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Table of Contents ~Bringing Future Chefs to the Farmers’ Table ~ANCA Board of Directors Responds to NYSDEC Draft ATV Policy ~The ATV Issues Assessment ~Grass-Based Farmer Program Highlight ~Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan Project ~ Northern Forest Initiatives: New York Northern Forest Regional Strategy Meeting ~Northern Forest Lands Council 10th Anniversary Forum: ~Marketing Toolkit for Retailers in Rural Areas ~2005 Adirondack North Country Arts, Crafts and Foods Guide ~ANCA Sponsorships ~Coming Up ~The Celebration of the Adirondack Trail and Olympic Scenic Byways: The Intersection of Tourism Planning and Community Development Bringing Future Chefs to the Farmers’ Table Martha Pickard, Grazing Technician, Adirondack North Country Association Scott Schuyler and Tyler Scott are not your typical college students. First, they love to talk about food and second they don’t bat an eye at shoveling manure and tossing hay bales. Tyler and Scott are students at Paul Smith's College in the Culinary Arts division. I met them last spring when I spoke to a group of students who were looking for mentors and project ideas for their Senior Thesis. The two approached me after I spoke. Tyler grew up haying for a farm in Western New York while Scott grew up helping out on dairy farms in Vermont. Tyler and Scott became very interested in the North Country Pasture Raised Meat Directory that the Adirondack North Country Association published in 2003. The directory consists of a list of farmers in the local area who are raising their animals predominately on grass. The directory also provides descriptions and recipes for preparing the meat.
The focus of their project is connecting consumers to local farmers, specifically local grass farmers. Tyler and Scott wrote a 30-page document outlining the history of the commercialized beef industry and the potential for a grass-fed beef industry to revitalize local communities and local economies. Tyler and Scott’s interviews and observations are included in the document. Also, Tyler and Scott created 12 original recipes using grass-fed meats ranging from Denver Style Lamb Ribs with Strawberry BBQ sauce to Pork Liver Mousse. The recipes will be available in ANCA’s North Country Pasture Raised Meat Directory to be revised Summer 2005. The directory will include a list and description of grass-based farms in the Northern ANCA region and Tyler and Scott’s recipes with original illustrations done by Saranac artist Jen Tavormina. The Adirondack North Country Association looks forward to working with more Paul Smith's College students while they study local agricultural issues. The recipes may be accessed on ANCA’s website at www.adirondack.org. Also this summer check your local health food stores for hard copies of the directory. Copies of the directory may also be purchased ($5.00 S&H) directly from ANCA at 518.891.6200. VISA and M/C accepted. ANCA Board of Directors Responds to NYSDEC Draft ATV Policy The Adirondack North Country Association Board of Directors responded to the draft ATV Access Policy in a letter to Robert Davies, Director of NYSDEC Division of Lands and Forests, recommending appropriate planning, the need for clear guidelines about trail use and ongoing enforcement of touring areas. The text of the letter is as follows: ANCA is a not-for-profit private corporation that has been working for the past fifty-one years to strengthen the economy and quality of life in the 14 counties of northern New York through informed, open debate and advocacy on economic issues critical to the region. ANCA has a strong history in regional, recreational planning initiatives, including the development of the Master Plan for Bicycling in the Adirondack North Country, our calling for and management of an economic impact study that augmented the rail feasibility study of the Remsen-Lake Placid Rail Corridor, the feasibility analysis for the Lake Placid/ Saranac Lake Pathway Project, and our corridor management planning work for the Adirondack, Olympic and Central Adirondack Scenic Byways. During our review of the policy and the follow-up public hearings we have noted ATV use represents a division of views and goals for how people perceive recreational use in the Adirondack North Country region and their expectations of how New York State’s public lands should be used. We believe the draft policy has a unique focus on the Adirondack Park and that as a state-wide policy there should be similar attention and planning for non-Forest preserve areas and areas within our region, such as the Tug Hill Plateau, that are outside the Adirondack Park. We acknowledge the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan defines an ATV as a “motor vehicle” and we respect the view as stated in the Plan that “public use of motor vehicles will not be encouraged and there will not be any material increase in the mileage of roads… open to motorized use by the public in wild forest areas that conformed to the Master Plan at the time of its original adoption in 1972.” We encourage