Challenged by Success | 2019–2020 Reflecting on 2019 and Looking Ahead

Dear Friends of the Adirondacks, state dollars are announced for needed community development, yet there Thank you for participating in the is no new funding for the traditional preservation of the globally unique but work Forest Rangers used to do, threatened Adirondack Park. Together, including education and wilderness we are building a better world where management. Ninety percent of people and nature, wilderness and people with boats don’t stop at the wildlife will thrive together, forever. new invasive species decontamination The success the Adirondacks enjoy is station on the Northway because now one of our biggest challenges. The the free wash isn’t mandatory. Park looks like a success. The maps These challenges are also opportunities. show lands as protected. Government The science that tells us to be worried says it supports protecting clean also tells us what the solutions are water, air and wildlands. Everyone and guides the achievable 2020 says they support the Park. priorities listed in the back of this NANCIE BATTAGLIA PHOTO: The science shows otherwise. The report. Together we can sustain Adirondack Park is so popular that the success of the Adirondacks for William C. Janeway overuse is harming wilderness and ourselves and for future generations. Executive Director communities. Air pollution is increasing, Thank You, @WillieJaneway excess road salt and untreated sewage is harming drinking water, climate change is real, and sales of ATVs and UTVs are soaring. Development and William C. Janeway roads are being built on lands mapped Executive Director as protected. Hundreds of millions of

Board of Directors Philip R. Forlenza Julia Champagne William C. Janeway Ongoing Project Ethan Friedman Clarence Petty Legislative Intern Executive Director Chair Consultants Lea Paine Highet Michael A. Bettmann, M.D. Kevin Chlad Jess Kelley Lee Keet Director of Government Relations Development Assistant Legal Counsel Vice-Chairs Kevin McNulty J. Michael Naughton, Sarah C. Hatfield Justin Potter Elisabeth (Lizzie) Fainberg Nick LaScala Young/Sommer Rural Law Fellow Clarence Petty Social Media Intern Laurel Skarbinski Meredith M. Prime Phil Gitlen, Whiteman Osterman Diane Fish Will Lutkewitte Treasurer John Reschovsky & Hanna LLP Brian Ruder Deputy Director Clarence Petty VISION Project Intern Daniel J. Ryterband Karyn A. Booth, Thompson Hine LLP Kate Russell J. A. Tyler Frakes Casey Marvell Secretary Douglas Schultz Membership Director Policy Fellow Bernard Melewski, Esq. Liza Cowan Douglas Stewart Lisa M. Genier Deborah J. Pastore Matthew Melewski, Esq., Curtis R. Welling Past Chair Program Analyst Development Director The Boutique Firm Robert J. Kafin Ethan Winter Mary Godnick Julia Randall Clean Water Initiative David J. Miller Kurt Abrahamson Staff Members Marketing and Communications Associate Clarence Petty Conservation Intern Emily M. Bateson Julia Goren Emily Schwartz Adirondack Jill Choate Beier Rocci Aguirre Diversity Initiative Adirondack VISION Project Director Colgate Upstate Institute Conservation Intern David E. Bronston Director of Conservation Jeff Jones Charles D. Canham, Ph.D. Jackie Bowen Racey Henderson John F. Sheehan Adirondack VISION Project Ann E. Carmel Conservation Associate Essex Farm Institute Program Director Director of Communications Tom Woodman Georgina Cullman, Ph.D. Elaine Burke Susan Hughes Thomas Curley Director of Operations Executive Assistant

2 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL Outdoor recreation is central to the economy that is so important to the Adirondacks’ 103 communities. Increasingly, there is agreement that comprehensive planning, better funding and a pilot program for permits are tools that could help tackle the problems associated with overuse of the HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. © CARL PHOTO CONTENTS Adirondack Park’s most popular hiking trails. These 2 Letter from the Executive Director actions will benefit the natural resources, visitor safety, wilderness experience, and local economy. 4 2019 Report Card 6 The Governor 8 State Legislature 10 The Courts 12 Attorney General 13 Tip of the Hat 14 Preserving Water & Wildlands p.14 16 Local Government 18 Dept. of Environmental Conservation Our Mission 21 Adirondack Park Agency The mission of the Adirondack Council is to ensure the 23 Federal Government ecological integrity and wild character of the Adirondack Park for current and future generations. 25 Other Agencies Written and Edited by Adirondack Council Staff 26 Awards View online at: AdirondackCouncil.org Copyright 2019 - Adirondack Council 27 2020 Priorities Cover: View from Ampersand Mountain PHOTO: NANCIE BATTAGLIA

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 3 ABOUT THE PARK

The Adirondack Park is the world’s largest intact temperate deciduous forest. It is also the largest park in the contiguous United States. It contains six million acres (9,300 square miles), covers one-fifth of New York State and is equal in size to neighboring Vermont. The Adirondack Park is nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park.

More than half of the Adirondack Park is private land, devoted principally to hamlets, forestry, agriculture, and open-space recreation. Nearly 775,000 acres are protected from development by conservation easements held by the state or private organizations. The Park is home for 130,000 permanent and 200,000 seasonal residents in 120 hamlets and 9 villages. The Park hosts 12.4 million visitors yearly.

Nearly half of the Park is publicly owned Forest Preserve, protected as “Forever Wild” by the NYS Constitution since 1894. About 1.1 million acres of these public lands are protected as Wilderness, where non-mechanized recreation may be enjoyed. Most of the public land (more than 1.4 million acres) is Wild Forest, where motorized uses are permitted on designated waters, roads and trails.

Plants and wildlife abound in the Park. Old growth forests cover more than 100,000 acres of public land. The western and southern Adirondacks are gentle landscapes of hills, lakes, wetlands, ponds, and streams. In the northeast are the forty-six High Peaks. Forty- three of them rise above 4,000 feet and 11 have alpine summits that rise above the timberline.

The Adirondacks include the headwaters of five major drainage basins. Lake Champlain and the Hudson, Black, St. Lawrence, and Mohawk Rivers all draw MAP KEY: water from the Adirondack Park. Within the Park are more than 2,800 lakes and ponds, and more than 1,500 miles of Public Forest Preserve Lands rivers, fed by an estimated 30,000 miles of brooks and streams. Private Land

Through public education and advocacy for the protection Conservation Easement Lands of the Park’s ecological integrity and wild character, the Adirondack Council advises public and private policymakers Waterbodies on ways to safeguard this great expanse of open space. Select Communities

4 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL 2019 REPORT CARD

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC.

Elected and appointed government leaders made decisions late in 2018 and in 2019 that affected the legacy of the Adirondacks. Here is a report on the 2019 State of the Park priorities (issued Sept. 2018).

Adirondack Forests Conservation Park Overuse and Farms Funding State officials began to address overuse, The state didn’t significantly improve Despite requests, there was no but have far to go. They expanded public incentives, regulations or funding to increase in the state budget for clean education, but didn’t address Wilderness promote healthy, ecologically sustainable, air, wildlife, wildlands, Forest Rangers, preservation. The state limited roadside climate-smart private forests and/ foresters, enforcement, and other parking in some locations, but didn’t develop or farms in the Adirondacks. Congress priority environmental staffing. Capital a comprehensive plan or fund a reservation passed a Farm Bill with needed funds for funding for open space protection system, better infrastructure, staffing and local food promotion/marketing, cleaner went down. Funding for state land peak-use management. The entire Forest energy and farmland conservation. stewardship remained inadequate given Preserve needs a general ban on ATVs. the negative impacts of overuse. Clean Adirondack water funding increased (see left). Clean Water, Clean Air Park Agency Community and Clean Energy The Governor didn’t fill three vacant The Governor and Legislature passed seats on the Park Agency Board, didn’t Projects historic Climate Change legislation and nominate a full or diverse slate and The state provided almost $400 million in expanded funding (to over $3 billion) for didn’t re-nominate any current members aid for Adirondack communities including community Clean Water grant programs. serving on expired terms. A bill to apply $180 million to the Olympic Regional More people recognized that aggressive modern conservation science to decrease Development Authority; $84.8 million for 70 action is needed to address road salt impacts of subdivisions and development economic development projects region-wide; contamination of drinking water. The federal in remote locations advanced but didn’t $16.2 million for a Visitors Center on the government went backwards on clean water, pass. The Agency’s Board chair quit. Northway; and a $10 million revitalization clean air, climate, and renewable energy. grant to the Village of Saranac Lake. The Invasive state provided most of the $25 million for Forever Species the Frontier Town Campground, Equestrian Wild and Day Use Area and more than $75 million The Legislature renewed for one year in Forest Preserve property tax payments. New York moved to weaken the State a law partially addressing transport of Broadband access and cell service still need Constitution’s “Forever Wild” clause (Article invasive species from one lake or river to attention, while $250,000 was secured for XIV, Section 1) and pressed ahead with plans another. Legislative leaders and others the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. to build a public, motorized recreational committed to seek a permanent law next trail on Forest Preserve that is supposed year that includes stronger protections to be protected from motors under the and mandatory decontamination. Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers Act.

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 5 THE GOVERNOR

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC.

