DEC

Birdwatchers Sought for 2020 Breeding Bird Atlas

March 30, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a call for citizen science volunteers to help in the development of a comprehensive, statewide survey that takes place every two decades to detail New York’s breeding bird distribution.

Starting in 2020, five years of field surveys will be conducted by volunteers and project partners to provide the data that will be analyzed to create the third New York State Breeding Bird Atlas. [Read more…] about Birdwatchers Sought for 2020 Breeding Bird Atlas

Trout and Salmon Fishing Season Opens April 1

March 30, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Trout and salmon fishing season opens in New York State on Wednesday, April 1st.

New York’s coldwater lakes and streams offer springtime trout anglers the opportunity to pursue trout in a wide array of settings across the state. [Read more…] about Trout and Salmon Fishing Season Opens April 1

DEC Postpones April 3 Exams

March 29, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Out of an abundance of caution and to limit the community spread of COVID-19, DEC has postponed the examinations scheduled for April 3, 2020, to practice the sport of falconry, become a wildlife rehabilitator, or use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals. The exams were originally scheduled to be administered at DEC regional offices statewide. [Read more…] about DEC Postpones April 3 Exams

Recent Adirondack Forest Rangers Mission

March 27, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents in the Adirondacks. 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 Adirondack Forest Rangers Mission

William Fox Helped Create Modern NYS Forest Rangers

March 26, 2020 by John Warren Leave a Comment

William F. Fox was born in 1840 in Ballston Spa, Saratoga County, and graduated from Union College in Schenectady in 1860. He served in the Civil War as Captain, Major and then Lieutenant Colonel in the 107th New York Volunteers and later wrote a number of books on both the Civil War and forestry.

Fox’s 1902 History of the Lumber Industry in the State of New York, written under the auspicious of Gifford Pinchot, is considered among the first authoritative works on the logging industry in New York. [Read more…] about William Fox Helped Create Modern NYS Forest Rangers

NYS Burn Ban In Effect

March 26, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

With spring approaching, conditions for wildfires will become heightened, and residential brush burning is prohibited March 16th through May 14th across New York State. [Read more…] about NYS Burn Ban In Effect

Comments Sought On Plan To Tear-Up Historic Rail Line

March 22, 2020 by Editorial Staff 13 Comments

The Adirondack Park Agency has announced a public comment period for Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan conformance on proposals from the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to amend the 1996 Remsen-Lake Placid Travel Corridor Unit Management Plan.

The State is planning to tear up part of the historic Adirondack Railroad line between Tupper Lake and Lake Placid for a multi-use trail.

New York’s Outdoors Are Open

March 18, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

During the current COVID-19 public health crisis, getting outdoors and connecting with nature is a way to help maintain our mental and physical health.

Scientific studies show that time outside in nature, especially among trees, significantly reduces stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, improves mood, energy, and sleep, and boosts the immune system. [Read more…] about New York’s Outdoors Are Open

Oneida Lake Historic Dock Restoration Underway

January 27, 2020 by Editorial Staff 1 Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that a major restoration and rehabilitation of the historic Cleveland Dock Fishing Access Site is expected to begin this winter.

Cleveland Dock, located at 69 State Route 49 in the village of Cleveland, Oswego County, provides unique access to the excellent fishing on Oneida Lake and also helps connect boaters to the Erie Canal system. [Read more…] about Oneida Lake Historic Dock Restoration Underway

Dept of Environmental Conservation Marking 50 Years

January 23, 2020 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was established in 1970 on the first-ever Earth Day.

In the 50 years since, New Yorkers have seen a revolution in the way we interact with our environment. The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970; in 1971 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was established, followed by the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972. The Adirondack Park Agency Act was passed in 1971, and the State’s Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) in 1980, the same year as the Superfund Law. In 1993 the Environmental Protection Fund was established.