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Sunday, November 30, 2014

Tourism Threatens the Saranac Lake

In an article posted on November 18 from North Country Public Radio, Brian Mann brings news of a potential 93 bedroom resort that will sit at the waterfront of Saranac Lake. There was obviously push back from political and pro-environment leaders, but others believe that this will be a huge economic gain for the area. This conflict, economic gain versus environmental protection, is frequently accompanied by tourism. This conflict is also one that represents many trade-offs seen in the Park. Whether it is economic gain or personal pleasure, the environment is always being sacrificed.

The most interesting part of the Saranac Lake issue to me, however, is that the site for development is already a site for three existing motels. We would not be destroying nature to build, but rather reusing an already developed area. Does this make it okay? Is it the actual environmental destruction that would bring the most harm, or the tourism resorts like these will bring in the future?

This is another "sticky" situation where the rules and laws will continue to be interpreted in different ways to facilitate or prevent different goals.

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