A couple of weeks ago, the Eastern New York Old Growth Survey Team, in conjunction with the Outing Group of the Sierra Club, conducted a survey of the land off Route 9 in Saratoga Springs that the state at one time wanted to develop into a golf course. The two-day survey on March 9-10 attracted around 80 people who were interested in learning what's growing there. What they found was interesting.

For the first time it was confirmed the area is home to several stands of old growth hemlock, beach and swamp white oak that might have been bulldozed if the state had built the course. The trees date back more than 200 years. What's so intriguing is that trees of this stature account for less than 1 percent of all trees in the state. It had been widely suspected the 308 acres contained old growth trees, but not until March 9-10 was it confirmed.

"This proves it is a special place," Bill Koebbeman, coordinator for the Sierra Club Outing Group, told me. "We just don't have many old growth trees in the state. We've been cutting them down for generations at a rapid rate. There isn't any kind of legal protection for small groups of old trees.''

Saratoga Spa State Park Audubon Society members amidst a Hemlock and White Oak Grove
PHOTO DYarrow 3/9/02

David Yarrow, coordinator of the New York Champion Tree which collects information about the biggest trees in the state and was at the survey, said the land "is a rare natural resource.'' He and Koebbeman are pushing to get it protected.

Ideally, Koebbeman said, the groups would like to see it saved as "an environmental education center with some paths, markers and signs pointing out the unique features." Just paths, he said, with no "real development. We'd like to keep it as it is and go on being a beautiful, natural resource.''

The fate of the land is in the hands of the state, which owns it.

Connie Hyatt, park manager for the Saratoga Spa State Park, told me her department is "working on some trail issues over there and we do plan to have a public meeting when we hit that stage." She said the public meeting could come as early as late spring.

The proposal to turn the land into a golf course first emerged in 1998 as an economic boon to Saratoga Springs' tourism industry. The plans quickly drew opposition from environmentalists. The course originally was slated to open in September 2000, but that date was missed when the environmental review was not finished.

In August 2001, state Parks Commissioner Bernadette Castro formally announced that plans for the $8.5 million golf course had been scrubbed, the environmental review instrumental in that decision.

"Given our commitment to protecting the valuable environmental assets identified in the review process, the plan for the new course cannot move forward as proposed,'' Castro said at the time. "I am hopeful that our investment in the Saratoga property will expand access to the public for passive recreation such as hiking, birding and cross-country skiing and other activities for the enjoyment of our park patrons," Castro said.

Swamp White Oak Bruce Kershner counts the rings on the stump of a fallen giant This tree, which toppled late in 2001, would have been the state champion
PHOTO DYarrow 3/9/02

The environmental review stated the site contains a perched swamp white oak that is rare in the state, more than 100 species of birds use the site, and more than 30 mammals call it home, as do nearly 30 reptile and amphibian species.

What an amazing environmental asset Saratoga Springs has so close to the heart of the city. I always see folks hiking and walking their dogs on the property, and I suspect many more would take advantage of it if walking paths and educational signs were added. I'll keep you posted as to when that public meeting is slated.

Jim Rogalski is the Saratoga County bureau chief for the Times Union.
Call him at 581-8415, ext. 226 or e-mail him at jrogalski@timesunion.com

New York Old Growth Forest Association — www.championtrees.org/NYOGFA/ — updated: 7/6/2002