New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Adirondack Park

David Gibson: In Adirondack Common Cause

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Coalition advocating at the State Capitol for full and fair Forest Preserve taxation, March 12 2018 photo courtesy Jim McKenna, Lake PlacidAdirondack Wild and I have been among those who have heralded the NYS Court of Appeals ruling in May that the only way for the Department of Environmental Conservation to construct snowmobile community connector trails in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserve was through a constitutional amendment.

Protect the Adirondacks lawsuit had taken seven years to reach that court. New York’s high court decision upheld the NYS Constitution’s clause that “the lands of the state…shall be forever kept as wild forest land.” New York State, said the court in so many words, lacked the authority to essentially amend the constitution by administrative fiat. Only the people can do that. We joined Protect in celebrating the most important high court decision affecting the Forest Preserve in 90 years. [Read more…] about David Gibson: In Adirondack Common Cause

Peter Bauer: DEC’s Revised Approach to Forest Preserve Long Overdue

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Forest Preserve SignThe Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has organized a working group to assist the department in revising and amending a series of policies for New York State Forest Preserve trails stewardship. The DEC organized this working group through the membership of the longstanding Forest Preserve Advisory Committee (FPAC). The working group includes members from trails building organizations, local government, and the environmental community.

The Department stressed that this is a unified management effort for the entire Forest Preserve, and the working group includes members from the Adirondack and Catskill Parks. [Read more…] about Peter Bauer: DEC’s Revised Approach to Forest Preserve Long Overdue

Blueprint for Adirondacks Issued by Common Ground Alliance

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common ground alliance logoThe Common Ground Alliance of the Adirondacks (CGA) recently released its 2022 Blueprint for the Blue Line, a summary of state policy recommendations largely informed by dialogue and ideas generated during the group’s annual summer forum. [Read more…] about Blueprint for Adirondacks Issued by Common Ground Alliance

Mirror Lake Water Quality Report Released

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Mirror Lake (courtesy Ausable River Association)This week, the Ausable River Association released their fifth annual report on Mirror Lake at Lake Placid in the Adirondacks in partnership with Paul Smith’s College Adirondack Watershed Institute.

The technical brief focuses on data collected throughout the 2020 field season and documents the effects of road salt runoff entering the lake. The lake completed turnover in spring and fall of 2020 after a mild 2019-2020 winter season. This was the first time spring turnover occurred since 2016. [Read more…] about Mirror Lake Water Quality Report Released

New Adirondack Coalition Launches Campaign

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Aaron Mair by Nancie BattagliaA new coalition is launching a campaign for to protect the Adirondacks.

The Forever Adirondacks Campaign Director Aaron Mair released a 15-point agenda for protecting clean water, creating new jobs and preserving wilderness in the Adirondack Park.

State officials are about to set their budget priorities for the 2022-23 fiscal year. [Read more…] about New Adirondack Coalition Launches Campaign

DEC Announces First-Ever Adirondack, Catskill Parks ‘Coordinators’

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Adirondack Park and Catskills ParkNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the creation of new coordinator positions to help lead efforts to promote sustainable use of public lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Forest Preserves.

Proposed by the High Peaks Strategic Advisory Group (HPAG) and aligned with Catskills Advisory Group (CAG) discussions to date, these new DEC staff positions are expected to help coordinate efforts proposed and undertaken with the multiple communities and regions that comprise the Adirondack and Catskill Parks to better guide efforts to address the unique problems caused by the uptick in visitors to the two Forest Preserves. [Read more…] about DEC Announces First-Ever Adirondack, Catskill Parks ‘Coordinators’

Adirondack Mountains National Park? In 1967 There Was A Plan

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NYS Ranger Bill Petty, left, guides Laurance Rockefeller, center, and Gov. Nelson Rockefeller on horseback in the High Peaks in 1965 (courtesy Rockefeller Archives)On a fall Saturday afternoon in the early 1990s some friends and I met up with wilderness coalition leader Paul Schaefer (1908-1996) at his cabin in Bakers Mills, northern Warren County, NY. Deciding to spend the night, we drove Paul into nearby North Creek for something to eat.

We tried the area’s hotel. One of the hotel staff took a look at Paul’s red plaid hunting jacket and asked him if could change into something more formal. At that, we turned heel and, walking across the street, entered Smith’s Restaurant.

Paul was immediately comfortable, having eaten here many times. Someone greeted him, a fellow deer hunter who remembered him. We took a booth and Paul ordered a steak. [Read more…] about Adirondack Mountains National Park? In 1967 There Was A Plan

Adirondack Council Releases Long Range Vision For Adirondack Park

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Adirondack CouncilThe Adirondack Council have unveiled a new long-range vision for the Adirondack Park in a publication entitled Adirondack VISION 2050, offering recommendations for how to preserve the park’s ecology, sustain its small villages and hamlets, and improve park management by the middle of this century. [Read more…] about Adirondack Council Releases Long Range Vision For Adirondack Park

Elk Lake Lodge Owner Appointed To Chair Adirondack Park Agency Board

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APA Building in Ray Brook NYNYS Governor Kathy Hochul has selected business owner and philanthropist John Ernst as the new chair of the Adirondack Park Agency board. The last person to serve as APA chair was Karen Feldman of Hudson, NY, who resigned in May of 2019.

Ernst owns and operates Elk Lake Lodge in North Hudson, Essex County.  He also owns a home in New York City.  Like Feldman, Ernst was initially appointed to one of three APA board positions reserved for state residents who reside outside of the park boundary.  The APA board has five seats for park residents and three more reserved for state officials, for a total of 11. [Read more…] about Elk Lake Lodge Owner Appointed To Chair Adirondack Park Agency Board

Adirondack Council Releases 2021 ‘State of the Park Report’

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2021 state of the parkThe remote, peaceful and serene wilderness areas of the Adirondack Park have become a place of refuge for millions of New Yorkers and others seeking a respite from the troubles of a rapidly changing world, according to the Adirondack Council’s annual State of the Park report. [Read more…] about Adirondack Council Releases 2021 ‘State of the Park Report’