New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 6 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
Chapter II - LANDS AND FORESTS
Part 190 - Use of State Lands
State Lands Generally
Section 190.8 - General

Universal Citation: 6 NY Comp Codes Rules and Regs ยง 190.8

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 39, September 25, 2024

(a) The use of State lands or any structures or improvements thereon for private revenue or commercial purposes is prohibited, except as authorized by section 190.7 of this Title and Environmental Conservation Law, sections 9-0505, 9-0507 and article 11. This subdivision does not apply to the exercise of rights of fee owners of private lands subject to conservation easements.

(b) Except in an emergency, no mechanically propelled vessel equipped with living quarters shall be anchored or moored to (1) State land above water except under permit from the department, or (2) State land under water for a period in excess of 24 hours. The permit and the 24-hour period referred to hereinabove may be terminated by the department in the event that the vessel operator fails to comply with any provision of the Navigation Law of the State of New York or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, or anchors, moors, or otherwise maintains such vessel in such a manner as to create a hazard to navigation.

(c) No boat of any kind shall be tied up or otherwise fastened to any State dock so as to prevent free access to such structure.

(d) The use of toboggans, sleds and snowmobiles on ski trails and ski slopes is prohibited.

(e) Any tent or other camping structure left unoccupied for more than 48 hours may be taken down or removed by the department.

(f) The sale of all alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all State lands at any time except by concessionaires and then only when such sales are provided for in concession agreements.

(g) No person shall deface, remove, destroy or otherwise injure in any manner whatsoever any tree, flower, shrub, fern, fungi or other plant like organisms, moss or other plant, rock, soil, fossil or mineral or object of archaeological or paleontological interest found or growing on State land, except for personal consumption or under permit from the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation and the Commissioner of Education, pursuant to section 233 of the Education Law.

(h) Gambling for money or any other valuable thing upon any State land is prohibited.

(i) No person shall erect or post any notice or sign upon State land at any time.

(j) No person shall, while on State land or waters under the jurisdiction of the department:

(1) intentionally obstruct, prevent or attempt to prevent any officers or employees of the department from performing their legal duties, by means of intimidation, physical force, interference or disobedience of any lawful order or by means of any independently unlawful act;

(2) intentionally expose the private or intimate parts of his or her body in a lewd manner;

(3) obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic with intent to cause public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly create a risk;

(4) engage in fighting or violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior; or

(5) engage in any other activity which violates the Penal Law.

(k) No person shall operate a vehicle on any State truck trail or road maintained by the Department of Environmental Conservation on State reforestation areas at a speed in excess of 25 miles per hour.

(l) No motor vehicle towing, pushing, or hauling a trailer will be permitted access to the Fourth Lake picnic area. The launching of boats other than those carried on cartops is prohibited.

(m) Use of motor vehicles on State land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Conservation outside the forest preserve is prohibited, except where specifically permitted by posted notice or by permit issued by the department. Use of motor vehicles within the forest preserve is governed by Part 196 of this Chapter.

(n) The riding, driving or leading of horses will be permitted anywhere on State lands under the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Conservation unless otherwise prohibited by law, regulation, posted notice or this subdivision. No person shall ride or permit a horse on:

(1) land devoted to intensively developed facilities, such as boat launch sites, day use areas, campsites, ski centers, education centers, fish hatcheries, game farms or headquarters complexes, and lands managed for public safety, such as flood control levees;

(2) foot trails, except where such trails are part of a publicly maintained road, or are specifically designated to allow travel by horses thereon; and

(3) designated snowmobile trails and cross-country ski trails that are covered with ice or snow.

(o) No person shall use any portion of State lands for agricultural purposes, including but not limited to the grazing of cattle or domestic animals of any kind thereon, unless he has obtained a permit from the department.

(p) No person shall fail to comply with the instructions contained on a sign of the Department of Environmental Conservation.

