Stewardship of the Central Pine Barrens
Updated through 5/23/12

• Emergency:  Dial 911
• Telephone "hotlines":  see "Environmental Telephone Hotlines for Suffolk County and Long Island, NY"
• Suffolk County Park Police Non-Emergency Number Only:  1-877-BARRENS - See this description for more information.
• ATV and Dumping Flyer - A Citizens' Guide to Reporting
  

• Roster of organizations, Chair and Vice Chair, charter, etc.
• Meeting schedule
• Links to member agencies' web sites:  see the LEC Roster
• Law Enforcement Council section of 1995 Central Pine Barrens Plan
• Council's Reports of Activities: 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002 (pdf)
• 2009 Multi Agency ATV Task Force Report: pdf
• 2009 Environmental Enforcement Officers of the Year: pdf
• Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Civil Air Patrol and the Commission (including the Law Enforcement Council): pdf
  

• 1998 Suffolk County law restricting all terrain vehicle use in Suffolk County (unofficial copy)
• 1999 Suffolk County, NY law prohibiting dumping in the pine barrens  (unofficial copy)
• 6/24/99 County Executive press release on this law
• 2000 Suffolk County law requiring a "truth in selling statement" for ATVs, and modifying the penalties associated with ATV violations  (unofficial copy)
• 2001 NY State legislation amending the penal law to create a new Class A misdemeanor called Arson in the Fifth Degree.  This was supported by the Council at its 1/25/01 meeting.
• 2002 Suffolk County law strengthening enforcement penalties for ATVs, and specifying impoundment and forfeiture provisions  (unofficial copy)
• 2003 NY State legislation designating Riverhead Town Fire Marshals as peace officers. This was supported by the Council at its 4/24/03 meeting. See these links for details: text, pdf (unofficial copy)
• 2007 NY State legislation designating U.S. Department of the Interior Law Enforcement Park Rangers as NY state peace officers.  This was supported by the Council at its 3/22/07 meeting, and formally requested by the Commission of the State Legislature on 4/18/07. See pdf.
• Photo:  Filming the closing segment of the Council's public service announcement inside Southaven County Park Lodge, March 2004. Photo by Ray Corwin. Click to enlarge.

• In August 2003, NY ECL Article 57 (the pine barrens law) was amended to provide specific penalties for violations of the law, the Central Pine Barrens Plan, Commission permit conditions, etc. The amended section is 57-0136, "Penalties and Enforcement". It provides:
• Definition of violations
• Civil penalties
• Criminal penalties
• Additional remedies
• Responsibilities for enforcement, including time frames.
• Following this in late 2003, the Commission requested that the Council define an effective interagency protocol for receiving complaints of alleged land use violations, referring them to the appropriate agency(ies) for investigation and resolution, tracking the progress of such complaints, and maintaining interagency communications on all reports, both founded and unfounded.
• The Council, working through a special purpose committee, formulated several drafts of both a protocol and accompanying violation report form.  At its 11/17/04 meeting, the Commission formally adopted the protocol, which includes a reporting form:
• See the Pine Barrens Land Use Complaint Investigation Protocol (pdf; 3 pages, including the one page Complaint Report).
• See the Complaint Report only in this pdf file.
• This protocol enables complaints and violations to be handled on an interagency basis, regardless of which agency actually receives the initial complaint from a citizen.

Abandoned Vehicle Removals and other Programs with the NY Army National Guard

• 1995 announcement that the Guard would provide "eyes in the skies" for illegal activity such as dumping within the pine barrens.
• One of the Council's community service projects is the helicopter airlifting of abandoned vehicles from remote areas of the Pine Barrens, followed by recycling or impounding.
• Summary of the vehicle airlift program
• In June 1998, the Law Enforcement Council marked a milestone in its abandoned vehicle airlift removal program, with the 50th vehicle airlift by helicopter.
• 6/26/98 County Executive Press Release
• Many of the Law Enforcement Council's projects were the basis for a Secretary of the Army Environmental Quality Award to one of the Council Members, Col. (Ret.) Frank P. Intini, Jr. in 1999.  See press release here.  (unofficial copy)
• Original NY Army National Guard nomination for that award, which contains descriptions and photographs of many of the Council's environmental stewardship and community outreach projects.
• To date, 16 missions have been flown and 63 vehicles have been airlifted.
• Photo:  The Council's 1999 community service project for Southold Town involving the airlifting of abandoned vehicles from Fishers Island to Orient Point for recycling.  Photo by Ray Corwin.  Click to enlarge.

