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Updated
February 29, 2008
Current Actions
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The Board of Directors of Residents' Committee to Protect the Adirondacks has named Dr. Michael P. Washburn of Clifton Park as its new executive director. Washburn is a leading figure in the Forest Stewardship Council sustainable-forestry certification movement. He most recently has been engaged in private consulting to help progressive forest companies implement sustainability programs. He previously served as vice president of brand management at the Forest Stewardship Council U.S. in Washington, D.C., and is a former research scientist at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. He brings 15 years of experience in conservation, including roles with the U.S. Forest Service and Penn State University. "The board is delighted to have as its leader someone of Michael's stature, and he is an Adirondacker to boot, with roots in the Town of Benson in Hamilton County," Chairman John Collins said in a news release. "His family has been in the Adirondacks for over 100 years. I think he's glad to be coming home." Washburn hopes to increase the membership of the RCPA and extend its impact."The threats to the Adirondack Park's ecosystems and rural heritage are increasing," he said in a statement. "Climate change, water shortages and the growing desire among many to live in quiet places will all present even greater challenges in the future. "We need to be vigilant in our defense of the Forest Preserve, protect the working landscapes and bring a balanced approach to development. "The Adirondacks are a global treasure, and it's up to those of us who live here to be good stewards." Washburn received his bachelor's and master's degrees from the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse. His master's research focused on management of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. He earned a Ph.D. in forest resources at Penn State, where he studied private forest owners and how they organize to engage policy issues affecting forestry. The Residents' Committee to Protect the Adirondacks is a privately funded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the stewardship and protection of the natural environment and human communities of the Adirondack Park. It has 3,800 household members. |
RCPA announces Conservation Director job posting. Click here to download job description. |
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RCPA Releases Recommendations for Permanent Protection of the 165,000 Acres of Former Finch, Pruyn and Company Lands Now Owned by the Nature Conservancy: The RCPA has released its recommendations for the protection and limited development of the 165,000 acres formerly owned by Finch, Pruyn and Company, now owned by the Nature Conservancy. RCPA calls for protection through state acquisition of lands for the Forest Preserve and by purchase of conservation easements. RCPA also identified lands that could be used for a permanent affordable housing program in eight Adirondack communities. For letter to Governor Spitzer outlining RCPA's position click here. For a map of the Finch, Pruyn lands in the Adirondack Park with the RCPA's recommendations detailed click here. For lands in Essex County click here. For lands in Hamilton County click here. For lands in Warren County click here. For lands in Saratoga County click here. For lands in Washington County click here. For pictures of some of the Finch, Pruyn and Company lands see slideshow. TNC stated that it will work on a conservation plan over the next 18 months for these lands and that this process will be public and open, involving local governments and interested organizations and individuals. |
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| RCPA Votes John Collins as New Chair and Selects New Officers: John Collins of Blue Mountain Lake was voted as the new RCPA Chair. Robert Harrison of Brant Lake was selected as the new Vice-Chair and Joe Mahay of Paradox as the new Secretary/Treasurer; click here. | |
| RCPA Awards FSC Sustainable Forestry Certification to New Landowners in Lake Placid and St. Armand: RCPA awards FSC certification on over 350 acres to North Country School/Camp Tree tops in near Lake Placid and to Kim LaDuke in St. Armand; click here. | |
| Proposed Developments Plague Adirondack Park: The RCPA is watching big developments in all corners of the Adirondack Park. Big Tupper: The lawyers for the Adirondack Club and Resort Project proposed in Tupper Lake just asked for his third extension. RCPA sees this as more game-playing click here. In early September Governor Spitzer announced a deal on the proposed Belleayre resort development in the Catskills click here and click here for RCPA response. ATV Park in South Johnsburg: The RCPA is working to defeat a proposal for an ATV and motorsports park that would include 35 miles of trails, drag strip, motocross tracks, and speed oval. See RCPA comments here. RCPA also opposed proposed local ATV law in Town of Thurman that could impact this project. Click here. FrontStreet's Ski Bowl Village at Gore Mountain: The developers have asked for the APA's review to be temporarily suspended pending additional studies. ORDA has withdrawn as a project co-applicant and has not completed the Supplemental Environmental Impact Study mandated after the NYSDEC withdrew its approval of the interconnect to Gore Mountain. The Town of Johnsburg Planning Board is reviewing, but not asking the tough questions. RCPA comments here, here and here. |
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| RCPA Supports Proposed Hydro-Electric Project on Indian Lake Dam: The RCPA announced that it supports the proposed hydro-electricity generation project by the Town of Indian Lake on the Indian Lake dam. The town has recently received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to submit an application. The RCPA supports this project as long as it can be demonstrated that there will be no adverse impacts on the ecology of Indian Lake and Lake Abanakee as well as the Indian and Hudson Rivers. See letters of support to the staff of Governor Eliot Spitzer here, press release here, and the RCPA's Position Statement here. RCPA believes that the State of New York must also pass a Constitutional Amendment to allow the use of the Indian Lake dam, part of the Constitutionally protected Forest Preserve, for a hydro-electric generation facility. The RCPA believes that a municipal alternative energy production project will benefit the Town of Indian Lake and the Adirondack Park. | |
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