LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk | In Closing The Spirit of Adirondack Resiliency in the Face of Climate Change By Michael Green I f one created a narrative to capture the Adirondack Spirit, it would be a story of overcoming the challenges of relentless terrain and of being at constant battle with the forces of mother nature. These characteristics are what made the Central Adirondack region one of the last explored and settled in the mid 18th century Northeast. No known Native American population lived in the area, favoring the flat fertile lands with more abundant game to the north and south leaving a somewhat clean slate of forests, water ways, and mountains for early New England and immigrant settlers. The stories of these first inhabitants are reminiscent of those in the far western frontier, a triumph of the human spirit in the towns and communities now present in the park. The ability to adapt and manage this contested terrain to their advantage has led to the economic viability of the region. Modern Adirondack communities may no longer face the hardships of living in a single fireplace heated cabin, or the day long treks from town to town, but they rely heavily on the wrath of nature and the opportunity it provides. While many early settlements saw the long winters of the Adirondacks as challenges, the local businesses that have survived for generations are those that have learned to adapt and take advantage of these long cold months. The outdoor sporting and tourism industry, whether it be snowmobiling in the winter, spring skiing, or hunting in the fall, seems to best emulate this overcoming as it provides a livelihood for many inside the Blue Line. The economic viability of the region has been shaped by the cold winter months and is dependent on the same snow and cold that developed the Adirondack spirit of resiliency in prior generations. There is a simple test that verifies the dependency across the region. Each spring and early summer a common greeting within the State Park is "Did you have a good winter?". This simple question causes all to have mental flashbacks of the "good" and "bad" winters during their time as Adirondack residents. While many places would view large snow storms and sub-zero temperatures as constituting for a "bad" winter, within the Blue Line it is exactly opposite. Many businesses are dependent on the snowfall to bring people to the region. This snow is what keeps the sled trails in good condition, the local ski resorts open, and the hotel rooms filled. Over the past decade, regional economies have been threatened by the compounding factors of economic downturn and sub-average snowfall. By reviewing recorded town snow records, one can see that the Central Adirondacks have received less snow as well as shortened seasons, shown by a decrease in fall and spring accumulation. This is the threat of climate change to those who live in the Adirondack Mountains. The Adirondack region has experienced an increase in average annual temperature since early records in the 1960's. This is being directly reflected by the change in snowfall amounts during this same period. It is not just temperature and snow levels that exemplify a changing climate in Upstate New York. Jerry Jenkins, an ecologist with the Wilderness Conservation Society and regional author, described in great detail the implications of climate change for the region in his book "Climate Change in the Adirondacks". Jenkins' report shows a decrease in annual length of ice coverage on large regional bodies of water including; Lake George, Lake Champlain, and Mirror Lake, yet another to link to change in average regional temperature. Climate change does not constitute a risk only to local economies, but also to the natural environment. The Adirondack Mountains form a perfect laboratory to observe the effect of climate change on the environment because they are home to vulnerable ecosystems, including high alpine meadows and peat bogs. These fragile systems act as the canaries in the coal mine, as a warming climate is causing loss of habitat for already rare plants and animals. Changes in seasonal conditions can cause vulnerable species such as mountain sandwort and alpine holygrass, to be threatened, and in worst cases, potentially lost. The global scientific community has reached overwhelming agreement over the past several years. Developments in satellites and atmospheric reading technology have enabled scientists the ability to observe the relationship between greenhouse gases and global temperatures and to develop complex algorithm modeling systems. The Adirondack Mountains are just one of the thousands of places where the response of the natural world to climate change can be observed. Melting glaciers, disappearing polar ice-sheets, coral reef die-offs, and the expansion of the world's great deserts all tell the same story. The media regularly report threats of regional instability and dangers to human security as a result of climate change. These dangers are a major focus of the climate change discussion, but the solutions and answers need to be accorded the same attention. As the threats and challenges of global climate change become better understood, so do the opportunities to do something about it. Solutions can provide jobs, stimulate our local economies, and continue to provide security for the natural environment. Since the formation of the park, development focused on the conservation and preservation of "forever wild" regions. Some of the solutions currently being proposed as climate change, such as forest management and water regulation, have been practiced for generations inside the Blue Line. While they may be ahead of the ball, Adirondack communities are still going to be forced to do more to respond and adapt to a changing climate. With challenge there is also a sense of opportunity. Renewable energy sources, sustainable business practices, and green jobs could provide a much needed stimulus to area economies, one that has not been seen since the golden years of the park. 500 375 250 125 0 1968 1978 1988 1998 2008 2013 Central Adirondack Season Total Snow Accumilation in Inches Data provided by Town of Webb Information Center 58 LOCALadk Magazine Summer 2013 If there was ever a time of need for the Adirondack spirit of resiliency, it is now. The same drive that motivated the original settlers of the Adirondack frontier needs to be manifested in our response to climate change. By bringing to light practices already in use, as well as potential opportunities, a clear image will take shape of what can be anticipated in communities across the Adirondacks in the future. R

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