The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will host a public information session to answer questions and provide information on a recently finalized habitat management plan for Upper and Lower Lakes Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in DEC Region 6, Town of Canton, St. Lawrence County.

The area is located on an important waterfowl migration route between eastern Canada and the Atlantic Coast. The upland portion of the WMA consists of woodland, small blocks of conifers, shrub land, grassland, and agricultural land.

The session will take place on Thursday, December 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at SUNY Potsdam, in the eighth (8th) floor meeting room, Raymond Hall. The meeting will begin with an open session with DEC staff; the presentation is at 7 pm. The public will have the opportunity to ask questions during the open session and after the presentation.

Recreational activities available in the area include bird watching, wildlife observation, trapping, fishing, and hunting. The plan also incorporates aspects of DEC’s Young Forest Initiative, which aims to establish a minimum of 10 percent of the forested acreage on WMAs as young forest over the next decade, and to manage for young forests in perpetuity.

DEC has been managing forests on WMAs to improve wildlife habitat for many years and is increasing efforts to raise awareness about this type of habitat management.

The habitat management plan for Upper and Lower Lakes WMA can be found here. For more information call Erik Latremore, Division of Fish and Wildlife, (315) 785-6457 or email Information.R6@dec.ny.gov.

Free parking for the December 8th meeting is available in campus Lot #1. A SUNY Potsdam campus map can be found here.