The Adirondack Park Agency is holding public hearings to collect input on the proposed classification of forests, lakes and rivers that are part of the largest Adirondack Park acquisition in over 100 years. These hearings conclude early this month in Rochester, Lake George and Albany. We hope that they will be as well attended, informative and respectful as those that were held already.
Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve and the Adirondack Council spoke in favor of a Wilderness classification and wilderness management for much of the area, for reasons of the area's characteristics and ability to withstand public use.
Several area boat builders, guides and outfitters acknowledged that a wilderness classification might also enhance their businesses. But there is broad consensus about the importance of public access via the former Finch roads.
Protect the Adirondacks and Adirondack Mountain Club also are speaking for "Wilderness With Access" and APA alternative 1A. 1A, or an enhanced 1A (with improved buffers that don't compromise vehicle access), both accomplish this and help to ensure a non-motorized, protected Hudson Gorge and Essex Chain Lakes.
While other speakers favored a Wild Forest classification to allow expanded motorized access through an area long closed to public use, one former Finch, Pruyn manager noted the damage done to the roads by all-terrain vehicles. There was only one speaker in Minerva who favored unrestricted, unregulated, all-out motorized use from the Goodnow Flow to the Cedar River. Most appreciate the havoc this would cause to the region.
Many speakers recognized the years of good stewardship by Finch, Pruyn. Speakers also thanked the Adirondack Nature Conservancy for acquiring these lands and waters and, after transferring some acreage to local Adirondack governments, keeping the majority in private ownership protected by State easements and selling the most sensitive to the State for addition to the its Forest Preserve.
All Wilderness advocates appear united in also favoring a Wild Forest classification to the north of the Essex Chain Lakes encompassing 6,000 to 7,000 acres in order to permit reasonably easy public access from the road system to the Upper Hudson, Deer Pond and the other Essex Chain Lakes.
More than 40 years ago, common interests brought over 600 people from all walks of life to Newcomb to fight for the Upper Hudson River's very existence.
For many years, water planners seeking to slake the thirst of New York City and Westchester had looked to the Adirondacks. If it had been built, Gooley Dam, proposed less than a mile below the river's confluence with the Indian River, would have taken 16,000 acres, flooding 25 miles of the Upper Hudson and its tributaries north through Newcomb, inundating the very same wild lakes, rivers and forests that were just acquired.
The dams were never built due to legislative action in 1969 and thanks to pressure from conservation leaders and a broad coalition of wilderness advocates, community leaders, hunters, anglers and paddlers who saved this array of lakes, rivers and mountain peaks for future generations to enjoy.
Today, working together again, there are principles and actions we can agree on that protect the health, beauty and wild character of these forests and waters, and provide recreational access and employment important to the local and regional Adirondack economy.
The Albany hearing is at 1 p.m. Tuesday at 625 Broadway. The deadline for public comments is July 19. Submit comments to James Connolly, Adirondack Park Agency, Box 99, Ray Brook, NY 12911 or to apa_slmp@gw.dec.state.ny.us.
David H. Gibson is a partner in the group Adirondack Wild. William C. Janeway is executive director of The Adirondack Council.