that accommodations will be continued for disabled individuals. We do believe that with appropriate planning and negotiations with private landowners there is the potential to establish touring routes on conservation easement lands for ATVs. Throughout Governor Pataki’s tenure there has been a considerable focus on the wide range of benefits for New York and its residents to secure easements that permit recreational access. In addition, the working forest capacity of these easement lands, with their network of roads, offer a unique type of trail system which should be able to withstand more intensive ATV use. We believe that a careful planning process can address the needs for access points that do not cause conflicts with residential uses or the Forest Preserve. Consideration must also be provided for parking, environmental mitigation, trail maintenance, emissions, noise pollution, enforcement, and use of trail funds. We recommend the state must adequately address how the use of ATV registration fees can be allocated through a trail fund for maintenance. There will be a need for ongoing enforcement of the touring areas, surrounding properties and communities in that people will try to access easement lands through private property, the Forest Preserve and roadways, which will be counterproductive to the planning and the objectives of responsible riders. With appropriate planning there appears to be strong potential for ATV touring areas at key locations in the Adirondack North Country region. We are confident that with the involvement of community members in the planning process, clear guidelines about trail use and ongoing enforcement can be established. The type of easement use we propose will benefit from an economic impact and feasibility study to determine the merits of a trail network and how to best develop and implement an ATV access program to ensure success. ANCA welcomes the opportunity to work with your department to provide input to your ATV policy. The ATV Issues Assessment There has been considerable input surrounding the recent release of the Draft New York State ATV Policy. A series of public hearings hosted by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation have been scheduled around the state. Local government officials, landowners, ATV users and environmental groups have responded to the draft policy. The policy recognizes ATVs “Are one of several possible modes of access to public and easement lands owned and/or managed by the Department.” DEC identifies the lands to include the following: Forest Preserve lands, Reforestation, Multiple use and Unique Areas, areas subject to Conservation Easements, Wildlife Management Areas and Environmental Education Centers. The policy “sets forth criteria for determining the suitability of roads or trails to be opened or remain open to public ATV access through the Unit Management Planning process (Forest Preserve, Reforestation, Multiple Use and Unique Areas and in relation to the terms of Conservation Easement and associated Recreational Management Plans. Unlike snowmobiling which is addressed in the State Land Master Plan (SLMP) for the Adirondack Park, ATV use is not an authorized use in the Forest Preserve in the SLMP. The policy prohibits the use of ATVs in Wildlife Management Areas and Environmental Education Centers, with the exception for disabled access. To date the policy has been criticized by ATV users who believe that because they are paying annual and increased registration fees ($25.00 per year up from the previous fee of $15) there should be land available for them to ride. Of the $2.6million that will be generated from registration fees, $850,000 for this first year will be deposited into a trail fund. The details of how these funds will be administered for trail maintenance are unclear. The policy does indicate there will be very few riding opportunities (i.e. on some roads to the Forest Preserve that have access to easement lands and which are opened through the Unit Management Planning process, access for people with disabilities who have appropriate permits). There is an opportunity for trail usage on easement lands. Environmental groups such as the Adirondack Council have called for an Action Alert stating that the Forest Preserve “has suffered enough from ATV damage.” The Wildlife Conservation Society published All-Terrain Vehicles on the Adirondacks; Issues and Options in which they presented information about ATV use nationally and in New York State and the Adirondacks. The Residents’ Committee to Protect the Adirondacks issued a Call to Action urging the DEC “that no ATV use be allowed on the Forest Preserve” because “the natural resources of the Forest Preserve cannot sustain ATV use.” In December 2003 the Residents’ Committee published Rutted and Ruined: ATV Damage on the Adirondack Forest Preserve. In 2004 the Committee filed a lawsuit to force the state to develop an ATV policy. The Tug Hill Commission has opened dialogue with the public and DEC to address ATV use on the Tug Hill Plateau. Some commentary that was received from the public included a “need for a mechanism to permit and manage ATV recreation on state reforestation lands on Tug Hill before the Unit Management process is complete.” In addition, there was a request for local government and recreational club involvement in these discussions. It is the view of the Adirondack North Country Association that: · ATV use represents a division of views and goals for how people perceive recreational use in the Adirondack North Country region and their expectations of how New York State’s public lands should be used. · There is anecdotal information about the economic impact of ATV use but no studies have been done to date specific to Northern New York. · ATV riders believe that the State is telling them they have no place to ride and potential places to ride, such as the Champion lands, have been slow to materialize even though there had been initial proposals by the state. · The use of conservation easement lands will require negotiations with landowners. · The use of conservation easement lands will require a planning focus to address access points, parking, environmental mitigation, trail maintenance, enforcement, and the specific uses of State trail funds. · The Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan does not include provisions for ATV use on the Forest Preserve. · Communities have opened public roads/highways for ATV use which goes against NYS Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law which mandates that roads can only be open in sections to connect existing trails adjacent to the roadway that would not be accessible otherwise. Three recent State Supreme Court decisions have interpreted the “otherwise impossible to gain access to areas or trails adjacent to the highway” requirement. · Based on ANCA’s involvement in addressing the economic impact of recreational planning, and history of calling for an economic study that augmented the rail feasibility study of the Remsen—Lake Placid Rail Corridor and ANCA’s call for an economic impact study of snowmobiling to address current trends and how expansion of the snowmobile network could contribute to the region’s economy while also pointing to those areas where infrastructure can be improved through investment in facilities and lodging, tour packages and marketing, ANCA acknowledges there is a need for an economic feasibility and impact study on ATV use and the potential for planned trail facilities. · ANCA recognizes that additional consideration be provided to what are the projections for increased usage of any proposed ATV trail network and who will best monitor the impacts of increased usage in relation to the needs for rider education, community safety, and enforcement. · In recognition of ANCA’s long standing commitment to the regional economy, environment and community quality of life, ANCA recognizes there are the questions of what is the impact of ATV use on public lands in relation to the activities of other recreationalists (cross country skiing, hiking, canoe and kayaking, snowshoeing, ice climbing, nature observers, birders, mountain biking, etc.). Grass-Based Farmer Program Highlight On June 2, 2005, Heifer International announced their approval of grant funding for the Northern New York Farm Partnership, a grass-based farmer group. This group is committed to small, diverse and sustainable farms, striving to create a climate that fosters and values people, the land and economic autonomy working together with all members of our community through cooperation and with concern for future generations. The group strives to live the example through collaborative efforts in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of safe food. ANCA is the lead organization and has been working in partnership with Heifer International, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin County, and grass based farmers. Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan Project Sharon O’Brien, Byway Coordinator, Adirondack North Country Association Community, business, and municipal leaders from Oneida, Herkimer, Hamilton and Warren Counties have been busy evaluating the present economic and tourism conditions in communities located along one of New York State’s major east-west touring routes for the Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan (CAT CMP) project. Byway partners from Rome to Glens Falls met throughout the fall and winter months under the leadership of ANCA’s CMP Project Facilitator, Ann Ruzow Holland. A series of community meetings provided a forum for grassroots discussion. The route was divided in half and an East and West Local Action Committee formed enabling attendees to contribute recommendations for the future of the Byway integrating local and regional perspectives. They discussed issues and opportunities under a series of topics including: community and tourism development, transportation, marketing and promotion, recreation, and stewardship. Herkimer County Area Development Corporation, CAP-21, and Warren County Planning and Community Development worked directly with ANCA representing the interests of many of the communities