Monday, August 26, 2019

The Roots Of The Conflict Over Snowmobile Connectors

In order to cut a lot more trees on the Forest Preserve for new snowmobile corridors, Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Department of Environmental Conservation and the Attorney General’s Office have announced that they will appeal July’s court ruling against the State and in favor of Protect the Adirondacks.

That ruling by a 4-1 court majority declared that the extent of tree cutting for snowmobile trail construction, when considered cumulatively, violated our state’s constitutional limit on destruction of timber on the Forest Preserve “to a material degree” (Article XIV, Section 1, NYS Constitution, and court interpretations). » Continue Reading.


Monday, August 19, 2019

NYS, Protect Both Appealing Forest Preserve Decision

A typical view on a class II community connector trail where 1000 trees a mile are destroyed by state agencies provided by ProtectAdirondack Forest Preserve advocates Protect the Adirondacks announced Monday that they plan to appeal one of the July 3rd rulings by the Appellate Division, Third Department, in its lawsuit challenging the tree cutting and terrain alterations for snowmobile trails on the Forest Preserve by state agencies. The State announced last week that it also planned to appeal part of the ruling.

The court issued a mixed decision in July. It ruled that the cutting of over 25,000 trees on the Forest Preserve for wide class II community connector snowmobile trails violated Article 14, Section 1, of the NYS Constitution. At the same time however, the court ruled that the construction practices used to clear, bulldoze and grade these trails did not violate the famous forever wild provision of Article 14.

The New York State Constitution’s Article 14 protects the Adirondack Forest Preserve as “forever wild.” Adirondack Forest Preserve lands form the basis of the Adirondack Park. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, August 18, 2019

Viewpoint: Save the Adirondack Park Agency

APA Building in Ray Brook NYThe Adirondack Park Agency is weaker today than at any time in its 48-year history. That the fault rests with the office of Governor Andrew Cuomo is both unfortunate and surprising: unfortunate because the APA was created to protect the Adirondack Park from damaging use and development but is now falling down on the job; surprising because, at the national level, the Governor has become a leader in combating climate change, the greatest environmental threat to our planet in human history. Yet in a critically important way the Governor has neglected the world-class park in his own backyard. » Continue Reading.


Thursday, August 15, 2019

Bill McKibben On Adirondack Climate Action

The Adirondack Explorer asked Vermont author, environmentalist and former Adirondacker Bill McKibben to discuss the climate-crisis arguments in his new book, Falter, and how the issue affects the Adirondacks.

McKibben spoke about climate change at an event hosted by the Explorer and The Wild Center in August, 2019.

In its July/August 2019 issue, the Adirondack Explorer asked McKibben to discuss the climate-crisis arguments in his new book, “Falter,” and how the issue affects the Adirondacks. Following is a transcript of the questions and answers.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, August 10, 2019

LGLC Gala Raises $240k for Conservation, Water Quality

lglc logoThe Lake George Land Conservancy’s (LGLC) 20th annual gala raised more than $240,000, thanks to its guests and business supporters. Over its 20-year run, the annual gala has raised nearly $2 million for land conservation and water quality protection. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Smokey Bear’s 75th Anniversary Events Statewide

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is participating in events across the state this month to celebrate Smokey Bear’s 75th anniversary.

DEC is teaming up with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council to celebrate 75 years since the 1944 launch of the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign, the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, August 6, 2019

‘Know Your NY Water’ Website Goes Online

know your ny waterThe New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH) have launched a new website, Know Your NY Water, created by the statewide Water Quality Rapid Response Team efforts, established in 2016.

The website provides New Yorkers with information about the state’s public drinking water and the health of New York’s abundant lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as waters used for recreation and habitat protection. Users can search by location to learn more about the water they use or encounter. » Continue Reading.


Monday, August 5, 2019

LGLC Honors Five at President’s Reception

Judy LarterThe Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) honored five major partners and supporters during its 7th annual President’s Reception, held Friday, July 26 at the Bolton Historical Museum.

Honored guests included Judy Larter, who received the LGLC’s Henry M. Rowan Conservation Award, and four new members of the LGLC’s Apperson Society: the Makowski Trust, Bernice McPhillips and the McPhillips family, Lisa and Bill Stromberg, and Lora and Craig Treiber. » Continue Reading.


