ALBANY (AP) -- New York will keep nearly 3,000 acres of forest land open to recreation under a deal struck with a timber company.
The agreement reached last week transfers 2,797 acres of wildlife habitat in the Deer River corridor that touches parts of Franklin, Herkimer, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Most of the land is within the Adirondack Park; about 650 acres are outside the park and will become a new state forest.
Leasing of recreational camps and activities including hunting, fishing, hiking and camping will be permitted on the former Champion lands.
In return, timber company Heartwood Forestland keeps the right to permanently lease up to 220 campsites on 110,000 acres of state easement land. Under the original terms of the 1999 easement, the camps were to be removed by 2014.
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