Members of the public have an opportunity to express their views on a comprehensive plan to manage more than 7,000 acres of state-owned land across three Southern Tier counties.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is encouraging public feedback on the Great Divide Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP).
The Great Divide Unit consists of three wildlife management areas and six state forests in Steuben, Schuyler, and Chemung counties, totaling 7,308 acres of public lands that are open to fishing, hunting, hiking and other outdoor recreation.
The draft UMP is designed to enhance and monitor wildlife diversity and protect plant and animals that are designated as rare and endangered species.
The plan also creates a balance of vegetative types and stages by the sale of timber resources, along with the creation and maintenance of grassland and wetland habitats, DEC said. The draft UMP also allows for monitoring for and removing invasive exotic plants and animals.
“The draft Great Divide Unit Management Plan establishes management goals and objectives for lands and waters for the next decade,” said DEC Region 8 Director Timothy P. Walsh. “Public input is essential to help make decisions on managing these areas for public enjoyment and resource protection.”
State lands included in the Great Divide UMP include three wildlife management areas — the Big Flats, Erwin and Catharine Creek Marsh WMAs, along with the Catlin, Erwin Hollow, Erwin Mountain, Maple Hill, McCarthy Hill and Texas Hollow state forests.
Residents can review the 175-page draft plan online at dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2025-06/greatdivideump.pdf.
DEC will host a public meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. July 16 at the Horseheads Free Library, 405 S. Main St. in Horseheads.
Interpreter services for hearing impaired people and translation services for people with limited English skills will be available at the meeting, at no charge, upon request. Requests must be received by July 3 and can be submitted via email to language@dec.ny.gov. For more information, call 518-402-8044.
DEC will also accept public comments until Aug. 18. Comments can be mailed to Gretchen Cicora, supervising forester, NYSDEC State Land Management, 7291 Coon Road, Bath, N.Y. 14810. Comments can also be emailed to RR8.ump@dec.ny.gov.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: DEC seeks public input on management plan for vast stretch of Southern Tier public lands
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
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