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Note: The discovery is in Herkimer (not Jefferson) County. 

The New York State Departments of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) and Environmental Conservation (DEC), in coordination with the State Department of Health (DOH), today announced a confirmed case of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in a facility in DEC’s Region 6 area on Oct. 25. The state is now implementing New York State’s interagency CWD Response Plan (PDF) developed jointly by DEC and AGM to thoroughly investigate this detection and enhance surveillance of wild deer in the area.

CWD is a transmissible disease that affects the brain and central nervous system of certain deer, elk, and moose. At this time, the threat to public health is low. Although there is no strong evidence that CWD can infect humans, people should not consume meat from infected animals. More information about CWD can be found at DEC’s website and DOH’s website.

The sample was collected as part of routine surveillance conducted by AGM, and the case was confirmed through testing by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories. State and federal agency partners are continuing to investigate this detection and take actions to prevent the potential spread of CWD in New York State.

While there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer at this time, DEC will initiate enhanced surveillance in wild deer working with local hunters, processors, and taxidermists in the area. Efforts are also underway to collect roadkill to determine if CWD is present in wild deer. This enhanced sampling and monitoring will inform additional actions to guide the state’s disease management strategy.

Hunters and members of the public are encouraged to report any sick or dying deer, including roadkill deer, in the Region 6 area to DEC for possible collection and testing by contacting DEC’s Region 6 Wildlife Office at 315-785-2263 or email at Information.R6@dec.ny.gov

As CWD continues to spread in other states, hunters have great responsibility to prevent CWD introduction to New York’s wild deer population. CWD is always fatal to deer and if introduced to wild populations, may spread rapidly, and is nearly impossible to eliminate once established. Hunters can help protect New York’s deer herd from CWD by following these tips:

• If hunting any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, debone the harvest before bringing it back to the state. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and parts;
• Avoid deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain infectious material. If using lures, use synthetics;
• Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not out on the landscape;
• Contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or Environmental Conservation Police Officer to report a deer that appears sick, unusually thin, or behaves abnormally; and
• Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles
• Do not consume game that appears sick or diseased.

New York State will keep the public informed as the CWD surveillance efforts continue and additional information will be provided as it is available.

DEC began CWD monitoring efforts in 2002 and intensified the effort in 2005 after CWD was confirmed in both captive and wild deer in Oneida County – the first incidents of the disease in New York State. Since that time, DEC has tested more than 65,000 wild deer statewide with no additional cases discovered in New York.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced that the gate on the access road leading to the Bog River Dam, also known as Lows Lower Dam, has reopened following a period of closure for dam maintenance. The Lower Dam Road and parking area near the end of the road are now open to the public.

The project helped bring the dam into compliance with New York State dam safety regulations.

Lows Lake (Bog River Flow) is part of the larger Bog River Complex. This popular destination is a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts, known for its exceptional wilderness paddling and camping opportunities. 

For questions, contact Henry Dedrick, Supervising Forester at the DEC’s Potsdam sub-office at (315) 265-3090.

Surveys Conducted Sept. 15 through Nov. 30

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the second year of a River Creel survey will begin on the Saranac and Boquet rivers, tributaries to Lake Champlain. The River Creel survey is part of the salmon assessment and restoration efforts of the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative and was preceded by a pilot survey program in 2023.

The survey will be conducted Sept. 15 through Nov. 30, and is focused on the Atlantic Salmon spawning runs in the Saranac and Boquet rivers. The survey will provide DEC fisheries biologists with a better understanding of angler use, catch, harvest, and angler expectations on New York’s salmon rivers. Information gathered will be used to develop a bi-annual river creel survey that will monitor the salmon fishery and inform management actions on these rivers.

Anglers will be asked to voluntarily participate in the survey by providing information about their day of fishing. Collected data will include an angler’s preferred target species, the number of fish caught and harvested, and the angler’s satisfaction with the salmon fishery. If the angler allows, biological data will be collected from fish caught (length, presence of fin clips, number of sea lamprey wounds, and a genetic sample).

Survey sites on the Saranac River include the Green Street angler access site and the fishing pool below Imperial Dam in the city of Plattsburgh. The Boquet River sites include the stretch of river from the town of Willsboro boat launch at Gilliland Park upstream to the fishing pool just below the cascades.

A 2024 survey report will be released in Spring 2025 on DEC’s website. Visit DEC’s website to review the 2023 pilot survey report.  

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the acquisition of 595 acres of forest in the town of Jay, Essex County, known as the Four Peaks Tract, from the Adirondack Land Trust. The acquisition adjoins the Beaver Brook Tract, part of the Wilmington Wild Forest. 

The Four Peaks tract was identified in the New York State Open Space Conservation Plan and includes the potential to expand recreational opportunities from the Beaver Brook trail network (known locally as Hardy Road), which features 8.5 miles of single-track bike trails. Currently, the Beaver Brook Tract can only be publicly accessed in Wilmington. The new acquisition is almost entirely in the town of Jay and allows for access to the Beaver Brook Tract from Jay, creating potential for an additional trailhead and connector trails.  

Future recreational development on the tract will require the Adirondack Park Agency to classify these lands prior to undergoing DEC’s unit management planning process.  

The Adirondack Land Trust purchased the land in May 2018. DEC acquired the $575,000 property through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). Among the many environmental victories in the enacted 2024-25 State Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders maintained the historically high level of $400 million in EPF funding. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers. The EPF also supports New York’s 30×30 initiative, which commits to conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030.  

For more information on Wilmington Wild Forest, visit DEC’s Website. 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the scheduled temporary closure of three popular destinations in Jefferson County. Visitors will be unable to access the following locations for a three-to-four-day period between Aug. 1 and Aug. 14, 2024, to allow for scheduled maintenance of the parking areas:

• South Sandy Creek Boat Launch, Lakeview Wildlife Management Area (WMA), town of Ellisburg; 
• Vaadi Road and NYS Route 12 Seven Bridges Parking Areas, Perch River WMA, town of Brownville; and 
• Isthmus Fishing Access Site on Lake Ontario (formerly Golden’s Marina), town of Lyme. 

The public is encouraged to pre-plan and utilize alternate access options during this time.

Questions regarding the temporary closures can be directed to the Division of Fish and Wildlife by calling 315-785-2263, or emailing information.r6@dec.ny.gov with the subject line – Jefferson County Access Closures.