• See the ATV and Dumping Flyer - A Citizen's Guide to Reporting - click on image below right!
  
• The NY State Department of Motor Vehicles has several sources of information regarding ATVs and related vehicles:
• Dept. of Motor Vehicles home page
• FAQs re Go-Peds, Mini-Bikes, Dirt Bikes, Go-Karts, Motor Assisted Bicycles
• FAQs re ATVs
• DMV's ATV brochure
• There are also Suffolk County laws applicable to these vehicles.  Please note that this list may not be complete:
• 1998 Suffolk County law restricting all terrain vehicle use in Suffolk County  (unofficial copy)
• 2000 Suffolk County law requiring a "truth in selling statement" for ATVs, and modifying the penalties associated with ATV violations  (unofficial copy)
• 2002 Suffolk County law strengthening enforcement penalties for ATVs, and specifying impoundment and forfeiture provisions  (unofficial copy)
• In 2004, Suffolk County created an ATV Task Force to study the need for an ATV park and reduce illegal ATV use in the County: see the full bill at this link, including membership and responsibilities.
• The SC ATV Task Force is chaired by the Commissioner of the SC Department of Parks, and inquiries regarding the Task Force's work should be directed to the SC Parks Department Office in West Sayville.  The Task Force held its first meeting on 2/16/05, and will be working throughout 2005 to meet its end of year deadline for their report.
• The Law Enforcement Council has a representative on the SC ATV Task Force, Lt. John McGann of the SC Sheriff's Office, who serves in the "public safety community" slot created by the legislation.
• In addition, there may be other local laws (e.g., Town ordinances) restricting or regulating the operation of ATVs.  Please refer to the three Town's individual web sites for those code provisions.
• Statewide, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation is revising its "Draft ATV Policy for Public ATV Access to Recreational Programs on the Forest Preserve, Reforestation, Multiple Use, Unique, Wildlife Management Areas, Environmental Education Centers and Conservation Easement Lands".
• You can see and download the draft DEC policy and learn more at the DEC's "Draft All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Policy" web page.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has considerable material available on ATVs.
• See the CPSC's All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) Publications page.
• In 2003, the CPSC initiated a set of hearings on possible new national ATV rules.  See the following links for details.  The Law Enforcement Council submitted a comment during that time.
• CPSC - Press release - 04/23/03 - CPSC To Hold Regional ATV Safety Hearing in WV - Injuries Double in 5 Year Period, Deaths Climb
• CPSC - Press release - 06/03/03 - Witnesses to Testify at ATV Safety Hearing
• CPSC - Press release - 10/14/03 - CPSC Chairman to Hold ATV Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico
• CPSC - Rulemaking - FY 2003 Public Rulemaking Comments: see the specific (seven) links on this page for the for ATV hearing comments received by the CPSC through 7/8/03 (pdf files); The "Part 3" pdf file, pages 34 and 35, contains the LEC's comment.
• Suffolk County passed Resolution 322-2004 in April 2004 establishing a task force to study the need for an ATV park in Suffolk County.  The task force consists of 11 members representing interests specified in the resolution.
• See SC Resolution 322-2004 (Introductory Resolution 1444-2004) at this link.

• See the ATV and Dumping Flyer - A Citizen's Guide to Reporting - click on image to right!
• 1995:  NY Army National Guard and Suffolk County 6/24/95 announcement that the Guard would provide "eyes in the skies" for illegal activity such as dumping within the pine barrens
• 1999 Suffolk County, NY law prohibiting dumping in the pine barrens  (unofficial copy)
• 6/24/99 County Executive press release on this law
• Photo:  A video crew from the Suffolk County Police Academy captures the "discovery" by the NYS Forest Rangers and Suffolk County Park Police of a "dumping in progress" during the filming of the Law Enforcement Council's upcoming public service announcement.  Photo by Ray Corwin.  Click to enlarge.

