RT 28
RT 28
Vegetation and Wildlife: An Invaluable Resource for the Catskills
CORRIDOR
STUDY
Forest Types of the Route 28 Corridor
CORRIDOR
STUDY
Rare and Endangered Species of the Central Catskills
The lands surrounding the Route 28 corridor are
home to a number of species of plants and animals
that are classified as rare or endangered in New York
State. Much of this habitat is currently on private land.
Andes
Rt. 28: Gateway or Barrier for Wildlife?
Matrix forest blocks
“represent landscapes identified as having the size and
Margaretville
Pine Hill
Bear Pen Vly
Arkville
It is important to remember that even rare species can play an
important role in the local ecosystem A healthy forest is one of the
Catskills’ most valuable assets, both in terms of environmental quality
and as a powerful draw for new residents and tourists alike.
Fleischmanns
Fleischmanns
Pine
Pine
HillHill
Shandaken
Shandaken
Arkville
ac
act as corridors for wildlife movement across
(or rather under) Route 28 and other roads in
the area. Parcels of land between these cross
ings and the existing public lands are integral
in facilitating wildlife movement.
Catskill Escarpment
Margaretville
p
Pe
Creek crossings
condition to maintain functional forest systems over the
long term, including the ability to recover from natural and
human caused disturbances”(Zimmerman et al., 1)
West Kill Wilderness
Phoenicia
Sugarloaf
n
to
Big Indian
Phoenicia
Big
BigIndian
Indian
Beaverkill
Mount Tremper
Panther Mountain
West Hurley
West Hurley
Ashokan
BoicevilleAshokan
Boiceville
Shokan
Shokan
ir
Mt. Tremper
Every road cutting through a landscape changes that ecosystem in some way. In the case
of a large, heavily traveled road, that change can be huge. Route 28 cuts right through
the center of the main group of Catskill matrix forest blocks, creating a significant hindrance to the movement of wildlife between the large sections of intact
forest. This impacts the genetic health of native populations and also increases the
threat posed by invasive species.
A
sh
oka
vo
ser
Re
Phoenicia
See handout for
species names
and habitat
information
Northern hardwood forest
Pine-hemlock-hardwood forest
Trails
Pine-Oak forest
Spruce-fir-hardwood forest
Rt28
Wetlands
0
1.5
n
Images courtesy of
New York Natural
Heritage Program
www.acris.nynhp.org
3
6
9
F
First growth areas (never cut)
A variety of worlds
to explore
Land history plays a major role in
shaping vegetation patterns in the
central Catskills.
While most of the region was
logged at some point in the past, many
of the steeper slopes contain first
growth forest which has never been
cut. These “old growth” areas allow the
visitor to experience a
unique
ecosystem and provide a aglimpse into
the past of the Northeast.
Previously burned areas and those
which were once used as pasture
display their own unique vegetation
patterns, offering a fascinating contrast
for the Catskills hiker.
12
Miles
Approximate locations of rare plant and animal species
(as identified by the NY Natural Heritage Program)
Public Lands
(Forest Preserve or NYC DEC)
Forest Preserve Land
NYC DEP Lands
The nature of development along the Route 28 corridor has the potential to
dramatically impact the ecological functioning of the matrix forest blocks
adjacent to it, and thus the ecology of the entire Catskill region.
Other
0
0.5
1
2
3
4
Miles
F
Phoenicia
The Invasive Species Threat
Margaretville
Fleischmanns
Phoenicia
Shokan
First growth forest
Rt28_Clip1
Current or former pasture
Trails
0
1.5
3
Burn areas
Catskills Route 28 Corridor Study
Andes, Margaretville, Middletown, Fleischmanns, Shandaken, Olive, Hurley
6
9
12
Miles
F
Invasive species are plant or animal species
that are not native to a particular area and if
given the opportunity will outcompete native
species. This can cause serious harm to the
functionality of the ecosystem.
