The State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is reminding the public that the comment period for a draft Access and Public Use Plan for the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area will close on Friday.
Northern Montezuma WMA includes more than 8,000 acres of DEC-managed land across Wayne, Seneca, and Cayuga counties. The area features expansive natural and impounded wetlands, along with forest and grassland habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife, including several species of conservation concern.
The wildlife management area is part of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, a globally recognized Important Bird Area and a popular destination for birdwatchers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiasts.
According to DEC, the draft Access and Public Use Plan complements the existing Habitat Management Plan for Northern Montezuma WMA covering 2020 through 2029. The plan outlines management goals for wildlife-dependent recreation, public access improvements, and facility maintenance over the next 10 years.
Proposed objectives include maintaining and enhancing parking areas, kiosks, observation platforms, and boat launches. The plan also calls for maintaining diverse wetland and upland habitats to support hunting, trapping, and wildlife observation opportunities.
The draft plan also includes improvements aimed at increasing accessibility for people with disabilities, including better access to observation platforms and the Montezuma Audubon Center.
The draft plan is available for review on DEC’s Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area webpage.
Public comments will be accepted through Friday (March 13). Comments can be mailed to the DEC Bureau of Wildlife, Region 8, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road, Avon, 14414, or emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “Northern Montezuma WMA draft APUP.”
