Edgewood NY Oak Brush Plains Reserve

[KJ42]

So I'm not 100% sure where to put this. Forbthebfirst time i visited this old State land donated to DEC decades ago. Its a huge Bear/Scrub Oak, Pitch Pine reserve with many big Chestnut Oaks, Chinkapin, White, Black Oaks,  Big Tooth Polpar, etc... problem, its dominated by Autumn Olive, Mugwort, MFR, Garlic Mustard, Oriental Bittersweet, English Ivy. I mean honestly, they need to burn this whole 800 acre place and let it naturally regenerate. I Can't see the State putting any money into chemically managing the invasive. They have so much taken over ever inch of available soil.  Very disheartening to see this. I was so surprised to see the huge Chestnut Oaks all over the park.

 I wonder who i could call to talk to about this?

[mudfarmer]

If the internet is right that's in Suffolk county?

Contact for that region's DEC Forester:

Region 1 
Counties: Nassau, Suffolk 
John Wernet
50 Circle Rd.
Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409
Phone: (631) 444-0285

https://dec.ny.gov/nature/forests-trees/private-forest-management/dec-stewardships-forester-coverage

This should be a good start for you.

[Old Greenhorn]

Uploading your profile info with your general location would be helpful, but I assume you live in Long Island as I did in a previous life long, long ago.
 In spite of the high density population (along with the high taxes) LI has some unique ecosystems and some of them are very dependent on fire to survive and the pine barrens are a case in point. Without fire, it does not sustain itself. OTOH, the NY DEC has been traditionally opposed to using fire as a control or maintenance method, taking their lead from the USFS. Yes, it is short sighted, many of us know that. But in very recent years they are finally doing test proscribed burns in a few areas. Maybe in time they will come around to some 'new knowledge' and using fire as a tool.
 Just south and east of the park you mentioned there is a larger tract at Brookhaven National Labs where they do execute proscribed burns from time to time, and also have natural burns. They are using the site to research fire effect on tick control this summer.
 I doubt anyone will be able to change the DEC's mind about doing a burn in the area out mention, but it never hurts to ask. I have 'gone up against' the NY DEC on another issue years back in a public battle and learned that they are heavily influenced by politics and public appearances. Their bureaucracy is thick and a bit tilted toward pressures from above that overrides the science.  Although I and the other citizens involved in our little fight won, the DEC just waited a year and found another way to  slip in their plan without any public hearings and before we could rally the troops again. That makes them slimy in my eyes.
 Best of luck. Oh, and HERE is the page with the overall site info.

[KJ42]

If the internet is right that's in Suffolk county?

Contact for that region's DEC Forester:

Region 1
Counties: Nassau, Suffolk
John Wernet
50 Circle Rd.
Stony Brook, NY 11790-3409
Phone: (631) 444-0285

https://dec.ny.gov/nature/forests-trees/private-forest-management/dec-stewardships-forester-coverage

This should be a good start for you.

Yes thats is correct, Suffolk County Long Island! Despite living there 42 years, 2 towns away i never realized this Gem of a place!  Right down the street is also a Babylon Town "public Organic Garden" which is also great!  I moved out of the state in early 2023 to the small mountains of NE PA and i got into reforestation my 21 acres and battling the invasives. I would have never noticed the horrid state the park is in if i never got into what I'm doing in PA. There's also a very nice, open grown  Chestnut Oak  in the small parking lot, no fence around it, cars can literally drive right up on it and all that. I'm surprised it's in such good condition as the sandy soil is so compact from driving around it. I was able to grab a boat load of Acorns from this tree, weevil free!

Thanks for the links ill give it a look!

[KJ42]

Uploading your profile info with your general location would be helpful, but I assume you live in Long Island as I did in a previous life long, long ago.
 In spite of the high density population (along with the high taxes) LI has some unique ecosystems and some of them are very dependent on fire to survive and the pine barrens are a case in point. Without fire, it does not sustain itself. OTOH, the NY DEC has been traditionally opposed to using fire as a control or maintenance method, taking their lead from the USFS. Yes, it is short sighted, many of us know that. But in very recent years they are finally doing test proscribed burns in a few areas. Maybe in time they will come around to some 'new knowledge' and using fire as a tool.
 Just south and east of the park you mentioned there is a larger tract at Brookhaven National Labs where they do execute proscribed burns from time to time, and also have natural burns. They are using the site to research fire effect on tick control this summer.
 I doubt anyone will be able to change the DEC's mind about doing a burn in the area out mention, but it never hurts to ask. I have 'gone up against' the NY DEC on another issue years back in a public battle and learned that they are heavily influenced by politics and public appearances. Their bureaucracy is thick and a bit tilted toward pressures from above that overrides the science.  Although I and the other citizens involved in our little fight won, the DEC just waited a year and found another way to  slip in their plan without any public hearings and before we could rally the troops again. That makes them slimy in my eyes.
 Best of luck. Oh, and HERE is the page with the overall site info.

I am also formally from Long Island, a few towns away from this gem of a park actually! The bearaucratic mess and politics  of NY is one of the major reasons i am no longer a NK'er. I do still work in NYC, LI, NJ, Westchester so i do still spend quite a lot of time on Long Island. I like to wander around looking at the small forests and parks that i never really noticed when i lived there.  It feels good to know that there are people out there like yourself putting up a fight against those horrid beaurocacies.  Thank you and i appreciate the link!!! I also highly doubt they'll burn the area as it is sandwiched between residential areas. I mean what isn't on LI. They're packing every square inch of available soil with condos and 15 min cities. I am going to contact the property agency tho. For it to even be allowed to get that out of hand takes around 20-30 years, easy, and it should have been managed.