Gov. Kathy Hochul signed bipartisan legislation last month that allows town boards to stop the spread of invasive aquatic invertebrate species, such as Zebra mussels and Asian clams, instead of just aquatic invasive plants.

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury and state Assemblymember Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake.

Stec said the law gives communities more flexibility to address invasive species. Woerner said invasive aquatic species harms the environment, health and recreational economy. Both lawmakers were grateful to Hochul for signing the legislation.

Adirondack Park Agency

The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) released its draft agenda for next week’s monthly meeting on Nov. 16. The APA board will consider approving modifications to the Carver Sand & Gravel mine in Fulton County. The board will also consider allowing herbicide treatment of invasive Eurasian watermilfoil in Paradox Lake in Essex County.

The APA will also have a special guest speaker, Amy Godin, to discuss her work on social histories in the Adirondack Park. The full agenda is available here: https://apa.ny.gov/Mailing/2023/11/FullAgency/MonthlyAgendaNov2023.pdf.

View all APA public comment and hearing opportunities at: https://apa.ny.gov/Hearings/index.cfm. The latest new projects are below.

• Applicant Bruce Brownell plans to install an on-site wastewater treatment system involving wetlands on Airport Road in the Saratoga County town of Edinburg. Comments are due by Nov. 23. To see site plans and comment, go to https://apa.ny.gov/Hearings/ApaCommentPopup.cfm?ProjectNumber=2022-0295.
• The town of Fine in St. Lawrence County plans to replace culverts on Youngs Road crossing the Little River, a project involving wetlands. Comments are due by Nov. 23. To view site plans and submit comments, go to https://apa.ny.gov/Hearings/ApaCommentPopup.cfm?ProjectNumber=2023-0127.
• The APA has one final hearing on a package of state land classifications. It will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 in the Public Hearing Room on the first floor of the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Albany headquarters, 625 Broadway.

Environmental Notice Bulletin

Last week’s state Department of Environmental Conservation’s environmental notice bulletin had one new project out for public comment.

• The DEC has released a work plan for parking improvements to Valcour Island in the Lake Champlain Islands Intensive Use Area in the town of Peru. The project involves cutting and removing 385 trees between one and three inches in diameter at breast height and 121 trees three inches or larger in diameter at breast height. The tree cuttings will facilitate drainage ditch repairs at the Peru Dock Boat Launch Site. The repairs are necessary to prevent the southern parking area from flooding onto the adjoining private property during rain events, according to the DEC. Gravel will also be added to the edges of the two parking areas to reduce vehicle rutting and soil erosion. Comments are due by Nov. 15. To view the work plan, go to: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/wp311perudock.pdf.  Comments should be sent to Dan Levy, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Lands and Forests, P.O. Box 296, 1115 State Route 86, Ray Brook, NY 19277 or emailed to [email protected].

Environmental Bond Act

In case you missed it, I joined David Lombardo and Rick Karlin on New York Now to talk about the $4.2 billion environmental bond act and renewable energy news. We spoke about where some of the bond act funding stands currently, about our deep dive into lessons learned from the 1996 bond act and about the Benson Mines solar project in the Adirondack Park. You can watch it here: https://nynow.wmht.org/blogs/full-episodes/full-episode-environmental-bond-act-nys-parks-commissioner/.

Photo at top: A steward displays invasive Asian clams, zebra mussels, and water chestnuts at Lake Champlain. Photo by Sara Ruberg.

This first appeared in Gwen’s weekly “Adirondack Report” newsletter. Click here to sign up.