DEC is accepting public comments through May 5
By Gwendolyn Craig
Motorcycles and e-bikes could soon be allowed on a road traversing the Moose River Plains in Hamilton and Herkimer counties, according to a draft state regulation.
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is also proposing to reduce the horsepower of boats allowed on the Cedar River Flow in the same part of the Adirondacks.
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The proposal is out for public comment until May 5.
Where is the Moose River Plains?
The Moose River Plains Complex is 79,487 acres in the southwestern part of the Adirondack Park. It includes a wilderness area, wild forest area and an intensive use area. Wilderness is the state’s most protected land classification where motor vehicles are not allowed. Wild Forest and intensive use areas allow for more use and development.
The DEC’s proposed rulemaking impacts the Moose River Plains Wild Forest and the Moose River Plains Intensive Use Area in the towns of Arietta, Inlet, Lake Pleasant, Long Lake, Morehouse, Webb and Ohio.
Related reading: Mountain biking in the Moose River Plains
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What is the DEC proposing?
The DEC plans to:
- Remove an existing requirement for visitors to register at the Cedar River and Limekiln Lake entrances;
- Permit the use of motorcycles and bicycles with electric assist on the 18.1-mile Limekiln Lake-Cedar River Road;
- Implement a speed limit of 25 miles per hour; and
- Implement a horsepower restriction of boats on the Cedar River Flow to those with 10 horsepower or less.
Why is the DEC proposing these changes?
In 2011, the state adopted a management plan for the Moose River Plains Wild Forest and Intensive Use Area. The DEC’s proposed regulation was part of that management plan.
Many public and natural resource protections have changed since 1963 when the state first acquired the land, the DEC said in its impact statement. The DEC listed the following reasons for the proposed rule changes:
- The road, which is maintained by the Hamilton County Department of Public Works, is in better condition;
- The road is more frequently used;
- Motor vehicle technology has improved;
- E-bikes have since been developed;
- Cell phones and service in the area assist with the public’s safety; and
- Numerous side roads in poor condition have been closed.
The department said the horsepower restriction for boats on the Cedar River Flow is necessary because it “will address the adverse impacts from larger boats at the periphery” of the Little Moose Wilderness. The flow borders the wild forest and wilderness areas.
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Some initial reactions
Gary Lee is a retired DEC forest ranger, who patrolled the Moose River Wild Forest Area and West Canada Lake Wilderness Area for 35 years. Though retired for 25 years, he still lives in Inlet and keeps a watch on the area.
Lee said the Limekiln Lake-Cedar River Road was a law enforcement issue in the past. People would hardly ever register at the entrances, and some motorcyclists would scoot past barricades on closed side roads and get stuck. He wondered if the same thing would continue to happen there with the new rule proposal.
He also questioned whether motorcyclists would want to use the rough road, as it would be “like marbles under your tires.”
Bill Farber, former chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors and former Morehouse town supervisor, called it “overdue” of the state to address more e-biking opportunities.
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“It is really flourishing, so finding logical places like the Moose River Plains and some of the easement lands to provide opportunities and cater to those users is important,” he said.
Chris Rhodes, supervisor of the town of Arietta, said the proposal “looks like a good compromise between conserving our environment and allowing the enjoyment and use of the land.”
How to submit comments
To view the DEC’s records on the proposal, go to https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/regulations/proposed-emergency-recently-adopted-regulations/lands-forests-revisions.
Send comments to:
Josh Clague
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 5th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-4254
[email protected]
Top photo: A sign in the Moose River Plains Wild Forest. Photo by Phil Brown
I am ok with the E-bikes in MRP, but half the motorcycles in my area have open pipes (NO mufflers at all). For that matter, many trucks as well. I don’t know that adding more noise to the FP is a great idea. Anyone else?? I can easily imagine an organized motorcycle “ride” with 50-100 bikes blasting through MRP – even observing the speed limit – scattering people and wildlife for miles. Even at an idle, many bikers constantly rev their engines. NOPE – IMO – keep ’em out of the entire FP until motorcyclists learn how to be respectful of Nature and others’ peace and quiet!
Old man shouting at clouds…
The motorcycles that want to ride through MRP are generally not the ones you or Gary Lee are referring to (his “marbles” comment in the article).
If my failing memory is correct they stopped all motorcycle travel through MRP in the 70s, folks on “dual sport” (specifically designed for both on and offroad/gravel) motorcycles have been trying to get this restriction removed for many years. For the most part these are retired people putting around and as more and more roads become paved or closed to travel, an 18mile stretch of gravel is exactly what they are looking for.
Should they be allowed? I don’t know, have never even been there but wanted to provide some MUCH needed context to the discussion of “motorcycles” riding through MRP.
No to the allowance of motorcycles! I have been an avid visitor of MRP for decades and the back country dirt roads where patrons escape to for the quiet, peace and pristine environment are not a place for motorcycles. I do however agree with the boat motor horsepower cap. I do not agree with the closing of any more roads within and I am currently working with folks to drum up enough effort to move forward with the Falls Pond Outlet bridge being repaired and moving Squaw/Muskrat Lake trail post back to it’s original post of 0.75 miles from the lake. We would also like to extend the repair of that trail to include access back into Little Indian Lake which many of us have been cut off from for years since the reclassification of land and lines being moved. No more road closures please! We want our access back and we wish the area was kept as it was back in the 70’s and 80’s! It is a recreational area. Let’s leave it that way!
I have been a motorcycle rider my whole life,starting at a child right up to my retirement age now,including dirtbike racing,roadbike racing,drag racing,atvs,sxs,snowmobiles,ect. I think this is going to be one of the biggest mistakes they could ever want to make for MRP. I don’t care what rules are made,who signs in or not,the place would be ruined by too many ripping the place apart with e-bikes and there will be constant damage to trails and places where they shouldnt ride and the Forest Rangers will have there hands full for sure. Whoever’s idea this was should go back and rethink this a little better.
Ebikes they’re talking about (Class 1) don’t rip up the trails…… LOL. They’re the same as any mountain bike. Now there are also electric motorcycles where you don’t have to pedal. Those should be classified as motorcycles and NO motorcycles should be allowed in MRP.