Climate empty seats and expired terms on the Recognizes Threat Leadership Adirondack Park Agency (APA) board. The of Overuse Governor’s nominees would have been Gov. Andrew Cuomo acceptable if they had been accompanied The Governor’s State of the State Address negotiated with the by others with experience in conservation in January recognized that his recent Legislature to pass a new law, environmental science and planning. push to boost Adirondack tourism has climate law that calls Sen. Environmental Conservation worked, and that overuse is a concern: for the state to virtually Committee Chair Todd Kaminsky, D-Long “Current levels of unprecedented high use eliminate its greenhouse Beach, understands the need for the APA in popular areas have resulted in challenges gas emissions by 2050, to be strong and independent of those it to public health and safety as well as when all of the state’s regulates, and rejected the partial slate. impacts to the natural resources and the electricity would come visitor experience.” Continued economic CUOMO from carbon-free sources. Leadership Languishing success requires careful nurturing of the The Climate Leadership and Community Forest Preserve’s health and beauty. Protection Act would require the state to at Park Agency slash all of its climate-warming pollution The Governor ignored the need to nominate by 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, a full-time chair of the Adirondack Park and offset the remaining 15 percent. Agency following the resignation of This will create America’s first net-zero Sherman Craig of Wanakena. Karen Feldman economy and make New York a leader voluntarily served as acting chair until in efforts to curb greenhouse gases. quitting, citing a lack of compensation Climate change threatens natural and and a lack of respect. The nearly full-time human communities in the Adirondacks. job of chair comes with a $30,000 salary (unchanged since 1971). Other board Green Future members receive no salary. All but one of Means Clean Water the APA board’s eight citizen members is now serving on an expired term. A large group of hikers on the trail to Cascade In 2018, the Governor proposed a $10-billion, PHOTO: NANCIE BATTAGLIA five-year Green Future Fund for clean water, Making All clean energy, parks, and the environment. Funds While details remain scarce, one component People Welcome was approved. It increased infrastructure The Governor supported designating for Staff funding to protect streams, lakes and $250,000 of the Environmental Protection The Governor didn’t give the hard-working drinking water from untreated sewage and Fund for the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. staff of the Adirondack Park Agency or the other pollutants. The state budget increased The initiative has been an all-volunteer Dept. of Environmental Conservation the funding for clean water infrastructure effort to make the Adirondack Park a more leadership, tools or resources they needed by $500 million to a five-year total of welcoming place to all New York residents to hire more staff and curb overuse of $3 billion, including $1 billion this year. and visitors from around the world. With popular Forest Preserve trails and summits, state funding, the Adirondack North Country to halt the spread of invasive species, or Half-Slate Earns Association can hire a diversity program reduce the impacts of using too much road Senate Rebuke director and better assist communities salt. The freeze on total agency staff was in removing unconscious biases that maintained except for five employees for At the end of the legislative session, the can discourage visitors and residents. the new Frontier Town Campground. Governor proposed only four nominees to the Senate to fill the six (now seven)

6 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL Mountains of Cash for Good People remote locations. Both the Adirondack Communities, Tourism in Right Places Council and local officials called for better coverage. See Attorney General The Governor has devoted an additional The Governor made great choices for his top section for details on A.G. Letitia James’ $180 million to fund new Olympic Regional environmental advisors when he appointed lawsuit that won customer rebates for Development Authority facilities in Lake Dale Bryk of the Natural Resources Defense services not rendered. The Governor Placid, which will host the World University Council as Deputy Secretary for Energy and announced in January 2019 a new task Games in 2023. This is on top of $80+ the Environment and Amanda Lefton of force, but to date there have been no million announced last year. The winter The Nature Conservancy as First Assistant appointments or meetings scheduled. games expect to attract 2,500 college Secretary for Energy and the Environment. athletes from 52 countries. The Governor’s He also chose Open Space Institute Senior Helping Visitors Regional Economic Development Council for VP Erik Kulleseid to direct the Office of the North Country provided $64.8 million for Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Understand What They See 70 economic development projects across and retained veteran Dept. of Environmental The Visitor Interpretive Centers operated the Adirondack/North Country region. Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos by Paul Smith’s College in the hamlet of after first accepting his resignation in 2018. Paul Smiths and by the SUNY College Stewardship Funding of Environmental Science and Forestry Higher, Not High Enough Proposed Raid on in Newcomb received $180,000 and Environmental Fund $120,000 in state grants respectively from The Governor proposed a small increase in the Environmental Protection Fund. the State Land Stewardship portion of the As part of his budget plans, the Governor 2019-20 Environmental Protection Fund, proposed using the Environmental State Sacks Single-Use seeking $33.7 million. The final $33 million Protection Fund (EPF) to pay for salaries approved by the Legislature was higher than of state employees. The EPF is a capital Plastic Bags the 2018-19 level of $32.6 million; however, projects account designed to fund open The Governor and Legislature agreed in too much has been spent to accommodate space protection, landfill closures, recycling the state budget to ban single-use plastic motorized recreation. There were no funds facilities, watershed protection projects, bags for most retail carry-out goods dedicated to address overuse in the Park’s and grants for projects that state agencies starting in March of 2020. The ban will busiest and most popular Wilderness areas. cannot complete on their own. The reduce litter in the Adirondacks and state- Legislature would not agree to the EPF raid. wide, protect vulnerable wildlife, and reduce petroleum use. Exceptions allow Making Invasive disposable plastic bags for raw meat, fish Species Unwelcome or poultry, bulk items, sliced/prepared foods, newspaper delivery, or prescription In June, the Governor awarded $2.8 drugs. Trash bags, food-storage bags million in grants to Paul Smith’s College and garment bags will still be available. Adirondack Watershed Institute and multiple Cities and counties will have the option Adirondack lake associations to help of charging a 5-cent fee for paper bags. combat invasive species. The state, with support from partners including The Nature Taking a Bite Conservancy, Lake George Association, Fund for Lake George and Lake George Out of Food Waste Aerial view of Saranac Lake Commission, also opened and staffed a The Governor gained approval of the Food PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. new boat decontamination station at the Donation and Food Scrap Recycling Act, Facelift for Park’s Northway (I-87) Adirondack Visitor Center, in an effort to prevent food waste, reduce in the rest area between Exits 17 & 18. greenhouse gas, and rescue wasted food Biggest Village Unfortunately, voluntary use of the new for those in need. Surveys indicate that 40 The Governor awarded a $10-million Northway facility is less than 10 percent. percent of food in the U.S. is wasted, while downtown revitalization grant to the Village some 2.5 million New Yorkers struggle to of Saranac Lake, the Park’s largest village. Mission Not Accomplished have enough to eat. The largest generators Performing arts are an important element on Broadband of food waste will be required to separate of a vibrant and successful community. They excess wholesome food for donation received a big boost winning the largest In spite of committing $500 million in and to recycle/compost any scraps. This grant of $2.5 million for the $6.5 million subsidies to encourage private infrastructure effort is expected to reduce waste in the Pendragon Theatre downtown expansion. for broadband internet coverage, reliable Adirondacks and keep 250,000 tons of service has not reached New York’s most food out of landfills each year.

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 7 STATE LEGISLATURE

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. BOTH HOUSES environment. The amendment will need to in ADI events and seminars. The ADI be approved once again in 2021, under a new collaboration will now be headquartered at legislature, before it can go to the voters. the Adirondack North Country Association, New Leadership Brings an economic development organization. Note: New Climate Action Land Bank a The Council doesn’t accept any government funding. In June, Senate Majority Win for Communities Leader Andrea Stewart- Senator José Serrano, D-Manhattan, and Cousins, D-Yonkers, Assemblyman Englebright sponsored a bill Assembly Speaker (S.6398/A.8136) that authorizes towns and Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, counties to utilize a 250-acre land bank Senate Enironmental for public health and safety projects on Conservation Committee the “Forever Wild” Forest Preserve when (EnCon) Chairman there are no other viable alternatives. Todd Kaminsky, D-Long STEWART-COUSINS The “Adirondack and Catskill Health and Beach, and Assembly Safety Land Account” was created by EnCon Chair Steven a Constitutional Amendment that was Englebright, D-Setauket, approved by New York State voters in 2017. led their colleagues to A lake steward washes a boat near South Bay The land bank will allow Adirondack local approve the nation’s most governments to remove hazardous curves aggressive legislation to Take a Year, on roadways, install public utilities in road curb climate change. The Get it Right right-of-ways, and carry out public water Climate Leadership and supply projects when they are necessary Assemblyman Englebright and Senator Community Protection to meet drinking water standards. Larger Kaminsky sponsored legislation Act calls for the state to HEASTIE projects will still require legislative approval. (A.7692/S.5937) to extend by a year eliminate its greenhouse The Governor is expected to sign it. the state’s law calling on people to take gas emissions by 2050, when all of the “reasonable precautions” to avoid the state’s electricity would come from carbon- Anti-Bias transport of invasive species from one free sources. Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, lake or river to another. Both sponsors and Assemblyman Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, Effort Gains Funding made commitments to strengthen the whose districts cover a large section of the During budget law next year and support a boater- Park, voted against the act. Assemblyman negotiations, Sen. Jose friendly mandatory decontamination Billy Jones, D-Chateaugay, voted yes. The Serrano, D-Manhattan, program to protect the Adirondack Park. Adirondack Council was present when successfully urged his Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed it into law. colleagues to secure Chair Makes $250,000 within the Every Accommodation Constitutional Right to Environmental Protection Clean Water, Air Fund for the Adirondack Assembly EnCon Chair Englebright Diversity Initiative. ADI had convened diverse stakeholders and Sen. David Carlucci, D-New City, and been an all-volunteer effort SERRANO repeatedly modified his Adirondack Assemblyman Englebright won first passage aimed at making the Park more welcoming Conservation Design bill (A.8123) in an in both their houses of a resolution for to all. Many members of the Senate and effort to use new science to update 1970’s a Constitutional Amendment that would Assembly went on record in support. The era Adirondack Park Agency protections create an Environmental Bill of Rights. The Adirondack Council worked with partners against development that would harm bill would ensure New York residents the to organize, promote and participate wildlife, water quality and open space in the right to clean water, clean air and a healthy

