Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative

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Tug Hill Commission Watertown, New York
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Tug Hill region of New York covers 2,100 square
miles between Lake Ontario and the Adirondack
Mountains.
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The Tug Hill plateau rises from west to east
from Lake Ontario at about 250 feet in elevation
- to over 2,000 feet on its eastern facing
escarpment.
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Lake and plateau combine to create the heaviest
snows in the east.
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Despite the pride of its people, by most economic
measures, it is one of the Northeasts poorest
regions.
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Tug Hills economy is based in forestry, farming
and outdoor recreation.
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The region has a total resident population of
just over 100,000 people.
Hamlet of Great Bend, Jefferson County, NY
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The region includes 62 very rural towns and
villages.
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Sustaining the Mission Planning, Training and
Technical Assistance
90 of local leaders find Commission services
essential. Local leaders need good information.
The regions local officials serve part-time,
most are inexperienced leaders, and work with
tight local budgets. Commission efforts focus on
improving local decision making, improving local
efficiency and responsiveness, and improving
access to resources.
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Circuit riders work for each of five Councils
of Governments, providing staff support to busy,
part-time local officials. The circuit rider
program is key to responding to opportunities for
collaboration.
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• Assistance to Communities
• Planning and technical assistance
• Community infrastructure and economic development
  
• Natural resources management

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Sub-regional Projects
Skate where the puck is going to be, not where
it has been. Wayne Gretzky
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Macro Regional Efforts
Northern Forest
Great Lakes
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4,000 Miles of Rivers and Streams
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Extensive Wetlands
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Unfragmented Core Forest
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East Branch of Fish Creek
East Branch of Fish Creek
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East Branch of Fish CreekProject Timeline

• 1994 Sportsmen ask Commission for help
• 44,650 acres industrial forest land
• 1995 East Branch of Fish Creek Working Group
  formed
• Working Group recommends using conservation
  easements
• 1998 State tax legislation allows make C.E.s
  feasible
• 2002 The Nature Conservancy purchases land,
  retains easements
• Traditional sporting leases, snowmobile trails,
  limited public access, sustainable forest
  management secured
• 2005 Recreation planning, education efforts
  underway transfer of easements and some land to
  State anticipated by end of year

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East Branch of Fish Creek Working Group

• Primary landowner
• Sporting clubs
• Local Town officials
• Conservation groups
• Private landowners
• Recreation groups
• County officials
• NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

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Of Most Concern

• Local Taxes
• Hunting Lease Terms and Prices
• Public and Private Recreational Access
• Forest Health
• Community Economic Social Vitality

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Communication Critical
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45,953 Acres

• 30,312 acres Conservation Easement
• 1,350 acres Fish Creek Fee Corridor
• 14,291 acres TNC Conservation Area

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Tug Hill Commission Linda Gibbs Natural Resources
Specialist
317 Washington Street Watertown, NY
13601 315-785-2380 www.tughill.org