Protect the Adirondacks opposes legislation for an amendment to Article 14, Section 1, of the New York Constitution to remove six acres of public lands from the constitutionally protected Adirondack Forest Preserve. The affected lands provide public access to Debar Pond in the Debar Mountain Wild Forest area and include some decrepit buildings that should be demolished and removed. The proposed constitutional amendment would convey into private ownership an area is used by the public seeking remote, wild experiences on an otherwise undeveloped lake. The existing buildings, known as Debar Lodge, are dilapidated and will costs millions of dollars to restore for their proposed new use as some kind of private institute. If the deal goes through, public access will be sharply reduced from what we all enjoy today. This is a bad deal for public recreation, for wild places, and for the forever wild Forest Preserve.

Supporters of resuscitating Debar Lodge want to reduce public access to a side path on the edge of the private compound, while the paying guests of the renovated Debar Lodge complex will be able to monopolize the area with the best access to Debar Pond. The public will be allowed on the grounds of the private enclave for a fee or with a conference reservation.

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The Explorer’s “Taking Stock of Housing” series kicks off this week with an overview of the affordability problem, how the problem came to be (the origins are more complicated than you might suspect), and a few teasers about potential solutions. (Click here to sign up for updates on the series)

In putting this package together, we debated whether the Adirondacks is experiencing a housing “crisis.” (Housing Conundrum or Housing Pickle doesn’t have the same ring.)

In the end, it’s like the old economist saw about the difference between a recession and a depression: “If you’re out of work it’s a recession; if I’m out of work it’s a depression.

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Calling all aspiring birders, hikers, and citizen scientists! The field season for Mountain Birdwatch is underway for the month of June and we’d love your help. This project, headed up by Jason Hill with Vermont Center for Ecostudies, is carried out on mountaintops across the northeast and involves point count surveys for 10 target alpine bird species. DEC uses the data obtained from this project to monitor these populations in New York. With this data, we can see how these species are reacting to human impacts, such as habitat loss and climate change.

This is a volunteer-based survey effort, and there are still several New York routes remaining to be picked up for this year’s surveys. Anyone can participate—no prior birding experience is necessary, and all survey and training materials needed are available on the website. If you have an interest in participating, please consider covering one of these remaining routes this season. All the information you need to complete the survey is available on the website, but feel free to email Jason Hill for questions.

Photo courtesy of Vermont Center for Ecostudies.

Lake George is embarking on an ambitious endeavor to secure the prestigious NY Forward/Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding, aimed at propelling the community into a new era of sustained prosperity. As part of this effort, the town has scheduled an Open House event to foster public engagement and gather valuable input from the community.

Governor Hochul’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward are state programs specifically designed to facilitate the transformation of community centers and drive economic development throughout New York State. These programs allocate funds to various communities across the state, and Lake George is determined to become the recipient in the Capital Region.

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The WAVE citizen science sampling season is fast approaching, and DEC invites you to participate. WAVE (Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators) is a DEC program where volunteers collect “stream bugs” to measure water quality in wadeable streams. Anyone who can kick over a rock can participate. The sampling season is from July to September.

WAVE contributes to DEC’s professional monitoring program and local programs throughout the state. WAVE data are especially useful for documenting high-quality stream segments and for flagging locations for professional follow-up. Communities have used WAVE data to highlight and preserve valuable local resources. Documenting high-quality streams can jumpstart local preservation projects and inform community planning.

To find out how to become a WAVE volunteer and what is involved, view DEC‘s WAVE webpage and WAVE training videos, and read the WAVE Sampling Guide (PDF). Apply for kick nets and sample vials through the Equipment Loan Program by June 15.

Webinar: WAVE Program Overview and Updates

Join WAVE coordinators Keleigh Reynolds and Makenzie Garrett for an informational webinar with a question and answer session on Friday, June 23 at 1 p.m. This webinar is for potential, new, and current WAVE volunteers. Register to attend.