8 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL Adirondack Park’s most remote locations. By projects by $15.25 million, to $55.25 million. Adirondack Lakes Survey Corp. Meanwhile, amending his bill to meet their concerns, the The funds will be used to improve access it has been almost 35 years since the last chair earned support from environmental to state lands, rehabilitate campgrounds, comprehensive survey of Park waters organizations, the Adirondack Association buy air-quality monitoring infrastructure, for acid rain damage. A new modified of Towns and Villages and the Adirondack remediate contamination, and repair/ assessment is needed to track progress and Common Ground Alliance. Senate EnCon maintain dams and fish hatcheries. None to prove that pollution controls enacted so Chair Kaminsky was also a sponsor. of the funding is dedicated to address far have worked and should be advanced. overuse or protect Wilderness. Opportunity Motorized Bicycles Squandered Water Money Everywhere, Pose Challenge Both houses allowed a Conservation Design Not a Drop … Both houses passed legislation (S.5291A/ bill (S.6484/A.8123) to die in committee Despite appropriating billions of dollars A.7431B) sponsored by Assemblywoman that would have improved the Adirondack for clean water loan programs, the Nily Rozic, D-Queens, and Sen. Jessica Park Agency’s (APA) 48-year-old standards Legislature failed to provide supplemental Ramos, D-Queens, that authorizes motor- for development in the Park’s most hardship grants beyond 25 percent of total assisted bikes (e-bikes) of less than 750 sensitive locations. The bill would protect project costs for small, rural communities watts to be used on streets and roads. wildlife, water quality and forest health by whose taxpayers cannot afford expensive Qualifying e-bikes have a maximum speed clustering remote development, leaving wastewater treatment systems without of 20 mph via electric motors. The bill the majority of the parcel intact. The APA’s state help. Programs funded by the state’s authorizes local governing bodies to rules discourage residential development Environmental Facilities Corp. cap state restrict or prohibit e-bikes, and prohibits in unbroken forest, but requiring clustering grants to communities at 25 percent of the e-bikes on state Forest Preserve lands, and similar conservation strategies are cost of the project. Adirondack communities, except where the Dept. of Environmental at the discretion of the agency. This which have an average of 1,000 residents Conservation allows them. It is unclear legislation was not advanced in spite of each, cannot afford to repay 75 percent whether the Governor will sign the bill. support from Adirondack environmental of multi-million-dollar projects, even with organizations, the Adirondack Association zero-interest loans. Both houses failed to act Reclaiming Multi-Use of Towns and Villages, the Adirondack Park on a measure by Senator Anna M. Kaplan, for the Many Local Government Review Board and the D-Great Neck, and Assemblyman Steven Adirondack Common Ground Alliance. Otis, D-Rye, (S.4520/A.6316) which was Sen. Anna M. Kaplan, supported by the Council, to allow 40-year, D-Great Neck, and It’s a zero-interest loans instead of 30-year terms. Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, sponsored Start No Boost for legislation (S.4416B/ EnCon Chairs Kaminsky A.5035B) that would and Englebright Forest Health require the Office of Parks, sponsored legislation Neither house passed new property Recreation and Historic (S.5836/A.7537) to curb tax incentives for improved private Preservation to work with KAPLAN all-terrain vehicle (ATV) forest management. There were diverse the depts. of Environmental misuse in the state’s four stakeholders agreeing on the need to make Conservation, Health and most sensitive forests: the the program more efficient, reduce the Transportation to create Adirondack and Catskill current acreage limits, and create incentives a comprehensive plan forest preserves, the Long for those who manage forests for wildlife for the development of Island Pine Barrens and ENGLEBRIGHT protection and/or carbon sequestration, non-motorized multi-use Albany Pine Bush. The bills were introduced rather than just for timber production. trail systems. Lately, state after the Adirondack Council issued a report agencies that manage in 2019 entitled: WRONG WAY: How New Acid Rain Research public lands have been York State Can Course-Correct on ATVs. Support in Doubt using the term “multi- use” trails to accommodate FAHY Boost for Despite cuts in federal funding proposed by more motorized recreation and use. This the Trump administration, the Legislature Works Programs legislation would ensure that ”multi-use” failed to provide new funding to support trails include the needs of hikers, paddlers, Legislative leaders in both houses supported vital acid rain and climate change data snowshoers, and skiers. It was unclear the Governor’s New York Works Program, collection in the Adirondack Park. Funding whether the Governor would sign the bill. increasing state budget funding for Dept. remains in doubt for air and water sampling of Environmental Conservation capital programs such as those undertaken by the

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 9 SENATE Respect for Political Differences Demanding a A March 4, 2019 article in Higher Standard Atlantic Magazine contained an interactive map showing In June, Senate EnCon that the counties comprising ChairTodd Kaminsky the Adirondack Park and refused to accept from adjacent areas of Upstate Gov. Andrew Cuomo New York are among the an incomplete slate most politically tolerant in of nominees for the the United States. Surveys Adirondack Park Agency showed that local residents (APA) Board. Kaminsky respected their neighbors’ demanded that the political beliefs, even those KAMINSKY Governor nominate a full that directly opposed Overall Political Prejudice set of new and returning candidates who their own, and were the together represent the diversity of skills, least likely to demonize or Less Prejudiced More Prejudiced experience and expertise needed for a stereotype those who disagree. strong and independent APA. The Governor Source: www.theatlantic.com offered three, then four, candidates to fill six (now seven) slots -- four expired terms owners who claim they won’t take them the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment and three vacated seats. A board designed off of private property. This would make demands that legislative election districts to protect a national treasure requires trespass harder to prosecute by removing must be equal in population, to preserve a full roster of qualified candidates. an important identification tool from law the mandate of “one person, one vote.” This enforcement. Neither bill passed the Senate. resolution was not approved by the Senate.

Increasing the ASSEMBLY Minimum Age The Senate passed legislation (S.5035) Investigating sponsored by Senator Road Salt Harckham that would Assembly members displayed growing increase the minimum interest in the contamination of drinking, age for operating an surface and groundwater from the over- all-terrain vehicle (ATV) application of road salt by the state. Former DEC Commissioner Thomas Jorling alone from 10 to 14. Assembly Encon Chair Englebright wrote and Sen. Jose Serrano, D-Manhattan Children account for a to the Department of Transportation HARCKHAM disproportionate number requesting detailed information ATV Bills Set of serious injuries and deaths due to ATV about road salt application for use in Dangerous Course crashes. The Assembly failed to pass the bill. drafting potential future legislation. Some members of the Senate sponsored bills Bias in Favor of that would loosen restrictions on all-terrain It’s a vehicles (ATV) without addressing the Upstate is Still Bias Non-Starter damage and public safety threats posed by In February, Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, Assemblyman Clifford Crouch, current uses. Sen. Michael H. Ranzenhofer, proposed a resolution for a Constitutional R-Binghamton, sponsored a bill (A.1401) R-Williamsville, sponsored a bill (S.3311) that Amendment reverting New York to the proposing to open all public lands to all- would expand the size of ATVs required to practice of electing one Senator per each terrain vehicles (ATVs) by anyone “certified be registered for public use in New York of the state’s 62 counties. Under this as handicapped.” The state already has a from 1,000 pounds to 1,800 pounds. This plan, Manhattan (pop. 1.65 million) would program that allows persons with disabilities would increase the number of ATVs and have the same Senate representation as to access certain state lands with ATVs and their potential to harm public resources. Hamilton County (pop. 4,485). This practice another that allows them to hunt from their Sen. James Seward, R-Oneonta, sponsored was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. vehicles. This bill was held in committee. a bill to ease registration requirements for Supreme Court in 1964. The court said

10 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL THE COURTS

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ecosystem, and should be protected. This 4-to-1 ruling means the state must count all trees. The court further ruled that the 25,000 trees the DEC planned to cut down to create miles of new snowmobile trail were too many. The state disagrees with the court’s limitations on cutting and definition of a tree and is appealing the ruling.

Phony Test Results Lead to Penalty In January, Albany City Judge Holly Trexler Confluence of the Indian and Hudson Rivers PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. struck a blow for clean water when she Snowmobile trail on Forest Preserve lands sentenced the Town of Bolton’s wastewater treatment plant operator Thomas French High Court Will Consider Court Trims State Policy to three years’ probation. French pled Council’s Objections On Forest Preserve Cutting guilty to falsifying records from municipal In January, the NYS Court of Appeals wastewater release tests and to offering a In July, the Appellate Division of the accepted -- over state’s objections -- the false instrument for filing. He was arrested NYS Supreme Court ruled in Protect the Adirondack Council’s amicus curiae (friend by state Environmental Conservation Adirondacks vs. NYS Dept. of Environmental of the court brief) in a lawsuit aimed Officers for filing the false records at the Conservation, et al. and declared that plans at preserving the motor-free corridor Department of Environmental Conservation’s to build a road-like snowmobile trail through along a section of the Hudson River headquarters. French also will be subject the Adirondack Forest Preserve would that is protected as wild. Protect the to a revocation of his certification/license cause “an unconstitutional destruction of Adirondacks! and Adirondack Wild: Friends to operate a wastewater treatment plant. timber.” The Forever Wild clause of the NYS of the Forest Preserve had sued the NYS Constitution prohibits the sale, removal or Dept. of Environmental Conservation destruction of timber on the Forest Preserve. when it proposed the snowmobile trail’s Earlier court rulings held that the DEC could location. That portion of the river is cut down a few hundred Forest Preserve protected under the Wild, Scenic and trees (for purposes such as the construction Recreational Rivers Act. An appellate of trails, camp sites, ranger cabins, etc.) panel ruled 3-2 against the plaintiffs without being guilty of destroying/removing based on an erroneous interpretation timber. Unsettled were the questions of of existing law and a misunderstanding how many trees the state could remove of the facts of the case. The high court lawfully and which trees should be counted. was still deliberating at press time. The state’s prior standard had been to count only trees larger than three inches in diameter at breast height (only 6,100 of The Adirondack Council’s John the 25,000 total in this case). The appellate Sheehan. In federal court the Council panel recognized for the first time that is fighting acid rain, see page 12 small trees can be valuable to the overall

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 11 ATTORNEY GENERAL

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC.

