2021 EXPLORED: Snowmobile trails/tree cutting
A nearly eight-year legal battle over snowmobile trails planned for the Adirondack Park ended in May when the state’s highest court ruled they were unconstitutional
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Future of some snowmobile trails remains murky after court decision
NYS DEC and APA have said little about what the decision means for tree-cutting projects.
Court of Appeals: Clearing trees for snowmobile trails unconstitutional
The decision by New York's highest court ends nearly eight years of litigation that divided environmental groups and overturns part of a lower court ruling.
State’s highest court hears forest preserve tree cutting case
The state’s highest court will soon decide what constitutes a constitutionally protected tree in the Adirondack Forest Preserve, potentially impacting the construction of planning snowmobile trails.
Adirondack advocates clash over lawsuit’s possible effects on trail work
The fate of Adirondack Forest Preserve trees and trails is on the line in an ongoing lawsuit that has divided environmental organizations.
High Court OKs snowmobile trail along wild section of Hudson River
Adirondack Wild and Protect the Adirondacks sued in 2016 to thwart a Department of Environmental Conservation plan to route a snowmobile trail across newly acquired state land between Indian Lake and Newcomb. The Adirondack Park Agency had signed off on the trail on Chain Lakes Road South, which passes within a half-mile of the Hudson River in a mile-long stretch where the river is designated “wild.”
State and Protect disagree on tree-cutting limits
By Phil Brown
In July, the Appellate Division of State Supreme Court agreed with Protect the Adirondacks that the number of trees cut for community connectors is excessive, violating Article 14, the clause of the state constitution mandating that the preserve “shall be forever kept as wild forest lands.”
Protect joins state in appealing timber lawsuit
By Tim Rowland
Both parties to a controversial and consequential forest-use lawsuit have appealed a July 3 court ruling that says construction of a planned network of snowmobile trails in the east-central Adirondacks is illegal because it would mow down too many trees on the forest preserve.
State appeals ruling barring tree cutting for trails
Local officials and proponents of other trail projects to benefit cyclists and skiers have fretted that the court's ruling could block more initiatives.
Employee recruitment among struggles discussed at Explorer forum
By Sara Ruberg
“You’re turning over staff so quickly. They’re trying to make more money per hour or they’re shifting for a different place to live or there are transportation issues. All those things come together to degrade the employees that support the businesses.”