In the 20th Century, the Park suffered the worst acid rain damage in the United States. Forests died. Fisheries perished.

Acidified drinking water dissolved pipes and fittings in people’s homes, poisoning local residents.  Mercury broke free from normally harmless rocks and soil, spreading toxic contamination.

By working to improve federal laws and rules governing acid rain, the Adirondack Council has helped to create a tremendous recovery of Adirondack aquatic ecosystems over the past 30 years.

That recovery is threatened, however, by rising temperatures. For example, as trout and salmon habitat become clean enough for their native species once again, they may not remain cold enough. Adirondack brook trout (char, actually) are unlikely to survive in waters that remain above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Healthy forests can provide shade and soil stabilization, but hotter atmospheric temperatures can negate some of those benefits.

The Adirondack Council works to fight for funding and protection against detrimental impacts to clean air and climate, drawing on our experience and leadership in the fight against acid rain and mercury pollution. The Council works to uphold New York’s commitment to lower emissions and reduce the impacts of climate change and air pollution in our region.

Among our recent actions are:

• Helping to gain approval for New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act 
• Working to establish and support 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
• Securing voter approval for New York Clean Water Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
• Supporting the federal Inflation Reduction Act, which includes programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and was announced in the Adirondacks 
• Encouraging Climate Leadership and Community Protect Act compliance by state agencies governing and managing the Adirondack Park.