Access to reservoir regained*

*Some restrictions may apply

By CHRIS CONROY

SMALLWOOD, NY — Residents are calling it a victory.

Nearly a year after being closed, the gate at the end of Town Road 62 has been opened to everyone who wants to get to the Toronto Reservoir.

The road, commonly known as Moscoe Road, but officially listed as Split Rock Road, has led only to a closed gate. Beyond that gate, crossing property owned by Woodstone Development, is a road that leads to a state-owned boat launch, one of two launches on the reservoir maintained by Mirant as part of its Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing agreement. Mirant runs the power-generating dam on the reservoir.

As late as last Monday, the gate was still closed, as Mirant and Woodstone worked out the details of access. As the access was initially closed due to security concerns at the dam, the right to close the access based on the national terrorism alert level has been reserved.

According to members of the Smallwood Civic Association, as of Wednesday, May 21, the gate was open.

Since the closing of the access was brought to the attention of the civic association, the group has been a vocal advocate of restoring public access. After taking the Bethel Town Board to task for a resolution that allowed Woodstone to erect a new gate at the beginning of the town road, the association has continued to push for what they consider appropriate signage at the location.

Last fall, the board had the new gate opened to traffic after consulting the town attorney, and discovering that the resolution that allowed the installation of the new gate did not fully follow the procedure set forth in town law. At about the same time, signs were put in place delineating where the town road ended and private property began.

It is these signs, as well as the continued presence of the now open new gate, that the civic association still calls into question.

The town’s planning board has agreed to look into the signage issue. The town board declined to comment further at the meeting on the gate issue.

Unfortunately, according to the civic association’s Bob Barrett, high water levels have washed away much of the beach, as well as a portion of the boat launch that many residents enjoyed through the now-open access.