Defending New York Restoring Local from Upwind Coal Letitia James Control to RR Line In December 2018, Succeeds Underwood The state, environmental groups and towns Attorney General Barbara Solicitor General Barbara Underwood, celebrated a victory last year when Warren Underwood led a coalition who was named Attorney General Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway directed that of attorneys for New York by the Legislature following the none of its oil cars ever be stored in the State, New Jersey and New resignation of Eric Schneiderman in Adirondack Park. Saratoga & North Creek York City in intervening May 2018, did not seek election to Rail Road, owned by Iowa-Pacific Holdings in a federal smog lawsuit. the position. Instead, she returned of Chicago, was forced to remove the junk The suit was brought by to her post as Solicitor General upon oil trains it was storing on the rail line that the states of Maryland and the election of Letitia James, who traverses parts of Essex, Warren and Hamilton UNDERWOOD Delaware, and joined by the became New York’s 67th Attorney Counties between the hamlets of North Creek Adirondack Council, Environmental Defense General in January of this year. and Newcomb. Parts of the rail line are on Fund, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and a Underwood and James are the first state-owned Forest Preserve. Representing host of public health advocates. Petitioners two women to serve as New York’s the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, want the court to reverse the Trump Attorney General. Attorney General Underwood sought to codify administration’s Environmental Protection and make permanent the end of the practice Agency’s (EPA) denial of Maryland’s and of oil tank cars being stored on the line. In Delaware’s petitions for relief from smog- Lifting Veil of September 2018, Underwood filed a petition forming pollution caused by 36 coal-fired EPA’s Smokescreen asking the U.S. Surface Transportation Board power plants in upwind states. Millions of (STB) to rescind any rights the now-bankrupt New Yorkers routinely breathe unhealthy air Attorney General James Iowa-Pacific has to use the line. The objective due to smog. The air pollutants that cause is suing the EPA over its of the legal petition, if granted, is to keep junk smog also cause acid rain. Maryland and December 2018 Cross- oil trains out. It does not prohibit another Delaware were among the first two states State Air Pollution Rule authorized rail company from working with whose petitions for relief were unlawfully “Close-Out.” In that the state, towns and the STB to use the line rejected by the EPA two summers ago. action, the EPA said that for legal and appropriate purposes consistent This prompted conservation organizations no further emissions with protection of the Adirondacks and to rally in support. NYS Attorney General reductions are needed efforts to foster vibrant communities. James is continuing the challenge to for upwind states to JAMES the EPA’s denial of states’ petitions. meet their requirements under the “Good Neighbor” provisions of the Clean Air Act. The EPA said that power plants and other sources in upwind states would no longer be causing excessive smog in the Northeast four years from now in 2023. This finding is inconsistent with current air quality monitoring and

emissions projections. The complaint HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. © CARL PHOTO was filed by Attorney General James in January and joined by six other states. State pressure helped move dozens of scrapped It urges the court to vacate the EPA’s oil tank cars out of the Adirondack Park. Seen action, calling it arbitrary and capricious. here in North Creek, Warren County, they moved south the next day to the Canadian Pacific RR in Saratoga County and out of the Adirondack Park

12 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL TIP OF THE HAT

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS Adirondack Museum) created a new paid Trout Power’s study of the Raquette River summer internship and residency program watershed uncovered a resurgence in Each year the Adirondack Council for six college students from African- native trout populations, due to declines recognizes individuals and not-for-profit American and Latino urban neighborhoods. in air pollution over the last 30 years. This organizations whose work has advanced included the return of the Sagamore Lake environmental protection and shown how Dr. Charles Driscoll of Syracuse University Brook Trout which was thought have been nature and people can thrive together in helped colleagues from around the nation extirpated by acid rain. the Adirondack Park. understand the implications of the Trump administration’s plan to replace the The Northeast Wilderness Trust Clean Power Plan with the much-weaker purchased the 2,400-acre Eagle Mountain Affordable Clean Energy Rule. He has been tract as a wilderness preserve within the instrumental in the development of “critical Split Rock Wildway. loads” standards for limiting acid rain impacts on lakes and streams.

The Ausable River Association, Adirondack Watershed Institute of Paul Smith’s College, ADK Action, and the Lake Brook trout George Waterkeeper continue to lead the PHOTO: LARRY MASTER, MASTERIMAGES.ORG Park-wide effort to identify and eliminate road salt contamination. The Adirondack North Country Association agreed to host the Adirondack Diversity Initiative.

Eagle Mountain Wilderness Preserve University at Albany professors Mariya PHOTO: BRENDAN WILTSE Zheleva, Mila Gasco and Petko Bogdanov In May, the Adirondack Land Trust bought voluntarily developed a plan to fix the Four Peaks, a 600-acre tract in the towns broadband communications system in of Jay and Wilmington that has potential the tiny, isolated community of Thurman, to expand a popular network of mountain including state-of-the-art emergency biking trails. dispatching services.

Last year, Brenda Valentine was chosen by In February, the Lake George Waterkeeper the Residents of Indian Lake as the town’s Deconstruction of the Rome Dam issued a report that identified 10 areas PHOTO: BRENDAN WILTSE Citizen of the Year. Brenda around the lake at the greatest risk from is the President of the The Ausable River Association led the failing septic systems, including North and Indian Lake Community effort to remove the Rome Dam, on the South Diamond Point, Smokey Bear, South Development Corporation Ausable River. Green Harbour, Stebbins Brook, Sunnyview, and was chosen because Westover Cove, Plum Point, Sand Pebble of her role in shaping the In April, Protect the Adirondacks! Cove, and Wiawaka. This research is building community and moving published a peer-reviewed demographic support for new septic ordinances around it toward “a more vibrant study entitled, The Adirondack Park and the lake basin. PHOTO: SARA RUBERG SARA PHOTO: future” and a more Rural America: Economic and Population VALENTINE inclusive nature. Trends 1970-2010 debunking the myth that environmental protection has harmed the The Adirondack Experience (formerly the Park’s economy or quality of life.

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 13 GROWING SUPPORT FOR PRESERVING ADIRONDACK WATERS & WILDLANDS

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC.

BOREAS PONDS DESIGNATED AS WILDERNESS - OPENED TO THE PUBLIC

These new state Wilderness waters and trails are now open to the public, to hike, ski, paddle, fish, or just enjoy. They are preserved as “Forever Wild” and designated as Wilderness, meaning no motorized recreation is allowed.

Paddlers spot a pair of loons on Boreas Ponds

ANALYSIS FINDS OVERUSE HARMS WILDERNESS

Wilderness, waters and wildlife are impacted by overuse. The success of the Adirondack Park, protection of natural resources and sustainable tourism depends on the state and partners taking action to address overuse, inadequate stewardship, and an unfunded need for staff to perform traditional An increase in trail width, erosion and natural resource damage NANCIE BATTAGLIA Forest Ranger duties and other jobs.

14 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL NEW YORK STATE RECOGNIZES OVERUSE CHALLENGES

“...current levels of unprecedented high use in popular areas have resulted in challenges to public health and safety as well as impacts to the natural resources and the visitor experience.” ­­ ­— Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo

NANCIE BATTAGLIA

THE SOLUTION

The state agrees that a six-part comprehensive strategy advocated by the Adirondack Council, wilderness advocates and other Park stakeholders is “essential for wildlands management.” These best management practices (BMPs) are: 1. Comprehensive planning 2. Education and outreach 3. Improved parking, information centers, and bathrooms

4. Improved trails and campsites A DEC trail crew works to 5. Limits on use, at some improve trail conditions times, at some places 6. Needed staff and funding A DEC Forest Ranger talks with a hiker TO ADDRESS OVERUSE, EDITORIALS NANCIE BATTAGLIA AND STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR PLANNING, FUNDING & PERMITS YOU CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION!

The Dept. of Environmental Conservation Add your voice in support of strong and the Town of Keene hosted a meeting protections, comprehensive planning and with approximately 60 stakeholders. The increased funding for the Adirondacks! priority of those attending was that the state collect better data, develop a comprehensive Visit AdirondackCouncil.org, sign the overuse plan, dedicate more funding and personnel petition, send an email to policymakers, or learn to the Adirondacks, test a permit or how you can lessen your impact by practicing reservation system to better manage use the seven principles of Leave No Trace. when and where it exceeds capacity.

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 15 LOCAL GOVERNMENT

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC.

Keene Advances Redirecting Some The Adirondack Association Green Energy Benefits Helps All of Towns and Villages (AATV) The Town of Keene has completed the This spring, the Town of Keene and the The AATV is a non-profit member process for the NYS Energy Research and Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages organization. Towns and Villages wholly Development Authority’s certification (AATV) joined with the Adirondack Council, or partly in the Adirondack Park (103) as a Clean Energy Community. State Adirondack Mountain Club and an Adirondack are eligible for membership. Search grants helped the town install a 23.3 kW Common Ground Alliance core team member online for “AATV Legislative Agenda” to solar array on the highway garage, which to call on state officials to address problems view the legislative agenda document. will offset about 65 percent of Keene’s of overuse of wildlands. Surging numbers of municipal electricity use. The funds also Park visitors are flocking to popular hiking helped facilitate the installation of electric and camping destinations. As Keene, Lake ATVs on vehicle charging stations. The Keene Placid, Old Forge, Lake George, and other Wild Lands Clean Energy Team supported the town’s popular destinations try to cope with crowds, The AATV lobbyists urged the Legislature participation in the program, and has less visited places can reap rewards if peak to provide more locations for motorized spurred other climate-smart actions. traffic can be redirected and better managed. recreation in the “Forever Wild” Forest Preserve. They also wanted to increase the Towns Lead on allowable weight for all-terrain vehicles Failing Septics (ATVs) and allow larger, more powerful Utility In October 2018, the Town of Queensbury Task Vehicles to be registered for use on enacted a time-of-sale mandatory septic public roads and trails, despite clear evidence inspection law requiring waterfront of worsening damage from such vehicles. properties to have their systems inspected and fixed as a condition of a sale. Weaker State Queensbury was the first Adirondack town Land Protections to pass such a law since Inlet created The AATV is proposing amendments to the New York’s first septic inspection law in Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan, 2009. Bolton Landing followed in May, the guiding document for management of Electric vehicle charging station in Keene 2019 and passed a time-of-sale mandatory all “Forever Wild” state Forest Preserve. septic system inspection law for all The AATV’s changes would decrease properties in town, not just waterfront. Tupper Students Make protections for clean water, wildlife, North Elba (including Lake Placid) adopted fisheries, the ecological integrity, and Town Climate Smart a mandatory inspection law too. wild forest character of the state-owned In June, the Tupper Lake Town Board lands and waters. The current Master Plan unanimously passed a resolution to become Motorized and Mechanized prioritizes protection of natural resources, a Climate Smart Community. The effort to Recreation in Wilderness and the AATV proposals would change that. pass the resolution was led by students from the Tupper Lake High School’s Green The AATV and its members are promoting Team, who worked with the Town Board. proposals to allow mechanical recreation and Less Restrictions on The state’s Climate Smart program helps bicycles, small motors, and snowmobiling Private Development in designated state Wilderness areas where local governments reduce greenhouse gas Local officials’ legislative agenda sought motorized and mechanized recreation is emissions and adapt to a changing climate. to weaken the Park’s private land-use prohibited. The AATV is also promoting Benefits include free technical assistance code, impose a statute of limitations on opening more waters to float plane access. and enhanced access to state grants. violations of the code, cap the maximum

