LOCALadk Magazine

Summer 2020 LOCALadk Magazine 5 LOCALadk DEC Celebrates 50 years A message from the Department of Environmental Conservation On April 22, 1970, Governor Nelson Rockefeller signed legislation to combine a network of state institutions and agencies tasked with protecting and enhancing the environ- ment into a single agency – the New York State Department of Environmental Conser vation. This occasion marked both DEC's conception and the first-ever Earth Day celebration. This year, we celebrate 50 years of environmental protection and advocacy statewide, and right here in the Adirondacks. Since 1970, DEC has played a leading role in implementing ambitious and proactive policies to protect the State's nat- ural resources, including the Adirondacks. The Adirondacks contains 2.6 million acres of forest preser ve lands managed by DEC's Division of Lands and Forests. In addition to provid- ing opportunities for outdoor recreation, these lands ser ve a vital role in the state's conser vation efforts. In the past 50 years, DEC has worked alongside other state and federal agencies to enact air and water protections to mitigate acid rain—an effort credited with the return of a self-sustaining brook trout population in Lake Colden. The birth and growth of the Aquatic Invasive Species program has led to stewardship partnerships, regulator y measures to prevent the spread of aquatic invasives in Adirondack wa- ters, and several successful remediation projects in the re- gion. Other success stories include the return of a healthy moose population to the Adirondacks and the restoration of 75 miles of salmon habitat on the Boquet River, which led to the first documented natural reproduction of landlocked salmon in the Champlain Basin in 150 years. DEC began celebrating its 50th anniversar y in December by sharing digital highlights of historic environmental victo- ries. A commemorative logo artfully combines old and new branding. Feature stories in The Conser vationist and Conser- vationist for Kids pay homage to the agency's past, present, and future. New Yorkers can join in DEC's year-long celebra- tion by tagging #DEC50 on social media channels. New York is also celebrating 100 years of DEC campgrounds this year. Managed by the former Conser vation Department for the first 50 years, the histor y of DEC campgrounds be- gins with the opening of Sacandaga Campground in Hamil- ton County in 1920. Today, DEC manages 42 campgrounds in the Adirondacks. While the core values of camping haven't changed, campgrounds themselves have modernized. Re- opened in 2019, Frontier Town in North Hudson was fully designed for sustainability, accessibility, and equestrian use. Scaroon Manor on the west shore of Schroon Lake offers 60 campsites and a wide variety of amenities, all of which meet ADA accessibility requirements. While much has been accomplished in the last five decades, DEC is not resting on its laurels. New York has environmen- tal challenges ahead, from the widespread effects of global climate change to specific issues like the high use impacts in the High Peaks. Using all we have learned through the past 50 years, DEC is prepared to face these challenges head-on and looks for ward to seeing what we can accomplish by our 100th anniversar y.

• Cover