Dutchess County/Putnam County AT Management Committee
New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
Minutes of 171st Meeting
Tuesday, June 17, 2001 7:00 PM East Fishkill Library Alley Conference Room]

Attendance: Ron Rosen, Jane Geisler, Jim Haggett, Salley Decker, Walt Daniels, Mike Arthur, Chris Ferri, Sara Ohlinger (Americorps/Dutchess Land Conservancy), Chris Lane (YRDC Americorps/PLC) (9).

The following items were circulated in the FYA ("For Your Action") collection: President's Retreat (June 21-23, 2002) information -- does anyone have any thoughts, opinions, concerns that Ron Rosen or Jane Daniels should bring to the meeting; Info on work party at RPH Shelter July 12th-14th.; Jim Maluphy (CT/AMC Ten-mile area steward) concerns re Trail Maintenance from Route 22 to Wiley shelter [should we schedule work trip??]

The following items were circulated in the FYI ("For Your Information") collection:: Spring 2002 FROGS newsletter; NPS Environmental Review Project List from Don Owen; Group Use Permit for New Milford High School (May 17-18)-cancelled due to weather; Dutchess County Planning Federation newsletter; May 23 water testing results (Sara Ohliger) ALL 4 NEGATIVE; NPS Rivers and Trails Program update and brochure "Working with Communities" ; AMC Southern New England Trails Office new address; Poughkeepsie Journal article 5/30 featuring area hikes (Jane Geisler & Ron Rosen mentioned); CT/AMC Trails meeting 6/4/02 Agenda and May 7, 2002 meeting minutes; Inquiry to NYNJTC & Walt Daniels' answer regarding information posted at shelters, etc.; International Coastal Cleanup announcement for September 21, 2002; Dutchess County Tourism's new website announcement; Articles forwarded by Neil Zimmerman on ATV trails and National Scenic Trail acquisition funding; June 6 NYNJTC Trails Council agenda; NYNJTC ATV Problem Report on Hammersley Ridge; Request from Bob Demchuk to assist with saving Merritt Park (Putnam County); PIPC meeting/hearing on Storm King reopening [postponed to July 25th]; Incident Report near Power Lines near Long Hill Road [6/7/02 Marijuana Plants]; Scenic Hudson Action Alert re Bottle Bill [program was on 6/15].

The meeting was brought to order by Chair Ron Rosen at 7:15 PM.