The Emerald Ash Borer and Asian Longhorned Beetle, seen at right, have not yet been
found in the Catskills but pose a serious threat.
The Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, however, is already present, and has the potential to do what
the logging and tanning bark industries never
did---wipe every last hemlock from the Catskill
mountainsides.
Shade tolerant plant species such as
Norway Maple and Japanese Barberry, which
have long been used as ornamentals in towns,
also pose a threat to the native forests of
Catskill Park.
From top: Emerald Ash Borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle and Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
(images courtesy of wikipedia.com)
Pine Hill
LSA 470-670, Spring 2009
Sean Creighton, Michael DiCarlo and Laura Roberts
Big Indian
Catskills Route 28 Corridor Study
Andes, Margaretville, Middletown, Fleischmanns, Shandaken, Olive, Hurley
Mt. Tremper
LSA 470-670, Spring 2009
Sean Creighton, Michael DiCarlo and Laura Roberts
RT 28
CORRIDOR
STUDY
History and Culture
Displaced Towns
(www.dcnyhistory.com)
Quotes from T. Morris Longstreths 1919 novel “The Catskills”
Big Indian
“We chose Big Injin-named for a strapping redskin who got into trouble because he would murder people. The name, of course, has been banalized into
Big Indian,..We shall continue to Germanize our imaginations until they
starve to death,”
Olive
Phoenicia
“If the Mountain House is the eye of the Catskills, the Overlook the brow, Windham the lungs, and Slide Mountain the heart, then Phoenicia is the nerve center. It
lies at the cross-roads of Nature, and as snug in its valleys as a moth in a muff. For
merchantry it should be a strategic place to live. Every motorist who comes up the
Esopus Valley from Kingston, or down the Esopus from the west, every traveler whose
traffic delights the eye or dusts the nose of sellers of wares, mist bisect Phoenicia.”
(www.catskillarchive.com)
Remnants of the original towns can still be
seen during droughts.
“...a walking trip in the Catskills becomes a heart-warming affair. Your realize the Indian
era with its sudden forays from the forest; the era of the first straggling hunters. Then
you find coming in quicker succession the tanners, the lumbermen, the brave homesteaders, who people the ravines and lift the paintless and perishing backwoods settlements from the plane of romance to that of business.”
1869 Beers Atlas
(www.dcnyhistory.com)
Shavertowns River Street is now under the
Ashokan Reservoir but its character can still be
seen through old post cards.
“Eventually the Catskills will be an immense pleasure park, as much of the Adirondack forest
is now, set aside for the health, wealth, and happiness of the entire East.”
Description derived from James Sullivan, History of the State of New York,
vol 2, 1927
Hurley was granted by patent October 19, 1708. It has given territory to help form New Paltz
in 1809, Esopus in 1819, Olive in 1823, Rosendale in 1844 and Woodstock in 1853. It is moderately hilly, with extensive fertile flats along the Esopus Creek. The citizens of Hurley first
asked for an extension of land to guarantee a supply of pasture land and forests, but the extended negotiations led to the granting of the notorious Hardenbergh Patent to Jacobis
Hardenbergh and six others. Later, Robert Livingston purchased almost half of the Hardenbergh patent from its original owners.
1869 Beers Atlas
The Hardenburgh
Patent was the
focus of the Andes
Rent War where
common citizens
were forced to pay
rent to wealthy
European landowners.
(www.dcnyhistory.com)
What Does This Information Mean?
(www.catskillarchive.com)
The site of Bishop Falls now lies 1/4
mile from the main Ashokan Dam
under 180 feet of water at the deepest
part of the reservoir.
(www.dcnyhistory.com)
1869 Beers Atlas
“Half way up Big Injin is the little town of Oliverea, which the natives pronounce to rhyme with sea, and I don’t see why they shouldn’t. It boasts an en(www.dcnyhistory.com)
gaging little schoolhouse, very white, with a yard, then already very green..”
