The only independent, nonprofit news organization solely dedicated to reporting on the Adirondack Park.
Zachary Matson has been an environmental reporter for the Explorer since October 2021. He is focused on the many issues impacting water and the people, plants and wildlife that rely on it in the Adirondack Park. Zach worked at daily newspapers in Missouri, Arizona and New York for nearly a decade, most recently as the education reporter at the Daily Gazette in Schenectady. He lives in Saranac with his family.
By Zachary Matson
Former DEC commissioner sues park agency for records By Zachary Matson Marina developers on Lower Saranac Lake have reworked a proposal after an Adirondack Park Agency permit in March was vacated by the courts over the agency’s interpretation of its wetlands regulations. The revised application seeks a variance to the agency’s shoreline restrictions but will…
By Zachary Matson
Members say they don’t know what’s holding up report release By Zachary Matson Members of the Adirondack Road Salt Reduction Task Force have grown frustrated as a report of recommendations they thought was largely completed months ago has languished with state agencies. In interviews this week, task force members described inconsistent communication from state officials…
By Zachary Matson
Old dams present inherent tension in wilderness areas
By Zachary Matson
Report updates data on road salt's effects on Adirondack lakes in Lake Champlain basin
By Zachary Matson
Sometimes it takes a disaster to get the policy gears in motion
By Zachary Matson
The towns of Dannemora, Bolton, Indian Lake and Chester each own a high hazard dam rated unsound by state inspectors.
By Zachary Matson
The Adirondack Park Agency approved a plan to use herbicide to battle invasive water weed on Lake Luzerne
By Zachary Matson
What’s at play in the latest fight over using an herbicide in Adirondack waters
By Zachary Matson
Ten high hazard dams are rated 'unsound,' meaning their safety cannot be assured
By Zachary Matson
The first article in an Adirondack Explorer investigation into the conditions of hundreds of dams in the Adirondack Park.