State scales back on salt study
By Ry Rivard
March 2, 2021
State lawmakers are apparently bowing to concerns that the study could expose the state to liability from residents with unsafe water.
Ry Rivard
Ry covers water for the Explorer. Before coming to New York, he reported on water and energy for Voice of San Diego.
He can be reached at [email protected].
New water rules provide protection for Lake George
By Ry Rivard
February 23, 2021
The Lake George Park Commission approved new construction regulations on Tuesday designed to keep the lake clear of algal blooms and other signs of pollution.
Lake George neighbors want to protect crystalline waters when nature calls
By Ry Rivard
January 26, 2021
“People are going to be peeing in the lake, peeing in the woods."
Let sleeping bats lie?
By Ry Rivard
January 17, 2021
Biologists fear Moriah clean-energy project threatens endangered species of bats that winter in Barton Hill's underground mines.
As Trump administration winds down, Adirondack environmentalists breathe easier
By Ry Rivard
January 15, 2021
“There will be some impacts from the federal government’s abdication of responsibilities."
Judge penalizes state for salt pollution
By Ry Rivard
January 7, 2021
Nine years after they sued the state in the court of claims, a judge sided with the Fredericks and found the Thruway Authority owes the farmers $91,000 for the damage its road salt caused.
2020 EXPLORED: Harmful algal blooms
By Ry Rivard
December 29, 2020
The year ended with the first documented harmful algal blooms on Lake George and Mirror Lake.
2020 EXPLORED: Invasive species
By Ry Rivard
December 28, 2020
This year, the Explorer looked at several major invaders and the damage they did.
2020 EXPLORED: Road salt
By Ry Rivard
December 26, 2020
Researchers, regulators and residents have worried, complained, studied and suffered for years — yet the state has done little to get its arms around the problem of road salt contamination. Until this year.
Curbing New York’s 40-year road salt addiction
By Ry Rivard
December 21, 2020
By 2015, the Fund for Lake George, a nonprofit watchdog for the lake that anchors one of the country’s desirable lakefront property markets, said salt was “the acid rain of our time.” Now, years later, the state may get serious about the problem.