Science and Stewardship

• Roster of organizations, Chairs, charter, etc.
• Protected Lands Council section of 1995 Central Pine Barrens Plan
• Goals and objectives of the Council
• Meeting schedule
• Meeting minutes
• Links to member agencies' web sites:  see the PLC Roster
• Science and Stewardship Work Plan through March 2009: pdf.
• Adopted October 2009 Recommendations Reorganizing the Protected Lands Council
  
• Photo:  Members of the Protected Lands Council's Trails Grant Committee visiting a candidate grant site in Manorville.  Photo by Ed Randolph.  Click to enlarge.

• Descriptive summaries of two mapping workshops:  Wildlife (10/15/98) and Recreational Uses (7/14/99).
• A chart showing current recreational uses by Stewardship Units  (there are 12 such Units within the Central Pine Barrens)
• Overview map of the Peconic River Unit:  high resolution - slower or low resolution - faster  (one of a set in production)
• Initial written description of the Peconic River Stewardship Unit
• The PLC has utilized The Nature Conservancy's "Five-S Framework for Site Conservation" to define the ecological threats to the Central Pine Barrens and their sources, as well as to start defining specific strategies to mitigate or alleviate them.
• See TNC's The 5-S Framework for Site Conservation (a pdf file) for a description of this methodology.
• See the PLC's results of this process in this pdf file (25 pages).
  

The Dwarf Pine Plains Interpretive Trail in Westhampton

• This is an approximately 0.6 mile marked walking route utilizing preexisting trails within the Dwarf Pine Plains in Westhampton, NY.  It is a leisurely and educational walk for Long Island visitors and residents. The trailhead is located on Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) property and the traverses properties owned by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Suffolk County Parks.
• This interagency undertaking involves the three landowners, namely SCWA, DEC and SC Parks, Southampton Town, the Pine Barrens Commission, the Protected Lands Council, and The Nature Conservancy.
• WJF Realty, the former private owner of the 100 acres which the trail will traverse, had enrolled that land in the Pine Barrens Credit Program and received Credits for those development rights (4/8/05).
• On Earth day, 4/22/05, Governor Pataki announced the acquisition of 309 acres of land from WJF Realty in a partnership involving the State, County, Town and The Nature Conservancy. See the Governor's press release.  The 100 acres of easement burdened land were included in these, with 50 acres each being purchased by the State and Suffolk County.
• The Commission continues to hold a conservation easement on the 100 acres of lands now owned by DEC and SC Parks, to be used by the trail. As a result, the Commission reviewed and approved the conformance of the proposed trail layout with the conservation easement on 12/21/05.
• See the Commission minutes excerpt and resolution, which includes an aerial view.
• The Trail officially opened on Friday, 6/1/07, the day before 2007 National Trails Day. See press release.
• For a short background on the Trail's origin and significance of the ecosystem there, see pdf.

• Program Establishment
  
• In 2001, the Pine Barrens Commission participated in the establishment of the Long Island Weed Management Area (now known as the Long Island Invasives Species Management Area, or LIISMA; www.liinvasives.org), and contributed to the preparation of the Long Island Coordinated Invasive Plant management Plan (2002).
• In 2003, the Commission's Protected Lands Council (PLC) ranked invasive plants and animals as the single largest threat to the ecological health of the Central Pine Barrens.
• The PLC conducted a survey of invasive plants in Warbler Woods County Park in Middle Island on 7/10/03.
• Photo right:  Chocolate vine (Akebia quinata) in the Central Pine Barrens.  Click to enlarge.
• 2006 - 2007 Central Pine Barrens Invasive Plant Inventory and Assessment
• Recognizing a compelling need for an assessment of the invasive plant threat to the Central Pine barrens proper, the Commission decided in 2005 to support a program to collect data to help guide efforts to protect critical habitats and other vulnerable pine barrens resources.
• The Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and the Suffolk County Water Authority worked closely in the hiring and equipping of two student interns.  These interns conducted field intensive inventory and assessment work during the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons.
• See the 8/14/06 and 7/5/07 press releases on this work.
• Working under the supervision of staff from the Commission and The Nature Conservancy, and with the support of the federal, state, county, and local conservation land managers, the field crew surveyed and mapped occurrences of invasive terrestrial and aquatic plant species in most of the preserved lands within the Core Preservation Area.
  
