Photo credit: ADK/Ben Brosseau
We want to hear from you! This is an opportunity to provide your feedback, suggestions, and recommendations. Use the adjacent comment form to submit your questions and feedback.
Project e-mail: vum-facilitators@rossstrategic.com
The online public meeting for the High Peaks Visitor Use Management Project was held on Thursday, June 27, 2024, from 5:00-8:00pm ET.
At this meeting we:
Watch the recording of the presentation portions of the public meeting
Review the meeting synthesis (PDF, 10.3MB) NEW!
Review the DRAFT desired conditions statements for the project area (PDF, 0.4MB) NEW!
This document was developed under the NYSDEC VUM project and serves as an anchor for long-term monitoring and adaptive visitor use management strategies and actions for the project area. This document was referenced during the online public meeting and is being provided in DRAFT format at this time. The DRAFT desired conditions statements will be available for public review and comment as part of the draft report.
The first public meeting for the High Peaks VUM Project occurred on May 9, 2023, and focused on existing and desired conditions. Since that time, a stakeholder working group convened for this study area reviewed data collected in the summer of 2023, and provided input and feedback into further development and refinement of desired conditions and indicators.
Contact vum-facilitators@rossstrategic.com for any questions about the meetings, or to identify online meeting accommodation needs.
As described in the Stakeholder and Public Participation Plan, the Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) was convened by the Otak Team and includes up to 20 people with a technical, jurisdictional, and/or representative role who are potentially affected by or interested in the project. The purpose of the SWG is to inform project recommendations by engaging a diverse group of organizational representatives in focused project-specific discussions, and individually and collectively provide insight, input, values, and feedback. SWG members also serve as a conduit for information to and from affiliated organization members. The first SWG meeting occurred October 4, 2023.
SWG Meeting Synthesis - October 4, 2023 (PDF, 5.0MB)
The Stakeholder and Public Participation Plan (Participation Plan) supports the ongoing project data collection and analysis and describes the objectives and tools for stakeholder and broader public engagement throughout the process. It is based in part on recommendations generated from independent stakeholder conversations convened by the Otak consultant team prior to and following the first High Peaks VUM public meeting on May 9, 2023.
Stakeholder and Public Participation Plan - Final (PDF, 0.5MB)
Public engagement is critical to the success of this project. The first meeting in a two-part series of public meetings was held May 9th.
Meeting Press Release - 5/9/23
Meeting Agenda - 5/9/23 (PDF, 0.2MB)
Meeting Boards - 5/9/23 (PDF, 11.6MB)
Meeting Presentation - 5/9/23 (PDF, 4.0MB)
Meeting Synthesis - 5/9/23 (PDF, 7.4MB)
On March 30, 2023, the Otak team convened a group interview with representatives of several stakeholder organizations interested in the High Peaks visitor use study area. These “stakeholder conversations” were part of an initial assessment to learn key issues and concerns about visitor use-related conditions within this study area, ideas and opportunities for improvements, and address any VUM process questions or considerations. A synthesis of the meeting (linked below) was prepared and distributed to participants.
During the meeting we invited participants to suggest others whom they felt we should be reaching out to. We will continually strive to be inclusive and eager to hear from those with interests in this study area.
Please contact Susan Hayman, Ross Strategic and member of the Otak Team, at vum-facilitators@rossstrategic.com with any questions about this meeting.
Stakeholder Conversation - 3/30/23 (PDF, 2.0MB)
Information to be posted.