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On August 28, 2011, Tropical Storm Irene devastated the Ausable River watershed. The following activities are planned to commemorate this time, to acknowledge the force of nature, and to honor the coming together of the communities affected. These in-person events are open to all following CDC guidelines.
Respecting Our River: August 18, 7 p.m.
Keene Valley Congregational Church
The premiere of a film showing the devastation caused by the floods will serve as the basis of this commemorative 10 anniversary event, complemented by a panel of those who lived through and worked diligently to recover from the destruction of the Irene floods.
This event is jointly sponsored by the Keene Valley Congregational Church, the East Branch Friends of the Arts, the Ausable River Association, the Keene Valley Library, the Keene Historical Society, the Wells Memorial Library, and the Adirondack Community Story Project.
Reception to follow at the Keene Valley Library.
Tour of the Destruction and Reconstruction of the Irene Flooding
August 20, 2021, 10am-1pm.
Meet at the Ausable River Association office
1181 Haselton Road, Wilmington
Kelley Tucker, Executive Director of the Ausable River Association, will lead attendees to sites along the Ausable River and its tributaries that experienced the devastating effects of Irene. She will discuss the work accomplished over the last ten years to enhance flood resilience and stream health.
To register, contact Tyler Merriam, tyler@ausableriver.org
Honoring Creation
August 22, 2021, 10am-11am Keene Valley Congregational Church
The Sunday service, led by the Rev. John Sampson, will be dedicated to remembering the impact of Irene on our region, celebrating the community response, and committing to more deeply embrace our roles as stewards of the Creation.
Photo: Adirondak Loj Road closed after Tropical Storm Irene, Almanack file photo
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3 Days before Hurricane Irene hit the Adirondacks, I was hiking into Lake Colden. I was 2 years post life saving cancer surgery, and wanted to make one last trip up there. I wanted my son RJ to see it with me. He was just 12 at the time. My friend Emilio accompanied us to help me make the trip. I also hoped to fish Livingston Pond one last time. My son & I fished the Marcy Dam pond together. We caught several brook trout, including one we kept, the 1st brook trout my son ever tasted. I still to this day believe we may have been the last people to ever catch fish in the Marcy Dam pond.
Long story short, we made Lake Colden successfully, casting lines into Avalanche Lake & Lake Colden along the way, as I did during my days on a DEC trail crew. With the same result. We never did make Livingston Pond. 3 days later, Hurricane Irene hit and washed Marcy Dam out. If I had not made that trip in the moment I did, I neve would have had a chance to share those moments with my son, as they are now forever gone.
I wrote several stories about that experience. One was published in 2014 in Adirondack Life Magazine, my 1st of what has now grown to 20(!) published Adirondack vignettes, adventures & stories. Others are posted on my blog.
This article sparked me to remember & reflect. Thank you for that. I can’t believe it’s already been 10 years.
You know, I’ve never seen Marcy Dam as a dam. Only in a photo online. I’m glad you’ve been cancer free for 12 years!! Time does indeed pass, and we need to make sure to cherish all of the moments we’ve got.