Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve has presented its 2020 Paul Schaefer Wilderness Award, the organization’s highest honor, to Kevin Chlad, Director of Government Relations for the Adirondack Council with offices in Elizabethtown and in Albany. [Read more…] about Adirondack Wild Presents 2020 Wilderness Award
Adirondack Council
Survey: High Peaks Hikers Seek Wildness, Solitude, Support Limits
Two conservation organizations and a state college today released the preliminary results of a two-month hiker survey in and around the High Peaks Wilderness Area showing that the 673 hikers surveyed came there seeking solitude and wildness, and would favor limits on visitation to prevent damage to the “forever wild” Forest Preserve. [Read more…] about Survey: High Peaks Hikers Seek Wildness, Solitude, Support Limits
Siena Poll Shows Support For Limits on Hiking, Camping in High Peaks
A Siena College Research Institute poll of New York voters in September showed that by 68% to 22% they want New York State officials to protect overused public lands in the Adirondack Forest Preserve from further abuse by enforcing resource capacity limits, rather than building bigger and bigger parking lots to accommodate the surging crowds. [Read more…] about Siena Poll Shows Support For Limits on Hiking, Camping in High Peaks
2020 State of the Adirondack Park Report Issued
The Adirondack Council released its 2020-21 State of the Park report subtitled “Landscape of Hope,” noting that the park has become a place of refuge during the COVID-19 crisis, which has only increased the park’s popularity.
The report also notes that the state is beginning to make progress on addressing the overused trails and campsites of the High Peaks Wilderness Area, detailing what has been accomplished and what remains to be done. A third major focus of the report – taking up its entire center spread – is the pending sale of the 36,000-acre Whitney Estate in Long Lake, Hamilton County. [Read more…] about 2020 State of the Adirondack Park Report Issued
Calls For Adirondack Park Permits In Historical Perspective
I appreciate the Adirondack Council’s recent press release TAC Press Release, Aug. 26 which highlights the many benefits of permit reservation or limited entry systems and how such a system is needed and necessary now in parts of the High Peaks Wilderness Area. Support from the Adirondack Council for such a system comes at an important moment, as overuse of the peaks continues to spike during this pandemic summer. [Read more…] about Calls For Adirondack Park Permits In Historical Perspective
Adks Report Highlights Overuse Concerns, Confusion Over Permits
When the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics conducted a park-wide survey of overuse problems in the Adirondack Park last fall, it produced a set of more than 50 recommendations for state officials, based on its experience with similar problems in wild places and preserves around the world.
In sum, Leave No Trace is an educational organization that teaches wildlands ethics to hikers and campers, and teaches wilderness stewardship and natural resource protection to government officials and other land managers. [Read more…] about Adks Report Highlights Overuse Concerns, Confusion Over Permits
Storymap Explains Adirondack Park Overuse Issues
A recent Williams College graduate has designed a multi-media “StoryMap” that explains the overuse issues facing the Adirondack Park in simple terms, using interactive maps, info-graphics, video, audio clips, and viewer-manipulated photographs. [Read more…] about Storymap Explains Adirondack Park Overuse Issues
Comptroller Audit Highlights Invasive Species Challenges
According to an audit released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) needs to improve efforts to control invasive species such as zebra mussels, hydrilla and giant hogweed that have established footholds across New York state and threaten native species, agriculture and tourism, [Read more…] about Comptroller Audit Highlights Invasive Species Challenges
Cuomo Makes Adirondack Park Board Nominations
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has formally nominated seven individuals to the board of the Adirondack Park Agency, which oversees land-use, planning and zoning on both public and private lands, in cooperation with other state agencies.
Three individuals who are currently serving were nominated for new terms and four individuals were nominated for their first terms. [Read more…] about Cuomo Makes Adirondack Park Board Nominations
Survey: 90% of Boats Bypass Northway Inspection Station
Boat counters on the Northway for the Memorial Day weekend say that 89% of the trailered motorboats traveling north into the Adirondacks on Interstate 87 passed the inspection/decontamination station without stopping, according to the Adirondack Council, which organized the transportation survey. [Read more…] about Survey: 90% of Boats Bypass Northway Inspection Station