16 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL fines for those violations, and invite sign Coverage gaps can be solved on remote More “Flexible” clutter by eliminating the prohibition highways and small communities without Protections? against billboards and off-premises business towers, through emerging technologies such signs outside of hamlets/villages. as small-cell or 5G transceivers attached The AATV is proposing “more flexible,” but to existing utility poles and structures. really weaker, environmental protections to Weak on try and stimulate increased economic activity, Invasive Species jobs and population growth in the Park. A detailed analysis of decades of data compiled In the spring of 2019, the AATV told state by Protect the Adirondacks! showed that the Legislators that preventing the spread environmental protections in the Adirondacks of invasive species is “of paramount haven’t created more challenging economic importance and … critical to the economy, conditions than in other rural areas across ecology and quality of life in the Adirondack New York, or across the nation. A Clarkson Park.” Yet, the AATV balked at supporting a University analysis funded by the Adirondack mandatory decontamination program Council found that property values rose for the park. Their decision came despite in direct relation to their proximity to the expansion of a state-funded network protected forests and Wilderness lands. of boat-washing stations across the Adirondack Park. In fact, some members State Helping Hand, of AATV and the Adirondack Park Local Local Cold Shoulder Government Review Board actively In the fall of 2018, officials in Essex and opposed comprehensive decontamination. Warren County objected when the state tried Inspection and decontamination are free to help them dispense with a problematic rail of charge and take only a few minutes. road operator. The state began an “adverse Preventing the spread of invasive species abandonment” proceeding against Iowa- is much simpler and cheaper than dealing Pacific Holdings (IPH), which had misled local with the consequences of an infestation. State Police emergency tower on Cathead Mtn. officials about its plan to store oil tank cars between North Creek and Newcomb. IPH Cut More parked dozens of cars along a scenic stretch Trees Promoting Motorized of the Upper Hudson River. Rather than accept The AATV supports increased cutting and Use of Wilderness the state’s help, officials said they feared the removal of trees from the Forest Preserve state was angling to remove the tracks. The Officials in Hamilton County continued to enhance individual sports such as state’s actions are aimed at re-establishing to press for a Constitutional Amendment glade skiing and snowmobiling, and also local control over the line, which was seized to construct a road and install a power to restore and maintain scenic vistas. from the counties and the state by the federal line across a section of the Silver Lake government during World War II. There is Wilderness Area for a new county no state proposal to remove the tracks. Blaming APA for Cell emergency communications tower. The Company Decisions Council supports the effort to improve Oppose State Land emergency communications using on-site Complaints about poor or non-existent Acquisition Policy power, negating the need for an amendment. cell phone coverage, a real and common The tower could be located on the private The state’s current land acquisition policy is problem in rural areas across the United summit of Cathead Mountain. The State driven by the State Open Space Conservation States, motivated some local elected Police already operate an emergency tower Plan. The state tries to avoid acquisition politicians to call for more and taller towers there, with on-site wind, solar energy, of “highly productive” forest land, unless even if they are not screened. Some local and backup generator, with no road or such land is threatened with development. officials lobbied state government to strike power line. Complicating matters, a private Exceptions are made where wilderness down the Adirondack Park Agency’s (APA) hunting club that owns the summit where conservation values outweigh the timber successful and long-established program the tower would be built wants a a road for production potential. For example, Whitney for concealing new cell towers within the motorized access to its private property. Park contains productive timberland but is landscape, requiring them to be “substantially Club owners purchased the land knowing also at the heart of the proposed Bob Marshall invisible.” Contrary to complaints, cell it had no such access. An amendment Great Wilderness and Wild Lands Complex. companies report that the APA’s standard would bring new traffic to the Wilderness So, it is identified as a possible acquisition. has not delayed deployment and locations area’s interior, which is in conflict with The AATV wants this policy amended and with limited cell coverage lack sufficient plans to protect the area as motor-free. local elected leaders are opposing most, if potential subscribers to attract vendors. not all, new state land acquisitions.

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 17 DEPT. OF ENVIROMENTAL CONSERVATION

Tackling Carbon funded, comprehensive solution. It said It’s time to invest in and support the Topples Acid Rain Too the plan should include regional planning, people needed for the day-to-day care and expanded education and outreach, custody of the Forest Preserve that the In May, the Department of Environmental front-country (parking, trailheads) and State spends millions of dollars to acquire. Conservation issued tough new rules to backcountry (trails) infrastructure, limits curb carbon dioxide emissions from electric on visitors (although only as a last resort) power plants. The rules ban the burning and more resources, including staff. Seggos Out, Back In of coal to make electricity in New York by DEC Commissioner the end of 2020. This milestone will reduce No Comprehensive Plan Basil Seggos, who sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as well. to Address Overuse has served since Both are sources of acid rain, smog and 2015, announced his The DEC still lacks, and has failed to ask for or fine-particle pollution. The rules preceded retirement from the propose, a comprehensive plan, resources and by a month the passage of the Climate office in the fall of staff, needed to address the negative impacts Leadership and Community Protection Act, 2018. Seggos said he of overuse on visitor safety, natural resources which calls for carbon neutral power in would serve through and the visitor’s wilderness experience. The all sectors of the economy by 2040. New the end of the year DEC has recognized the problem and the six York power plants were once a significant while Gov. Andrew SEGGOS essential elements of any solution (planning, source of acid rain in the Adirondacks. Cuomo sought a replacement. In early education, front country infrastructure, Now, the vast majority of these emissions 2019, as the Governor started his backcountry infrastructure, limits on use at come from power plants outside the third term, Seggos announced he had some locations at some times, and resources). state and fossil fuel-powered vehicles. decided to continue in the commissioner The DEC has taken small steps with improved position to provide leadership and wildlands monitoring plans, primitive tent support the Governor’s agenda. site management guidance, parking lots, parking restrictions and small sections of new trail. But leadership, more discussion, planning, engineering, construction, Has System, maintenance, staff and funding are needed. Doesn’t Use It In 1998, the DEC said that limits on the No Help number of visitors at some locations were Wanted among the tools available to address overuse DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos stated problems in the High Peaks Wilderness Area publicly that the state doesn’t need more and other popular destinations. The DEC Forest Rangers. But after a decade, the uses a permit system for a popular day use Camp site in the High Peaks Governor’s zero-growth policy for state area of the Catskill Forest Preserve known Admitting Problem is agency staff is harming the DEC’s ability as the Blue Hole, and requires permits First Step to Recovery to complete its mission, the success of the for select other areas. But the DEC hasn’t Adirondacks, and sustainable tourism. Prior moved toward a day-use or camping permit In 2019, the DEC agreed that it sees an to the current freeze, the DEC suffered deep system, or a parking reservation system overuse problem in the most popular staff cuts of almost 25 percent under a in high-traffic areas of the High Peaks. locations on the Adirondack Forest previous administration. So the department In 2019, the Adirondack Council urged Preserve. In various presentations and not only needs Rangers, it needs Assistant the DEC to adopt a parking reservation communications to local governments, Rangers, Environmental Conservation system for trailhead lots, with a portion set tourism officials and conservationists, Officers, planners, biologists, engineers, land aside for those unaware of the system. the DEC identified the need for a well- managers, lawyers, and other specialists.

