History 101: Here’s how you can shape the Adirondack Park.
Governor Cuomo (R) and Bill Ulfelder, executive director of New York’s Nature Conservancy signing the Finch Pruyn deal in August 2012 (Photo: Brian Mann)
Just a little over 48 hours left to comment on this phase of the huge, 45,000 acre Finch Pruyn land conservation deal, a $50 million project engineered by the Adirondack Nature Conservancy.
The APA is looking for feedback about the state’s seven management options for the land, much of which lies in Indian Lake and Minerva.
Based in part on the public’s responses, the Park Agency commission will work through the proposals and vote on a final management plan, likely later this year.
To read through the various proposed models, go here or check out the maps that the state has produced here. Finally, Phil Brown at the Adirondack Explorer and Adirondack Almanack has created a great primer on the project, which you can read here.
This is one of those moments that really will shape the Adirondacks for a long time to come, affecting the vast Essex Chain of Lakes, the wildest stretches of the Hudson River, as well as parts of the Blue Mountain and Vanderwacker Mountain Wild Forests.
So chime in. If you paddle, snowmobile, spend summers, live year-round or otherwise have a stake in the Adirondacks, do a little homework and then offer your two cents worth. Here’s the contact information.
Mr. James Connolly, APA Deputy Director – Planning
Address: 1133 NY State Route 86
PO Box 99 Ray Brook, NY 12977
Email: [email protected]
Remember, your feedback needs to be in by the end of the work day Friday.
Alternative 1B is confusing to me? Didn’t the towns vote to approve this land deal partially on the idea that there would be a possible increase in winter economic activity based on snowmobile use? Doesn’t this proposal eliminate all possibilities of that type of use? Maybe the towns were not anticipating that type of use? Brian do you know what their expectations were and if some of these proposals just circumvents those options? That would seem like kind of a bait and switch. They should do these classifications, at least decide what they will do once they own it, before they shop the idea to the towns. Seems like backward logic that just creates these unnecessary debates and arguments now which increases animosity amongst these different groups.
A super majority of the towns and the locals are in favor of 4A.
If it were a choice, most of the locals would classify everything as Wild Forest.
Some, like me, think all of the state own land currently classified as Wilderness should be reclassified as Wild Forest.
Most of the environmental groups favor 1B
Sad but true, if given a choice a lot of towns and locals would just assume get rid of wilderness in the Park… heck, a not so small percentage of them would just assume get rid of the Park.
I suppose they’d also like to cut their noses off to spite their faces.
And most of the environmental groups favor 1A, not 1B
The whole purpose of different classifications is to permit different experiences to users. When you go hiking in Wild Forests in winter, it will be dead quiet, something you so rarely hear in ordinary life, and then it’s rudely shattered by snowmobiles. You accept this because you know if you really want, you can just go to a Wilderness or Primitive Area next time. There would never be sufficient support for making all state land Wild Forest.
$50 million is sinfully high for some land that we would only be able to hike or paddle on. Take a look back there sometime, that “wilderness” that you’re looking to protect isn’t there: Roads, houses, logging……
Expectations? Here is what Governor Cuomo said at his August 5, 2012 press conference:
“Adding these properties to the Forest Preserve protects the incomparable and breathtaking natural resources of this region and preserves a significant portion of the Upper Hudson River watershed. Today’s agreement will make the Adirondack Park one of the most sought after destinations for paddlers, hikers, hunters, sportspeople and snowmobilers. Opening these lands to public use and enjoyment for the first time in 150 years will provide extraordinary new outdoor recreational opportunities, increase the number of visitors to the North Country and generate additional tourism revenue…..There will be snowmobiling trails where they didn’t exist before.”
Taking Governor Cuomo on his word, the towns had every reason to believe snowmobile use would be part of the package. As such, the so-called “Wilderness” options 1A & 1B should be dead on arrival if either one makes it to the Governors desk……