(www.historicmapsrestored.com)
(www.catskillarchive.com)
Map showing the original and current sites
of towns within the reservoir.
(www.catskillarchive.com)
This map of Olive
from the mid nineteenth century,
before the town
was relocated for
the reservoir, may
provide ideas for a
new town center.
From a planning stand point, this information is useful to see how
each of these towns developed before the construction of Route 28.
It’s also useful to draw comparisons between the development patterns of today and see how Route 28 changed the way these towns
grew. Fleischmanns is a prime example of how a town can lose alot of
economic income by being bypassed by a main road. Old Route 28
used to pass directly through the town, allowing any passers-by the
chance to stop and buy something. Today visitors may or may not
notice the town of Fleischmann’s on their way by.
This is the last known picture of Bishop
Falls, taken the day before the valley
began to be flooded.
These 1829 maps of Delaware and Ulster counties show the original townships
and land plots. (www.historicmapsrestored.com)
Catskills Route 28 Corridor Study
Andes, Margaretville, Middletown, Fleischmanns, Shandaken, Olive, West Hurley
This 1912 Sanborn map shows Fleischmanns town center and original properties.
(www.dcnyhistory.org)
LSA 470-670, Spring 2009
Chris McGee, Nic Bozzo, Tim Mayhew
RT 28
Water-Based Recreation
Natural Features:
The Central Catskills contain well over ten thousand miles of streams, ponds, and
lakes. The surrounding landscape with its moutains, valleys, and vegetation create the
perfect environment for the outdoor adventurer. Years ago Native Americans and settlers used the waters as a means of transportation, resulting in the present day roads
which often parellel streams and allow for easy access.
Seasonal Opportunities:
Water-Based Recreation
Common Fish:
State Land & Forest Preserve:
Arkville Public Fishing Rights:
According to the DEC, fish are stocked yearly in the various Catskill waters. This is done in
oder to boost recreational fishing opportunities, as well as to regenerate certain native
species to various waters.
Wilderness Area
Wild Forest
Intensive Use Area
Park Boundary Line
Water Bodies
Big Indian Public Fishing Rights:
Perch - Prefers shallow, weedy waters
Bullhead - Found in warmwater ponds and slow streams
Tubing
Fly Fishing
Boating
Fly Fishing
Boating
Crappie - Prefers clear, quiet water with vegetation
Walleye - Prefers deeper waters
Andes
Pike - Prefers cooler, weedy waters
Batavi
Ice Fishing
a Kill
Pickerel - Found in cool lakes
Fishing License:
Required while fishing on any body of water in New York State.
B
Month
Boating & Launching:
Signage:
*Map images produced using
GIS*
Ja
nu
a
Fe ry
br
ua
ry
M
ar
ch
Tinker Town Tube Rental on Bridge Street in Phoenicia provides tourists with the opportunity to ride down a five-mile stretch of the Esopus Creek. During the warmer
months, water is released upstream in order to add turbidity to the water.
Echo Lake
Belleayre Pine Hill Lake
North-South Lake
Esopus Creek
Beaver Kill
Catskill Creek
Schoharie Creek
Pepacton Reservoir
Neversink Reservoir
Ashokan Reservoir
Woodland Valley Stream
East Branch of the Delaware
East Kill River
West Kill River
Catskills Route 28 Corridor Study
Andes, Margaretville, Middletown, Fleischmanns, Shandaken, Olive, Hurley
Trout Bass
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Panfish
Bullhead
x
x
x
Perch
x
Sucker
x
Alewife
x
rkil
e
v
ea
ee
l Cr
k
Es
Public Fishing
Rights:
Smaller maps defining the specific fishing rights and access
throughout the towns & hamlets.