18 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL Expanded Has a Cap, Blue Ridge Wilderness Overuse Outreach Doesn’t Wear It Snowmobile Trail In 2018 and early 2019, DEC officials The DEC’s management plan for the High Rather than fully consider a route through expanded education and outreach efforts Peaks Wilderness Area and Vanderwhacker a less sensitive area of public land, avoid to help redirect users away from overused Mountain Wild Forest added 12.4 miles of encroaching on Wilderness, and/or work locations of the Forest Preserve. Expanded roads, including one that would run within with private landowners, the DEC proposed signage helped to redirect visitors to safer 500 feet of Boreas Ponds. The Adirondack siting four miles of a new snowmobile trail parking and less crowded places. The DEC Park State Land Master Plan forbids the through the Blue Ridge Wilderness Area has also implemented necessary parking expansion of public road mileage on the in Hamilton County. Wilderness areas are closures along Route 73 through the Town of Forest Preserve. The DEC may add public supposed to be motor-free. It is technically Keene to begin addressing the problematic roads only if it concurrently removes legal for the DEC to allow a non-conforming and unsafe parking conditions that resulted other public roads. New roads would be use within 500 feet of Wilderness Area from having large numbers of visitors parking a significant vector for invasive species boundary, on a very limited basis, if it has no on the shoulder of the road near the most for the forest and its lakes and streams. other choice. In this case, however, the DEC popular trailheads. The DEC also worked Officials acknowledged during a recent APA has other choices. Its decision to site the with the Barkeater Trails Alliance and others meeting that the department must address trail here only worsens its reputation as an during a wet spring to keep hikers and the mileage cap. No action has been taken. active opponent of Wilderness preservation. mountain bikers from damaging muddy trails. Snowmobile Plan Less Collides with Trees Forever Wild The DEC is moving ahead with plans to build The DEC moved to weaken the NYS a road-like Class II Community Connector Constitution’s “Forever Wild” clause by Snowmobile Trail System despite clear pursuing development and expanded tree warning signs. The wider, flatter, straighter cutting on the Forest Preserve at multiple trails will encourage faster travel through locations across the Park. A proposal the Adirondack Forest Preserve. These wider by the Olympic Regional Development trails mean more tree-cutting to construct Authority to cut thousands of trees and maintain the trails. The DEC’s tree- wasn’t scaled back until the Council and cutting practices for snowmobile trails have Overlooking Jamestown Falls and the other advocates objected. At another been the subject of lawsuits. The “Forever Raquette-Jordan Boreal Primitive Area site, the DEC pressed ahead with plans Wild” clause of the NYS Constitution PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. to build public motorized recreational forbids the sale, removal or destruction of Still Talking About trails on Forest Preserve that is protected timber on Forest Preserve lands. In June from motors under the Wild, Scenic and 2019, the DEC’s community connector More Motorized Access Recreational Rivers Act. The DEC proposes plans were deemed unconstitutional by a In 2019, DEC staff continued to press for four miles of new snowmobile trail in the panel of judges from the Appellate Division additional public motorized access in the Blue Ridge Wilderness. The list goes on. of the NYS Supreme Court. The judges area north of the Raquette-Jordan Boreal recognized that the DEC needs to cut some Primitive Area in St. Lawrence County. The Undermining a Strong, trees to create trails, campsites, etc. They DEC knows this will have a negative impact Independent APA determined that the impacts of the project’s on the recovery of the native spruce grouse tree-cutting must be considered as a whole – an endangered species. It will also slow The DEC is using its superior size, funding and not on a segment-by-segment basis, as the transition of the Primitive Area to full, and political influence to exert pressure on is the DEC’s common practice. The judges motor-free Wilderness status. DEC staff said the operations and decisions of the smaller also clarified that all trees must be counted the public should expect a new proposal for Adirondack Park Agency (APA). The APA’s towards tree removal totals, rather than expanded motorized recreation in 2019. 56 staff members are supposed to act as just trees big enough to sell for timber. a check on the DEC’s authority to manage Using these standards, the total tree cutting New Improved the Forest Preserve. Rather than respect count for the proposed trail being litigated Wild Forest Plans the APA’s independence, the DEC leaned on increased from 6,100 trees to 25,000. The the agency to approve Unit Management Court opined that 25,000 was a substantial In 2019, the DEC completed UMPs that had Plans (UMPs) that undermine state policies tree removal and therefore unconstitutional. been incomplete for more than a decade. In requiring natural resource protection to June, it released a final plan for the Saranac take precedence over intensive use. Lakes Wild Forest, which calls for new management strategies for Forest Preserve

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 19 lands and waters, including parts of the a lawsuit in 2018 in which it offered several Rangers he wouldn’t consolidate divisions Saranac Lakes. The plan includes new boat justifications for its decision to close the or duties. ECOs objected to what felt like launches, campsites, hiking, snowmobiling, road. None were found to have extinguished a downgrading, and Rangers balked at the and mountain bike trails. It also reroutes the town’s right to the road; however, the change in title and said they feared a loss existing trails, closes roads, closes or appellate panel took an unusual step of in identity. The DEC’s proposal would have relocates dozens of backcountry campsites, offering the DEC a solution. They wrote limited the traditional Forest Ranger priority and limits motors on Weller Pond. The DEC that Highway Law 212 “vests DEC with the of protection of the Forest Preserve. finalized and the APA approved a UMP for authority to order the abandonment or the Hammond Pond Wild Forest. The plan discontinuance of a road passing over or Backroom Deal Reneges covers about 50 parcels across 45,500 acres through lands within the Forest Preserve...” Conservation Promise of Forest Preserve from Keene to Moriah. The DEC approved UMPs for the Brown Clean Water Grants The DEC continues to promote its October Tract Campground in Raquette Lake and the Help Communities 2018 proposal to amend the 19,000-acre Eagle Point Campground on Schroon Lake. Long Pond Conservation Easement (est. In 2018, the DEC awarded more than $5 1999) that would undo provisions that were million in clean water infrastructure grants to written into the original document requiring Adirondack communities through its Water the removal of development to protect and Quality Improvement Program. The money restore conservation values. By signing a helped local taxpayers afford wastewater contract to allow 15 private cabins “to stay treatment improvements, nonagricultural in perpetuity” after they were previously stormwater runoff prevention, watershed scheduled for removal, the DEC calls into protection for source waters, road salt question the validity of other conservation storage, aquatic connectivity restoration, and recreation commitments throughout and separation of storm sewers from sewage the Adirondacks. While the DEC promised treatment systems. Also, nine Adirondack that there would be a net conservation Utility task vehicles participate in the SNIRT Run communities received grants for engineering gain, it merely offered to buy lands of lesser assistance for construction and repair of conservation value outside the Park as Getting Hands wastewater treatment systems. These grants compensation. These lands would not be Snirty supplement grants and loans from the State’s protected from development and cutting Environmental Facilities Corporation. as “Forever Wild.” The DEC proposal was The DEC stepped up its enforcement efforts withdrawn after the Council objected. at the Lewis County SNIRT (snow+dirt) Run, The DEC says to expect an amended plan an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) road and trail that still fails to remove the development. rally held each year. It has been expanding Allowing these cabins to remain was a eastward across the Adirondack Park’s political solution orchestrated by state western border from Tug Hill for the past Sens. Patty Ritchie, R-Watertown, and Betty several years. In April 2019, the DEC sent Little, R-Queensbury, that dismantles a 12 Forest Rangers and six Environmental long-awaited outcome agreed to decades Conservation Police to work with 15 sheriffs’ ago between the landowners and public. deputies from two counties and three State Park Police to monitor the record- setting 4,800 riders. The DEC wrote 28 Blueprint for Sustainable citations for trespass on state lands alone. Private Forests Officers also arrested ATV riders for driving Wastewater treatment facility aeration In early 2019, the DEC held a series of while intoxicated and other offenses. ponds along the AuSable River statewide public meetings to highlight the PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. need for improvements and better incentives Inaction Invites Motors Shell Game for sustainable private forest management. into Wilderness with Ranger Pay DEC staff collected suggestions on how to improve carbon sequestration, promote The DEC is refusing to exercise its right In an effort to give Forest Rangers a much- long-term harvest management, and provide under state law to close a former town needed pay increase, the DEC created an options for maximum wildlife protection and road (now the Jackrabbit Ski Trail) to internal conflict that resulted in no raise no-harvest zones. The state’s antiquated motorized recreation through the Sentinel after all. Commissioner Seggos proposed system of incentives via property tax Range Wilderness Area in Essex County. consolidating the title of Forest Ranger abatements for only timberlands needs This decision leaves the corridor open to with the slightly better-paid Environmental an overhaul by the Legislature. The DEC potential motorized traffic. Wilderness areas Conservation Officer (ECOs). He promised helped show how to do it properly. are supposed to be motor-free. The DEC lost

20 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL ADIRONDACK PARK AGENCY

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC.

Moving Toward Local Government Review Board and the Better Planning Adirondack Common Ground Alliance. It would protect forests, water quality and The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) showed wildlife in the Park’s most remote locations it can work with the Dept. of Environmental by mandating more compact development Conservation (DEC) to create complex, footprints and greater conservation of open integrated, landscape-scale plans to space. The APA’s rules for development manage adjoining Forest Preserve units haven’t been significantly updated since 1979. and other lands. In the past, each of the Forest Preserve’s 100-plus units was largely viewed in a vacuum. The APA approved “complex” plans for the consolidated High Peaks and Dix Mountain Wilderness Sign reminds hikers to stay on marked trails Area, as well as the Hammond Pond and and help protect sensitive alpine plants Vanderwhacker Mountain wild forests, and nearby private lands that allow public Protocol is access. This holistic approach allows the First Step DEC to address natural resource protection The APA, along with the DEC, is developing concerns, such as climate change and a wildlands monitoring protocol to guide the overuse, across the entire landscape. gathering of information on the impacts of recreation and public access on the natural Development in the southern Adirondacks resources of the Park. Both agencies have PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. obligations under state law to assess the carrying capacity of any Forest Preserve unit on which they are authorizing public Potential Improvement access and recreation. The intensity of the for Large Subdivisions activities allowed by the state is supposed to The agency adopted modest changes to its be based on the land’s ability to withstand large-scale subdivision permit application that use. The agencies are then supposed to process in 2018. The move followed sharp prevent substantial changes to the unit from criticism of the APA’s handling of the prior recreational use. Baseline studies are needed two major subdivisions it had approved for most of the 100-plus Forest Preserve units. in remote locations. New standards ask applicants to submit natural resource and 40 Years a physical data early in the conceptual review Long Time process, before the application deadline In June, APA staff lobbied against the clock starts ticking. The APA also opened Conservation Design bill that would have a 30-day public comment period on the significantly improved the agency’s rules submitted data and sketches to allow for for development on large, unbroken input prior to the submission of a complete forests. The bill was sponsored by the application. A 1,200-acre subdivision around Environmental Conservation Committee Woodward Lake just west of Northville is chairs in both houses of the Legislature and the first test of the new process. To date, the subdivision design has not improved. Hiker enjoys the view from Giant Mountain was supported by the Adirondack Association of Towns and Villages, the Adirondack Park

