History, Natural History & the Arts
Perhaps you saw the flyers at your town office or a warning sign posted at your favorite swimming hole.
The smell might have driven you home, but maybe you crept closer – unable to see anything wrong but unnerved by the deserted shoreline on such a hot and inviting day. [Read more…] about The Hidden History of Cyanobacteria
Before embarking on an outdoor adventure, check the weather forecast for the location you’ll be visiting. If thunderstorms are expected, it’s best to change your plans. The United States has averaged 43 deaths per year from lightning over the past few decades.
Keep the following in mind to help you stay safe if you do get caught in a storm: [Read more…] about What To Do When You’re Caught in a Thunderstorm
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) has announced the start of a $3.6 million transformation of the “kiddie pool” area of the Peerless Pool complex at Saratoga Spa State Park. Peerless Pool is an affordable swimming option for families to escape the heat and cool off during summer. [Read more…] about $3.6M Renovation of ‘Kiddie Pool’ at Saratoga Spa State Park
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recently partnered with the Town of Lake Luzerne to repair facilities and improve access in the Hudson River Special Management Area (HRSMA) in the Lake George Wild Forest. [Read more…] about Lake George Wild Forest’s Hudson River Rec Area Upgrades
State parks, historic sites, campgrounds and trails operated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) saw a record 88.3 million visits in 2024, according to the office of Governor Kathy Hochul. [Read more…] about State Parks Sees Another Record-Breaking Year
A research team at Clarkson University recently published a study about a plant based alternative to traditional chemical methods of combating Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).
The study, published by Clarkson chemical engineering graduate students Temitope Orimolade and Ngoc-Tram Le, along with undergraduate student Lyle Trimble, has been featured on the cover of the peer-reviewed journal, Soft Matter. [Read more…] about Researchers Discover New Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation Alternative
For over a decade, scientists, environmentalists, and local and state government officials have been challenged by the invasion of Golden Clams into Lake George. However, in the summer of 1948, a renowned marathon swimmer, Frenchman Paul Chotteau (1898–1963), tried to introduce another invasive species, a shark, into the “Queen of American Lakes.”
In August 1948, Chotteau contacted Warren County Sheriff Edgar J. Baker asking permission to try out a shark-powered pontoon boat which the distance swimmer had designed. [Read more…] about The 1948 Lake George Shark-Propelled Boat Incident
When one thinks of Lake George, NY, one might conjure up visions of beautiful blue water, sandy beaches, and bountiful history. Here is a story from six-decades ago that generates all three of those mental images. The decade of the 1960s in America was a rebellious era and Lake George was certainly not an exception.
At the start of that decade in 1960, a song, “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,” sung by Brian Hyland, became a huge hit. The bubblegum-pop tune was about a shy-young woman embarrassed to appear on the beach because of her “itsy bitsy” bikini, that two-piece bathing suit that soon became the norm for female beach attire. [Read more…] about 1964 Fashion History: The Monokini & Lake George
Enjoy both wildlife-watching and snapping some photos at Buttermilk Falls State Park. It’s located near the city of Ithaca in Tompkins County and takes its name from the foaming cascade formed by Buttermilk Creek as it flows through the steep valley toward Cayuga Lake. Its diverse habitats harbor an equally diverse array of wildlife.
As you ascend Buttermilk Creek’s steep gorge, the sound of deep, rhythmic knocking may lead you to spot the impressive pileated woodpecker. Listen and look for the many songbirds and owls as you hike past potholes and waterfalls to Buttermilk Falls. [Read more…] about Watchable Wildlife: Buttermilk Falls State Park
If you’ve explored State Parks’ Blazing A Trail Centennial timeline, you’ll know that the creation of New York’s state park system was influenced in part by two larger social movements: A new environmental conservation movement that sought to protect open spaces from development, and a growing social reform movement that sought to address the inequalities that arose during America’s Gilded Age of the late 1800s. [Read more…] about State Parks: A Century of Affordable Recreation
The latest “DEC Does What?!” podcast by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is “Harmful Algal Blooms: Know It. Avoid It. Report It.” The podcast takes a closer look at DEC’s statewide efforts to reduce harmful algal blooms (HABs) in New York waterbodies. [Read more…] about Harmful Algal Blooms: Know It. Avoid It. Report It.
A new bathhouse, lifeguard station, and playground were recently unveiled at Stony Brook State Park near Dansville, Steuben County, NY.
During the announcement of the completion of these upgrades, new investments were announced to improve parking lots, update tennis courts, and build a new park office. The upcoming renovations are expected to be complete in 2025. [Read more…] about Stony Brook State Park Renovations Complete, More Announced
Freshwater cyanobacteria are found in all lakes and reservoirs, are naturally occurring, and are important to water ecosystems; however, excessive growth of some cyanobacteria can result in harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs, also called cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms or HABs).
These blooms can cause unsightly scums that smell like rotting eggs or septic. Toxins from HCBs can negatively impact people, animals, and the environment. [Read more…] about EPA Researchers Develop Forecasting for Harmful Cyanobacterial Blooms
New York State Forest Rangers recovered the body of one swimmer, and carried out more than a dozen rescue missions between July 3rd and July 8th around Upstate New York, including one climber, a swimmer and a paddler. What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of those recent missions. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Body, Make 13 Rescues of Hikers, Climber, Swimmer, Paddler
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a new easy-to-use map of accessible recreation features and the completion of more than $5 million in recreation upgrades to enhance the experience of persons with disabilities who access State lands and services. [Read more…] about DEC Announces Accessible Outdoor Recreation Enhancements
What’s that one place of peace for you in nature? Specifically those local waterways of joy and tranquility? During Outdoor Afro’s fourth annual Juneteenth 2024 commemoration, the national not-for-profit organization encourages U.S. communities to plan visits to those special lakes, swimming holes, and familiar streams to strengthen connections to neighborhood water sources. [Read more…] about Celebrate Juneteenth With A Outdoor Water Adventure
The piping plover, a small shorebird, is an endangered species that nests on Long Island‘s beaches. They typically arrive in early spring to breed, selecting sandy beaches and dunes as their nesting habitat. These areas provide camouflage for their eggs and chicks. Their nesting season coincides with the busiest time for beachgoers, presenting a challenge for their conservation. [Read more…] about Help Protect the Endangered Piping Plover
Long before the rise of New World slavery, West Africans were adept swimmers, divers, canoe makers, and canoeists. They lived along riverbanks, near lakes, or close to the ocean.
In those waterways, they became proficient in diverse maritime skills, while incorporating water and aquatics into spiritual understandings of the world. [Read more…] about Black Aquatic Culture in Early America
A harmful algal bloom (HAB) was found on Northern Lake George in September, the Lake George Association (LGA) has announced. It is the first time that a HAB has been documented on the less-developed end of the lake, said Lake George Waterkeeper Chris Navitsky. [Read more…] about Harmful Algae Blooms Spread To Northern Lake George
The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (State Parks) is inviting the public to participate in the development of a Draft Master Plan/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft MP/DEIS) for Lake Taghkanic State Park, located in the towns of Taghkanic and Gallatin, Columbia County, NY. [Read more…] about Lake Taghkanic State Park Master Plan Meetings Set
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