Contact: Dave Winchell (518) 897-1211
DEC Issues Draft Unit Management Plan for
Northampton Beach Campground
Public Meeting Scheduled for September 20 in Northville
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the release of a draft unit management plan (UMP) for the Northampton Beach Campground and Day Use Area on the shores of Great Sacandaga Lake in the Town of Northampton, Fulton County.
"DEC campgrounds are extremely popular recreational facilities and an integral part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve," Commissioner Sheehan said. "The release of the draft unit management plan for the Northampton Beach Public Campground and Day Use Area is another step in our efforts to improve public access and ensure the protection of the Adirondacks for future generations. As always, the public's participation has been, and will continue to be, invaluable throughout the planning process."
A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday September 20, 2005 at the Northville Central School, Northville, NY. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more on the proposed management actions in draft UMP and provide comment. The DEC will also accept written comments on the draft UMP until October 30, 2005.
The Northampton Beach Public Campground and Day Use Area is located on the northwest corner of the 29-mile long Great Sacandaga Lake. The campground contains 224 large, level campsites for tents and trailers in a variety of settings from the secluded woods to the open sandy beach. The campground has flush toilets, hot showers, trailer dump station and a recycling center. The day use area includes a picnic area, a picnic pavilion, boat launch, sand swimming beach and a bathhouse.
The popular facility provides excellent fishing and water sport opportunities with on premises rowboat, canoe and kayak rentals in addition to the large craft boat launch. The campground also offers DEC's award winning Junior Naturalist program, a nature based program that encourages children to explore the surrounding environment, and DEC's Nature Recreation Program, which offers daily recreational and environmental activities such as nature hikes, nature crafts, canoe trips, games and campfire activities.
The draft UMP contains proposed management activities including:
 | Updating sanitary waste facilities including constructing an additional dumping station, adding additional cover to existing day use sewage disposal field and relocating camping loop sewage disposal field to comply with health code and DEC standards; |
| Modifying the entrance booth, public telephones and beach area to improve access to people with disabilities; |
| Stabilizing shorelines, planting trees, resurfacing camping pads and paving day use parking area to mitigate natural erosion and human degradation; and |
| Replacing comfort stations, shower house, bathhouse and lifeguard buildings with modernize facilities, improving access to people with disabilities; and |
| Eliminate some concerns caused by seasonal flooding. |
The Adirondack State Land Master Plan identifies 41 campgrounds in the Adirondack Forest Preserve which are classified as “intensive use areas” and requires a unit management plan for each. The plans integrate the goals and objectives of the Master Plan, related legislation, and resource and visitor-use information into a single document.
A UMP must be completed before significant new recreational facilities can be constructed. The plan includes an analysis of the natural features of the area and the ability of the land to accommodate public use. The planning process is designed to cover all environmental considerations for the unit and forms the basis for all proposed management activities for a five-year time period.
The draft UMP is available for public review at DEC regional office in Ray Brook, the DEC regional suboffice in Northville, and the DEC maintenance facility in Indian Lake. The plan will be available for review at the Northampton Town office. The plan is also available from the DEC Bureau of Recreation at (518)457-2500.
Public comments will be accepted until October 30, 2005 and may be sent to: Tom Folts, General Manager Forest Parks, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-5253.
The Northville Central School is on the corner of Bridge and Third Streets in the Village of Northville. Take State Route 30 from either the north or south. Turn onto Bridge Street (a left if coming from the north, a right if coming from the south). Travel approximately a half mile down Bridge Street, the school will be on the right. You must enter from Third Street which is the second right off of Bridge Street - just before the school.
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