HomeMy WebLinkAboutIthaca Times Article "A Delicate Truce in Six Mile Cree" 07-12-1984 Win $100 in Clothes from High Gear * Readers' Poll Entry Blank on Page Two
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VOL.VI NO.47•FREE - OUR TWELFTH YEAR 24 PAGES ••JULY 12,1984 ID A LJeiicate l M 4' ;.TT° .,,,
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110► ? i SIX a reen -� : .:.
By Ilga $eme. Munna Rubaii,the Gorge Ranger.
he word reservoir camps out I encountered, on a Saturday afternoon, I some miracle, the right person has the environment and to inform the people
in a special corner of the joggers, hikers, students with parents, appeared." what the City can't allow people to do
mind,bounding forth bushy- sunbathers. I thought two or three people Carolyn Peterson,who is in the interesting there." More important than outlawing
tailed when old associations had that suspicious reservoir look in their position of being a dedicated reservoir user swimming to prevent drowning, Peterson
arise. Certain clothes are eyes and that tell-tale stringiness in their for over eight years(a "heavy user"), and feels, is the need to keep people from
reservoir clothes,,like those hair—it's sort of like identifying a stoned active environmentalist and a Common jumping off the cliffs.
ripped-up, washed-out denim'shorts. On a person but there was not a soul in the water. Council member,sat as a non-voting member Where is Peterson swimming now? She
clear blue summer morning, you can get a Rubaii,an Ithacan who is in the master's on the Six Mile Creek Study Committee "won't say—I'm not telling anyone where it
feeling of being in the best place in the world program for Resources Management and which formulated the new rules. She is."She hints that it's a rather unpopulated
at the reservoir. Environmental Policy at SUNY College of describes the changes she saw in the area:"1 place,and she wants to keep it that way.
I used to jump off logs and I scandalized Environmental Science and Forestry in saw a lot of things happen over eight years.It Everyone is not happy with the new
myself by swimming clear across the middle Syracuse, says the ranger's position centers changed from a low-key area. When it reservoir. One die-hard swimmer says, "I
of it,way out where no one could possibly around a low-pressure approach. If became more publicized and more heavily miss the reservoir terribly. I miss the people
save me. I used to evaporate into the water someone's doing something which is against used, I began seeing voyeurs, men who that I see, and there's no other place I see
and the air. And perhaps best of all, there the rules,she simply asks them if they know hassled women, people who brought in them." He would drive in from his
was lawlessness:you knew it was against the the rules and then asks them to stop. And alcohol, camping, fires, an increase in commuting job last summer,late on a Friday
rules to swim there. This was partly the people comply,even if they're kids fixing to firearms." afternoon, "go to Potter's Falls, throw off
reason for the big smiles on the faces of the dive off the cliffs above the 30-foot dam.(At She says, "I've always thought it's my clothes,stand under the waterfall,and let
stringy-haired people trudging out of the least three out of the four people who have unfortunate to outlaw swimholes," but a the tension flow out." Another swimmer
reservoir. There were no rules there, except died at the 30-foot dam in the past 10 years greater need had to be addressed here. "I says outlawing swimming there is "like
the big one;only woods,water and skin. were jumping off the cliffs or swinging off think we needed a ranger in there,to protect outlawing orange juice." ❑
It's not stretching things too far to say that trees). And swimmers: "I ask them to get
this was rapture.The reservoir days were the out People have been very cooperative. it 4, -5,-,7, ''`...,
cool streams flowing into the dust of the And curious, too. Trailwalkers generally ' i
civilized world, and the oasis after a long burst into a smile when they see her,perhaps
New York winter.And that's why it wsa so out of recognition. Yes, it's the Gorge
shocking to find a vicious dark side to this Ranger. She has a uniform with "Gorge New Rules For The Reservoir 1
seemingly innocent paradise. Ranger"written on the shirt and a shortwave
I quit going to the reservoir a few years radio.She smiles and answers questions and And The Six Mile Creek
back, after women were confronted with seems to be in on a little joke with those who
guns and attacked in the woods. It seemed are minding the rules. Maybe people are Watershed Area
that more and more weird guys began expecting something else. "A couple of F
skulking around on those paths;they weren't people have told me they're glad it's me
there for the nature so much as the nature that's doing it and not some hard-nosed YOU CAN:
suits.This new feeling was totally disruptive redneck," she said. In fact, Council barely Walk on the trail from Aurora Street all the way up to.but not h..'..rid •`
to have � ....r...w,the OU-foot
and tc?riiying; you couldn't have both decided not gun-toting, ticket- dam at the base of the upper reservoir.This used to be illegal.
feelings at once, and I became uneasy even issuing deputy on the trails. The following public entrances may be used:Hudson at Renzetti Place,Giles Street at
walking the trails. But,make no mistake.Rubaii's radio can Columbia at the present stairway,Giles Street into the Indian Camp Ground(west of
Still,when the real scrapes up against the be used to get the cops when necessary, for bridge),Giles Street to Van Natta's Dam Pond(east of bridge),Giles Street just below
ideal it's always jarring.When the New Rules ticket serving or other purposes.She is also a East State Street. Public parking for gorge use should be maintained only at Van
for the reservoir were put together by black belt in karate.
Natta's Dam.Pond just south of Giles St.Bridge.
Common Council this year, many people And this gentle solution to the gorge
thought:No swimming?No flower picking? probie.., is fragile at best, just like the YOU CANNOT:
A gorge ranger?Who do they think they are? environment of al:area. It's all on a trial Enter the watershed area from any point on Slaterville Road,although the City and
Then it occurs to me:you weren't going up basis. The police-state mentality that many Town are currently negotiating possible access points.
there anymore anyway,you fool. This is the old reservoir users fear the most could inch in The following activities are prohibited:
inevitable progression which destroys if this doesn't work. The gorge ranger Swimming Rock climbing and rapelling
anything that's good. solution was a real victory for those who Boating Hunting,shooting and carrying arms
A Walk with the Ranger fought to preserve the area in a way that Ice Skating Motorized vehicle and bicycle riding
But I think I've found a middle ground for would keep it as natural and non- Camping Plant digging
my reservoir emotions now,after going for a authoritarian as possible,and Rubaii is very Littering Flower picking
walk the other day with the Gorge Ranger. much appreciated. David Reuther, a
The new Ranger,Munna Rubaii,took me swimmers' advocate who fought long and Amj jfied sound - Consumption of alcoholic beverages
around on her beat.It takes over an hour to hard for keeping' the- reservoir as non- Wood co:ping Fires of any kind
walk the two miles from Aurora Street,by restrictive as possible and•who was recently Trapping Skiing
the Van Natta Dam,up to the 60-foot dam appointed to the Overseers Committee,says (i . '1
that is the edge of the upper reservoir. We of Rubaii:"We wanted a special person.By 4 `''tka 4'