Private Forest Management

Today, in class we pondered large and abstract questions on Article XIV of the Constitution. My group focused on the aspects of private land ownership inside the blue line. We talked about the interests and rights of private land owners. This sparked me to look into private land ownership on the New York Department of Environmental Conservation website. On the site, under the Land and Water tab, then under the Forest tab, I found a tab titled Private Forest Management. Here's what I found after doing some browsing:

74% of New York's forest land is owned by a diverse and large group of approximately 700,000  private landowners! - Although this fact isn't necessarily for the Adirondack Park, it is still an astounding fact nonetheless. According to the website, "these private forest lands provide many public health benefits including clean air and water, forest products, wildlife habitat, jobs, scenic beauty, and outdoor recreation opportunities." In my discussion group in class, we mainly discussed how the private landowners' interests were conservation, efficiency, and sustainability. There is definitely some overlap in our thoughts and those mentioned on the website. 

After doing some more exploring, I came upon a tab called "Forest Management Assistance." The DEC has a Forest Stewardship Program in which they can provide free, one-on-one assistance and guidance to help you create a tailored plan in order to protect and improve your woodland. I was unaware that programs like this were out there for private landowners. There really is a wealth of information and services out there targeted for the private landowners in order to keep their land the best it can be. It kind of makes me want to go out to the 'daks and get my own plot!

The struggle to conserve

In the Colvin reading, the section where he explains the need for a railroad is symbolic of many peoples' general perspectives on how to use the Park. The idea that little changes add up to big changes and effects is brushed aside when policy makers make decisions based on the desire short term or economic results. The language used when Colvin presents the case for a railroad is evident of this concept. "For the development of iron mines in the region, only railroads are needed." The use of the word "only" is suggestive that Colvin maybe does not think railroad introduction is a big deal. It was one of the first major industrial additions to the Park, so at the time it might not have seemed to be a large negative impactor. 

This idea still resonates today with new things that are allowed in the Park such as the Tupper Lake Resort. Yes, it is only one resort, but it is contributing to all the other harmful policies and activities that are taking place in the Park. If we are to have any success in conserving the Park, a stop to these "little" changes is what will add up to a major positive outcome for the Park in the long run. 

The Flip Side

I found that most of the reading that came from this time period has been rather heavily romanticized.  Most of the "use" of the Adirondacks at this point to non-residents had been as a rejuvenating place, one that both inspires and awes.  I'm primarily thinking of Adirondack Murray's dramatic adventures and "health benefits" here, alongside a slew of similar pieces on Wilderness Writing.  (Murray is also claimed as being the father of the Outdoor Movement, interesting side note)  Emerson's writings and publications enter an objectively different realm, but one that still shares a thematic similarity to adventure writing, in terms of the Adirondacks having a profound and unique experience for a sort of ethereal reason.  Thus, these readings can have an effect on a reader, but largely only if that reader can inhabit the same mindset as the writer.  If not, the writing loses its effect.

Colvin's report offers us a completely different side of general public writing on the Adirondacks.  While he does engage in a little bit of romantic tendencies, the majority of his writing is centered around facts, precedent and scientific theory.  After reading Colvin's report, I can see why there was such an imperative to create a park.  The report clearly backs up the claim that the Adirondacks region and those affected by it's waters and timber production will be threatened should no protective measures be taken.  It treats the region as a down-to-earth, realistic place, which is very important, especially when considering the ultimate goal: mobilizing the legislators.