• More than 430 miles of trails were inspected, spanning 42,600 acres of the Core Preservation Area.  A total of 46 species of non native invasive plants were identified.
• The results and maps were published in a 2006 report and a 2007 addendum, which are available electronically.  Call or e-mail the Commission office and request a copy of: the "2006 Invasive Plant Inventory and Assessment Report" (75 pages), and "2007 Invasive Plant Inventory and Assessment Report Addendum" (34 pages).
  
• Map below right:  Invasive Plant Occurrences in the Central Pine Barrens (illustration from the 2006-07 reports).  To view the map as a one page pdf, click the image.
• 2008 Central Pine Barrens Invasive Plant Management Program
• In 2008, the Commission contracted with the Student Conservation Association's (SCA) Native Plant Corps to selectively remove invasive exotic plants from ten sites within the Central Pine Barrens during the growing season.
• This program was initiated and funded by the Commission, who collaborated with seven land management agencies to oversee these important ecological restoration projects.  Working with hand tools during the growing season, the SCA's Native Plant Corps team removed high priority invasive species such as kudzu, black swallowwort, and mile-a-minute vine.
  
• Poster: pdf (best when printed at 11" x 17")
• Report: pdf
• SCA web page on the 2008 joint work
• Photo right:  The SCA team removing black swallow-wort (Cynanchum louiseae) at the NYS DEC Eastport Conservation Area.  Click to enlarge.
• Participation in New York State Invasive Species Programs
• The Pine Barrens Commission collaborates with the New York State Office of Invasive Species Coordination (NYSOISC), which was established in 2007 to coordinate invasive species management efforts across the state.  See the organizational chart for this statewide effort at http://nyis.info/PolicyArena/PDFs/Office_IS_Coordination.pdf.
• New York State legislation (http://nyis.info/PolicyArena/PDFs/Title 17.pdf) established the New York State Invasive Species Council and Advisory Committee, which are the two driving forces in the State's invasive species programs.
• Eight "Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management" (PRISMs) were organized by the State to facilitate collaboration among partners at the local level.  See http://nyis.info/PRISM/Regional_Partnerships.aspx .
• The Pine Barrens Commission is an active participant and hosts meetings of the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area (LIISMA), one of the State's PRISMs.  LIISMA is a cooperative effort of many partners, including government agencies, conservation and research organizations, individuals, and others interested in the management of invasive species in the New York metropolitan area and Long Island.  For further information, please contact Steve Young, LIISMA Coordinator, at the New York Natural Heritage Program office, 625 Broadway, 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12233-4757, at 518-402-8951, or visit the LIISMA website at www.liinvasives.org .  The LIISMA meeting schedule is available at http://nyis.info/LIISMA/Meetings.aspx .
• New York State also established the New York Invasive Species Research Institute (http://nyisri.org/) and the New York Invasive Species Clearinghouse (http://nyis.info/), which provide extensive invasive species information.
• An invasive species database and online, GIS based mapping tool called iMapInvasives has been developed by New York State to serve the needs of invasive species managers throughout the State.  Central Pine Barrens invasive species data have been consolidated into this centralized system, thus improving data quality, storage, distribution, mapping, analysis, and sharing.  For more information and to view the maps, visit www.imapinvasives.org/
  
• Map:  The PRISMs in New York State.  Click to enlarge.
• Suffolk County Invasive Species Management Programs
• Suffolk County implements invasive species management efforts through its Suffolk County Water and Land Invasives Advisory Board, established in 2009.
• See www.co.suffolk.ny.us/departments/EnvironmentandEnergy/DivisionofWaterQualityImprovement/WaterandLandInvasiveSpeciesAdvisoryBoard.aspx .
  