1. The minutes of the 170th meeting, Apr 29, 2002, were approved as published.
2. Meeting Centerpiece: Sara Ohliger presented a Power Point slide show filling us in on her full range of activities in her Americorps position with the Dutchess Land Conservancy. She first explained the overall activities of DLC, and then showed some of her work as Watershed Educator.
3. Other business, short updates, etc.:
1. Acquisitions and Survey update
• Walt Daniels reviewed the recent flurry of Emails concerning the Gilbert Property near Dennytown Road, south and east of South Highland Road. This property borders the AT, but at a location where Walt believes the corridor is already sufficiently wide and there are no viewshed issues. The committee showed no interest in pursing this property, and Walt suggested that a conservation buyer be solicited.
• Canopus Hill Road / Inoculation Station/Camp area: Walt knows of recent no action, but he believes that we are awaiting action by Don Owen to have an NPS archaeologist review the property and recommend a boundary line of the area of interest. Ron will check with Don this coming weekend at the ATC Presidents' meeting, and Walt will Email Don to confirm the project status.
• Ron has received an Email from Guy Hasler, who lives adjacent to the corridor on West Dover Road, indicating that Starkdale Farms (at least 225 acres north from the corridor to the Dover Town Line on both sides of West Dover Road} may be up for sale and development. Ron will check with Bob Williams at the Presidents' meeting. This property includes the land immediately north of the top of Corbin Hill where we attempted planting a tree buffer.
• During recent conversations with Brad King (adjacent landowner near Hoyt Road/CT line), Ron discovered that Camp Siwanoy has probably been sold to a private owner. Ron has been in touch with Donna Hearn, who lives immediately adjacent to the Camp and our easement on Deuel Hollow Road, and Donna checked with reliable contacts, determining that the buyer is probably Tudor(sp?) Jones. Mr. Jones has also been interested in property in the Quaker Hill section of Pawling, and his intent is not yet clear. He appears to intend to keep the parcel intact, but his plans are at best unclear. Brad King was aware of the situation only because a Real Estate Agent acting on behalf of the buyer had contacted him (Brad) to see if he was interested in selling some of his land for access from Siwanoy into Connecticut. The committee agreed that we should seek upgrading of our entire easement(s) at Camp Siwanoy to NPS fee ownership, perhaps including widening the acquisition closer to the 1000' standard. Ron will discuss this issue with Pam Underhill and Karen Lutz at the Presidents' meeting this weekend. Jane Geisler pointed out that we should also obtain a legal Right of Way to the Wiley Shelter well. Similarly, we should consider NPS acquisition of the former camp dump, which is immedately adjacent to the trail as it drops from Deuel Hollow Road to the bridge on Deuel Hollow Brook. The scouts either removed or buried the remaining materials at the dump--NPS would need to determine what may still be buried before acquiring the parcel. However, the site is now esentially level and a potential building site, coming within 40' of the trail itself.
• The question arose as to whether the additional boundary survey work by the Hartmann firm been started yet. Ron will try to determine the answer to this question at the Presidents meeting.
2. DOT project update: Jim Haggett reported that he has no date yet from DOT on the remaining work on the trail itself. Recently, he was contacted by Pat Tepper of Elevation Films for assistance in a short film intended to document the DOT environmental initiatives, specifically the. Miller Hill Road/Taconic Parkway/AT improvement project. Jim recruited Jane Geisler, Ron and Marilyn Rosen, Ralph Ferrusi and the daughter of the owner of Mountain Top Deli to appear in the film. One segment was filmed at the Mt. Top Deli featuring the owner and Ralph conversing. An interview with Ralph was conducted on a rock near the AT bridge south of the Taconic crossing, and the various "hikers" were filmed walking near the intersection on the trail.
3. Water Testing & Water Project Update - Sara's round of water tests conducted in mid-May all passed! Also, Sara completed the June testing round today. Jane Geisler referred the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Authority to Ron Rosen to consider the possibility of their setting up a monitoring station at the Yegella Farm well.The Authority would like to identify unused bedrock wells in certain watersheds for monitoring the water table level and rainfall levels, using sensors, a rain guage, and a data logger device. One such site is in the Swamp River watershed, and the Yegella Well is right in this zone. Ron has had conversations with a representative of the Authority and the Engineering firm working on the project. They may also be interested in the Peni well site. In each case, they will need to uncap the well and set up their monitoring equipment in and/or near the well. Ron warned them that the Yegella well may have two problems: (1) the concrete pad is slated for removal some time in the next year [any sensistive equipment might need to be removed while work is underway], and (2) the SUP holder grazes animals (cattle, sheep, horses, etc.) in this field and the equipment may need to be protected from the animals. Ron will check with Pete Irvine, Karen Lutz, and others at the Presidents' meeting to determine their willingness to cooperate with this program.
4. Telephone Line at Dover Oak Tree: After a period of no activity, Ron has received a phone call from a Right-of-way representative of Verizon, who would like to proceed quickly with this project. The representative will fax a drawing to Don Owen, and Ron will further discuss the proposal with Don at the Presidents' meeting. Verizon needs to create an access point, about 150' north of the AT crossing, from West Dover Road to the pole line ROW. They plan to install a gate and harden the surface below the gate to prevent erosion triggered by their vehicles at the road shoulder. Walt Daniels mentioned that he has remeasured the Dover Oak tree for the new edition of the AT Guidebook, and the tree is currently 20 '3" in circumference at breast height, and 170 feet in diameter at its crown.
5. Public Lands Corps summer 2002 plans: Chris Lane outlined the present status of the PLC project. He and Jessi Grillo have been hired as the Americorps crew leaders, and they recently (June 7th) received field training from Chris Florack of ATC. Jessi has previously served with Scenic Hudson in an Americorps position, and already has some relevant experience. Incidentally, during their training, they discovered a small plot of Marijuana plants growing adjacent to the corridor. An incident report was filed and the authorities contacted, but the plants were removed within twenty-four hours by unknown persons. They will be interviewing and hiring crew members in the next two weeks, and the summer crew will be in the field from July 8 through August 13.The crew will consist of six youth aged 14-15. Chris asked for priorities for work sites, and the Committee recommended that they repaint the boundary on Schaghticoke mountain. Jane Geisler and Salley Decker pointed out they should talk with Mrs. O'Laughlin, the adjacent landowner to the north on East Mountain Road, at 832-3165 prior to working onsite. Walt Daniels requested that the crew paint out the yellow blazes on the boundary between the NPS lands and the State Park land on Canada Hill, which has been a source of confusion to hikers in the area who attempt to follow the "Yellow Trail" in the area. Ron and Walt will work with the PLC leaders to confirm other areas that should be painted, and Ron will work with them to determine where the "No Hunting" signs should be installed.
6. Alvarez encroachment (Hosner Mtn.) Follow-up:

