The Adirondack Councilhas released their annual State of the Park report, reviewing the actions of individuals, agencies and lawmakers and the subsequent impact on the 6-million acre Adirondack Park.
The “State of The Park 2012" gives thumbs-up or thumbs-down to specific actions by the Governor, state Legislature, the courts, local governments, the Adirondack Park Agency, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the state Attorney General, and federal entities. Council spokesman John Sheehan calls it a comprehensive overview that takes both a snapshot of how the Park is being treated, while detailing policies affecting the Adirondacks.
The report praises Governor Cuomo for his latest 69-thousand acre addition to the Forest Preserve, and state and local efforts to curb the spread of invasive species. But it also criticizes those and other groups on other issues. In the case of the state Legislature, there was a good review, but John Sheehan notes there were more thumbs down for the state Senate.
Local governments have clashed with the Adirondack Council in the past, but were in a favorable light, for the most part, in this report. The Council’s John Sheehan is pleased.
Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board Executive Director Fred Monroe is a frequent critic of the Adirondack Council. He says some of the State of the Park assessments are misleading and his hackles rise over negative comments regarding control of invasives in Loon Lake.
A link to the report is available on our website - wamc.org