• The Commission authorized and completed a feasibility study of reconstructing a fire tower within the Central Pine Barrens, replicating one of several which existed in the region in the first half of the 1900s.
• See the completed study here: pdf.

• 2000 Council field work focused upon the Ridge area of the Peconic River Stewardship Unit.
• The 1997 Pine Barrens cleanup days were among the first interagency efforts of the PLC.
• The Council has also held tree planting and seed collection days in recent years.  Native pitch pine seedlings are generally planted in disturbed and cleared areas.
• Photo:  Interior woodland scene along one of the trails in Warbler Woods County Park.  Photo by Ken Born.  Click to enlarge.

• "Exploring the Long Island Pine Barrens:  Information for Outdoor Recreation" (or pdf brochure version)
• Recreational uses by Stewardship Unit

Wildfire & the Wildfire Task Force (WTF)

• Roster of organizations, Chair and Vice Chairs, charter, etc.
• Commission resolution establishing Task Force: text, pdf.
• Fact Sheet:  The Wildfire Task Force - pdf  (two pages).
• Fact Sheet:  Work for pride .. not a paycheck. Volunteer! - pdf  (three pages).
• Fact Sheet:  Good Fire or Bad Fire? - pdf  (one page).
• Fact Sheet:  Living on the Edge in the "Wildland Urban Interface" - pdf  (one page).
• Article:  Living With Fire in New York's Central Pine Barrens" - pdf  (one page)
• The US Forest Service's (USFS) North Central Research Station in St. Paul, MN with several universities have produced a set of Community Preparedness for Wildfire Studies, and the Central Pine Barrens is one of their study areas:
• See their Model for Improving Community Preparedness for Wildfire (a description of the overall study) (pdf).
• See their Central Pine Barrens Community Preparedness study (pdf).
• Meeting schedule
• Meeting minutes
• Links to member agencies' web sites:  see the WTF Roster

• Central Pine Barrens Fire Management Plan:  pdf version, text copy by chapters
• Central Pine Barrens Fire Districts overview map  (Included in Fire Plan as Figure 2.1)

• The Fire Weather Committee has established a fire weather station network to provide timely meteorological information.
• Central Pine Barrens Fire Weather Main Page
• Fact Sheet:  How Do the Fire Danger Ratings Assist the Suffolk County Fire Community? - pdf  (includes an explanation of the ratings' fire behavior meanings and their application to public lands management in Suffolk County).
• Meeting schedule
• Photo:  Members of the Law Enforcement Council and the Wildfire Task Force help dedicate the Southaven County Park Smokey the Bear sign showing the daily fire danger rating.  Click to enlarge.

• Fact Sheet:  The Wildfire Task Force - pdf  (two pages).
• Fact Sheet:  Work for pride .. not a paycheck. Volunteer! - pdf  (three pages).
• Fact Sheet:  Good Fire or Bad Fire? - pdf  (one page).
• Fact Sheet:  Living on the Edge in the "Wildland Urban Interface" - pdf  (one page).
• Fact Sheet:  Campfire Safety Tips - pdf  (one page).
• Fact Sheet:  How Do the Fire Danger Ratings Assist the Suffolk County Fire Community? - pdf  (includes an explanation of the ratings' fire behavior meanings and their application to public lands management in Suffolk County).
• Fact Sheet:  What is a Prescribed Fire? - pdf  (one page).
• Flyer:  Prescribed Fire on Long Island:  The use of fire as a management tool in the Pine Barrens Region of Long Island" - pdf  (two pages; best printed on legal paper).
• Fact Sheet:  The NY Wildfire and Incident Management Academy - text, pdf (two pages).
• The US Forest Service's (USFS) North Central Research Station in St. Paul, MN with several universities across the nation have completed a set of Community Preparedness for Wildfire Studies, and the Central Pine Barrens is one of their study areas.  Wildfire Task Force members worked with USFS and University of Minnesota representatives on this work:
• See their Model for Improving Community Preparedness for Wildfire (a description of the overall study) (pdf).
• See their Central Pine Barrens Community Preparedness study (pdf).
• Goals for 2007 (pdf).
• One of the Committee's early goals was the establishment of fire danger signs with the daily ratings posted.  See the 10/24/00 Commission press release re the Southaven Park sign here.  There are now three Smokey signs: Southaven County Park entrance, Brookhaven National Laboratory entrance, and the Route 24 side of Sears Bellows County Park.
• A "Wildfire Safety and Awareness" education video is now available!  This 30 minutes video was produced in conjunction with Production By Design, a Farmingdale, NY production company.
• See these links for details, topics covered, and instructions for requesting a copy:  text, pdf.
• This video was entered in the 2002 Telly Awards in the "Non-broadcast Film/Video" Category. (The annual Telly Awards recognizes non-network and cable commercials, as well as video productions. Entries are judged against standards of excellence. "Wildfire Safety and Awareness" was judged a finalist in that category, for which the video company and the Task Force were awarded a bronze statuette. See the Telly Certificate (pdf) here.
• Additional information on this available here includes:
• The public notice on the Wildfire Video Request For Proposals.
• Photos from this work: filming of a Spring prescribed burn; capturing interview footage for urban interface and wildfire investigation.
• A "Teaching and Training CD-ROM Version of the Wildfire Safety and Awareness" education video is now available also!
• Additional info will be posted here as soon as they arrive!
• This instructor's version was produced in conjunction with LA Management Company, a Denver, NC marketing and communications
  