in their areas, contributed targeted information on local conditions, and assisted in the collection of pertinent data for inclusion in the plan. During the planning work over 300 significant resources were named by participants along New York State Routes 365, 12/28, 28, 30 and 9. The resource lists were forwarded to the Tug Hill Commission, which is preparing the project maps featuring the 140-mile route and the contributing resources. Locations of visitor centers, and Chambers of Commerce will also appear on the project map, which will be used for future marketing and promotional campaigns. ANCA is overseeing the work taking place in the field and reviewing all input to make sure all required information is collected and that the contents of the draft plan satisfy all state program guidelines. The Central Adirondack Trail Steering Committee which is comprised of regional leaders including county planners, tourism organizations, Chambers of Commerce along with other representatives met on June 7 to review the components completed to date and receive comment on any regional strategies which should be considered for this major planning initiative. The draft Vision and Theme statements reflecting the “wildscape and waters, cultures, and communities” of the Central Adirondack Trail region were also evaluated at the June meeting. Funding for this Central Adirondack Trail Scenic Byway was provided by the New York State Department of Transportation’s New York State Byways Program through the Federal Highway Administration and Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Northern Forest Initiatives: New York Northern Forest Regional Strategy Meeting: On April 29, 2005, at the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake, NY, ANCA along with the Northern Forest Center, Tug Hill Commission, NY Audubon, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Ann Ruzow Holland, hosted a New York public meeting on the Northern Forest Regional Strategy. More than fifty individuals representing municipalities, organizations, and businesses attended the session. Terry Martino, ANCA Executive Director, in her welcoming remarks commented that the meeting followed on a session ANCA hosted in June of 2003 when participants expressed support for a continued dialogue to address the potential of increased public and private funding for economic and community development work across the Northern Forest. She said, “Throughout these discussions a range of topics, issues and opportunities were discussed across the Northern Forest. In particular, how do we elevate our community and economic development planning, program implementation and funding, so our communities thrive within the context of Governor Pataki’s long-standing commitment to land conservation and land purchases?” She introduced the Northern Forest Center’s mission, “To mobilize people to build healthy communities, economies, and ecosystems by working together across the Northern Forest region,” and welcomed Andrea Colnes, Policy Director, of the Northern Forest Center. Colnes described the Northern Forest region as, “The largest intact ecosystem east of the Mississippi. It comprises some 30 million acres of northern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York and blends into adjacent Canada.” She mentioned the ecological significance of the region’s landscape of boreal and northern hardwood forests, wetlands, lakes, rolling hills, and rugged mountains that include vast areas of wild forest, critical habitat, and the headwaters of the major rivers of the Northeast. Colnes talked about the various threats that have impacted the Northern Forest, including the loss of paper mills with employment in paper and allied products dropping between 17% and 52% across the Northern Forest states between 1969 and 1999. Colnes commented that regional collaboration and capacity-building for conservation over the past 15 years have delivered extraordinary results. She pointed out that with equivalent regional collaboration, the social and economic well-being of the region’s residents can also be improved. Colnes discussed various program initiatives within the Center: the development of a Regional Strategy that is the result of the dialogue in the two Leadership Exchange programs (2002 & 2003) and which offers a framework for regional action; the grant proposal for Economic Development Administration funding for comprehensive economic development planning; the development of a FY ’06 Federal Appropriations Advocacy package which identified priorities to assist with the community, economic, and conservation needs outlined in the Regional Strategy. The goal is to develop an integrated package of recommendations to be delivered to the congressional delegation members in the summer of 2005 with proposals to fund and implement each of the ten recommendations outlined in the Regional Strategy. Martino and Colnes both commented on how important the work of the Northern Forest Lands Council Ten-Year Review is to the discussion. Before leaving the podium, Colnes invited meeting participants to the 3rd Leadership