About Zachary Matson

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 working as the education reporter for six years at the Daily Gazette in Schenectady.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. wayne tusa says

    It’s already happened. In the area I grew up (Beekmantown), we used to have continuous snow cover from roughly 12/25 to 4/1 and there would be a few days of minus 30 degrees Farenheit. That no longer happens. Deer populations were very low but now they are widespread. Plus if you ask the local farm stand managers, the growing season has been extended about a month… I’m sure there are numerous other ecological impacts that we don’t yet understand…

  2. adkresident says

    One guys opinion so he can write another climate paper and get it published somewhere.

    A few data points to consider, since first Earth day in 1972:

    Population of California has doubled.

    USA population has gone from 200,000,000 to 340,000,000

    Will hit 400,000,000 by 2030

    and

    a Half Billion by 2050

    Go buy all the electric cars you want.

  3. Gerhardt says

    This information is food for thought but I’m not convinced. Our pride as a species necessitates our being delusional relative to the impact we think we have as individuals and as a species.

    I am concerned that the park will continue to be in peril due to how the park is marketed ( many see it as a party destination) and few seem to be educated as to the parks history, biology, significance in terms of biodiversity, geology or philosophy. Many simply like to call themselves hikers and take a selfie for social
    Media. Most have actually never spent a night in the woods.

    I’m in my sixties and have lived here my entire life, the forest has changed, it’s not as vibrant and full of life. I’m not sure of the cause but we should be proactive in encouraging policies, types of recreation, electric boats and snowmobiles as a start.

    Let’s use the technology we have to assure the park exists without destroying the very thing that makes it the Adirondack.

    Wisdom is old men planting trees they will never see grow.

  4. Mike says

    Thanks Curt, I sold my skis and ice fishing equipment. I didnt bother getting oil or firewood this year, winters are done for good. Im cutting all my pussy willows down too, bees just dont have enough time to forage from them anymore. Im planting bananas, pineapples, and kiwis next year.

  5. Cristine Meixner says

    I wonder if Mr. Stager has studied some of the multi-generational weather diaries kept by some North Country families, particularly those with a farming heritage. The 1950s in my area (Lake Pleasant), for instance, according to one such diary, saw Japanese beetles, ticks, and other insects return with milder winters. Then the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s, and early ’90s were back to deep snow and winter temps as low as -40… and no Japanese beetles or ticks. There seems to be a 40-50 year cycle.

  6. William Rushby says

    I recall that a hard freeze came to Port Henry in early September during the 1950s. Now the Goldenrod is still blooming, and it’s mid-October.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *