Town of Lee - Salvage Harvest in Stands A5.3, A20.1, A20.2, A21.2 and A23, Canada Creek State Forest

Negative Declaration

Oneida County - The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Salvage Harvest in Stands A5.3, A20.1, A20.2, A21.2 and A23, Canada Creek State Forest will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. The project involves a major wind event caused significant blowdown in Canada Creek State Forest in stands A5.3, A20.1, A20.2, A21.2, and A23 on June 22, 2025. In these stands, a majority of the trees were uprooted or damaged. The action is to conduct a salvage harvest of approximately 43.4 acres in these stands while the trees are still commercially viable. All standing hardwoods will remain as a seed source to maintain habitat for wildlife. Regeneration following the salvage sale will be monitored after one, three and five years. Strong regeneration of desirable Northern hardwoods, such as Butternut hickory, Black cherry, Sugar maple, and some softwoods such as European larch and White pine are expected. If regeneration is poor, tree planting will be considered to restore a healthy forest. After the salvage sale, the cleared land and subsequent early successional forest will benefit White-tailed deer, Black bear, Wild turkey, American woodcock, Ruffed grouse, and other species that rely on open fields and young forests for foraging and raising young. The project is located on Harris Road in the Town of Lee, New York.