Thursday, December 5, 2019

Invasives Viewpoint: Make Boat Inspections Mandatory

boat inspection station provided by adk explorerYes, everyone should be educated and make sure their boat is clean, drained and dry, inspected and decontaminated, to stop the spread of invasive species and preserve Adirondack Park lakes, ponds and rivers. The park is a national treasure we must protect for future generations, as our ancestors did for us. That means taking seriously our obligations to protect clean water, native wildlife, aquatic life, allowing people to live in harmony with the wilderness.

Some suggest that this could be done with education and voluntary programs alone, without a law, regulations or enforcement. We can all wish that were true, but it isn’t. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Adirondack 46ers Continue Support for Stewardship, Trail Work

46er logoIn 2018, ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) and the Adirondack 46ers (46ers) entered a three-year joint commitment to promote stewardship and conservation throughout the High Peaks Wilderness.

The 46ers committed $71,000 in funding to protect trails and summits with ADK in 2018, $34,000 in 2019, and will provide an additional $41,000 in 2020 towards those efforts an announcement sent to the press says. Last year, their funding supported trail projects in Avalanche Pass and on Mt. Colden.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, December 3, 2019

St. Lawrence River Watershed Survey Underway

St Lawrence River Watershed ProjectSt. Lawrence River Watershed Project partners, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), have released a survey seeking input from New Yorkers with knowledge of the watershed, which includes a large area of the Adirondacks.

The short online survey seeks information from the public about interactions with these land and water resources, and how a revitalization plan can address regional concerns. The survey will be open until January 15, 2020. » Continue Reading.


Wednesday, November 27, 2019

31st Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference Set

Nonpoint Source ConferenceThe 31st Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference has been set for April 23 & 24, 2020 at the Woodstock Inn, in Woodstock, Vermont.

This conference, which is coordinated by New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC) in partnership with member states and EPA, is a forum for sharing information about nonpoint source pollution (NPS) issues and projects in this region. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Youth Climate Program Receives DEC Excellence Award

Wild Centers Youth Climate ProgramThe Wild Center’s Youth Climate Program has been recognized by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as a winner of a 2019 New York Environmental Excellence Award.

The Wild Center was named one of four innovation and sustainability leaders across New York State at the 16th annual awards celebration, held on Tuesday, November 14th. » Continue Reading.


Monday, November 25, 2019

Artist Sought To Design Invasive Species Sail

The Lake Champlain Basin Program is seeking an artist to design a boat sail which will be incorporated into the fleet at the Community Sailing Center on the Burlington waterfront in 2020.

Artwork will be related to aquatic invasive species to help draw the public’s attention to preventing their spread. The Lake Champlain Basin Program is a member of the National Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force and supports technical and community projects to address aquatic invasive species issues across the Lake Champlain watershed. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, November 24, 2019

Lake Placid Land Conservancy Adds Conservation Planner

Carolyn Koestner provided by Lake Placid Land ConservancyThe Lake Placid Land Conservancy (LPLC) has announced the hiring of its newest staff member, Carolyn Koestner.

She joins the organization as the Strategic Conservation Planner where she is expected to use her expertise in Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis and mapping to identify priority areas for conservation in the Ausable and Saranac River watersheds. » Continue Reading.


Sunday, November 24, 2019

Over $2M Invested in North Country Clean Energy

Map of Designated Clean Energy Communities courtesy NYSERDAThe Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) recently wrapped up two clean energy programs designed to help municipalities reduce costs and increase energy efficiency for their communities.

Since 2015, the ANCA Clean Energy Program has worked with municipalities and residents to help implement two New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) programs: the Cleaner Greener Communities (CGC) One Stop Shop (OSS) Program and the Clean Energy Communities (CEC) Program. Among ANCA’s several ongoing initiatives to bring clean energy investments and opportunities to North Country communities, the OSS and CEC programs provided over $2M in energy funding to the region. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, November 19, 2019

$4M Available for Green, Clean Energy in Schools

nyserda logoFour million dollars is available under the P-12 Schools: Green and Clean Energy Solutions program to reduce energy use and assist with the conversion to carbon free energy solutions for schools serving Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 students.

