Genesee Valley Chapter
Adirondack Mountain Club

CONSERVATION COMMITTEE

Updated November 5, 2007 8:04 PM ET

ACTION ALERT

By Dave Harrison

ADK Urges Yes Vote on Raquette Lake Measure

The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) urges voters to approve a ballot measure that will allow the Town of Long Lake to supply drinking water to the tiny Adirondack community of Raquette Lake.

The people of Raquette Lake, through no fault of their own, have found themselves in a legal bind, and they need help from voters from the rest of the state. Proposal 1, the only statewide referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot, is a good deal for the roughly 150 year-round residents of Raquette Lake, a good deal for the environment and a good deal for the people of New York.

Since 1930, the Raquette Lake Reservoir has supplied the community with drinking water, but for the past five years, Raquette Lake has been under a "boil water" order from the state Department of Health. To address the water contamination problem, the town needs wells on state Forest Preserve land adjacent to the hamlet.

The "Forever Wild" clause of the New York Constitution permits reservoirs on the Forest Preserve, but makes no provision for drinking-water wells, so a constitutional amendment is needed so the town can legally move forward with this much-needed project. The amendment was twice approved unanimously by the state Legislature, and it is now up to voters statewide to OK it.

Under the amendment, the state would provide a single acre of Forest Preserve land to the town to develop its wells. In return, New York would get 12 acres of wilderness, now owned by the town, which will be added to the Forest Preserve and protected as "Forever Wild." Also, if the proposal is approved, it will make it easier for the state to garner local support for future land purchases in the Adirondacks for the public to enjoy. For the Adirondacks and the environment, there is no downside to this amendment.

Most importantly, approving Proposal 1 is the right and fair thing to do for the people of Raquette Lake.

If you have any questions about Proposal 1 please contact Marisa Tedesco or Neil Woodworth at (518) 449-3870.

Mission Statement

We promote the protection of the air, water and the natural resources of the Genesee Valley Region and the Adirondack Park. We support the conservation of wildlife habitat through preservation and restoration.

We identify environmental issues which we consider appropriate, and through our efforts develop and recommend positions and take action when necessary. We raise environmental awareness through education and maintaining an active and positive community presence.

If you would like to know more about the committee or would like to work with us or serve on a subcommittee please contact Dave Harrison at 442-3223.

Activities

Our activities center on three strategic areas: Education, Advocacy and Conservation Projects.

Education

We strive to increase the awareness of club members and interested individuals toward those issues affecting the Adirondack Park, New York State and our own local area. We do this by communicating issues both within this site and within the Geneseean.

Advocacy

By providing club members with information related to Adirondack and local issues, we hope to present the Genesee Valley Chapter as a force in the local environmental movement.