Thursday, August 1, 2019

NY Sea Grant Updates Invasive Species Website

ny sea grant siteNew York Sea Grant has updated the New York Invasive Species Information Clearinghouse website at nyis.info to include iMapInvasive maps that allow for real-time information, watercraft inspection locations, and more user-friendly navigation. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Harmful Algae Blooms in Context

algal bloom on Lake Erie in 2009 courtesy NASANot only does it form the basis of the aquatic food web, algae can put a lid on bovine burps. It is also made into a substitute for fossil fuels, and is a heathy and tasty food supplement for humans.

But in late summer and early fall, some algae can spread toxins through freshwater lakes and rivers, posing a risk to people, pets, fish, and more. Be on the lookout in northern NY State this season for outbreaks of algae. » Continue Reading.


Monday, July 29, 2019

Forever Wild, ORDA and Adirondack Legal History

There are more than three million acres of Forest Preserve in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks today. Yet, the most consequential New York State Court decision restricting the ways we can develop and use the “forever wild” Preserve was all about a few acres of land below Mt. Van Hoevenberg, close to Lake Placid.

There, in 1929, the state planned a “bobsleigh run or slide on state lands in the forest preserve.” About 2500 trees would need cutting to create the bobsled course for the 1932 Olympics. The lower court, the Appellate Division, Third Department, ruled that this activity was unconstitutional on grounds that this was wild forest and therefore must be preserved in its wild state, stating that “we must preserve it in its wild nature, its trees, its rocks, its streams. It must always retain the character of a wilderness.” » Continue Reading.


Sunday, July 28, 2019

Adirondack Lakes Alliance Symposium August 1st

adirondack lakes alliance symposiumThe Adirondack Lakes Alliance will hold its 5th annual Symposium at Paul Smith’s College on Thursday, August 1, with the focus on Harmful Algal Blooms. The theme is Preparing for Challenges: Tools, Resources and Coordination.

» Continue Reading.


Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Upper Saranac Lake Management Planning Underway

upper saranac foundationThe Upper Saranac Foundation (USF) is expected to develop and implement a new Lake Management Plan (LMP) thanks to a $68,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Invasive Species Grant Program.

The grant is one of 42 projects statewide to receive funding to reduce the negative impacts of invasive species. A total of five North Country organizations were awarded grants this year, and eight programs across the state received nearly $234,000 for lake management planning. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, July 21, 2019

Bill Branson On DEC’s Historic Rail Corridor Plans

remsen lake placid travel corridor mapThe DEC is again taking comments on the proposed latest DSEIS and the Remsen-Lake Placid travel corridor. The position of the Adirondack Scenic Railroad has never been anything but clear and, although we sued DEC and prevailed, it is not in that context that I again write. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, July 21, 2019

Eckford Chain Septic Initiative Announced

eckford chain mapCommunity groups and a local septic service company are cooperating to provide discounted septic system pumping to homeowners in the Eckford Chain watershed, which includes Blue Mountain, Eagle and Utowana Lakes, and is the headwaters of the Raquette River.

While Blue Mountain Lake has some of the highest quality water in the state and there is no immediate threat, cottages and houses, some with systems that are quite old, grace the shorelines and tributaries and a pumped-out septic system works better. The goal is to enhance awareness about septic and sewage issues and to inspire homeowners with septic systems to take timely action, perhaps learning the location of their tank and leach field for the first time. » Continue Reading.



Click here for COVID-related closures

Closing and Openings
Conditions

Click here for COVID-related closures

Conditions
Adirondacks Events

The Adirondack Almanack

The Adirondack Almanack's contributors include veteran local writers, historians, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region. The Almanack is the online news journal of Adirondack Explorer. Both are nonprofits supported by contributors, readers, and advertisers, and devoted to exploring, protecting, and unifying the Adirondack Park.
General inquiries about the Adirondack Almanack should be directed to editor Melissa Hart. To advertise on the Adirondack Almanack, or to receive information on rates and design, please click here.
Web Services & Search Engine Optimization By: Suloff Designs