Saturday, January 21, 2023

APIPP: Forest Pest Hunters training webinar set for Jan. 24

Lake George

ADIRONDACKS – Forest Pest Hunter volunteer Bill Widrig has reported more than 300 forest pest survey observations, and he isn’t done yet. Widrig was among the first to join the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program’s Forest Pest Hunters effort when it began in 2021.

 

“Our property on the lake has old growth hemlock, some over 200 years old, that are very special to us,” Widrig said. “As hemlock woolly adelgid is a threat to these trees and all other hemlocks in the Northeast, I felt that I could not in good conscience just stand by and do nothing to help stop the spread of this pest.”

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Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Money for infrastructure

Improving water infrastructure across the Adirondacks is key to protecting water health. Explorer file photo

Gov. Kathy Hochul in her State of the State policies promised $500 million in clean water infrastructure funding.

A book offering more details about the proposal, which will be fleshed out even more when Hochul presents her budget in the coming weeks, said she planned to establish “community assistance teams” to work with small municipalities on advancing projects.

Those teams “will provide proactive outreach to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, and assist with accessing financial assistance to address their clean water infrastructure needs.” That assistance could be critical to many North Country communities, which often struggle to garner funding through key state water programs.

» Continue Reading.


Monday, January 16, 2023

AdkAction: Adirondack area plow drivers take part in road salt reduction workshop

Plow drivers in Adirondack area towns took part in a road salt reduction workshop in Peru.

Plow drivers from Peru, Ausable, Plattsburgh and Hague gathered recently in Peru for a workshop to reduce road salt. Thank you to these communities and individuals for going the extra mile to keep winter roads safe and water clean.

Experts from Hague, [including] Rob, Matt, and Tim, demonstrated drop calibration tests with salt trackers on a plow truck to help other shops in our Clean Water, Safe Roads Network learn what the trackers can do for their winter road maintenance operation. By calibrating with a salt tracker, operators have an exact measurement how much salt their trucks are spreading across a lane mile, allowing them to apply salt with more precision.

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Monday, January 16, 2023

DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program announces free virtual Women in Science winter speaker series

DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program’s free virtual Women in Science winter speaker series.

All are welcome to join the DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program’s free virtual Women in Science winter speaker series. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn from scientists, community leaders, and environmental educators who work at the intersection of research, education, and environmental and social justice. Guests will also have a chance to engage in discussions about data literacy, sea level rise and sediment accumulation, wetland restoration, oysters, and field-based research.

Interested parties can choose to attend one or more of the following sessions: January 19, January 26, February 2, or February 9. All sessions run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

To register for the winter speaker series, click here. 

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, January 15, 2023

Challenge for the Future of Lake George exceeded thanks to LGLC supporters

Bolton Landing, NY – The Lake George Land Conservancy (LGLC) is pleased to report that for the second time they have exceeded the $300,000 Challenge for the Future of Lake George presented by Manning and Virginia Rowan Smith.

This fantastic feat was reached thanks to 35 individuals who pledged to provide support to the LGLC in their estate planning. As a result, the Smiths have donated $300,000 to the Virginia Rowan Smith Endowment Fund, which provides annual support for important land conservation projects in the watershed.

The Challenge was presented to encourage those who support the protection of Lake George to join LGLC’s Land and Water Society through a pledge of planned giving. The LGLC’s legacy giving program has grown to 154 members.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, January 14, 2023

NYS Climate Action Council Finalizes Scoping Plan to Advance Nation-Leading Climate Law

dec logoNew York State’s Climate Action Council (Council) Co-Chairs, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) President and CEO Doreen M. Harris, today announced the approval and adoption of the New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan (leaves DEC website), which outlines recommended policies and actions to help meet the goals and requirements of the nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act). After a 19-3 vote by the Council during a meeting on Dec. 19, 2022, the Scoping Plan is available to the public and will be submitted to the Governor and the State Legislature by Jan. 1, 2023. This critical milestone represents the culmination of over three years of collaboration, including contributions from the Council’s Advisory Panels and Working Groups, since the enactment of the Climate Act in 2019.

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Thursday, January 12, 2023

ADK receives grant to protect Heart Lake water quality 

Heart Lake from the Adirondack Loj in North Elba, NY.

Lake Placid, NY — ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) has been awarded a $80,709 Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) grant for septic system replacements at the Adirondak Loj.

Hosting the busiest trailhead in New York State, the Adirondak Loj is an important focal point for over 100,000 annual visitors as they come to experience the Heart Lake Program Center and explore the surrounding High Peaks Wilderness. For over 90 years, ADK has provided overnight accommodations, information, and other services at the Loj that have helped create a welcoming experience for visitors to the Adirondack Park.

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Tuesday, January 10, 2023

Northern Forest Center to host Ensuring Climate Resilience webinar Jan. 17

Northern Forest Center logo.

