Residents gathered at the Town of Olive Meeting Hall in Shokan on Feb. 24 as the state Department of Environmental Conservation began the process of incorporating a newly acquired 900-acre parcel in Olive into the Sundown Wild Forest.
The session marked the beginning of the amendment process. DEC officials described it as a scoping meeting intended to gather public input before drafting a formal amendment to the 2019 Sundown Wild Forest Unit Management Plan.
The 900-acre acquisition, part of the Catskill Forest Preserve, includes Wagon Wheel Gap, Low Point, Little High Point and one of the best views of the Ashokan Reservoir in the Catskills, according to DEC. The agency said the addition would expand public access to state lands while strengthening long-term natural resource protection.
Pine Roehrs, an environmental program specialist for the DEC, said the amendment will determine how the new lands are classified and managed, and what types of recreational use and infrastructure may be appropriate.
Under the Catskill Park State Land Master Plan, Forest Preserve lands are classified into categories including wilderness and wild forest. The Sundown Wild Forest is managed under the “wild forest” designation, which allows a range of recreational uses including hiking, camping, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and horseback riding.
The Sundown Wild Forest currently contains approximately 30,100 acres across Ulster and Sullivan counties. The unit includes 10 mountains exceeding 2,000 feet in elevation, along with destinations such as Vernooy Kill Falls, the Peekamoose Valley Blue Hole and a section of the 358-mile Long Path.
During the meeting, Roehrs reviewed recent projects authorized under previous planning efforts, including a reroute of a section of the Long Path off public roads and into state land, and infrastructure improvements in the Peekamoose Valley Riparian Corridor intended to improve public safety and reduce roadside congestion.
Much of the public comment period focused on how the DEC should approach access to sensitive features within the newly acquired parcel, particularly Wagon Wheel Gap. Several speakers described the area as fragile and vulnerable to overuse if made easily accessible, warning that a short, highly attractive hike could quickly draw large numbers of visitors.
One resident compared the potential to high-traffic Catskills destinations, cautioning that increased visitation could lead to erosion, safety hazards and pressure for built infrastructure such as railings or barriers.
Public safety concerns were also raised. Chris Winne, chief of the Olive Fire Department, asked whether the DEC intended to create designated trails or allow more open access, saying marked routes could help guide visitors and assist emergency responders during search-and-rescue operations. Others referenced Olive’s draft comprehensive plan, which calls for preserving the town’s rural character, and urged DEC to consider not only ecological impacts but also community capacity and safety when evaluating future infrastructure.
Questions also touched on mountain biking and illegal ATV use. One speaker expressed concern that expanded trail infrastructure in other areas had coincided with unlawful motorized activity and urged DEC to take enforcement challenges into account. DEC staff responded that ATVs are generally not permitted on Forest Preserve lands and that enforcement relies on rangers and partner agencies.
DEC representatives said the newly acquired parcel includes old logging roads but currently has no formal parking access.
Following the Feb. 24 session, DEC opened a public comment period that runs through April 1. After reviewing feedback, the agency will draft an amendment to the 2019 Sundown Wild Forest Unit Management Plan. The draft amendment will be presented at a future public meeting and will be followed by a second 30-day public comment period before final adoption.
Written comments may be mailed to Environmental Program Specialist Pine Roehrs at NYSDEC, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, NY 12561, or emailed to Catskill.Park@dec.ny.gov.
Noah Eckstein is the editor-in-chief of The Overlook. Send correspondence to noah@theoverlooknews.com.