The Three Lakes Tract is an area of commercially managed forestland, composed of northern hardwood forest, Hitchcock, Grass, and Moose Ponds. It shares around 4.1 miles of boundaries with the State Forest Preserve lands (the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness and Independence River wild Forest) as well as 2.5 miles with the Big Moose Tract Conservation Easement.

Until January 13, The NYS DEC will be seeking public input on the development of a draft Recreation Management Plan (RMP) for the Three Lakes Tract Conservation Easement. The conservation easement is privately owned and extends over 3,350 acres in the town of Webb, in Herkimer County.

Recreation Management Plans keep track of both natural and man-made resources on conservation easements. They are valuable in determining the future of public recreation in accordance with the protection of natural resources, and honoring the terms agreed upon in the conservation easement. Once completed, a draft of the Three Lakes Tract RMP will be made available for public comment.

The DEC, at bequest of the landowner has already opened 4.7 miles of snowmobile trails across the property, which plugs into the surrounding snowmobile trail network. Under the conservation easement, the DEC maintains the right to upkeep public snowmobile and hiking trails, and to allow for public hunting, fishing, trapping, camping, paddling, cross-country skiing and horseback riding.

Members of the public are encouraged to provide DEC with suggestions and comments relating to development of the Three Lakes Tract RMP. Comments should be submitted by Jan. 13, 2021, to: Matthew Nowak; Environmental Program Specialist, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, 7327 State Route 812, Lowville, NY 13367; or email: r6.ump@dec.ny.gov.

Information relating to the Three Lakes Tract Conservation Easement is available on the DEC website. The tract is shown on the “Independence River Wild Forest Map East.”