(q) Unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, no person under 21 years of age shall possess alcoholic beverages. Persons age 21 or over who possess alcoholic beverages must produce adequate identification and proof of age upon demand of any peace or police officer.

(r) No person shall operate or possess a snowmobile on forest access roads, truck trails, roads, trails or other areas on State lands outside of the forest preserve which are posted or designated by the department as closed to snowmobile use.

(s) No person shall operate or possess a bicycle on forest access roads, truck trails, roads, trails or other areas on State lands outside of the forest preserve which are posted or designated by the department as closed to bicycle use.

(t) Operation of mechanically propelled vessels.

(1) No person shall operate or possess a mechanically propelled vessel other than an electric powered vessel on State lands outside the forest preserve on the following bodies of water:

UTM Coordinates
County State Land Water Body East North Quad
Region 3
Dutchess West Mountain State Forest (SF) Blackberry Pond 614671 4608789 Pawling, Dover Plains, Verbank & Poughquag
Orange Stewart SF Beaver Pond 567672 4591920 Maybrook
Orange Stewart SF Restoration Pond 567041 4592043 Maybrook
Orange Stewart SF Rowe's Pond 566109 4591959 Maybrook
Orange Stewart SF Stick Pond 567133 4594384 Maybrook
Orange Stewart SF Pittman-Robertson Pond 569356 4594408 Maybrook
Orange Stewart SF Wilkens Pond 567762 4594473 Maybrook
Putnam White Pond Multiple Use Area (MUA) White Pond 606593 4592021 Poughquag & Lake Carmel
Putnam California Hill SF Waywayanda Lake 601402 4588380 Oscawana Lake
Sullivan Hickok Brook SF Hickok Brook Pond 510497 4594568 Highland Lake & Eldred
Region 4
Columbia Beebe Hill SF Barrett Pond 625746 4688111 State Line
Region 6
Lewis Bonaparte's Cave SF Green Pond 470119 4890100 Lake Bonaparte & Harrisville
Lewis Bonaparte's Cave SF Duck Pond 470316 4889752 Harrisville
Lewis Bonaparte's Cave SF Mud Pond 470711 4889576 Harrisville
Oneida Big Brook SF Johnny Smith Pond 442498 4808902 Florence
Oneida Albert J. Woodford SF Chittning Pond 474260 4751058 Cassville
Region 7
Broome Nanticoke Lake MUA Nanticoke Lake 410712 4687400 Lisle
Cayuga Bear Swamp SF Bear Swamp 393547 4733740 Sempronius
Cayuga Frozen Ocean SF Frozen Ocean Pond West 383367 4738897 Owasco
Chenango Genegantslet SF Balt Pond 436172 4696053 Smithville Flats
Chenango Long Pond SF Round Pond 430942 4694538 Smithville Flats
Chenango McDonough SF Kopak's Pond 442482 4707412 East Pharsalia
Chenango McDonough SF Whaley Pond 442452 4708923 East Pharsalia
Chenango Whaupaunaucau SF Jeffrey's Pond 461480 4717604 Holmesville
Cortland Gee Brook SF Calico Pond 422675 4708894 Cincinnatus
Madison Charles E. Baker SF Woodland Pond 469210 4734506 Hubbardsville
Onondaga Morgan Hill SF Shackham Pond 417573 4738216 Tully
Onondaga Morgan Hill SF Spruce Pond 416026 4739101 Tully
Tioga Oakley Corners SF Oakley Corners Pond 404195 4669050 Newark Valley
Tioga Oakley Corners SF Oakley Corners Pond South 404158 4668437 Newark Valley
Tompkins & Cortland Robinson Hollow SF Tri-County Pond 396864 4695960 Dryden
Region 8
Livingston Ossian SF Evergreen Pond 268500 4708247 Canaseraga
Steuben Birdseye Hollow SF Birdseye Hollow Pond 322949 4693357 Savona
Steuben Birdseye Hollow SF Sanford Lake 320620 4688847 Savona
Steuben Cameron SF Cameron Pond 301934 4679191 Cameron
Steuben Cameron SF Unnamed 301240 4680940 Towlesville