Exchange meeting scheduled for May 23 – 24 in Plymouth New Hampshire. Following the Colnes presentation, the afternoon discussion was moderated by John Bartow, Executive Director of the Tug Hill Commission and ANCA Director. Bartow facilitated a discussion about the specific components of the Regional Strategy. Additional topics that were addressed by participants included the need for affordable housing, tax relief, and broadband infrastructure across the Northern Forest. Northern Forest Lands Council 10th Anniversary Forum: ANCA’s 2004/05 involvement in the Ten-Year Review of the Northern Forest Lands Council study enabled ANCA to provide a community perspective to the North East Foresters Association (NEFA) in their assessment of the Council’s work. Throughout the review process ANCA advocated for the following points to address regional community and economic development: 1) There is a need for a regional capacity and coordinating entity to continue a regional dialogue across the Northern Forest; 2) There is a need for a regional economic assessment and strategy that includes a public process; 3) There is a need for a sustained commitment of federal funding to support economic and community development across the Northern Forest. ANCA worked with members from the NYS Department of Conservation, Audubon Society and International Paper as part of the New York review team. In addition, there has been representation on the review team from industry and landowners from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The NEFA final report will include four important recommendations that reflect the input of the forum members and public participants who attended the December 10 session in New Hampshire. Highlights of the recommendations are as follows: a) Establish a regional economic strategy and funding to assess the economic strengths and weaknesses of the Northern Forest followed by the development and implementation of community and economic development initiatives across the region; b) At the direction of the governors, continue regional coordination and regional dialogue across the four states (members were not in support of any new regional entity); c) Continue public and private investment in the conservation and forest stewardship efforts catalyzed by the work of the original Northern Forest Lands Council; d) Address the needs of private landowners, particularly in terms of recreational use and issues such as vandalism. The NFLC anniversary review group is in the final stages of developing recommendations for a new generation of action. It is anticipated the final report will be released in the spring of 2005. Charlie Levesque, Executive Director of NEFA, discussed the review recommendations at the Northern Forest Center’s 3rd Leadership Exchange on May 23-24. Levesque and the NEFA Board have supported member recommendations that the four-state governors will endorse the forum report. ANCA and the forum members have recommended that the strategy implementation be directed by the governors of the four Northern Forest states – John Baldacci of Maine; James Douglas of Vermont; John Lynch of New Hampshire and George Pataki of New York. Marketing Toolkit for Retailers in Rural Areas Nadia Korths, Craft Programs Coordinator, Adirondack North Country Association The Adirondack North Country Association, the Northern Forest Center and the USDA RBEG program sponsored ten workshops in various locations in the North Country over a twenty-six day period for some 80 attendees. After a one-and-one-half hour workshop, attendees went on a half hour critique tour of, typically, the hosting shop or studio. The purpose of these free workshops was to provide gift shop and studio owners a forum for selecting strategies to incorporate into their own business.
ANCA Sponsorships The Adirondack North Country Association was a sponsor for the Second International Conference on Sustainable Tourism held on May 3 and 4 at the Hilton Hotel in Lake Placid, NY, hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Tourism. The purpose of the conference was to bring together leaders from the fields of economic, community and business development; tourism marketing; planning; and environmental advocacy; local government; and research. Topics critical to tourism based community and business success were discussed, including financing, online strategies, environmental stewardship and the creation of nature based opportunities. The sessions focused on, “Is there a new way to utilize Waterways and Wilderness to create 21st Century community?” Kate Williams, Executive Director of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail, an organization with which ANCA has partnered since 2000, gave an outstanding presentation of how the region’ s natural infrastructure— its waterways – can be a foundation for community and tourism development. ANCA Executive Director Terry Martino and ANCA Byways Coordinator Sharon O’Brien attended. ANCA was a sponsor for the Northern Forest Center’s 3rd Leadership Exchange meeting in Plymouth, New Hampshire on May 23 and 24. Terry Martino, Executive Director of the Adirondack North Country Association attended the two-day conference along with ANCA board directors Don Caldera and John Bartow. Coming Up September 15, 2005 ANCA Board of Directors’ Meeting The Celebration of the Adirondack Trail and Olympic Scenic Byways: The Intersection of Tourism Planning and Community Development
