Letter to the Hon. Vicki Christiansen, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, and the Hon. Matthew Lohr, Chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service - Schumer: In the wake of 18-day forest fire that ravaged picturesque Dutchess & Putnam county mountains and natural land, Feds should step in & lend a hand; senator urges U.S. Forest Service to collaborate with local officials to identify & secure federal $$$ to restore Hudson Valley natural beauty

Letter

Dear Chief Christiansen and Chief Lohr,

I write to urge the United States Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to work with both New York State (NYS) and the Dutchess and Putnam county communities to identify funding for restoration efforts through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Programs and USDA disaster assistance programs in the aftermath of a forest fire on Sugarloaf Mountain that burned for 18 days destroying land spanning over 65 acres.

On Friday September 20th I was alarmed to learn that the heavy flames and smoke illuminated the sky over the ridgeline of the Hudson Highlands State Park between Mount Beacon and Breakneck Ridge. In the Hudson Valley, and especially in the fall season, Breakneck Ridge attracts over 100,000 people each year because of its renowned hiking trails and easy access from the greater New York City area. Locals and travelers alike flock to the scenic trail head, which is accessible on the Metro North Hudson line's Saturday, Sunday, and Holiday Breakneck Ridge stop, so that hikers can venture up the mountains for a great day outdoors at the scenic spot in the Hudson Valley.

When the fire was first reported, first responders from the NYS Parks Taconic Region, NYS Parks Palisades Region, Department of Environmental Conservation Rangers and NYS Parks Police fought the blaze diligently. However, the fire continued to burn and destroyed over 65 acres of ground vegetation in its path for 18 days, with about two thirds falling within the NYS owned Hudson Highlands State Park and the remaining one third of the damage is on private land. Although the fire was contained as of September 26th, according to the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference (NYNJTC), the fire on Sugarloaf Mountain continued to burn as of October 4th and was not confirmed to be out until October 8th. Presently, although the Wilkinson Trail, which was closed until October 8th at the intersection with the Notch Trail, as well at the intersection with the Breakneck Bypass Trail, is re-opened, a reroute near the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain remains to avoid steep, eroded, and dangerous conditions.

All parties must now act immediately to restore this land to NYS, the people of Dutchess and Putnam counties, and the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region. Strides are being made in the right direction, as recent reports by the NYNJTC indicate that Trail Conference volunteers are scouting the fire damage to assess what trail work needs to be done. However, NYS, private landowners, hikers, and wildlife have all been impacted by the destruction of the vegetation in the area and need resources to restore this important land as soon as possible. That is why I am asking the United State Forest Service and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to work with the state and local community through the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Programs to identify funding that can be used to restore the forested lands and to identify eligible disaster assistance programs.

Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter, federal assistance is vital for ensuring that communities are able to repair damage, clean up debris, and undertake crucial restoration work.

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