Comments on: DEC’s vote on Lows Lake http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/2009/11/17/decs-vote-on-lows-lake/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:48:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Charles C. Morrison http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/2009/11/17/decs-vote-on-lows-lake/comment-page-1/#comment-590 Charles C. Morrison Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:29:00 +0000 http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/?p=696#comment-590 Not only is four-fifths of Lows surrounded by the Five Ponds Wilderness, but also the SLMP makes it clear that both land and water are part of Wilderness designations. There are many lakes in the Adirondacks where the underwater land is Forest Preserve. Maybe its time for APA to classify another such lake, where there is adjacent Wilderness land, as Wilderness. Then there wouldn't be any question about "precedent" anymore. The question is: What happened in the Governor's Office to cause this flip-flop by State agencies? Didn't the conservation groups make themselves heard? Or were they out-shouted by the anti-Wilderness crowd? Did the Governor or his staff, considering his low ratings, figure that this oscillating behavior would earn him votes? Did someone owe someone else a favor? Whatever it was, Betsy Lowe, unarmed with a believable rationale, was sacrificed by being stuck with delivering the bad news about this disgraceful flip-flop, another black mark on an administration that seems unable to steer a straight ship. Nearly a quarter century ago, in 1985, Lows Lake and the Bog River were the State's Forest Preserve Centennial's anniversary acquisition project, coordinated by Per O. Moberg, then a staff member of DEC's Forest Preserve Bureau in the Division of Lands and Forests. I went into Lows with Per before the purchase agreements were signed. When the work was completed, the Division Director, then Norman J. Van Valkenburg, sent Per a letter of commendation in which he said that if Per was going to be remembered for anything in his career with DEC it would be this acquisition. Per retired in 1986. If he could know what DEC had done in this 7-4 vote, presumably under orders from the Governor's staff, he would be embarrassed and incensed. Not only is four-fifths of Lows surrounded by the Five Ponds Wilderness, but also the SLMP makes it clear that both land and water are part of Wilderness designations. There are many lakes in the Adirondacks where the underwater land is Forest Preserve. Maybe its time for APA to classify another such lake, where there is adjacent Wilderness land, as Wilderness. Then there wouldn’t be any question about “precedent” anymore.

The question is: What happened in the Governor’s Office to cause this flip-flop by State agencies? Didn’t the conservation groups make themselves heard? Or were they out-shouted by the anti-Wilderness crowd? Did the Governor or his staff, considering his low ratings, figure that this oscillating behavior would earn him votes? Did someone owe someone else a favor?

Whatever it was, Betsy Lowe, unarmed with a believable rationale, was sacrificed by being stuck with delivering the bad news about this disgraceful flip-flop, another black mark on an administration that seems unable to steer a straight ship.

Nearly a quarter century ago, in 1985, Lows Lake and the Bog River were the State’s Forest Preserve Centennial’s anniversary acquisition project, coordinated by Per O. Moberg, then a staff member of DEC’s Forest Preserve Bureau in the Division of Lands and Forests. I went into Lows with Per before the purchase agreements were signed. When the work was completed, the Division Director, then Norman J. Van Valkenburg, sent Per a letter of commendation in which he said that if Per was going to be remembered for anything in his career with DEC it would be this acquisition. Per retired in 1986.

If he could know what DEC had done in this 7-4 vote, presumably under orders from the Governor’s staff, he would be embarrassed and incensed.

]]> By: Karen Smith http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/2009/11/17/decs-vote-on-lows-lake/comment-page-1/#comment-561 Karen Smith Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:35:00 +0000 http://adirondackexplorer.org/out-takes/?p=696#comment-561 I was a frequent user of Lowe's Lake years ago when living in the Adirondacks. It's a big lake to paddle doing clean up, which unfortunately is necessary by DEC staff. I suggest electric motors for DEC staff only. I once waited at the dam for returning camp mates and witnessed an old suburban pull up and unload a case of beer only to throw the empties over the dam to the rocks below. I left in disgust a bit later, only to have them pass me, then lost control and flip their vehicle moments later. Unfortunately, these types of people frequent the very types of wilderness feeling areas we aim to protect and hold close to our hearts. Let's make is easier for the folks we hire to do their job, with as little noise as possible. On a positive note, I'm joyed to see the plane restrictions. I used to have my coffee at my camping spot, only to watch a plane land, go to a certain spot, dig out their canoes hidden in the brush, offer their clients a luxurious lunch and paddle, then fly out. The noise compromised my camping experience. I was a frequent user of Lowe’s Lake years ago when living in the Adirondacks. It’s a big lake to paddle doing clean up, which unfortunately is necessary by DEC staff. I suggest electric motors for DEC staff only. I once waited at the dam for returning camp mates and witnessed an old suburban pull up and unload a case of beer only to throw the empties over the dam to the rocks below. I left in disgust a bit later, only to have them pass me, then lost control and flip their vehicle moments later. Unfortunately, these types of people frequent the very types of wilderness feeling areas we aim to protect and hold close to our hearts. Let’s make is easier for the folks we hire to do their job, with as little noise as possible.

On a positive note, I’m joyed to see the plane restrictions. I used to have my coffee at my camping spot, only to watch a plane land, go to a certain spot, dig out their canoes hidden in the brush, offer their clients a luxurious lunch and paddle, then fly out. The noise compromised my camping experience.

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