke, the DOT acquisition at the Taconic Parkway (north end, if not already done by DOT), resurvey/correction of the I-84 overlook area, the "Internal" boundary between 267-26 [CMH] and the Nature Conservancy north boundary (this is a fee/easement boundary), and 268-44 Unknown Owner on Corbin Hill. Other issues for discussion with the Lands office are the possible production of "merged" survey maps [so monitors don’t need a set of Mounts maps AND a set of Hartmann maps], and confirmation that the Youngwood acquisition [267-23] is in fact complete. Discussion of the status of 277-28 near Curry Pond led to the question of the status of the Colt Dam closing – Don Owen will do some checking and let us know more information. Ron indicated that it appears that the question of whether a willing seller exists for any of the Camp Ludington property on Depot Hill [adjacent to 270-07/22] seems to be heading to a "NO" conclusion—that the wrong Girl Scout council was contacted and a misunderstanding led to the possible acquisition.
2. DOT project update: Jim Haggett had nothing new to report. He noted that DOT had promised work on the steep eroding trail section would be done in either Fall 2001 or Spring 2002, and they now seem to be putting this off to LATE spring 2002.
3. Water Testing Update, RPH and Yegella Farm plans. Sara reported that the last two tests have been good. During her most recent testing round, should could not get the RPH handle to move. In a review of the RPH well upgrade/repair, Walt indicated we may need to break up concrete in the base, as George Muller is fairly certain the pit has a concrete bottom. After some discussion of alternatives, the committee prefers contracting the whole job. Ron Rosen joined Michele Miller and Pete Irvine on February 13th to visit the Yegella farm site where the money NPS received from the Hosner Mountain clear-cut incident will be applied to remove the old water system pieces. In addition to removing the foundation from the old spring house, the project will include extending the electric fence to protect the stream/outflow from the spring house from the cattle-grazing area, and perhaps provide a single drinking site for the cattle so they will not pollute the stream willy-nilly. The other part of the project is the removal of the well house structure closer to the trail. Pete Irvine has strongly recommended removal of the well head and closing of the well. However, the Committee is strongly committed to keeping the capped well for possible future use. It was noted that we have another similar capped well (at the Peni house site), and that future technology may permit successful use of these wells if needed. Since the closing would be permanent, such action would preclude the future possibility of using these wells (given a defined need and a future consensus that provision of water for hikers is an ATC/NPS/DPATMC priority). Ron will communicate the Committee’s strong feeling to the NPS.
4. Telephone Line at Dover Oak Tree update: Ron Rosen reported that he has been contacted by a different staff person at Verizon (Bob Drost, the ROW manager, at 845-471-4503). Our original contacts have either left the company or have been reassigned. Bob is working with their engineering staff to plan moving the new poles to the current pole line’s ROW. Ron explained to Bob that we had agreed to provide an access point to the ROW, and that Verizon had agreed to cover the ocst of a fence and gate at/near the access area, which is roughly opposite Ernie Hasler’s driveway.
5. Possibility of having a ridgerunner this summer: Ron explained that Emails and conversations with Walt Daniels in advance of this meeting make it clear that the NYNJTC Board does not intend to pursue this option, and were it to do so, would put ridgerunners on other trails than the AT as higher priority sites. Ron had inquired at YRDC to see if an Americorps position might be possible, and had determined that (all other issues aside) that it would have still been possible to proceed this year through Americorps, and the host site would need to provide about $3,500 in funding. This project will be tabled for this summer. The original suggestion came from the Orange/Rockland AT committee, primarily to pursue/avoid ATV and similar incursions. [See below concerning other ATV problems].
6. Inoculation Station site update: Walt, Ron, Karen, and Don met today with Jim Johnson to review the site. In addition to the inoculation station, the site review revealed a dam/water wheel site that is also on the NPS corridor. The neighboring site where soldiers stayed (the name is being revised from the Hempstead huts to the Hampshire huts, as it is now believed that the primary occupants were soldiers from New Hampshire) does not seem to include any problem structures. The recommendation to the Committee is that various approaches to public acquisiton of the site be pursued in parallel, including a possible donation/bargain sale of the site, state and/or federal grant funds for acquisition, or NPS acquisition. The field visit revealed that it may be worth extending the possible acquisition to include the fire road that was cut about 10-15 years ago, so that we can block that access route to the corridor to prevent ATV and similar incursions. The Committee recommends that the acquisition of this site proceed; Don Owen will arrange for an NPS archeologist to better define the specific area of interest from a historical/cultural perspective.
7. Problems, incursions, etc.: We have been informed by Chris DeCintio, DEC ranger, that one of the large rocks that was installed at the Baker site on Depot Hill was moved by persons unknown. It was suggested that we ask the original contractor, Colbert Construction, if he will install a replacement rock, perhaps at no cost to ATC/NPS. Ron will contact the firm. We have received notification that Mr. Orsetti has applied to the Town of East Fishkill to build a riding stable next to the RPH site. Pam Underhill wrote a letter objecting to some of the specifics—the site map includes some land that Orsetti has sold to the NPS, and the project would be a large problem for us if clients were able to use the AT for riding. During the meeting, other concerns were identified that we should pass to the Town, including building setbacks, problems that might arise from lighting, noise, smell, and dust (since we have an overnight facility immediately adjacent), and building color [encourage earth tones] as a scenic issue.