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 21 Leadership Rubber Stamp Renewable Energy Sorely Lacking Less Wilderness Permit Guidance Framers of the Adirondack Park Agency When approving the DEC’s UMPs for the In June, the APA issued guidance for Act expected the agency to provide High Peaks Wilderness and Vanderwhacker permit applicants on wind and solar leadership on conservation and planning Mountain Wild Forest as compliant with the power development. The instructions issues vital to the Park’s survival. Today, Adirondack State Land Master Plan, the APA explain that projects need a permit if those issues include climate change, acknowledged, but chose not to address, they are in wetlands, are taller than 40 untreated wastewater, overuse, road salt, glaring shortcomings. For example, the APA feet or are commercial, and lists the and invasive species. Over a period of 10 acknowledged that the Master Plan does not setbacks from water for projects adjacent months the Chair (Sherman Craig) and allow any material increase in the mileage of to wetlands, lakes and wild rivers. This then the Acting Chair (Karen Feldman) roads open for public motorized recreation. effort will help the agency handle the resigned. Since May, the Board hasn’t had Yet, the plan they accepted opened more rise in applications for commercial solar a leader appointed by the Governor. than 10 miles of new roads. Also, while the facilities that are expected as a result of APA is required to prioritize protection of New York’s renewable energy mandate. natural resources over accommodating recreational uses, it didn’t require the DEC to propose a strategy for dealing with well-documented impacts of overuse.

Aborted Renewable Energy Policy In October 2018, the APA announced a much needed new draft policy to guide its review of renewable energy production and energy supply projects in the Park. The policy was On Quebec Brook, Madawaska Flow also intended to expand public awareness PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. about climate change and harmful fossil Gore Mountain Ski Center PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC. Limiting Public fuel consumption. This promising initiative Comment Opportunities was stalled after the agency chose not to Cross Country Ski Trails, pursue it, despite the clean energy goals In an attempt to fast-track projects, the APA the state has set and the efforts of other Not Glades and the DEC are misusing the public trust state agencies. The APA has not developed In late 2018, the APA and DEC released by scheduling concurrent public comment a Park-wide renewable energy, energy a draft management guidance for the periods for Unit Management Plans (UMPs) conservation and/or resilience plan. design, construction and maintenance of for specific areas of the Forest Preserve. backcountry ski trails on Forest Preserve, The DEC is supposed to propose plans and as defined in the Adirondack Park State allow for comment. The DEC can only issue Land Master Plan. The agencies resisted a proposed final plan after considering calls for constitutionally questionable comments and making changes as alpine-style downhill ski glades on Forest warranted. Then the APA collects comments Preserve lands that involves the cutting on whether that final plan complies with of some trees to open and expand wide the Adirondack State Land Master Plan. ski runs between other trees. Currently, First proposed for non-controversial creating or maintaining downhill ski administrative actions, the APA is now using glades is allowed on the Forest Preserve concurrent comment periods for more only where specifically authorized by complex and controversial topics, limiting a Constitutional Amendment, such as public participation and transparency. at Whiteface Mountain, Gore Mountain Solar panels at Cloudsplitter Outfitters in Newcomb and Bellayre Mountain ski centers.

22 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

PHOTO © CARL HEILMAN II/WILD VISIONS INC.

Trump Deals with the EPA Administrator objecting to his Keeping You Alive Too ACER proposal to deny New York’s petition, which Expensive for Polluters was filed a few months after Maryland’s In 2018, the Environmental Protection and Delaware’s. Smog causes serious health In December 2018, the EPA issued a Agency (EPA) said that it planned to replace problems and thousands of pre-mature proposed revised Supplemental Cost the Obama-era climate program known as deaths each year in the Northeast. Finding for the Mercury and Air Toxics the Clean Power Plan with the proposed Standards, as well as the Clean Air Act “risk Affordable Clean Energy Rule (ACER). The and technology review” Requirement. The proposal would undo mandatory carbon EPA used spurious data to create a cost/ reductions at electric power plants, the benefit analysis that made the program nation’s largest source of greenhouses gases. seem too expensive. In addition, it proposed Gone would be an expected 32-percent to nullify the principle that the EPA should reduction in carbon by 2030, and the count “side-benefits” when assessing the expected 12-percent cut in sulfur dioxide and desirability of pollution regulations. When nitrogen oxides that would occur as a side- coal–fired power plants switch to cleaner benefit of the modernizations required to fuels, mercury emissions are reduced, meet the carbon standards. Under the Trump and so are sulfur and nitrogen, soot, and administration’s rule, carbon reductions other pollution. The environment and would be voluntary. Power plant owners human health will be compromised if could rebuild old plants without reducing these side-benefits aren’t considered. The their emissions to modern standards. EPA’s website says “the Agency proposes to determine that it is not ‘appropriate Please Ignore the and necessary’ to regulate hazardous Coughing, Your Honor air pollution from power plants …” In October 2018, the EPA denied petitions (L-R) Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and filed by Maryland and Delaware seeking Land & Water Communications Director John Sheehan relief from smog. The downwind states Fund Alive Again petitioned after measurements showed In March 2019, Congress revived the Land pollution levels above federal standards Maximum Achievable and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which from sources outside their borders. They Deregulation had been allowed to expire in September exercised their rights under the Clean Air In June, the EPA proposed a rule allowing 2018. Congress passed and President Trump Act, which prohibits power plants in one major sources of toxic and cancer-causing signed a bill reauthorizing the fund and state from causing unhealthy levels of smog pollution, such as refineries and chemical making its revenue permanent. The LWCF is in others. The EPA lacks the discretion to plants, to escape regulation under current supposed to receive $900 million per year ignore or deny such petitions. When the standards. They create such high levels of from federal oil and gas leases on the Outer EPA received them, it should have ordered pollution, that these plants are required Continental Shelf. The money is intended the 36 dirtiest coal-fired power plants to use Maximum Achievable Control to help compensate for the environmental in the nation to turn on their already- Technology (MACT), meaning every available damage done by fuel exploration. It can installed pollution controls. It did not. The type of pollution control, not just the most be used to protect national parks, areas Adirondack Council, Environmental Defense affordable/efficient. Under the proposed rule, around rivers and lakes, and national forests Fund (EDF) and other organizations filed any major plant that temporarily reduces and wildlife refuges from development. It federal lawsuits in support of Maryland its output of up to 187 dangerous pollutants can also provide matching grants for state and Delaware, asking a District of Columbia below the “major plant” threshold can obtain and local parks, open space protection and court to reverse the EPA’s denial. In July a lifetime exemption from MACT standards. public recreation projects. It has been used 2019, the Council and EDF filed comments

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 23 several times inside the Adirondack Park. Farm Bill has The LWCF has funded conservation projects Climate-Friendly Funds in all 62 New York counties, but no funding has been awarded to New York since 2011. In December 2018, Congress passed an improved Farm Bill that provides funding for Boost for farm conservation programs that enhance the sustainability of environmentally wise, EPA’s Budget climate-friendly farms such as those in In April, the New York the Adirondack Park’s Champlain Valley. Congressional delegation, It included $500 million in funding for led by Elise Stefanik, the Local Agriculture Market Program. R-Salem, and Paul Tonko, The bill reauthorized $50 million for the D-Amsterdam, sent a letter Rural Energy for America program that Produce from Essex Farm in the Champlain Valley to the chairs of a key House assists farmers, agriculture producers PHOTO: BEN STECHSHULTE Interior subcommittee and rural small businesses in purchasing asking them to protect renewable energy systems and making Well Known, acid rain research funding energy-efficiency improvements. Not Well Loved STEFANIK in the EPA’s budget. The President Donald Trump’s nomination of Trump administration’s No Money for long-time GOP Senate staffer Andrew proposed budget that Nonsense Wheeler as the EPA Administrator contained a 31-percent was the least qualified choice of all 15 cut to the EPA’s funding. In June, the House Interior budget bill people who have served in the post. The House’s budget bill passed and included language forbidding Wheeler’s nomination garnered 47 for the Interior, which it the EPA from using federal funds to “no” votes out of 100 senators. passed in June, contained undo important clean air safeguards. a $6 million increase for The resolution forbids the EPA from the EPA. Also signing following through on a plan announced Mr. Secretary, Someone the letter were Reps. TONKO in December 2018 to reverse New Source is Here to See You Review provisions affecting greenhouse John Katko, R-Syracuse, In April, newly appointed Secretary of the gases. The bill also prohibits the EPA Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Newburg, Carolyn Interior David Bernhardt became the latest from reconsidering whether Obama-era Maloney, D-Manhattan, Antonio Delgado, member of the Trump Cabinet to come standards curbing hazardous air pollutants D-Kingston, and Joseph Morelle, D-Rochester. under investigation by his own agency’s from coal-fired power plants are really inspector general. In April, the Interior’s “appropriate and necessary.” Such a It’s Better inspector general opened an investigation finding is the legal foundation required for into allegations of conflict of interest and to Know all air pollution regulations; however, the other violations during Bernhardt’s tenure The U.S. Global Change Research Program legislation did not advance in the US Senate. as the agency’s deputy secretary. Similar released its fourth annual report in November investigations led to the departures of 2018. It “focuses on the human welfare, Going Extinct? Bernhardt’s predecessor, Ryan Zinke, and societal, and environmental elements of So What? the EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. climate change and variability.” It assesses 10 regions and 18 national topics, with In August, the Trump administration moved attention paid to risks and impacts under to overhaul the Endangered Species Act different mitigation pathways. It is intended in ways that would push more rare and to inform decision-makers, utility and natural sensitive animals and plants to extinction. resource managers, public health officials, The changes would end blanket protections emergency planners, and other stakeholders for animals newly deemed threatened. about the effects of climate change. The Trump’s EPA would also allow federal report also analyzes impacts upon the natural authorities -- for the first time -- to take into environment, agriculture, energy production account the economic cost of protecting a The endangered round white fish can particular species. Current law places the and use, transportation, health and welfare, be found in Adirondack lakes social systems, and biological diversity. It priority on preventing extinctions, not saving PHOTO: CORNELL UNIVERSITY projects major trends for the subsequent money for industry. As threats from climate 25 to 100 years. There have been reports change and human activities mount, the of the Trump administration holding back federal government should be moving to agency information on climate change. broaden the number of species protected.