The Northern Forest Center has announced the next webinar in their Building the New Forest Future series, Ensuring Climate Resilience, which will take place on the afternoon of Tuesday, January 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Expert panelists will examine what communities can do today to ready themselves for environmental changes. Registration is free, but is required in order to participate in the webinar.
About the webinar:

Every community faces different pressures when it comes to our uncertain climate future. From flooding and drought to an influx of climate migrants, we will hear about ways communities can plan and prepare to face these changes. We will hear from communities that have already done this preparation and organizations that are leading the way. Speakers to be announced.

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Sunday, January 8, 2023

An Insatiable Hunger for Energy 

Combustion-related air pollutants

By the Numbers – Homes and Businesses 

We use energy in our homes every day; lots of energy. According to the United States Department of Energy, 40% of the energy consumed in the United States goes to powering our homes and commercial buildings.

We use energy to keep rooms at comfortable temperatures, to provide lighting, and to heat water. We also use energy to cook food and to power our phones, computers, games, and appliances.

 

By the Numbers – Transportation 

Even though Americans account for just 4.23% of the global population, with nearly 291-million registered vehicles, the U.S.A. is home to almost a quarter of the world’s cars. American motorists drive more than 3-trillion miles annually, and the Federal Highway Administration expects that number to grow by 22%, by 2049.

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, January 8, 2023

Ausable River Association receives $2 million community flood resilience

Ausable River AssociationA request from the Ausable River Association (AsRA) for $2 million was included in the 2023 Federal Omnibus Bill, signed into law last week by President Biden. AsRA’s request was shepherded through the appropriations process, through subcommittee review and approval, by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik. These funds will help build flood resilience, protect water quality, and restore stream health in the Town of Jay. They will advance critical river restoration projects detailed in the East Branch Ausable River Restoration Plan and expand the Plan, which currently includes the Town of Jay, to include the upstream half of the East Branch in the Town of Keene. 

» Continue Reading.


Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Keene adopts green burial cemetery plan

norton cemetery in keene

The Town of Keene is creating a Green Graveyard as part of the expansion of its Norton Cemetery.   This is believed to be the first significant Green burial ground in the Adirondacks.

The Town Board voted unanimously Tuesday Dec. 13 to embrace the new plan, beginning with burials in 2023.     » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, December 20, 2022

126 Acres of Historic Brookdale Farm Protected in Perpetuity

Mourning Kill Stream running through property.

December 13, 2022 – Saratoga PLAN completed two conservation easements with the Pott and VanVorsts families permanently protecting 126 acres of farmland in the Saratoga County Town of Ballston. Conservation of this fertile farmland means it will be forever available for farming and critical wildlife habitat for generations to come.

 

Both easements include land originally part of the Brookdale Farm, which originated circa 1835 by the McKnight family, a relative of the Potts by marriage four generations prior. The Brookdale Farm is thought to be the original 1800’s hops farm on Hop City Road where wagons were filled with the farm’s hops and transported to breweries in Albany. In addition to hops, the farm also had Merino sheep and dairy cattle, and produced hay and corn.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, December 17, 2022

SUNY ESF: Dr. Martin Dovciak Receives National Science Foundation Mid-Career Advancement Award

Dr. Martin Dovciak

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), one of the nation’s premier colleges focused exclusively on the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable future, is proud to announce that Dr. Martin Dovciak received a Mid-Career Advancement Award (MCA) from the National Science Foundation.

The award will help Dovciak advance his research—Data Science for Global Change-Does Plant Diversity Imply Forest Resilience?—which examines how plant diversity in the understory impacts the future of the forest.

While young tree seedlings in the forest understory can determine the character of the future forest, few studies have looked at how plant diversity may affect changes in tree seedling layer over time, according to Dovciak, associate professor in the Department of Environmental Biology. While some evidence suggested that more diverse plant communities should be more resilient to change, other studies suggested otherwise, he said. To remedy this problem, Dr. Dovciak will carry out an extensive study of what’s happening in world’s forest understories.

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, December 17, 2022

ANCA Selected by NYSERDA to Establish Clean Energy Hub for the North Country

Adirondack North Country Association logo.

SARANAC LAKE, NY — The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) has announced that the regional nonprofit has been selected by the New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to establish its new Regional Clean Energy Hubs Program in the North Country. ANCA will work closely with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Jefferson and St. Lawrence Counties and SUNY Canton Career Ready Education and Success Training (CREST) to administer the $4,099,404 award and bring clean energy programs and workforce development opportunities to North Country residents, homeowners, and businesses.

 

The project supports Governor Kathy Hochul’s nation-leading climate goals outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, as well as the State’s commitment to deliver at least 35 percent of the benefits from clean energy investments, with a goal of 40 percent, to disadvantaged communities and help advance an equitable clean energy transition for all New Yorkers.

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Thursday, December 15, 2022

DEC’s Intent to Restrict Certain Neonicotinoid Pesticide Products

dec logoDEC announced plans to reclassify certain neonicotinoid (neonic) pesticide products as “Restricted Use” effective January 1, 2023.

Every pesticide product used, distributed, sold, or offered for sale in New York must be registered by DEC. Mainly, pesticides are classified as either general or restricted use pesticides. Restricted use pesticides can only be used by a private or commercial certified applicator possessing NYS issued certification.

» Continue Reading.



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