State Expands Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area
The Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area (WMA) has expanded by a third with New York state’s acquisition of a 261-acre property in Putnam County prized for its wildlife habitat and water quality protection. The property, known as North Hollow, is located within the Great Swamp watershed and was acquired by the state with federal grant money and a private donation. “Adding North Hollow to the Cranberry Mountain WMA will preserve forested and watershed land for use by the public for expanded recreational and sporting activities,” DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said.
The acquisition expands the Cranberry Mountain WMA to 728 acres. It is currently used for hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing and trapping.
DEC added the North Hollow property to its 467-acre Cranberry Mountain WMA in order to further protect the Highlands region for its abundant natural and cultural resources. The WMA now totals 728 acres. Since 2006, DEC and the Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, have worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the family of the late Gerald Blumberg, a long-time resident of the Hudson River Valley, to conserve the property. The Blumberg family generously donated half the value of the property to meet a federal match requirement.
North Hollow features steep upland forests protecting the nearby Haviland Hollow Brook, a pristine trout stream. The brook’s watershed connects with the Great Swamp, Croton River and reservoirs in the New York Highlands that provide drinking water to New York City. The area is used for such recreational activities as hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing and trapping.
