The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking public for input prior to developing a revision to the Pepperbox Wilderness Unit Management Plan (UMP). A public meeting will be held on February 27, in Lowville, Lewis County.

The Pepperbox Wilderness is a unique unit within the surrounding forest preserve landscape, which includes the Five Ponds Wilderness, Independence River Wild Forest and Watsons East Triangle Wild Forests. It is comprised of approximately 22,560 acres in in the western Adirondack foothills in the town of Watson in Lewis County and the town of Webb in Herkimer County. The area is scattered with numerous small ponds, streams and wetland systems.

The Pepperbox Wilderness UMP public informational meeting will be held on February 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at NYSDEC 7327 State Route 812, Lowville.

In addition, a 45-day comment period will open on February 27 and end on April 11, 2019. Comments can be submitted by mail to Matthew Nowak, DEC Environmental Program Specialist, at the NYSDEC Lowville address, or by email r6.ump@dec.ny.gov or by phone (315) 376-3521.

An online survey is also a public option. When complete, a draft of the UMP revisions will be released for another public comment period. Learn more about the Pepperbox Wilderness UMP.

Map provided by Adirondack Atlas.