DEC vs. APA? And what does it mean for Lowes Lake?

Researching my article for the Adirondack Explorer about the lingering tensions over the State Land Master Plan was a fascinating journey.

But telling that kind of tale is tough. For one thing, it’s wonky.

Everybody understands a debate over where and when someone can ride their snowmobile or land their floatplane in the Park.

But digging into a 40-year-old bureaucratic debate over a set of regulations commonly known as “The Slump”?

Hardly the stuff of which dramatic stories are made.

But in this case I found that there were some compelling themes.

A massive and still controversial philosophical shift in the state’s approach to the Adirondack Park.

Lingering resentment over the lines of authority and decision-making inside the blue line.

And a deep cultural tension between the Department of Environmental Conservation — which has historically recruited its people locally — and the Adirondack Park Agency, which has tended to bring in outsiders.

One other aspect of this story that’s tough: People don’t like to speak publicly about conflicts like this.

What broke the story was a series of former state officials, from APA board member Peter Paine to former DEC staffers who wanted to recount their experience.

Finally, a thought about ‘what it means’.

My research left me convinced that the DEC has some legitimate concerns about the State Land Master Plan.

Rather than try to work around those concerns, maybe it’s time for state officials to say clearly that they think the SLMP needs reform in Albany.

A case in point is Lowes Lake. Some DEC officials clearly think that Lowes isn’t good material for a wilderness classification.

For one thing, the lake is man-made. It has a massive dam, roads, homes on the shore, a Boy Scout camp, motorboats…

But the SLMP designation established decades ago is unambigious: Lowes is meant to be managed as a primitive/wilderness canoe destination.

Rather than try to shoe-horn floatplane flights in for another few years, state officials should consider an open debate over the lake’s future.

The time is ripe for this to happen.

Hearings are underway over a final land designation for Lowes.

Thanks to some political horsetrading between DEC and APA, state officials are leaning heavily toward a ‘wilderness’ classification.

Do DEC officials really think that’s the right way to go? I’m not so sure.

Tags: adirondacks