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The 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.
LGLC Gala Raises $240k for Conservation, Water Quality
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.
‘Know Your NY Water’ Website Goes Online
The 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.
LGLC Honors Five at President’s Reception
The 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.
NY Sea Grant Updates Invasive Species Website
New 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.
Harmful Algae Blooms in Context
Not 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.
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.
Adirondack Lakes Alliance Symposium August 1st
The 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.
Upper Saranac Lake Management Planning Underway
The 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.
Bill Branson On DEC’s Historic Rail Corridor Plans
The 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.
Eckford Chain Septic Initiative Announced
Community 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.
Rangers Say Man Had Long-Term Camp On State Land
NYS Forest Rangers told the press Tuesday that on July 11 at 7:40 p.m., a call came in to DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch from the father of a man who was camping long-term on state land in the Hoffman Notch Wilderness Area, in violation of the law.
Rangers said the 36-year-old male from Crown Point was communicating with his father over the course of several weeks but the father stated that he had not heard from the son in some time and that he had missed the last two supply drops. Worried about his son’s well-being, he requested Forest Rangers do a welfare check based on his last known location. » Continue Reading.
Protect the Adirondacks Annual Meeting July 20th in Old Forge
Protect the Adirondacks is set to hold its annual membership meeting at View Arts, located at 3273 State Route 28 in Old Forge on Saturday, July 20th. The meeting provides an opportunity to get an update on the major issues the organization sees facing the Adirondack Park, see PROTECT’s priorities for the year ahead, and meet the staff and Board of Directors.
The annual meeting includes the Conservation and Advocacy report, financial report, membership report, and election to the Board of Directors. » Continue Reading.
Appoint Tim Rowland to Adirondack Park Agency Board
As membership of the Adirondack Park Agency board dwindles toward zero, I would like to toss my hat into the ring for consideration.
In the words of Sam Cooke, I don’t know much biology, don’t know much about a science book, don’t know much about the French I took. But come on, all this talk about “qualifications” has gotten a bit out of hand, don’t you think? » Continue Reading.
Oak Wilt And Invasive Species Vigilance
It’s hard to be cheerful in a job where I am expected to keep up on each newly arrived or imminent threat from invasive insects, novel plant diseases, and worrisome trends in the environment. Although I typically deflate everyone’s happy-bubble when I give a talk, I’ve discovered we need not fret that the sky is going to fall.
The National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) is a joint effort of research institutions, government agencies and nonprofit groups; their mission is to monitor stuff which falls to Earth that is not some form of water. Since one of the NADP’s tasks is to study tiny particles of pollutants in the air, they will certainly notice if the sky starts to fall, and give us ample time to take cover. » Continue Reading.
Latest News Headlines
- Lake George neighbors want to protect crystalline waters when nature calls
- In a flash, an Olympic dream derailed
- SL Winter Carnival buttons are out
- Cultivating a love of composting
- NWHL’s Placid bubble underway
- DEC budget breakdown
- Pandemic turns second homes into primary ones
- Money for overuse, but not new forest rangers in Gov's budget
- State allows youth sports if counties agree
- Tupper Lake town board considers buying Big Tupper
Latest News Headlines
- Lake George neighbors want to protect crystalline waters when nature calls
- In a flash, an Olympic dream derailed
- SL Winter Carnival buttons are out
- Cultivating a love of composting
- NWHL’s Placid bubble underway
- DEC budget breakdown
- Pandemic turns second homes into primary ones
- Money for overuse, but not new forest rangers in Gov's budget
- State allows youth sports if counties agree
- Tupper Lake town board considers buying Big Tupper
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