   Bob Gray, the NPS AT ranger, has sent us an Email indicating that a contract will be needed for work to kill the Alanthus (Tree of Heaven) thriving at the site. It is not clear if the project includes any new plantings; Ron will check with Bob for a clarification on this aspect.

7. Picnic meeting, July 29th: Those present agreed that we should hold the picnic/potluck meeting at the RPH shelter site, and we should invite maintainers and other volunteers. Those planning to attend can contact Ron Rosen and indicate what they plan to bring. Most people can just bring what they have brought in the past.
8. Gerry Richardson's Project -- Display: Gerry could not be present for this meeting, so he sent an E-mail report. Sara Ohliger will staff the booth on July 29th until she leaves for the Picnic at RPH (about 5:45 PM) on Monday, and the full time (3-7) on Thursday, August 1st. Ron will be there also to help set up on 7/29. Walt Daniels has reserved the NYNJTC traveling exhibit and will pick it up at the Trail Conference office in advance and bring it to Van Wyck school or get it to Ron or Sara in advance. Others are welcome to assist in staffing the booth.
9. Other items: Walt Daniels needs the supervisors to give him revisions to the AT Guide at this meeting, as all stock of the current guide has been exhausted and rapid reprinting is needed. Ron asked the supervisors to stay and work with Walt immediately after the meeting has been adjourned. Walt will forward the revised text to Robert Rubin at ATC later this week. Areas that Walt has determined need revision include the descriptions of the trail at Graymoor, the Taconic Parkway corssing, the Nuclear Lake Loop Trail, and the Bulls Bridge area in Connecticut. The location of the Wingdale Post Office has changed and the change should be reflected in the guidebook.

4. Reports -- Area Supervisors Summaries:

   Jane Geisler reported that she received rumors that a Boy Scout group lit a fire in the field adjacent to Guy Hasler's house near West Dover Road, but an onsite inspection failed to turn up any evidence. She has been contacted by leaders at Camp Ramah, who would like to do a service project on the trail, probably in July. She plans to deploy them for work in the field near Hoyt Road and perhaps to do additional hauling of the old puncheon planking from the Swamp River area. Ron mentioned the Email he received from Jim Malumphy (CT/AMC Ten-mile area steward), and she will investigate the status of the trail from Route 22 to Hoyt Road. She suspects the primary problem areas may be the Nature Conservancy field above the Lockwood Field, and the area near the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Jane will contact the maintainers to confirm that they have checked these areas recently.

   Frank Dogil was not present.

   Mike Arthur indicated he has nothing new to report.

   Jim Haggett commented that he encountered four college boys from Texas at the RPH shelter, who arrived by plane in the area with hardly a clue as to the trail's specifics. Otherwise, he had nothing to report not otherwise included above.

   Walt Daniels - reported that a small East Hudson Trail Crew (2) workied on Canopus Hill a week ago Saturday. They accomplished , one short relo (about 50') around a hazardous rock, one rock crib, and two water bars. He reported on the Eagle Scout project to replace the puncheon in the Horse Pasture west of Route 9. Apparently J&J Log and Lumber is providing the rough-sawn oak stock for the project, and their mill saw has been broken, hanging up the project for a while. He believes the saw has been fixed and work on the project should resume shortly. Walt noted he and his wife Jane (NYNJTC President) will be on vacation June 29th through July 12th [hiking the AT!].

5. The meeting was adjourned at 9:14; then supervisors worked with Walt Daniels to make changes and corrections for the new AT Guide to NY and NJ.

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