Survey seeks public input on best uses for Catharine Creek WMU

Schuyler County and the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce are collecting public input to shape how Catharine Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is used in the future. Between the villages of Watkins Glen and Montour Falls, the roughly 1,000 acres of marshland drained by Catharine Creek is owned and managed by New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation, with a mission focused on wildlife habitat and wildlife-dependent recreation. The area is open to the public for hiking, hunting, trapping, fishing and wildlife watching. Officials say the survey results, prepared by Barton & Loguidice, will guide interpretation and educational efforts, including access points and trail maintenance, while balancing activities like hiking, biking, kayaking and birdwatching. The online survey runs through Sept. 18.