Evidence
NYS DEC 2021 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report
The report concludes NYS greenhouse gas emissions have declined 6% since 1990
Read the report here
Read about the impacted Event here.
Hiker Counts See Major Drop in 2021
Hiker numbers dropped by 1/3 in 2021. ADK Mtn Club data shows Marcy down -35%, Algonquin down -38%. Their summit steward program hiker contacts dropped 30%. COVID issues were in play.
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
2020 Census Shows 5.24% Decline Since 2010
The 2020 census data shows a decline of -5.24% in the Park from 2010 to 2020 but it ranges from -39% (Parishville) to +22% (Colton). Look at this excellent map showing town level data. Where there are increases, they appear to be mostly retired people who are residents that leave for winter months.
Data for 2021 that captures the pandemic time shows a small North Country in-migration.
Read the NCPR new article summary here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Only 55% of Homes Locally Occupied
The 2020 census data shows a Park population decline decline from about 130,000 in 2010 to about 123,000 in 2020. The exception is Hamilton County which increased about 5% due to retirees moving there.
Park-Wide, 55% of homes are locally occupied. Occupancy ranges across all Park towns is lowest at 21% and highest at 77%. In Hamilton County it is only 32%
Population density is the lowest in the East, comparable to West Texas.
Read the news story here.
Excellent maps with this data are here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Adirondack Diversity Initiative Wins Added Budget
The Adk Diversity Initiative has had a budget increase from $250k to $300k in the 2022 NYS budget.
Read the budget news here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Visitor Management Wins $600k in NYS Budget for 2022
The $600k budget will be used in both the Adirondacks and Catskills to manage usage of popular areas on the Forest Preserve. One step is to hire a DEC staff person to manage the effort.
Read about the budget here.
Read about use management here.
Read about new leaders of the work here
Read about the impacted Event here.
Timbuctoo Summer Climate Institute Funded
The Timbuctoo Summer Climate Institute funded with $2.1 million in the 2022 NYS budget. It will be a joint venture of SUNY ESF in Newcomb and CUNY in Brooklyn. It expects to host a 2 week summer program for 30-100 students from Brooklyn at the Newcomb facilities. It is expected to help with diversity in the Park, bringing new people to the region.
Read about the program here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
New Survey of 400 Lakes Funded
The 2022 NYS budget includes $500,000 to survey more than 400 lakes. Six universities provided a proposal. This will be the first large scale survey for climate effects since the acid rain work decades ago.
Read the article about the project.
Read about the impacted Event here.
St Joe's Opens New Detox Center in Saranac Lake
The new 10 bed center has been worked on for a long time. It is now open. It is certified to offer services to older teens (16-17). It handles alcohol and drug issues.
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Lake George Opens New Sewage Plant
The $24m plant has been in the works for years.
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Bolton Opens Unique Waste Water Treatment
The new system uses wood chips for waste water treatment
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
School Populations Continue to Decline
2021 saw school age population continuing to decline. More retirees are moving in but student populations continue to fall.
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Gore Mtn Will See $30m Invested
The funds will bring a new lodge and a new type of zip-line attraction to the North Creek ski mountain run by ORDA
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Westport Wins $112k for EV Chargers
Westport will install new fast chargers in town
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Unemployment Hits Lows Across the Region
Clinton County unemployment is just 2.7%. Essex 3.3%. Franklin 2.9%. Hamilton 4.2%. Warren 3.2%
The national average was 3.9% This was for the period ending in Dec 2021
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Adk Experience Wins $500k Grant
The National Endowment for the Arts challenge grant is for construction of new exhibits at the museum in Blue Mountain Lake
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Paul Smiths Starts Sustainable Tourism Masters
The new project will offer a Master's degree in sustainable tourism, the first in New York State.
Read the news story here
Read about the impacted Event here.
Essex County Wins $147k to Consolidate Some Services
The funds will go to three areas: Information technology, GIS work to support highway and public works projects, also to assist with formalized community planning.
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.
Flights to JFK from Saranac Lake Begin
Cape Air has begun one round trip each day from Saranac Lake to JFK Airport in New York City.
Read the news story here.
Read about the impacted Event here.