""

ADK Today

Vol. 1, No. 2: November 26, 2008 

Conservation News

ADK, the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks and the Residents' Committee to Protect the Adirondacks have reached a settlement with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation over the Saratoga County Water Authority's project at Moreau Lake State Park. As part of the agreement, Parks will study whether eight state parks in the Adirondack region should be eligible for Forest Preserve status or other protections to enhance their wild character. Read the press release.

Governor David Paterson proposed a $50 million cut in the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) for the current fiscal year and is expected to call for even bigger cuts in his 2009-10 Executive Budget, which he plans to release Dec. 16. The Governor called off a Nov. 18 special session after Senate Republicans refused to support his midyear budget reductions. ADK joined other environmental groups in a letter to the Governor opposing EPF cuts.

The New York Times reported on high levels of mercury found in bald eagle chicks in the Catskill Park. And the Environmental Integrity Project released a report showing mercury emissions from the nation's dirtiest power plants increased in 2007. Read more about ADK's efforts to protect the Adirondacks and other sensitive wilderness ecosystems here.

Paddling for Dollars

During the summer of 2006, researchers at the University of Vermont surveyed 1,000 paddlers along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, a system of waterways stretching 740 miles from Old Forge to Fort Kent, Maine. The researchers concluded that 90,000 visitors paddled the waterways. Money spent by these visitors generated $12 million in total economic impact and created nearly 300 jobs. The median paddler group spent about $215 per trip, primarily at lodging establishments, restaurants, grocery stores and service stations. More here.

Announcements

ADK's Education Department has announced free winter programs at Heart Lake and Adirondak Loj. More here.

ADK is now selling the five-map Adirondack Map Pack. This bundle of Trails Illustrated maps covers the entire Adirondack Forest Preserve. These waterproof, two-sided, large format maps feature complete ADK trail information, including distances, lean-tos, campsites, and much more. These are ideal maps to use with your ADK guidebooks. Order here at a list price of $49.95. Usual member discounts apply. More holiday gift ideas here.

ADK in the News

Other News

Chapter Notes
  • The Algonquin Chapter has joined the Plattsburgh North Country Chamber of Commerce as a way to spread the word about ADK, what it does and what it has to offer. The chapter hopes this will increase membership by reaching out to families, business people and newcomers to the area.
  • The Cold River Chapter is sponsoring a new patch award titled the "ADK Paddle Pursuit." It was developed over the past year by chapter members Anya Bickford, Doug Chamberlain, Noel Dingman and Wes Dingman. Brochures describing the process and the paddling experiences necessary to earn the patch are available at ADK headquarters and at some local paddling outfitters.

ADK Today is an occasional compendium of news and views of interest to members of the Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK). It is produced and distributed by the ADK Communications Department, 301 Hamilton Street, Albany, NY 12210. Comments, questions or concerns about the content of this newsletter? Want to be added to or dropped from our distribution list? Send us an e-mail.