4. Reports

1. Area Supervisors Summaries:

   Jane Geisler reported that she gave a slide presentation on the AT to the Unionvale Historical Society. She suggested we reword the ATV message in our brochure to include not using AT lands, not just the Trail itself. She noted that Pat Collela has reported one or more beavers active at the Swamp River area, and three trees are down; we may need to remove the debris. She suggested we consider informational signs regarding the Dover Oak tree at Dutchess County Route 20, in part to prevent possible future problems like the Verizon pole line. She has arranged for coverage for the Mitzvah Day project at the Swamp River site for April 28th. Jane and Salley mentioned that CT/AMC plans to work on Schaghticoke Mountain on March 23rd to begin dealing with the fire damage, and they plan to do touch-up work on the blazing this spring also.

   Frank Dogil reported new ATV activity on Corbin Hill, from the north on the ridge [via a logging road] down to the tree-planting area in the upper field. Ron will check our supply of "yellow meanie" signs and let Frank know what is available. As we discussed the "theme" of several new ATV incursions, Walt Daniels noted that the NYNJTC (and others) are planning an ATV "pow-wod" on April 19th to develop a strategy for dealing with this increasing problem. ATV problems seems to wane over the last years, and just this winter have taken a major upturn.

   Mike Arthur reported that he has a crew tentatively planning to move Telephone Pioneer privy and fill the old privy site.

   Jim Haggett noted that ATV problems have appeared at the I-84 overlook, Kim Lane (Stormville Mountain), and the Power line near the Messerschmitt cabin. He also discussed the 1.2 million square foot Industrial Park being proposed for the vicinity of Interstate 84 and Lime Kiln Road. He met briefly with Don Owen, Karen Lutz, Ron Rosen, and Walt Daniels at the site this afternoon, and will continue to monitor plans for the site. Additional review will occur in the various East Fishkill boards, and we will have additional opportunities for expressing our concerns. His picture, taken from the trail on Hosner Mountain, indicates this project could be a major visual intrusion in the foreground scenic view from the Trail, even though we are not an "immediate" neighbor of this project.

   Walt Daniels had nothing new to report.

2. Other reports: Gerry Richardson gave a Town of Beekman update. He has now made two presentations to the town government. The town recreation commission is looking for more recreation opportunities; a recent town newsletter specifically mentioned Nuclear Lake as a possible additional site. Gerry is also working with the town on designating two parking areas for trail access: Indian Pass [his home vicinity] and Gardiner Hollow Road.

Submitted by Walt Daniels with post-processing support by Ron Rosen.