Protect the Adirondacks wants motorboats banned from Weller Pond and Little Weller Pond near Middle Saranac Lake. If you agree, you have until Friday to submit comments to the Adirondack Park Agency.
In a draft unit management plan (UMP) for the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest, the state Department of Environmental Conservation did not ban motorboats from the two ponds, but it is proposing to impose a 5-mph speed limit.
Protect contends that the ponds—which are surrounded by state land—should offer paddlers a refuge from the motorized waterways of the Saranac Lakes. Both ponds are reached by a weedy channel from Middle Saranac Lake.
“When we look across the Saranac Lakes Chain, from Lake Flower to the Saranac River to Upper Saranac Lake, the area totals over 9,000 acres of open waters. Weller Pond and Little Weller Pond are just 190 acres – just 2% of the waters of the Saranac Lakes Chain.” Protect says on its website.
Protect is urging the public to submit comments on this and other issues to the APA before Friday’s deadline. Click here to read the organization’s advice on submitting comments and its summary of the issues.
Comments can be sent to:
Kathy Regan
NYS Adirondack Park Agency
PO Box 99
Ray Brook, NY 12977
SLMP_UMP_Comments@apa.ny.gov
DEC issued a draft UMP last year and finished revising it this year. The APA board must decide whether the revised plan complies with the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan.
More information on the UMP can be found here on DEC’s website.
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One of the many reasons that I love to go camping on Norway Island and paddle to Weller Pond is the peace and quiet of no motors.. Waking up in the morning to the sound of the loon and looking over at Ampersand needs to remain a quiet wilderness.. PLEASE.. No motors..