Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Is NY actually committed to reducing road salt?

road salt truck

A state highway truck dumps road salt in Tupper Lake. Photo by Mike Lynch

After months of work – and months of waiting – members of the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force are growing frustrated the public has not seen their recommendations.

A handful of members I interviewed last week expressed impatience with the state’s slow pace finalizing an initial report that will summarize science and best practices and suggest a path to reducing the toll of road salt use on Adirondack waters.

The long-awaited report has been years in the making and it’s still not clear how long we will be waiting to see it.

While state officials said “finalization of the report remains a priority,” task force members said the delays are raising concerns about state agencies’ commitment to tackling road salt pollution. Recommendations will include pilot projects and potential legislative and funding ideas. Members also said they were disappointed recommendations weren’t out in time to be considered during budget negotiations.

“It’s ridiculous,” Assemblymember Billy Jones said at the Adirondack Research Conference earlier this month. “We’ve got to get that report out.”

» Continue Reading.


Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Hickory Hike 4 Kids on June 17 Will Raise Funds For Return of Youth Skiing

Skiers at the Hickory Ski Center

Warrensburg, NY – The Hickory Legacy Foundation recently announced a day-long celebration and fundraiser to benefit the return of youth skiing at the Hickory Ski Center in the winter of 2024.  “Hickory Hike 4 Kids” will feature a first-ever community hike up the recently-renovated hiking trails on the mountain; an outdoor BBQ picnic featuring local food, beer, and wine, family games (including disc golf), and a rocking local band. Hike participants for the round-trip hike to the top will begin at 11 a.m. Alternative hike routes will also be available for other ability levels. Admission for non-hikers to join lunch, activities, and music is $10 online or $15 the day of the event.

» Continue Reading.


Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Rangers contain wildfires in Saratoga, Clinton, and Warren Counties

forest ranger reportTown of Hadley
Saratoga County
Wildland Fire:
 On June 1 at 4:14, p.m., Forest Ranger Nahor discovered a wildfire on North Shore Road in Hadley. By 10:30 p.m., four Rangers had the fire 50 percent contained. The following night at 8:10 p.m., Rangers declared the 3.5-acre fire fully contained. Due to the dry weather, the fire continues to burn, producing significant smoke and three Rangers continue putting out hot spots.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Taking Stock of Housing: What constitutes a crisis?

woman standing on a bridge

The Explorer’s “Taking Stock of Housing” series kicks off this week with an overview of the affordability problem, how the problem came to be (the origins are more complicated than you might suspect), and a few teasers about potential solutions. (Click here to sign up for updates on the series)

In putting this package together, we debated whether the Adirondacks is experiencing a housing “crisis.” (Housing Conundrum or Housing Pickle doesn’t have the same ring.)

In the end, it’s like the old economist saw about the difference between a recession and a depression: “If you’re out of work it’s a recession; if I’m out of work it’s a depression.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Help Monitor Alpine Birds in the Catskills and Adirondacks

man on a mountain at sunset

Calling all aspiring birders, hikers, and citizen scientists! The field season for Mountain Birdwatch is underway for the month of June and we’d love your help. This project, headed up by Jason Hill with Vermont Center for Ecostudies, is carried out on mountaintops across the northeast and involves point count surveys for 10 target alpine bird species. DEC uses the data obtained from this project to monitor these populations in New York. With this data, we can see how these species are reacting to human impacts, such as habitat loss and climate change.

This is a volunteer-based survey effort, and there are still several New York routes remaining to be picked up for this year’s surveys. Anyone can participate—no prior birding experience is necessary, and all survey and training materials needed are available on the website. If you have an interest in participating, please consider covering one of these remaining routes this season. All the information you need to complete the survey is available on the website, but feel free to email Jason Hill for questions.

Photo courtesy of Vermont Center for Ecostudies.


Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Lake George invites public to weigh in on downtown revitalization

Old Warren County Courthouse_ Lake George

Lake George is embarking on an ambitious endeavor to secure the prestigious NY Forward/Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) funding, aimed at propelling the community into a new era of sustained prosperity. As part of this effort, the town has scheduled an Open House event to foster public engagement and gather valuable input from the community.

Governor Hochul’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and NY Forward are state programs specifically designed to facilitate the transformation of community centers and drive economic development throughout New York State. These programs allocate funds to various communities across the state, and Lake George is determined to become the recipient in the Capital Region.

» Continue Reading.


Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Nova Scotia Wildfires 2023

hazy sky

Must beauty always come with pain?
Not even Mother Earth is spared.
The French say “il faut souffrir pour être belle”
“one must suffer to be beautiful”.

The meteorologists report that Canada’s blaze
may create an extraordinary sunset
from the poisonous haze.

The death of a forest combines with the end of a day.
A terrible funeral pyre from which smoke chokes the air.
Yet Nature rises like the Phoenix,
the sinking Sun takes a deep, brave, gasping breath,
exhaling one last crimson burst,
creating a sky too awesome to bear.

