FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Snowmobilers Praise APA for Trails Guidelines Approval
November 14, 2009, Long Lake, NY – The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) applauded the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) for approving the APA/DEC Interagency snowmobile trail guidelines during yesterday’s APA meeting. Following Thursday’s presentation to the State Lands Committee, the committee approved a motion recommending approval by the APA Board. The APA resolution finds the guidelines consistent with the Adirondack State Land Master Plan (ASLMP).
“The APA action has finally allowed the UMP process to resume,” said Dave Perkins, NYSSA Trails Coordinator. Perkins said that the guidelines include prescriptions for trail class designations, trail widths, and maintenance activities. The guidelines represent years of work that brought stakeholders together to seek solutions to issues and concerns about snowmobile trails. Perkins praised the efforts of APA project associate Walt Linck, and Karyn Richards of the DEC, for hammering out the details in the guidelines.
“Along with APA and DEC staff, representatives from the snowmobile community and environmental groups spent time walking trails during ‘field trips’,” Perkins said. It was during these trips that solutions to issues were identified, according to Perkins. The guidelines also address the use of tracked groomers, and off-season maintenance.
Speaking during the public comment portion of Friday’s meeting, NYSSA president Mike Fischer commended the APA commissioners for striking a balance between the stakeholders. Fischer said that while logistical and safety concerns remain from NYSSA’s perspective, the APA action gives snowmobile clubs a way to move forward. “We can start to move the UMPs forward,” Fischer said, adding “that process will be where the rubber meets the road.”
Neil Woodworth, Executive Director of the Adirondack Mountain Club, joined Fischer in praising the progress made on the snowmobile guidelines. “We commend all the hard work that the agency (APA) and DEC staff did on the guidance,” Woodworth said, adding “we support the realignment of snowmobile trails to achieve both safe riding conditions, a safe and enjoyable riding experience for snowmobilers, but also maintaining the wild forest character.”
Woodworth also indicated the Adirondack Mountain Club would support revisions to the ASLMP, “to redefine trail maintenance” based on the provisions approved Friday. He added that “overall, it’s a very good policy.” APA commissioner Bill Booth voiced his concern about whether the guidelines comply with the ASLMP, but did say that he was in favor of the guidelines, stating “I think this document is a positive step.” APA chair Curt Stiles, responding to the ASLMP issue, said he thought “the interpretation is sufficient to find it compliant.”
Dan Plumley, Director of Conservation Programs for PROTECT the Adirondacks, shared comments on the snowmobile guidelines. “We share the chairman’s interest to see issues moved off the table, and we all want to see progress on critical policy issues that have been hanging fire for some time before this agency,” Plumley said, but also cited his perception of a lack of APA staff assessment of the issues and concern about weakening the ASLMP.
Founded in 1975, NYSSA is the voice of more than 100,000 snowmobilers in New York State, and provides support for the 230 local clubs maintaining over 11,000 miles of local snowmobile and multiuse trails. Visit NYSSA online at www.nysnowmobiler.com .
For more information:
Jim Jennings, NYSSA Executive Director
PO Box 612, Long Lake, NY 12847-0612
Tel. 518-624-3849, Fax 518-624-2441
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