Recreation

Invasive Southern Pine Beetle Spreads North

April 23, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) have announced that southern pine beetles (SPB) were found farther north than previously documented and in greater numbers, suggesting their range is expanding and populations are on the rise.

SPB are destructive forest pests that pose a significant threat to the State’s pine forests, particularly pitch pine forests like those found in the Albany Pine Bush and Minnewaska State Park Preserve. [Read more…] about Invasive Southern Pine Beetle Spreads North

Public Forums on Outdoors Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Sustainability Planned

April 16, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in collaboration with the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and the Adirondack Park Agency (APA), are hosting a two-part webinar series on integrating inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability in providing access to state lands. [Read more…] about Public Forums on Outdoors Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Sustainability Planned

Forest Rangers Make Rescues, Recover Body at SNIRT Event, More

April 14, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people.

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Make Rescues, Recover Body at SNIRT Event, More

DEC Now Hiring Summer Recreation Season Staff

April 13, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the availability of employment opportunities for the summer recreational season. Individuals looking for seasonal summer employment who enjoy the outdoors are encouraged to learn more about opportunities to work at DEC facilities. [Read more…] about DEC Now Hiring Summer Recreation Season Staff

Muddy Trail Advisory Issued for Adirondacks

April 8, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has urged hikers to postpone hikes on Adirondack trails above 2,500 feet until high elevation trails have dried and hardened.

DEC advises hikers on how to reduce negative impacts on all trails and help protect the natural resources throughout the Adirondacks during this time. [Read more…] about Muddy Trail Advisory Issued for Adirondacks

Peter Bauer: It’s Time For A Cathead Mountain Amendment

April 7, 2022 by Peter Bauer 2 Comments

Hamilton County has been trying to expand its emergency communications network for years. The county has dead spots for not only cell service but for its emergency communications system too, especially in the southern part of the county.

The only viable option for the county, given the widely and most commonly used emergency communications equipment in New York State, is to expand its network of line-of-sight towers powered through utility lines, with emergency backups, and are accessible by motor vehicle for servicing. The south end of Hamilton County has limited police and EMT communications service. [Read more…] about Peter Bauer: It’s Time For A Cathead Mountain Amendment

Recent Ranger Rescue Missions in Catskills, Adirondacks

April 6, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Recent Ranger Rescue Missions in Catskills, Adirondacks

Canal Clean Sweep Call for Volunteers

April 3, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Parks & Trails New York has announced a call for volunteers for the 17th Canal Clean Sweep, to be held April 22nd through 24th. Canal Clean Sweep is an annual clean-up event held across the New York State Canal System and Canalway Trail.

More than 100 Clean Sweep events are expected along the more than 400-mile-long Canalway Trail system and the 524-mile-long Canal system, with opportunities for thousands of residents to give back to their local communities and to show pride in one of New York’s most iconic cultural and recreational resources. [Read more…] about Canal Clean Sweep Call for Volunteers

St Lawrence Rock Ridge: Comments Sought on Management of 15 State Forests

April 3, 2022 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that the draft Unit Management Plan (UMP) for St. Lawrence Rock Ridge is out for public comment through April 30th.

The 21,575-acre St. Lawrence Rock Ridge planning unit is located in southwestern St. Lawrence County towns of DeKalb, Depeyster, Edwards, Fowler, Gouverneur, Hammond, Hermon, Macomb, Pitcairn, and Rossie, and in the northeastern Lewis County town of Diana. [Read more…] about St Lawrence Rock Ridge: Comments Sought on Management of 15 State Forests

ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

April 1, 2022 by Justin Levine Leave a Comment

Opening Up the Adirondacks

The Adirondack Council’s Aaron Mair and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solage were recently on the Capitol Pressroom radio show out of Albany. Mair and Solage made the case for the state budget to include funding to create the Timbuctoo Summer Climate and Jobs Institute, which would provide job and environmental training to high school students who may not otherwise get much exposure to the Adirondacks. The effort would involve Medgar Evers College in New York City and the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. [Read more…] about ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know