New York Almanack

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road salt

Adirondack Conservation: 5 Things You Need To Know

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Willie JanewayWillie Janeway details his decision to leave the Adirondack Council

Willie Janeway, who has been the Executive Director of the Adirondack Council for the past decade, will be leaving the organization this fall. Janeway is leaving the Council in excellent shape, and the dedicated staff will continue to work on behalf of the Adirondack Park on a daily basis. Raul “Rocci” Aguirre, who has served as Deputy Director, is now the Acting Executive Director, and the first person of color to lead a major Adirondack environmental group. [Read more…] about Adirondack Conservation: 5 Things You Need To Know

Home Salt Use Best Management Practices

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salt graphicDid you know that the United States uses an estimated 20 million metric tons of salt on roads every year? In places like the Lake Champlain basin the long, cold winters mean a lot of salt applied on our roads and sidewalks, but all of that salt can pollute our soils and waters and harm local ecosystems. [Read more…] about Home Salt Use Best Management Practices

ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

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Adirondack Lean-toOpening 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

Salt Survey Being Conducted By Ausable River Association

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Mirror Lake courtesy Ausable River AssociationThe Ausable River Association’s (AsRA) has released a salt use survey for residents, businesses, and independent contractors in Lake Placid, with emphasis on Mirror Lake. Developed in partnership with the Adirondack Watershed Institute, the survey is essential to determining the amount of salt entering Mirror Lake and the Chubb River. [Read more…] about Salt Survey Being Conducted By Ausable River Association

ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

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Winter Adirondacks Scene courtesy Carl Heilman IIEnvironment Ranks High in New York’s 2023 Budget

New York Governor Kathy Hochul released her Executive Budget proposal in mid-January, and there was a lot to celebrate for the Adirondacks. She proposed an increased Environmental Protection Fund from $300 million to $400 million and a $4 billion environmental bond act. While the proposals are good, the Adirondack Council would still like to see $500,000 for the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, $500,000 for visitor use management framework, and $6 million for an updated Adirondack Lakes Survey included in the final budget. The Council and many other environmental groups are also calling for $10 million for trails and education. [Read more…] about ADK Conservation News: 5 Things You Need to Know

Salt Survey Planned For Lake Placid, Chubb River Watershed

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Mirror Lake provided by AsRAThe Ausable River Association (AsRA) will distribute a salt use survey this winter to residents, businesses, and independent contractors in Lake Placid, Essex County, NY.

Developed with the Adirondack Watershed Institute, the survey hopes to determine the amount of salt entering Mirror Lake and the Chubb River. [Read more…] about Salt Survey Planned For Lake Placid, Chubb River Watershed

Gov Cuomo Signs Landmark Road Salt Bill into Law

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Plow Truck courtesy NYS DotGov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law the Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act – a bipartisan bill that is expected to help reduce road salt pollution and protect drinking water in the Adirondack Park. [Read more…] about Gov Cuomo Signs Landmark Road Salt Bill into Law

Local Governments Urge Governor Cuomo to Sign Road Salt Bill

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Salt truck on bridge provided by AdkActionLocal Government leaders are calling on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign into law a bi-partisan bill that would establish an Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force and Pilot Program.

The Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act (S.8663a/ A.8767a) passed the NYS Assembly unanimously and received broad bipartisan support in the NYS Senate earlier this year. Now, the bill’s fate lies in the hands of Governor Cuomo. [Read more…] about Local Governments Urge Governor Cuomo to Sign Road Salt Bill

2020 State of the Adirondack Park Report Issued

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state of the park coverThe 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

Road Salt Legislation Headed To Governor

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Plow Truck courtesy NYS DotThe NYS Senate granted final legislative approval Thursday to a bi-partisan bill that is expected to help reduce road salt pollution and protect drinking water in the Adirondack Park.  The Randy Preston Road Salt Reduction Act was passed in the NYS Assembly earlier this week and now heads to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

[Read more…] about Road Salt Legislation Headed To Governor