Lake George

This weekend I stayed at a "camp" on Lake George and the vibe was very different from many of places we had visited during our field trip. The water was very populated by launches and piers and houses lined the shores to a bursting point. My experiences peaked my curiosity about the area so I decided to take a more in depth look.
Lake George is a long and quite narrow lake that is locate in the southeast Adirondacks. It extends about 32 miles on its north/south axis and varies from 1-3 miles in width. Though not many choose to live in the area year round, during the summer months the residents can exceed 50,000 and the lake used to attract many of its visitors due to its location on a rail line between New York City and Montreal. As with any body of water recreation in the form of boating draws many of the visitors to Lake George. A survey in 2005 estimated 44,177 motorboat launches and 75,835 public beach users for the year. They also found that over the course of an entire weekend day during the summer there were 4,700 motorboats on the Lake, and 2,500 motorboats on a weekday. With that many boats on the water invasive species such as Zebra Mussels become concerns and another study exploring recreation in the lake with be completed in 2015. 
Many of the local businesses that we passed on our way to the "camp" were based around boating and considering the extreme weather shifts it is no surprise that there are very few year round residents. The cold and eventually freezing water of the lake isn't conducive to tourism. I wonder whether these business owners work at other businesses in the area when theirs' are closed in the winter or if they travel to other jobs in fairer weather? Humans have found ways to combat seasonal cycles but in the Adirondacks nature still heavily dictates the possibilities for economic gain and survival in most areas. 
I know this post has been all over the place but generally is seems as though more people settle on bodies of water as opposed to near the mountains. I would assume that this is due to available space or possibly the effort it takes to paddle or drive a boat on a lake versus climbing a mountain. But it also seems as though owning a boat and a lake house are much more expensive than taking day hikes and camping. I would be interested in discussing the contrasts between the mountains and lakes in the Adirondacks in terms of who uses them and how they are used. 

Sources: http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2014/10/major-lake-george-recreation-study-planned-for-2015.html

HOC Training

This weekend, the second half of the new outing club leaders were trained to lead trips. We played games, learned the necessary skills, and got to know the other people that were also being trained. Overall, it was a wonderful weekend and I'm glad that I feel confident in my ability to create a positive outdoor experience for whoever should sign up to go on any of my future trips. However, as I reflect on this process and the fairly extensive preparation that it entailed (wilderness first aid training included), I realize how great the distance is between the average person and the wilderness. It takes a entire set of skills outside a person's typical daily routine to just be qualified to take other people into the Adirondacks, even for just a day (at least according to Hamilton's outing club policy). This is the safest way to do things and I wholeheartedly agree that the training is necessary for everyone to benefit from the club's activities. I just couldn't help but think about how removed we are from our natural surroundings.  It just seems so odd now how common it is for someone to say "I'm not outdoorsy" or they don't "do nature." In no way is there any blame in that mentality, I just find it interesting that within a tiny fraction of our planet's lifetime, our species has gone from only interacting with the environment and other humans, to being very capable if not likely to be living our lives as though it is something that doesn't even exist.

APSLMP Amendments

As I mentioned in class on Wednesday, the first public listening session for amending the APSLMP was held that night at 5pm in Ray Brook, NY.  According to Phil Brown, the top priority of the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board is to “give economic issues more prominence in the master plan”.  This is because when the APA was created, the need to balance both the environment and economics was discussed, even though the APSLMP currently states, “the protection of the natural resources of the state lands within the Park must be paramount”.  The two amendments that are at the forefront of this discussion are whether or not mountain bikes should be allowed on logging roads in the region (generally biking is not allowed in primitive areas), and whether or not to allow the construction of a snowmobile bridge containing non-natural materials over the Cedar River.  A member of the APA notes that they are looking to create “reasonable and safe recreational access that does not impact natural resources”.  Is this feasible? 

The final public listening sessions will held in Newcomb on November 3^rd, Albany on November 17^th, and Old Forge on November 18^th (a Tuesday from 5-8pm, we should go!). 

http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2014/10/apa-gets-ideas-for-amending-state-land-master-plan.html

ADK Food

This week, Maggie's mom gave a talk about ADK food ways. In our class we have talked a lot about how tourism is so important for the people living there, but I always imagined early forms of tourism to be guided hunting and sightseeing only. It was interesting to learn about families who opened their houses up to people, and even more interesting to learn how food became such an important part of the tourists' stay. In some cases, a guide would take the tourists out hunting and when they returned home with fish and meat, the wife would prepare a dinner with their catchings. This is a brilliant way to keep the spenders in the park another night, happy, and spending. Best of all, the guide and their family got a meal out of it. Obviously, this model is a little outdated for the current day Adirondacks, but perhaps there is another facet of Adirondacks life, in which the locals can allow themselves to be exploited by visitors for a financial gain. I especially liked the hunting, cooking, eating method because it allowed the locals to actually show their true colors. As the guide showed the hunters the best spots in the Adirondacks, the cooks prepared their catches with local flavors, and the tourists experienced the local's homes and company they became more connected to the land. Hopefully, the deeper connection they formed with the place translated to more respect.