(2) No person shall operate an inboard or outboard motor rated at greater than 25 horsepower on State lands outside the forest preserve on the following body of water:

UTM Coordinates
County State Land Water Body East North Quad
Region 7
Chenango Long Pond SF Long Pond 430390 4696715 Smithville Flats

(u) No person shall enter or remain upon or use any forest access road, truck trail, road, trail, facility or any other area on State lands that are posted or designated by the department as closed to public use.

(v) No person shall set, light, use or maintain a fire or campfire of any kind on State lands which are posted or designated by the department to prohibit campfires. Under no circumstances are campfires allowed on any forest access road, truck trail, road, trail or parking area on State lands.

(w) No person shall erect, construct, install, maintain, store, discard or abandon any structure or any other property on State lands or subsequently use such structure or property on State lands, except if the structure or property is authorized by the department or is:

(1) a geocache that is labeled with the owner's name and address and installed in a manner that does not disturb the natural conditions of the site or injure a tree;

(2) a camping structure or equipment that is placed and used legally pursuant to this Part;

(3) a legally placed trap or appurtenance that is placed and used during trapping season;

(4) a tree stand or hunting blind that does not injure a tree, is properly marked or tagged with the owner's name and address or valid hunting or fishing license number, and is placed and used during big game season, migratory game bird season, or turkey season; or

(5) a wildlife viewing blind or stand that is placed for a duration not to exceed 30 days in one location per calendar year, does not injure a tree, and is properly marked or tagged with the owner's name and address or valid hunting or fishing license number.

(x) On State lands, no person shall erect, construct, occupy or maintain any structure that is affixed to a tree by nails, screws or other means that injure or damage the tree except as otherwise authorized by the department.

(y) No person shall erect, construct, maintain, occupy or use any tree stand that is used, operated, accessed or reached by methods or means which injure or damage a tree on State lands, and no person shall gain access to any structure in a tree on State lands by means that injure or damage the tree.

(z) No person shall drive a trailer or motor vehicle, including the wheels thereof, into a body of water to launch or retrieve a vessel on State lands which the department has posted or designated as closed to trailer launching of boats.

(aa) The commissioner may prohibit campfires or the use of liquid or gaseous fuel camping stoves or lamps on State lands during periods of high fire danger.

(ab) No person shall possess breakable targets, including but not limited to clay pigeons, on State lands and no person shall target shoot at breakable targets, including but not limited to clay pigeons and glass containers, on State lands. Unless legally engaged in the act of hunting, no person shall discharge firearms on State lands posted or designated as closed to target shooting.

(ac) On State lands, no person shall sponsor, conduct or participate in any organized event of more than 20 people unless otherwise authorized by the department. Examples of organized events include, but are not limited to: sponsored hikes; archery and fishing tournaments; snowmobile, bicycle, horse and orienteering races, runs, rides or competitions (including biathlons and triathlons); encampments; and re-enactments.

(ad) No person shall sponsor, conduct or participate in any research project on State lands except under permit from the department. Examples of research include, but are not limited to, population studies, collection of scientific samples, placement of scientific instruments, seismic exploration and archaeological studies. This subdivision shall not apply to bird population data collection such as, but not limited, to Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the USGS Breeding Bird Survey and Cornell Lab of Ornithology's e-Bird database; nor shall it apply to any other research exempted by the department in writing on a case by case basis.

(ae) On State lands, no person shall sponsor, conduct or participate in: advertising, weddings, commercial film making activities or film making activities that exclude other public use of the area, and other similar events, except under permit from the department.

(af) No person shall possess paint balls or paint ball guns on State lands, and no person shall sponsor, conduct or participate in any activities associated with the discharging of paint balls on State lands.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. New York may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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