Rochester Heariing

Retired Forest Ranger, Pete Fish mentioned in his public comment in Albany, I support Wilderness whenever and wherever. . . .  Wilderness has a special sense, a special meaning and a very special magic about it. He expressed that the state's limited resources to manage such an area for uses other than foot traffic would result in nature reclaiming the roads, gravel pits and damns. 

Motorized advocates showed up to many hearings calling for Alternative 1, the most motorized-friendly option the APA offers. This would allow Gulf Brook road, which surrounds the Boreas Ponds, to remain completely open, potentially allowing cars, trucks and snowmobiles to drive to the shore and around the ponds. Under this proposal, the Boreas Ponds would be classified as Wild Forest instead of Wilderness. A Wild Forest classification would allow the most access to the Ponds by motor vehicles, and could cause a slew of issues including invasive species, noise pollution, overuse, and so on.

Motorized advocates emphasized a need for a balanced approach that included compromise. Wilderness advocates responded by pointing out that Alternative 1 is not a compromise since the most fragile areas - the ponds themselves and the surrounding watershed - would be classified as Wild Forest and would not be protected from motorized use.

Many Wilderness advocates called for a solution that would allow non-motorized access to the ponds for those of all abilities, without compromising the fragile ecosystems and wildlife habitats in and around the waters. The Adirondack Council, Adirondack Mountain Club, Audubon New York, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, New York League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resource Defense Council, the Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, and the Environmental Advocates of New York (forming the Be Wild New York coalition) all spoke out for partial closure of Gulf Brook Road.

Each called for at least one mile of Wilderness protection for Boreas Ponds. The wildlife, water and fragile soils closest to the ponds and wetlands would be protected from degradation from tires, noise pollution and introduction of invasive species. They also suggested developing a hardened trail over the last mile to the Ponds to facilitate access for people with disabilities and provide the sense of discovery and remoteness of Wilderness. 

Willie JanewayAt the final public hearing in Albany, William C. Janeway Executive Director of the Adirondack Council showed photos of the existing dirt-road network that has been discussed at length at most public hearings by motorized advocates. He presented several photos that showed while some roads are still hard packed, roughly half of the roads have been overgrown by trees and brush. He called for the APA to show more exhaustive data on these road systems within the parcel.

Many advocates from both ends of the spectrum noted the APA's limited offerings of alternatives for Boreas Ponds. At the Newcomb hearing on November 16, Neil Woodworth Executive Director of the Adirondack Mountain Club said, "We believe there should have been more alternatives that more clearly reflected different dreams for the Boreas Ponds property."

Business owners also highlighted the importance of Wilderness for local business. Peter Hornbeck of Hornbeck Boats spoke on the importance of Wilderness to his customers across the US, saying that his business is making $1 million in annual revenue and thriving because of Adirondack Wilderness.

Third generation Adirondack business owner of Forever Wild Beverage Co. and Cascade Cross Country Ski Center Jennifer Jubin said, "the ADK economy depends on integrity and longevity of Wilderness." She noted that climate change is an issue that we need to prepare for, and determining a classification based on snowmobile recreation would not be wise.

Others spoke about preserving the ecological integrity of the area and the impact of classification on native and threatened wildlife. Darryl McGrath Albany writer and author of "Flight Paths: a field journal of hope, heartbreak and miracles with New York's bird people" spoke for Wilderness protection of Boreas Ponds at the Albany hearing.

Newcomb HearingShe said, "Many of the bird species in the Adirondacks are at risk, due to climate change, habitat loss here and in their winter migratory sites and human encroachment on their nesting sites." Citing a study by Michale Glennon Ph.D., she went on to explain exactly which species of birds would be impacted by motorized recreation on the ponds. "The Wildlife Conservation Society documents more than two-dozen bird species here, including some of the Adirondack's most beloved birds, such as the gray jay, the white-throated sparrow, the wood thrush, and the hermit thrush.

Additionally, Laurel Sherwood, an attendee of the Bear Mountain hearing, commented on the ecological risks of allowing motorized and mechanized recreation around the Ponds. She wrote, "I like to mountain bike (but) I am happy to refrain from biking in Wilderness areas.  I think we should all be willing to give up some of our personal desires in order to serve the greater good."

Many speakers focused on the benefits of environmental protection over personal preference of use. At the public hearing in Rochester on November 28, the room went silent as Paul Torrance spoke for Wilderness in a very powerful way, stating, "I am blind and aging, and the last thing I need at Boreas is the sound of motors. Sound is my experience." Another older gentleman emphasized, "I may never be able to get there, but please don't do anything special for me. I want Wilderness."

A large number of speakers noted that they are either current or former residents of the Adirondack Park. Others came from both near and far to comment; traveling long distances in winter weather to speak. At the hearing in Northville, one Wilderness advocate from Buffalo, NY said, "I drove six hours to speak for three minutes in support of Wilderness." Another speaker at the Newcomb hearing mentioned that he flew in from Utah just to have his voice heard for Boreas Ponds.

John SheehanWhile local residents are especially invested in this issue, John Sheehan Director of Communications for the Adirondack Council reminded us that the Adirondacks belong to all New Yorkers, and the benefits of the Park extend far beyond the Blue Line to other states and countries. At the final Albany hearing, he pointed out that a majority of the tax money used to purchase the Boreas Ponds tract came from Long Island, New York City and Rockland County. However, the APA did not have a public hearing close to those communities.

While the public hearings are over, written comment will be accepted by the APA until December 30. Comments can be sent by email to ClassificationComments@apa.ny.gov or by mail to Kathleen Regan, Deputy Director, Planning, APA, PO Box 99, 1133 State Route 86, Ray Brook, NY 12977. You can also edit a sample letter and submit it to the Agency HERE.

After the public comment period is over, all of the comments will be reviewed by members of the APA board of commissioners. Once the board's review is completed, they will likely vote for a preferred alternative at an APA meeting in late winter. From there, the preferred alternative will be sent to the Governor for approval, revision or rejection.

Again, thank you to everyone that made it out to the hearings. Because so many people are passionate about the issue, many of the hearings ran for four to five hours. Thank you for taking the time out of your day to make your voice heard for Boreas Ponds.

For more information on the land parcel, maps, alternatives, and environmental impact study click HERE.