The program supports the State’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 85 percent by 2050 and the Green New Deal, considered by some to be the most aggressive climate and clean energy program in the nation. » Continue Reading.


Monday, November 18, 2019

Clean Water Regs Affect Some Marinas

Marinas on Lake George and Lake Placid (and on every other “AA-Special” waterbody in New York State) must start complying with national clean water regulations that require run-off from boat decontaminations, fluid changes and any other so-called industrial activities to be treated on site.

According to Bob Stegemann, regional director of the Department of Environmental Conservation, the federal government’s Clean Water regulations “do not allow for direct discharge of storm water to groundwater. It needs to be either eliminated or controlled or treated as point source pollution.” » Continue Reading.


Monday, November 18, 2019

Nature Conservancy Has New Philanthropy Associate

The Nature Conservancy’s Adirondack Chapter has announced it has hired Abby Blum as its new associate director of philanthropy.

Blum comes to The Nature Conservancy from Middlebury College’s Office of Advancement, where she served as senior development officer for nearly seven years. » Continue Reading.


Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Adirondack Land Trust Staff Grows by Two

The Adirondack Land Trust has hired two conservation professionals to fill the new positions of philanthropy assistant and land protection manager. Kathy Woughter is expected to play a role in building support for the Adirondack Land Trust’s mission and work to connect people to conservation work, with a focus on young and diverse constituents.

Before moving to the Adirondacks this year, Woughter worked in higher education in Western New York, most recently as Vice President of Student Affairs at Alfred University. Woughter has won awards as an ally for diversity and cultural unity. Her husband Bob is the principal of Keene Central School. » Continue Reading.


Monday, November 11, 2019

Study Finds Gender Bias in Bird Conservation Plans

male Golden winged Warbler by Jack HruskaAfter pairing up and raising chicks, males and females of some bird species spend their winter break apart. At the end of their journey to Central or South America, you might find mostly males in one habitat, and females in another.

Yet conservation strategies have typically overlooked the habitats needed by females, putting already-declining species in even more peril, according to a new study in the journal Biological Conservation. » Continue Reading.


Monday, November 11, 2019

APA To Consider Sentinel Range Wilderness UMP, Blue Mtn Wild Forest Changes

APA Building in Ray Brook NYThe Adirondack Park Agency (APA) will hold its monthly meeting at its headquarters in Ray Brook this Thursday, November 14, 2019.

The Board will consider whether the first full Sentinel Range Wilderness Area Unit Management Plan, and changes to the Blue Mountain Wild Forest Unit Management Plan conform to the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.

What follows is a meeting agenda provided by the APA: » Continue Reading.


Sunday, November 10, 2019

State Forest Preserve Use Plans Ignore Climate Change

Noah Shaw, former general counsel for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), contributed to the drafting of New York State’s groundbreaking 2019 climate legislation. This September, he wrote an op-ed in the Adirondack Explorer, “What New York’s Bold Climate Law Means for the Adirondacks.”

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act of 2019 “outlines a so-called ‘carbon offset’ program as a counter-weight to the 15 percent of emissions that may remain after all our other emissions-reducing actions are taken,” he wrote. “These will likely come from hard-to-clean-up activities like aviation, agriculture, shipping and heavy industry. New York’s most valuable carbon offset resource, also known as a ‘sink,’ is its forestland. This is good news for the Adirondack Forest Preserve.” » Continue Reading.



Conditions
Conditions

The Adirondack Almanack

The Adirondack Almanack is a public forum dedicated to promoting and discussing current events, history, arts, nature and outdoor recreation and other topics of interest to the Adirondacks and its communities

We publish commentary and opinion pieces from voluntary contributors, as well as news updates and event notices from area organizations. Contributors include veteran local writers, historians, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts from around the Adirondack region. The information, views and opinions expressed by these various authors are not necessarily those of the Adirondack Almanack or its publisher, the Adirondack Explorer.

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

Wait! Before you go:

Catch up on all your Adirondack
news, delivered weekly to your inbox