By EMILY DONOHUE, The Saratogian, link to original post
Wilton community members who spoke at a public meeting about the future of 700 acres of land known as the Saratoga Sand Plains said they want to create a balance between recreation and butterfly conservation.
The balance may be difficult to strike — between preserving the habitat of the Karner Blue butterfly and allowing hunting, hiking, biking, skiing and education programs — but the officials representing the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park are committed to trying.
“We have to work the recreation opportunities around the wildlife protection and the Karner Blue restoration,” David Winchell of the DEC said.
The Saratoga Sand Plains are made up of several state-owned parcels acquired within the past five years, and the majority of them fall within the boundaries of the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park. Camp Saratoga is included in the land.
The sand plains offer an ideal habitat for the endangered Karner Blue butterfly because their sole food source, Lupine plants, thrive in the sandy soil.
The DEC is attempting to create a five-year management plan that takes into consideration the butterflies’ needs and the desires of community members who use the forest lands for recreation and sport.
To that end, DEC officials held a public meeting Feb. 11th to explain the year-long process of drafting a plan and to take comments from the public. Comments will also be accepted in writing and can be submitted by e-mail to r5info@gw.dec.state.ny.us or by standard mail to NYSDEC, 232 Golf Course Road, Warrensburg, NY 12885.
Several hunters attended the meeting and expressed their desire that any changes to the land use in the area preserve not infringe on their ability to hunt. Their activities can easily and safely be managed alongside activities like hiking and biking, they said. “As long as we stay within the state laws and regulations, everything should be fine,” one commented.
Another man who uses the land for running and snowshoeing said he hopes the existing 20-mile trail system won’t be completely sacrificed for the butterflies. “We want to respect the butterflies, but we do want to keep the sanctity of the trails in the park,” he said.
To explore trails of the Saratoga Springs region pick up a copy of “25 Short Hikes & Interesting Walks in the Saratoga Springs, NY Region.”