24 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL OTHER AGENCIES

New Facilities to Plan and includes the roadbed and right- including private wells. The DOT must design Safeguard Water of-way for state and interstate highways and implement a strategy to transform in the Park; the Remsen to Lake Placid its approach to road deicing in sensitive In 2018, the Environmental Facilities railroad right-of-way; and those state locations around the state, with emphasis Corporation’s (EFC) Water Infrastructure lands immediately adjacent to them. Each on the Adirondacks. The Park’s thin soils, Improvement Act program awarded over $6 one will need its own Unit Management abundant water and steep slopes make million in clean water infrastructure grants Plan, which should include transportation for rapid discharge from road to water. and an additional $17 million in zero interest activities, assessments of carrying financing to Adirondack communities. This Extra-Constitutional has helped keep untreated sewage out of Amusements Adirondack waters such as the Ausable River, In 2018, the Olympic Regional Development Lake Champlain and their tributaries. The Authority (ORDA) operated Whiteface EFC has also dedicated technical assistance Mountain Ski Center outside the limits of staff in the Adirondacks to help communities its legal authority, by offering the public with their projects and co-hosted a May rides on trails in the Forest Preserve in a 2019 workshop in the Park, partnering with utility task vehicle (UTV). Off-road vehicles the Adirondack Council and Essex County. and commercial activities are generally not Lifeline Too allowed on Forest Preserve trails. Whiteface Ski Center operates on the Forest Preserve Heavy for Boat capacity, and management objectives. via a constitutional amendment that spells The Environmental Facilities Corp (EFC) Steering Towards out allowable winter uses. The Adirondack failed to adjust its internal policy that limits Council and Adirondack Mountain Club its grants to communities for wastewater Safe Roads, Clean Water objected and the UTV rides stopped. treatment facilities to only 25 percent of the The NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) project cost. The Governor promised that the said in December 2018 that it will begin using That’s a Lot grant program would close the gap between less salt on Route 86 between Lake Placid of Trees what communities needed and what they and Wilmington. As part of the DOT’s salt At Mount Van Hoevenberg Recreation could afford, with a cap of $5 million per pilot test program, the speed limit on some Area in 2019, ORDA officials proposed community. Many Adirondack communities parts of the 16-mile section of highway will cutting down more than 5,000 Forest cannot afford to repay loans for 75 percent be reduced from 55 to 45 miles per hour Preserve trees to construct new spectator of a multi-million-dollar treatment facility. for the winter months. The test is designed and competition amenities for the 2023 to protect Mirror Lake and the Ausable World University Games. ORDA had at Planning Framework River. The DOT is implementing a similar first concluded that no tree-cutting on the in Place salt-reduction test along Route 9N from the Forest Preserve was needed to upgrade Village of Lake George to the Town of Bolton. In May, after 10 years in the making, facilities for the Games. The recreation area the departments of Transportation and No Time for is the site of bobsled, biathlon and nordic Environmental Conservation published the ski racing facilities. ORDA scaled back its Master Travel Corridor Unit Management Baby Steps estimates of cutting and moved some of the Plan for State Highways in the Adirondack The DOT keeps taking small, incremental construction to non-Forest Preserve lands Park. This outlines goals, strategies, steps to address the worsening problem after the Adirondack Council and others objectives, policies, and guidelines for the of road salt contamination in Adirondack objected. Unlike at Whiteface and Gore management of the 28 travel corridors lakes, rivers and underground supplies. Mountain ski centers, Mt. Van Hoevenberg inside the Park. A travel corridor is one Meanwhile, reports keep pouring in about has no constitutional amendment to of nine basic state land classifications in lakes and streams all over the Park showing authorize activities that would otherwise the Adirondack Park State Land Master elevated sodium and chloride levels, be prohibited on the Forest Preserve.

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 25 AWARDS

Conservationist of the Year Special Recognition

The Adirondack Council presented its The Adirondack Council also celebrated Conservationist of the Year Award to the work of renowned Adirondack artist Christopher J. “Kim” Elliman during and author Sheri Amsel of Westport. the organization’s Forever Wild Day Sheri’s books and paintings are well known celebration on July 13 at Cornell’s Willsboro around the Adirondacks and beyond. A Research Farm on Lake Champlain. portion of her career has been dedicated Elliman’s work as President and CEO to helping tell the story of the Adirondack of the Open Space Institute (OSI) and Park to a worldwide audience through a lifetime commitment to conservation her maps, illustrations and drawings. was celebrated by 250 friends of the Sheri Amsel has written and illustrated Adirondacks, Adirondack Council more than 30 non-fiction children’s books members, staff and board members. (L-R) Executive Director Willie Janeway, Kim Elliman, Joe Martens and Board Chair Bob Kafin and developed interpretive signs for That included Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul museums, schools and nature centers. and Town of Willsboro Supervisor Shaun Elliman has a long history in the Sheri’s work went online in 2005 with Gillilland, who is also Chairman of the Adirondacks, having come to the High www.Exploringnature.org, a science Essex County Board of Supervisors. Peaks every year of his life. He served education website used by schools and As President and CEO of the Open Space on the Board of the Adirondack Council homeschool families around the world. Institute since 1992, Kim Elliman has from 1982-1994, when he worked with Sheri touches thousands of lives each acquired and protected thousands of acres fellow board members and other partners year with her compelling images and of Adirondack forests, preserving clean to create the Adirondack Land Trust. He accessible information, helping inspire a water and wildlife, while also fostering served as Chair of the Council from 1987- growing number of people - both children more vibrant communities. Kim and his 1992, during which time the Conservationist and adults - to love nature, appreciate family have helped preserve thousands of of the Year award was initiated. science, and support conservation in the additional acres. His conservation work He expanded OSI’s scope into the Adirondacks and around the world. has also made an impact far beyond the Adirondacks, where it has purchased and Adirondacks, which he calls home. preserved a number of key tracts including Elliman’s OSI team was an early partner lands important to local culture and tourism in the state’s plan to establish the new in the iron-mining ghost town of Tahawus, Adirondack Gateway at the former in Essex County, and the important canoe Frontier Town (Northway Exit 29) in North path known as Marion Carry near Blue Hudson. OSI projects have expanded Mountain Lake, in Hamilton County. motor-free wilderness and diminished Elliman said he counts himself “lucky to overcrowding on the most popular routes. have served on the Council Board with OSI has conserved more than 2.3 million extraordinary conservation leaders such acres in the eastern U.S. and has created as Frances Beinecke, Harold Jerry, Peter more than 50 new parks and preserves. Berle, Jim Marshall, John Ernst and Barbara OSI acquires, finances, and promotes Glaser, and at OSI with John Adams, Joe the conservation of lands for human Martens, John Cahill, and others.” (L-R) Deputy Director Diane Fish and use and resilient natural systems. Board Chair Bob Kafin present Sheri Amsel with a Special Recognition Award

26 ADIRONDACK COUNCIL 2020 PRIORITIES

Federal and state elected and appointed government leaders will be making critical decisions in the year ahead that will affect the legacy of the Adirondacks for all time. Priorities for 2020 include:

Defend the East’s Strengthen the Support Working Greatest Wilderness Adirondack Park Agency Forests and Farm Finish, fund and implement a comprehensive The Governor should appoint, and the Secure new incentives, regulations and plan to address overuse including: more Senate should confirm, a diverse slate of policies to promote ecologically sustainable, traditional Forest Rangers and other staff; new and returning board members with climate-friendly working forests and farms. address all-terrain vehicle misuse; and defend expertise in environmental science, law, the NYS Constitution’s “Forever Wild” clause. planning, park tourism, and development; Improve Community and improve agency protections of Communications Combat Climate large acreage in remote locations. Require telecom companies to provide Change and Acid Rain Update Invasive universal broadband access in the Park; Fund and execute the Climate Leadership improve cell coverage via incentives for and Community Protection Act; fight acid Species Protections “substantially invisible” infrastructure in rain; promote clean energy and energy Strengthen the law against transport communities and on major highways. conservation; and dedicate new funding of invasive species from one lake or to acid rain and climate research. river to another; and improve it with Expand mandatory boat/trailer decontamination Conservation Funding Protect Clean Water and in the Adirondacks at a network of free inspection stations. Expand funding for protection of pure water, Reduce Road Salt Pollution wildlife and wildlands; fund increases in state Continue clean water grants to communities staffing to address climate change, overuse, at $1 billion per year or more; provide invasive species and other threats. larger grants, not loans, to rural towns; and take comprehensive actions to address road salt pollution of drinking water.

The Adirondack Council is committed to our mission, our values and these priorities. We will use the best available science and respect diverse views in order to achieve these results. We will employ our knowledge of the political process to be the leading advocate for the Adirondacks. We work with partners, promote diversity, and find common ground when possible. We carry on the legacy of early conservation visionaries and ensure the Park is known and protected as a national treasure.

STATE OF THE PARK 2019–2020 27 NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 994 103 Hand Ave. | PO Box D-2 | Elizabethtown, NY 12932 SYRACUSE, NY

[email protected] @AdirondackCouncil www.AdirondackCouncil.org @AdirondackCouncil 518.873.2240 @Adk_Council

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