Governor Hochul Announces $2.2 Million Contract for Forest Management in Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks

Strategic Insights -

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a $2.2 million contract to continue forest management in Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks to address damage from the invasive Southern Pine Beetle. The contract will focus on areas adjacent to homes, trails, and Montauk Highway, while also creating additional access for Fire Departments to reduce the risk to human life or property in the case of a wildfire. This is part of a larger effort to address the devastating impacts of wildfires, which have been witnessed in California and Canada.

Key Takeaways:

  • The $2.2 million contract will focus on forest management in Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks, aiming to address damage from the invasive Southern Pine Beetle and reduce the risk of wildfires.
  • The project will prioritize areas adjacent to homes, trails, and Montauk Highway, ensuring public safety and improving access for Fire Departments in the event of a wildfire.
  • The contract will involve strategic forest management, including thinning, brush reduction, and prescribed burning, to improve forest health and reduce fuel loads.
  • The three-year contract will start on November 1, 2025, and end on October 31, 2028.
  • To comply with the Endangered Species Act, tree cutting will occur from December to February, while the federally and state endangered Northern long-eared bats are hibernating in their overwintering roosts off-site.
  • The project will also involve the piling of felled trees, creation of Hazard & Risk Analysis and Fire Management Plans, and prescribed burn plans to reduce risk to public safety and restore the forest community.
  • Assemblymember Tommy John Schiavoni, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker, East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez, and East Hampton Town Councilmember David Lys expressed their support for the project, highlighting its importance for protecting communities, preserving natural landscapes, and ensuring public safety.

Statistics:

  • Since 2014, DEC has treated more than 2,500 acres on State and County lands to suppress the southern pine beetle population and protect New York's remaining pitch pine forests.
  • In 2022, OPRHP spent more than $2 million on fuel management work in Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks.
  • The Southern Pine Beetle has impacted tens of thousands of acres in Suffolk County's Central Pine Barrens Preserve (CPBP), a 105,000-acre region of high ecological significance.
  • The CPBP has a legacy of fire suppression and limited forest management, resulting in dense, homogenous forest stands that are highly conducive to SPB outbreaks.

Sources:

  • "Governor Hochul Announces $2.2 Million Contract for Forest Management in Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks" (news release from the Office of the Governor, Kathy Hochul)
  • DEC press release: "DEC Treats Over 2,500 Acres to Suppress Southern Pine Beetle Population" (2022)
  • OPRHP press release: "OPRHP Completes $2 Million in Fuel Management Work in Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks" (2022)
  • Startree Wildfire Protection press release: "Startree Wildfire Protection to Develop Hazard & Risk Analysis and Fire Management Plan for Napeague and Hither Hills State Parks" (2022)