DEC Releases Draft Access and Public Use Plan for Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area
30-day Public Comment Period ends March 13, 2026
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is seeking public comments on a draft Access and Public Use Plan (APUP) for the Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Northern Montezuma WMA includes more than 8,000 acres
of DEC-managed properties in Wayne, Seneca, and Cayuga counties.
Northern Montezuma WMA is known for its expansive impounded and natural wetlands, while also featuring forested and grassland habitats that support many game species and several species of conservation concern. This WMA is part of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex,
a globally significant Important Bird Area and a destination for outdoor enthusiasts across New York State.
The draft APUP complements the existing Habitat Management Plan (HMP) for Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area (WMA) 2020 –2029 and addresses management objectives for wildlife-dependent recreation, access features, and facility
maintenance over a 10-year period. The draft APUP is available for review on DEC’s “Northern
Montezuma Wildlife Management Area” webpage.
Objectives:
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Maintaining and enhancing parking areas, kiosks, observation platforms, and boat launches;
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Providing a variety of hunting, trapping, and wildlife observation opportunities by maintaining a high-quality and diverse matrix of wetland conditions and upland habitat types; and
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Improving accessibility for people with disabilities to observation platforms and the Montezuma Audubon Center.
DEC is accepting comments on the draft APUP for Northern Montezuma WMA beginning today and ending on March 13. Comments can be mailed to DEC Bureau of Wildlife, Region 8, 6274 East Avon-Lima Road, Avon NY 14414. Emailed comments can be sent to R8Wil...@dec.ny.gov with
the subject line “Northern Montezuma WMA draft APUP.”
https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases
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