News and Views from the Empire State
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents in the around 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 Recent Statewide Forest Ranger Mission Highlights
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that the Licensed Guides exam for anyone currently registered is now scheduled for Saturday, August 1st. [Read more…] about Exam Set Dates for NYS Licensed Guides
DEC and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) have launched PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL Campaign to encourage safe, responsible and local recreation this summer.
The campaign invites people to take the pledge, and promise to use common sense to protect themselves and others when enjoying the outdoors. [Read more…] about State Launches ‘Play Smart, Play Safe, Play Local’ Campaign
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has reopened campsites and lean-tos in the Lake Colden area in the High Peaks of the Adirondack Park, after a black bear that DEC says had “a documented escalation of the bear’s aggressive behavior since 2018” was euthanized.
Camping in the area was temporarily closed after numerous incidents with what are believed to have been the same bear over the past several weeks, according to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise. [Read more…] about Bear Killed: High Peaks Campsites, Lean-Tos Reopened
Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve recognized the initial efforts of the High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group which issued an interim report last week.
In a statement to the press, Adirondack Wild’s David Gibson said: “An advisory body of diverse stakeholders, all volunteers, has been meeting distantly during the pandemic but nonetheless has reached consensus on recommendations to address some key existing pressure points in the High Peaks Wilderness region. During these tough times, that is an impressive accomplishment.” [Read more…] about David Gibson: Connect New High Peaks Ideas to Management Plan
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that additional DEC campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill parks will open on July 1 to existing reservation holders for the 2020 season.
DEC has temporarily stopped issuing permits for backcountry camping for groups of 10 or more. As of June 11, DEC resumed issuing permits for groups of fewer than 10 people who would like to stay for more than three nights at one location on state lands. DEC is also temporarily restricting lean-to use to members of a single household at a time.
DEC-controlled fire towers (with the exception of Sugar Hill) are also reopened to visitors.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is encouragingd New Yorkers to reduce the potential for conflicts with bears across the state.
In June, black bear movement increases as the breeding season begins and yearling (one-year-old) bears disperse to find their own space. Inevitably some of these bears, particularly yearlings, wander through places these animals would not normally inhabit, like suburban or urban neighborhoods. [Read more…] about Reducing Conflicts With Bears
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released the High Peaks Strategic Planning Advisory Group’s (HPAG) Immediate Action Recommendations Report. The report includes proposed actions that DEC and its State and local partners could undertake, pending available funding and continued partnership, to promote sustainable use of the Adirondacks High Peaks and protect the resource from increased usage. [Read more…] about Adirondack High Peaks Interim Report Issued
20 of New York State’s DEC campgrounds in the Adirondack and Catskill parks will open on June 19 for the 2020 season. [Read more…] about 20 DEC Campgrounds, Day Use Areas Open Friday
The ongoing pandemic is asserting its influence on Adirondack summer recreation, amplifying worries about public safety and the increased number of visitors, especially in the High Peaks.
There are many questions: will there be more hikers this season? Fewer? Will choked trailheads be COVID vectors? Will novice visitors seeking to escape both the coronavirus and social isolation mean an increase in unprepared hikers and rescues? Will a decrease in the usual resources such as open facilities, trail stewards and shuttles cause our visitor management challenges to be overwhelming?
No one knows. Understandably, concern is high. [Read more…] about Viewpoint: We Need Forest Rangers As Forest Preserve Ambassadors