Representatives from NYSDOT included Nancy Alexander, State Program Manager and Mark Woods, State Program Coordinator and NYSDOT Regional Coordinators, Anna Forbes (R-7) and Raj Malhotra (R-1). Alexander provided a state perspective of the Scenic Byway Program including its history and potential for future funding, saying “New York State has been a national model in byway planning and we welcome your community participation”. ANCA’s Scenic Byway Corridor, Sharon O’Brien, gave an overview of the contents of the two plans including the vision, goals, themes, and recommendations for action as put forth by the Local Action Committees and regional Steering Committees who worked for over two years with ANCA in the creation of the plans. During local grassroots work sessions hundreds of natural, recreational, historical and cultural resources were named along the routes. Byway maps on display showed the location of each resource and were accompanied by strategies on how to promote, maintain, interpret, and steward these valuable assets that were included in the plans. Through this type of planning, the entire length of the byway corridor becomes the travel destination offering a variety of exceptional experiences. Opportunities for Scenic Byway Program funding were discussed as well as other potential funding sources that will help Byway groups maintain and enhance their section of the 188-mile Adirondack Trail and 170-mile Olympic Scenic Byway. Community members were instructed on how to use their new status of official Scenic Byway Community and the Byway theme when promoting themselves as travel destinations to encourage visitation and increase tourism dollars. By linking the corridor’s assets and integrating the significance of the resources available along each travel route themes were developed to tell the Byways’ stories. The Adirondack Trail selected “Woods, Water, Wilderness: The Real Adirondack Experience” and the Olympic Scenic Byway will use the “Olympic Spirit” to tell the story awaiting visitors. O’Brien also explained the electronic communication system established by ANCA to keep local communities informed of funding opportunities and Byway initiatives, an important component for Byway planners throughout the nine counties. ANCA will continue to take the lead to procure funding for projects along the North Country’s integrated system of Scenic Byway. Attendees were provided with contact information for regional staff at the NYS Department of Transportation who will work with them to implement the plans. In the afternoon community exchange session, Byway town and village representatives talked about their goals to link communities through existing lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds to increase tourist visitation and support community development. The return to the use of the North Country’s waterways, — the area’s historical transportation corridors — opens new access to communities and appeals to visitors who want to experience history, and take in nature while engaging in outdoor recreational activities. As marketing studies show the interest in nature tourism continues to grow, Byway communities will be encouraged to post their resources and link to the Byway internet website under development by ANCA to connect with this sector. ANCA has been a long-standing supporter of the work of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Olympic Byway community members were also updated on the progress of the Racquette River Corridor organizers. Many attendees commented that the CMP will help them build new partnerships to improve their communities. By participating in this regional effort they look to align with other towns, villages and groups to more effectively secure funding and carry out projects in their community and surrounding communities. Other regional opportunities discussed included the potential for the Byway area to become a premiere biking destination where visitors would enjoy riding on the bicycle touring routes and mountain biking trails. Marketing and connecting with birding enthusiasts through the development of educational guides and brochures and other promotions that will feature the wide variety of species found along the routes was also discussed. ANCA received comments from village representatives that they are pleased to have the comprehensive action plans in hand and can use this important tool to initiate and direct their own projects. Each attendee received a copy of the plan on CD. Visit ANCA’s website at www.adirondack.org or learn more about New York State’s Scenic Byways at www.dot.state.ny.us/scenic/nysb.html. Contact Sharon O’Brien at anca-obrien@northnet.org or by calling 518.891.6200.
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