Purpose

These rules establish standards and guidelines for protection, preservation and primary use for fishing of approximately 15.8 acres of land in the town of Carlton bounded on the west by the Oak Orchard River including an island, on the north by the state-owned access trail from Park Avenue Extension, on the south by the NYSDEC parking lot and Brookfield Power Company lands including about 800 feet of the peninsula. This land is leased by the County of Orleans for the express purpose of allowing the general public to engage in the outdoor recreational activities of fishing and boating.

This land is subject to federal and state laws and regulations including NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation fishing regulations. The stream is a designated Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitat under the state Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act.

Allowed Uses and Acts

Fishing, wading on the stream bottom, float fishing, boating, and traversing the stream bank.

Stream and Land Use Ethics and Safety

• Observe Posted Signs and respect the rights of private property owners in the area.

• Watch for swift currents and fast-rising water.

• Allow sufficient space between yourself and other anglers for safe casting and to reduce fouling of lines.

• Use restroom facilities provided in the area.

• Consider catch and release to help sustain our fishery.

• This is a Carry-in/Carry-out site. There are no facilities for disposal of waste on-site, including fish waste. Remove all refuse.

• Use designated trail and parking access on the north (at the NYSDEC trail) and south (public utility and NYSDEC parking area) ends of the site.

Prohibited Uses and Acts

• Hunting, trapping, or discharge of firearms.

• Overnight camping, campfires.

• Any hindrance of another angler’s lawful fishing activities.

• Removal, altering or defacing of any natural feature, sign, improvement or vegetation.

• No access is allowed directly from Park Avenue or Park Avenue Extension.

• Offering of any service or conducting any kind of business or commercial enterprise except that fishing guide services may be provided under New York State license. However, provision of such service shall not include staking out or claiming any area of the land and/or stream for its express fishing use.

• Fish cleaning or fish carcass disposal.

• Construction of any kind.

Penalties

Violation of any one of the foregoing rules or regulations shall constitute an offense and a person guilty of such offense may be punished by a fine not exceeding $100.00, or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, or in the alternative, shall be enforced by prescribing a penalty not exceeding $100.00 in any one case, to be recovered in a civil action brought in the name of the County.

By Order of the Orleans County Legislature

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Contact: Wayne Hale, Jr.
whale@orleansny.com 585/589-3187

Orleans County signs agreement for Oak Orchard River access

The Orleans County Legislature has signed a three-year lease agreement with a local landowner to provide year-round public fishing access on the Oak Orchard River at an annual cost of $7,500. The agreement provides over 4,000 linear feet of stream access on a portion of the east river bank popular for fall fly fishing. The free public fishing area includes the renowned “Sycamore Hole,’ a mid-stream island and part of the peninsula north of the power dam. “We felt that opening this part of the river again to the public was important to enhance the economic impact on our restaurants, lodging businesses, and tackle shops,” said George Bower, County Legislature chairman, who with Legislator Ken Rush, negotiated the agreement. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation estimates that anglers produce $9 million in annual expenditures while fishing in Orleans County.

Rules have been adopted and will be posted along with a map of the site, officially named, ‘Oak Orchard River Access Area.’ Anglers are encouraged above all to respect the rights of area property owners and to observe Posted signs while enjoying this world-class fishery. There is ample public and private parking available. Trails leading to the fishing area may be steep and narrow along the bank.- caution is urged.