 

Photo: Hazy sky in Vermontville due to wildfires. Photo by Melissa Hart


Monday, June 5, 2023

Tales of the Adirondacks, Past & Present: ADK Adopt-A-Lean-To-Program by John Schneider

lean-to

Our next OurStoryBridge, Inc. story share features John Schneider from ADK Voices. In his story about the ADK Adopt-A-Lean-To-Program, Schneider shares the process and challenges of developing nearly sixty lean-tos for Adirondack campers and hikers. To listen to this story in its entirety, please visit this link: https://app.memria.org/stories/public-story-view/f7a9c431551c4609a9f6eff11ddb8708/

» Continue Reading.


Monday, June 5, 2023

Become a WAVE Volunteer

WAVE volunteers

The WAVE citizen science sampling season is fast approaching, and DEC invites you to participate. WAVE (Water Assessments by Volunteer Evaluators) is a DEC program where volunteers collect “stream bugs” to measure water quality in wadeable streams. Anyone who can kick over a rock can participate. The sampling season is from July to September.

WAVE contributes to DEC’s professional monitoring program and local programs throughout the state. WAVE data are especially useful for documenting high-quality stream segments and for flagging locations for professional follow-up. Communities have used WAVE data to highlight and preserve valuable local resources. Documenting high-quality streams can jumpstart local preservation projects and inform community planning.

To find out how to become a WAVE volunteer and what is involved, view DEC‘s WAVE webpage and WAVE training videos, and read the WAVE Sampling Guide (PDF). Apply for kick nets and sample vials through the Equipment Loan Program by June 15.

Webinar: WAVE Program Overview and Updates

Join WAVE coordinators Keleigh Reynolds and Makenzie Garrett for an informational webinar with a question and answer session on Friday, June 23 at 1 p.m. This webinar is for potential, new, and current WAVE volunteers. Register to attend.


Monday, June 5, 2023

Ausable River East Branch Restoration Program Continues

ausable river restoration

This summer, the Ausable River Association will undertake the second phase of construction in its East Branch Restoration Program with Project Area 2 in Upper Jay. This comprehensive program, developed in 2019 with funding from the Governor’s Office for Storm Recovery (now the Office of Resilient Homes and Communities), identifies 13 sites in the Town of Jay in need of restoration. Completing these river restoration projects will improve flood resilience, protect communities and infrastructure, and restore habitat for the food web that supports our native brook trout. If you would like to learn more, please join us at the Town of Jay Community Center in Au Sable Forks on June 7 from 4 to 7 PM to meet with our Stream Restoration Manager, Gary Henry. He will be available to answer questions about this project and future projects in the East Branch Restoration Program.

More information here: https://www.ausableriver.org/blog/east-branch-restoration-program-continues-project-area-2-upper-jay

Photo provided by AsRA


Sunday, June 4, 2023

Hope Springs Eternal

geese on a foggy pond

“Hope Springs Eternal”

When predators are howling at life’s door and all hope seems lost, mother nature somehow still finds a way. For the full story click the link & read on. https://adirondackoutlaw.com/hope-springs-eternal/

 


Sunday, June 4, 2023

Schroon Paddle Challenge hosts inaugural paddling event on June 10

Schroon Paddle Challenge

Schroon Lake, NY – The Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce, Town of Schroon, Schroon Lake Association, and Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (ROOST) have joined forces to create a new event for paddling enthusiasts and nature lovers alike: the Schroon Paddle Challenge. The challenge will officially launch on June 10, with an inaugural paddle along the Schroon River to the beach at Schroon Lake.

Beginning at 10 a.m. on June 10, those taking part in the paddle will be able to drop off their boats at the Schroon River launch on Route 74, just off Exit 28 on the Northway, east of Route 9. There is a sign indicating “Town of Schroon Canoe / Kayak Launch,” located on the north side of an unpaved road, not to be confused with the DEC Fishing Access lot.

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, June 4, 2023

New York’s 10th annual Invasive Species Awareness Week begins June 5

Close-up of Hydrilla. Photo: Chris Evans, River to River CWMA, Bugwood.org. Courtesy of the New York Invasive Species Information Clearinghouse

On June 2, the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Agriculture and Markets (AGM) announced the State’s 10th annual Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) begins Monday, June 5. Free events and invasive species challenges are offered from June 5 through 11 across the state and online, including daily webinars at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

» Continue Reading.


Sunday, June 4, 2023

Weekly news round up

A collection of interesting reads:

» Continue Reading.


Saturday, June 3, 2023

Witnessing Big Moose Inn fire, banding hummers at Stillwater

Loon on the water

This week there were two mornings with frost here at Eight Acre Wood; both mornings the thermometer read 28 [degrees.] The second morning there was ice on the car, but not on the bird bath. I washed off as many of the blooming flowers and three apple trees in bloom as the hose would reach, which may have saved them…time will tell. My yellow lady’s slippers looked pretty sad, but perked up after the bath of water. The Phoebes are sitting on eggs under the porch and the male was having a [hard] time keeping the female fed those cold mornings. He traveled way up the driveway, foraging for flying bugs and ants. They must have made it, as they are still sitting.

» Continue Reading.



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