Carly Miller is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the state Department of Environmental Conservation is drafting new rules to govern activity in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest, including Kaaterskill Falls. The proposed regulations would prohibit all fires, including those from charcoal and gas grills and stoves; loud music in Kaaterskill Clove; as well as alcohol in the Kaaterskill Clove and Falls area. Hikers would also be banned from venturing within six feet of the falls’ edge in the summer months to prohibit the use of the falls to slackline. The prohibition would not affect winter ice climbers who visit the falls with proper equipment. The new regulations would include parts of Platte Clove, Kaaterskill Clove, Kaaterskill Falls and Colgate Lake, but not all the rules will apply to all four regions, Forest Ranger Rob Dawson recently told the Hunter Town Board. The DEC has reported 39 hiking incidents at Kaaterskill Falls since 1998. Many required a rescue team, and five of the incidents resulted in death. In addition to the new regulations, Dawson also said his assistant ranger staff will be doubled from one ranger to two in addition to the regular Student Conservation Associates. “With the issues at Kaaterskill, we’ve determined to have a second [ranger] at the falls.” Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.