State Land Use Policies

Commentary on the use of public land use in New York State and other places.

Trail work is uncertain this summer, as groups await guidance

Trail work is uncertain this summer, as groups await guidance

The Adirondack Explorer repeatedly sent questions to the state Department of Environmental Conservation from the ruling’s release on May 4 through May 24. Questions included what would come of the 19 or so miles of snowmobile trails already built; how the decision would affect other trail work; how the DEC was interpreting what constituted a constitutionally protected tree; whether the DEC would pursue a constitutional amendment specifically to authorize the snowmobile trail; and what guidance the department was providing to trail crews heading into their summer season.

A spokesperson wrote back on May 25 to say that “DEC remains committed to thoughtful stewardship of the Forest Preserve for the use and enjoyment of the public and protection of this resource. DEC is carefully and thoroughly analyzing the Court’s decision and determining the implications for DEC’s varied and complex work.”

The Adirondack Park Agency also did not respond to a similar list of questions, except to say that the state attorney general’s office was reviewing the decision.

Ben Brosseau, director of communications for the Adirondack Mountain Club, said last year’s DEC guidance held that trail crews were not allowed to cut trees on the forest preserve while the case was pending. By the Explorer’s press deadline, ADK had not received any updated guidance, but Brosseau said “we expect new guidance for hiking trail work to come out by mid to late summer.” josh willson of BETABETA Executive Director Josh Wilson skis in the Saranac Lake Wild Forest, where a trail project for mountain biking and skiing has been delayed by the tree-cutting lawsuit.

Court decision blocking Adirondack snowmobile trail has other outdoors enthusiasts concerned – newyorkupstate.com

Court decision blocking Adirondack snowmobile trail has other outdoors enthusiasts concerned – newyorkupstate.com

I think the solution is to repeal the forest preserve language in the constitution and move the Adirondack Park either into the state's reforestation program or the state nature and historic preserve, but I'm a right wing reactionary like Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Court rules against Forest Preserve tree cutting for snowmobile trails

Court rules against Forest Preserve tree cutting for snowmobile trails

Snowmobile trails planned for the Adirondack Park violate the state constitution’s “forever wild” clause and may only be approved through a constitutional amendment, the state’s highest court has ruled. It is a rare New York State Court of Appeals decision on the constitutional provision that protects state forest preserve, which includes the Adirondacks and Catskills. Four judges ruled in favor of Protect the Adirondacks, the advocacy organization that brought the suit against the state Department of Environmental Conservation, while two judges dissented. The New York Court of Appeals decision issued on Tuesday ends nearly eight years of litigation and overturns part of a lower court ruling.

You know, I do think a carrying capacity study would be worthwhile for the Adirondacks, especially in context of new UMPs

You know, I do think a carrying capacity study would be worthwhile for the Adirondacks, especially in context of new UMPs. I think it’s worthwhile to consider inducted when adding new facilities and expanding or improving existing ones. Often I see that as a topic that is glanced over with UMP documents.

That said, truth be told I don’t follow them as carefully as I once did because it’s not my issue, and I’m less invested in New York State then I once was with other places to go and no long term plans to stay forever. There are other wild lands in other parts of country.

DEC Exploring Lodging and Dining Facilities at Boreas Ponds

DEC Exploring Lodging and Dining Facilities at Boreas Ponds

This is a terrible idea. I don't think there should be developed areas within the forest preserve. I oppose the creation of all new intensive use areas, because we don't need to be turning our woods into new city parks. If people want to go to developed city-like parks, I suggest they try the developed parks maintained by NYS OPRHP outside of the Adirondack Park.

If the state needs more money to maintain these areas, they should open them up to controlled logging and natural gas production, like with the state reforestation areas. Logging is a sustainable business that provides an essential economic product. It doesn't bring large crowds to the woods, nor does it generate much waste or pollution. It helps maintain a young, vibrant forest that will attract a wide of species. Such revenue should be dedicated solely towards the maintenance of state lands, such as trails, roads, parking areas, docks, primitive campsites, picnic tables and outhouses.

Pennsylvania's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources should be NY State's model. They maintain 2.2 million acres of state forest but also harvest it for timber and natural gas -- and put that money back into maintenance of rustic facilities for all of the public use. Their lands are litter free, their primitive parks are clean and well maintained, their roads are pothole-free and trails kept in top shape.