• Graphic to the right:  Frame from Wildfire Safety video. Click for details. Graphic below: Opening screen of CD-ROM version. Click for larger image.

• The Prescribed Fire Committee is working on a regional prescribed fire strategy.
• Fact Sheet:  What is a Prescribed Fire? - pdf  (one page).
• Flyer:  Prescribed Fire on Long Island:  The use of fire as a management tool in the Pine Barrens Region of Long Island" - pdf  (two pages; best printed on legal paper).
• The NYS DEC and The Nature Conservancy have received federal funding for a "Forest Fuel Reduction Demonstration Project" at the David A. Sarnoff Preserve in Southampton Town. See the UMass Amherst web page on this project for details.
• Photo: A prescribed burn crew conducting a Spring burn at one of the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Long Island refuges.  Click to enlarge.

• The "Fire Protection Assessment" responsibility of this committee involves the identification and mapping of the "risks", "hazards", and "values" within the Central Pine Barrens landscape, in order to assist in the long term planning of burns, facilities, education, etc.  They are currently starting with the Brookhaven National Laboratory Stewardship Unit, one of twelve in the Central Pine Barrens.
• Fact Sheet:  Good Fire or Bad Fire? - pdf  (one page).
• Fact Sheet:  Living on the Edge in the "Wildland Urban Interface" - pdf  (one page).
• The FPA Committee sponsored "Wildland Fire Prevention Planning", National Wildfire Coordinating Group Course P301 from 11/1 to 11/3/05, supported by a grant from the U.S. Forest Service through the National Fire Plan. This material will be utilized by the course attendees in producing wildfire prevention plans for their individual areas. In the Central Pine Barrens, the FPA Committee will be identifying the planning areas of the Central Pine Barrens. This course session used Brookhaven National Laboratory as one example of a planning unit, as several of the attendees are BNL staff and many others are familiar with the site.

• Academy web site featuring latest brochure and course offerings 
  
• The Commission's Academy is also sponsored by the NY State Dept. of Environmental Conservation, the Pine Barrens Wildfire Task Force, and numerous other agencies. For course information and registration, please visit the Academy web site at http://www.nywima.com, or contact the Academy Coordinator by phone at 631-769-1556 or by e-mail at nywima@pb.state.ny.us
  
• Commission resolution establishing the Academy (including mission statement), reporting requirements, and Policies and Procedures: text, pdf
• Fact Sheet:  The NY Wildfire and Incident Management Academy - text, pdf  (two pages).
• Photo: Riverhead Fire Marshal Bruce Johnson serves as Safety Officer for a Power Saws class at the 2001 NY Wildfire and Incident Management Academy.  Photo by Ray Corwin.  Click to enlarge.