5 Things You Need to Know | ADK Conservation News
By: Casey Marvel - Adirondack Council Policy Fellow
Monday, June 29, 2020
Adirondack Conservation News is a collection of the most current events taking place in New York’s Adirondack Park, a unique national treasure and legacy we inherited over 100 years ago, that we must protect for future generations. Adirondack Conservation News aims to highlight both threats and opportunities concerning the Park’s ecological integrity, wild character and community vibrancy.
DEC Releases Adirondack Wilderness Overuse Plans
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Adirondack High Peaks Wilderness Overuse Working Group released its short-term recommendations for protecting the High Peaks Wilderness Area from overuse. The committee was formed in November 2019 to help ensure public safety, protect natural resources and uphold visitor experiences in one of the most overused areas of the Park. To keep the Wilderness forever wild for everyone, its recommendations include better parking enforcement, improved educational outreach and human waste management, resource capacity limits, and shuttles. The committee also embraced the 52 “Leave No Trace” recommendations and is expected to release long-term recommendations later this year.
The New York State Senate confirmed all seven of Governor Cuomo’s appointees to the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) board which is responsible for making crucial long-term land use planning decisions for the Park. The approved slate includes four new board members and three returning members. The Adirondack Council and partners were pleased to see this year’s full slate of appointments included candidates with environmental science and law, economic development and land use planning expertise.
Report Finds High Salt Levels in Saranac Lake Drinking Water
Saranac Lake’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2019 revealed high levels of sodium and listed road salt as the likely contaminate. This makes drinking water unsafe for people on low sodium diets. Unfortunately, many other drinking water wells across the North Country are being contaminated by road salt. To reduce the costs of road salt in the Park and protect public health, State Senator Betty Little and Assemblyman Billy Jones are sponsoring legislation that would create an Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force. It will examine ways to update winter road management practices to curb the negative impacts of road salt application.
Panel Explains How to Be “Anti-Racist”
In the midst of a month that brought global protests over police brutality and racism, a panel of black activist-scholars started a “listen-in” series on how to be “anti-racist.” The series is hosted by Adirondack North Country Association and led by Adirondack Diversity Initiative coordinator Nicky Hylton-Patterson. The goal of the series is to help white allies in the Park be better equipped to fight racism in their communities. Highlights of the first session include a discussion of implicit biases, making the outdoors more welcoming to all, and creating tangible societal change.
Report: Nearly 90% of Boats Bypass Northway Inspection Station
Over Memorial Day weekend, boat counters on the Northway found that 89% of the trailered motorboats traveling into the Adirondacks passed the invasive species inspection station without stopping. It is illegal to transport invasive species from one water body to another in New York, and the best way to avoid spreading them is to have boats inspected and cleaned by trained personnel. Inspection stations are located around the Park and are free to use, but boat owners are not currently required by law to stop at a station. The Council wants a program that requires boaters to get their boats inspected and cleaned of invasive species if needed prior to entering the Adirondack Park.
Casey Marvel is the Policy Fellow in the Council’s Albany office. He assists the government relations and communication teams by tracking legislation, researching issues and advocating for the Adirondacks. A native of Niskayuna, New York, Casey recently completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Albany, and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Political Science. Casey has always been intrigued and passionate about the Adirondacks, having visited the Park throughout his life, from fishing at Paradox Lake, to recently pursuing the 46 High Peaks.
