Wetlands....opinions please

Yes, Star lake is to the south. Thank you for the walk about offer. Ft. Drum is about 90 min or so. the land was previously used for agriculture but not for a while. We are checking for pesticide and herbicides.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

I didn't mention anything about fish because there are fish in the creek and river that run along the property.
i have posted pics on another thread or go to www.flickr.com/photos/griffx4

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

I live in St. Lawrence county about 20 minutes from Star Lake and about 40 minutes from Fort Drum.... some of what people are posting is somewhat mis-leading. Sure, there are a few 'dead' lakes in some parts of the Adirondacks, but around here there are more fish than you can eat. I'm technically about 4 miles out of the AP-- in the foothills and I love it here. The regulations are not as bad as they are made out to be-- for some ungodly reason it is still legal to burn your trash in St. Lawrence county, unlike most areas of the state.... Probably (and hopefully) there are regs. regarding that inside the park. I for one am glad that the area is protected more than alot of regions-- makes for safer living if you ask me. I like the aspect of knowing that much of this land is 'Forever Wild'.

Here is a picture of my town:
http://www.edwardsny.us/

If you look straight up from the back corner of the town hall (not the footbridge picture ) you can see a roof in all the pines and a small piece of a meadow. That's my house...

Here is a link 'North Country Now' that will give you an idea of the area-- the links on the left side has many, many links to most towns, businesses, non-profit orgs. etc. (especially the local web sites link)

http://www.northcountrynow.com/

Thank you for the links, mwhi?

what is your soil like for gardening?

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Things must have changed for the better. I'm glad to hear that there are fishes there. When I was hiking in the Airondacks...there were NO fishes anywhere and that's what I was told that it was due to acid rain...etc etc.

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Ted H

You may all go to Hell, and I will go to Texas.
-Davy Crockett

You're welcome! I have no trouble growing a veggie garden, flowers, apple trees, strawberries etc.

Here are some maps that you might find useful. On this page http://www.slcfarms.com/home.html choose the link to the Ag. Dev. Plan then look at the individual town maps (second row) they show each parcel in each town.

I would have gave you the link directly to the maps, but thought you might like to look around a bit

About 20% of the lakes and ponds have been affected, not all to the 'dead' point, but that is basically in the high mountain region. It's not only a problem here-- Vermonts Green Mountains, New Hampshires wilderness and the Chesapeake Bay (among other places) have all suffered from the pollution generated in the Mid-West.

http://www.oag.state.ny.us/press/200...jan08a_02.html

Mwhit,

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are a Godsend. Hubby and i have found loads of info in the web and the DEpt of Soil and Water is sending Agri past, flodd plain info, soil analysis etc can't wait to get it.

We are leaning very heavily on purchasing the parcels. Cabin Fever has been a great help by sending soil maps and wetland info.

We are not going to allow family to bum us out. They think we are crazy for not .wanting to be in the City. Hubby and i are native Ny'ers but city life is not for us.

We hope to get much more research done so that if we purchase we will have a plan for when we go home on leave summer of 07. Plant some fruit trees, maybe a well.

I would like to be able to grow things.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

It must be wetland day. Another user just asked about wetlands. I live in Upstate NY and we have wetlands. We own 9 acreas as wetlands that are protected by the state, which means that there isn't much we can do with them. I've been to the Adirondacks before. It is so beautiful. I know that you are overseas right now, but you need to go there and check everything out. Everyone is right when they say check with the local DEC. They can answer a lot of questions about wet lands and what are your rights if you own them. In the mountains there are alot of beaver and they can turn a five foot puddle into lake michigan. Ours started out small, but because we have a large (or we did have thanks to beaver) standing area of birch and smaller trees they cut them down and built a eight foot high ---- and now the swamp is nine acreas big. It literally look like a lake. Our house sits up high so we did not have to have flood insurance, but in NY you have to have to go back a hundred years to see if there has been any flooding for insurance purposes. Our neighbor around the corner is level with the swamp so he is flooded out all year around(stubborn old man). I hope everything workd out for you.

You're very welcome Anything else you need or are curious about? I'm very familiar with the whole county-- was born and raised here. I moved away (Georgia) for about 10 minutes, realized no other place would ever be home and I haven't left since. I really feel that this would be a great investment and don't worry about what the family thinks-- you know what you want, they don't! My MIL thinks I'm a little odd for living here (not in a bigger place) but I don't worry about it-- she's the one missing out on peace and tranquility, not me!! Again, anything else you need to know or if you'd like me to go take a look I'd be happy to help. Feel free to pm me if this thread gets buried and you have a question.

Michelle

ETA: You should have no problem growing things-- this is mainly an agricultural area. Worst case scenario you will have to get a few loads of old manure for your planting areas (finding manure around here will be easy-- I'd even give you some) but honestly you should be able to grow whatever you desire. I'd worry more about the deer eating the plants than the soil not being suitable!!

I Gotta point out buying land without seeing it should get you a white coat with long sleeves. Might be great land, might not. The advise to campout on it is good but Id say more like rent in the area and live there at least a year get to know the area and its vagariteis see the landand otheres simular to it in all sorts of weather .Become a memeberof the community and get an idea for who you want as neighbors andwho youdont. Learn the value of property and whats a good deal,maybe even find a good deal,After all the property that is the best deal never gets a sign let alone winds up on the internet.
Arounnd here it goes something like this in per acre prices
familey and friend sale $ 900
aquantance sale $1400
Local realestate agent sale $2000
Big city realestate agentsale $2600
Internet sale $3600

ha
We had family check it out for us.


ETA:We are expecting more information from DEC and Soil & Water. Cabin Fever has helped by supplying some soil maps and other info, Thanks again CF.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

MWHIt.

I PMed you.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

I just noticed and replied

We own 96 acres and most of it is in a flood plain. Our northern property line runs right down the middle of a large creek. We have two drainage ditches which crisscross the property and three drainage ponds.

We love it! We're guaranteed to never have neighbors building on our northern and eastern property lines. We did have to build our house a 1/2 mile off the road, but that was fine with us.

The 30 acre field next to the creek and three acres of road frontage (between the road and diversion ditch) have been converted back to wetlands. We signed up for a Soil Conservation program and last January they helped pay for planting 9000 trees. They also pay us a stipend for 15 years after which we can use the trees as we see fit. We see fit to allow it to remain wetlands for as long as we live.

Drawbacks are having lots of mosquitos, lots of cottonmouths and having to wear waterproof boots to take a walk in the woods during wet seasons (something we haven't seen a lot of in the last two years).

We wouldn't trade our wetlands for anything.

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I'm running so far behind I thought I was first!

http://hickahala.blogspot.com/

Ravenlost,

We are very excited.

We have water on two sides of the parcels. State forest across from us. Elevated building site, electric, driveway directly to building site. Mineral,water,timber,gas rights. closest town 19 minutes one way and 22 minutes the other and many more. We have done our research and have eyes wide open.

We are also blessed to have found this forum and receive advice and suggestions, not to mention help. We are used to getting this type of advice, help and suggestion living in a military community where all band together, but pleasantly surprised to find it exists outside our comfort zone.

I can not thank everyone enough here.

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

MWHIT,

check your PM box

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"Ain't nothing worse than the smell of mendacity"-- Big Daddy, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof