New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Denise Sheehan Thursday announced the release of a draft unit management plan for the Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area. Zoar Valley includes 2,923 acres of land in the Towns of Otto and Persia in Cattaraugus County and the Town of Collins, Erie County.

DEC will accept comments on the draft UMP at a public meeting on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at 7 p.m. at the Bellevue Fire Hall, 511 Como Park Boulevard, Cheektowaga. DEC will hold a second meeting on Thursday, July 13, 2006 at 7 p.m. at the American Legion Post 409, 1 Legion Drive, Gowanda. DEC staff will make a brief presentation at the meetings to explain the highlights of the draft plan.

The draft plan outlines a variety of activities DEC will undertake to protect and restore the unique qualities of Zoar Valley, including its biological diversity, unique forested landscapes, scenic vistas, and passive recreational value.

Under the plan, DEC will designate Zoar Valley's Cattaraugus Creek gorge and a 300 foot protection area (buffer) along the rim of the gorge as a "protection area." DEC will prohibit commercial timbering or development in this area. The use of motorized vehicles also will be prohibited. The plan calls for DEC to improve hiking trails, parking lots and signage in the gorge area over the next several years. DEC will work cooperatively with local groups to maintain the trails.

The plan also calls for DEC to inventory various areas to determine the location and extent of old growth forest that may exist in and along the gorge. A detailed definition of old growth forest is included in the UMP.

DEC also will ask the New York State Legislature to dedicate the protection area to the State Nature and Historical Preserve Trust. Furthermore, DEC will pursue the protection of additional properties in the area to preserve more gorge areas within the watershed.