Wil
oc C
lomem
Pickerel
Crappie
Pumpkinseed
x
x
x
Coldwater
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Warm Water
Ice Fishing
x
x
x
Permit Parking
x
x
x
x
x
x
Campground
x
x
x
Tubing
Non-Motorized Boating
o
s
pu
k
ee
r
C
B
Boiceville
S
Shokan
Re
n
a
ok
h
As
reek
*Maps images from the NYS DEC
Public Fishing Rights website*
Fish Species Present
Rese
k
n
i
rs
Neve
r
rvoi
un
o
R
u
do
t
e
Cr
oir
v
r
se
ek
Boiceville Public Fishing Rights:
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
M
Mt. Tremper
ek
1. Streams & Rivers - Permit NOT Needed
2. Reservoirs - Permit IS Needed
Permits can be obtained from a NYS DEC Office.
East Branch of the Delaware
re
Regulations & Permits:
c
Phoenicia
Cr
ee
k
Panfish
Yellow Perch
Bullhead
Crappie
Walleye
Northern Pike
Pickerel
Small Mouth Bass
Large Mouth Bass
Trout
Beaverekill Creek and Willowemoc Creek, to the south west
of the Route 28 Corridor are also
higly popular areas for fishing. Although off the corridor, these
waters offer some of the best
catches.
nda
Shandaken
Big Indian
d
Fishing Seasons:
Tubing:
Within Wild Forest areas and Forest Preserve deisgnated waters are managed for
baoting, traditionally associated with recreation, such as camping, swimming, canoeing, rowing, and fishing.
Most abundant fish in NY. Prefers shallow waters
Belleay
Belleayre
elleay
y Day
Us
se Are
Use
Area Esopus Creek
an
Ice fishing can be enjoyed on majority of lakes and ponds, however is prohibited in
waters inhabited by trout. There are a number of safety precautions to be aware of
before heading onto the ice.
-Check to see if ice fishing is allowed in the area.
-Make sure you have essential ice cutting tools .
-Make sure to have the proper jigging rod.
-Dress warmly. Dont forget your feet, fingers, and ears.
-Test the ice: Is it the proper thickness?
-Make sure you are aware of various fishing regulation.
For more information on regulations and good fishing waters, contact the DEC Regional Fiskeries Office.
Pumpkinseed -
Much of the property in the Catskills is privately owned. If an area is not zoned for public
fishing , the landowners consent is needed. Over the years the Department of Conservation has worked with private land owners tocreate Public Fishing Rights to allow access
to these waters. For specific rules and regulations, information can be obtained from the
Department of Conservation. *www.dec.ny.gov*
Dry Brook
ir
Pepacton Reservo
Pine Hill
Belleayre
elleayre
ki Center
Cente
Ski
dl
Ice Fishing:
Public Fishing Rights:
Margarettville
Map showing various fishing locations throughout the towns &
hamlets on the Route 28 corridor.
Trout - NY State’s official fish! Found throughout the state
Phoenicia Public Fishing Rights:
Arkville
W
oo
American Fly Fishing was born on the branches of the Neversink River in the Catskills
and still remains a popular destination for anglers. The Catskill Fly Fishing Museum
showcases angling material for those with a passion for the sport.
Bass - Found in most NYS waters
*Image taken from the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development *
Fleischmanns
Popular Rt.28
Fishing Locations:
Ju
ly
Au
gu
Se
st
pt
em
be
r
O
ct
ob
er
No
ve
m
be
De
r
ce
m
be
r
Fly Fishing:
Map showing location of
public lands in the Central
Catskills.
Ju
ne
Fall
ay
Summer
M
Spring
Ap
ril
Winter
lC
Fly Fishing
Boating
CORRIDOR
STUDY
kil
CORRIDOR
STUDY
Wa
ll
RT 28
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
LSA 470-670, Spring 2008
Amber Schladebeck, Katy Johnson, Jordan Kelley
Ro
ut C
un d o
reek
x
Catskills Route 28 Corridor Study
Andes, Margaretville, Middletown, Fleischmanns, Shandaken, Olive, Hurley
LSA 470-670, Spring 2008
Amber Schladebeck, Katy Johnson, Jordan Kelley