Sacandaga Protection Committee

Sacandaga Protection Committee

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Released to area newspapers on August 26th:

Sacandaga Protection Committee’s Law Firm Says Lake Land Is Not ‘Forest Preserve’

NORTHVILLE - The Northville Central School auditorium was packed Monday night for the Sacandaga Protection Committee’s second town-hall meeting, which addressed the recent controversial permit proposals and confusion over oversight of the Great Sacandaga Lake.

Attendees included New York State Assemblyman Marc Butler, a representative from the offices of Sen. Hugh T. Farley and U.S. Rep. Scott Foley, Northville Mayor Jim Groff, and supervisors from Fulton and Saratoga counties, residents and local business owners concerned about the Hudson River-Black River Regulating District and Department of Environmental Conservation’s recent damaging proposals. The meeting was sponsored by the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Lakeside towns were rocked earlier this year when the DEC proposed to make the 129-mile lake shoreline forever wild forest preserve. In response to the public outcry, the SPC was formed. Hodgson Russ, the legal firm hired by the SPC to investigate rights of the lake community heading into the next round of debate, says the land around this great lake is not forest preserve, as the DEC has suggested.

SPC Co-Chairman Joe Sullivan read a statement from Hodgson Russ, which said, in part:

“When Great Sacandaga Lake was created in the 1920s, the area was not wilderness or forest preserve. It was comprised of farm land, factories, communities, a thriving railroad, and even an amusement park. The fact that this area was not wilderness or forest preserve can be seen in the relocation of 12,000 homes and the transfer of nearly 4,000 bodies from 22 local cemeteries. The history of New York State’s action passing legislation for the reservoir and acquiring land bolsters the fact that this is not forest preserve.”

This drew loud applause from the audience. Hodgson Russ also says the HRBRRD likely will seek to implement permit policy changes without the new proposed DEC rules. Changes in signage and permit applications have already been seen. “Without following the administrative procedures that are required by state law, these actions are illegal,” the law firm said.The Great Sacandaga Lake Business Association, Great Sacandaga Lake Association, Batchellerville Bridge Action Committee, and Sacandaga Lake Fisheries Association pledged their support to the SPC and its effort to contact all lake residents to educate them about the issue. Although the controversial proposals have been put on hold, the DEC has said they will be brought up again. The SPC wants the lake community to be ready for action.

“This isn’t just the Sacandaga Protection Committee’s fight. It isn’t just the lake front owner’s fight. It isn’t just the permit holder’s fight, but for the entire future of the way of life we have all known,” Sullivan said. “It’s our entire community at risk – all of us, our children, and grandchildren.”

Another issue of concern included the traffic reduction on the Batchellerville Bridge - which has had multiple red flag warnings because of infrastructure failings.

Although representatives from the HRBRRD, DEC and Adirondack Park Agency participated in the SPC’s Broadalbin town hall meeting last month, none were present this time. The DEC did state its willingness to participate, and said it would answer all DEC-related questions in writing.

The SPC is compiling a database of property owners around the lake. It encourages everyone to contact the SPC through its Web site at www.lovethesacandaga.com, and provide your contact information so that it can keep you updated on the issues vital to the lake community. There is also information on the Web site on how you can donate to the SPC’s legal fund.

The Sacandaga Protection Committee

The Sacandaga Protection Committee (SPC), composed of community leaders, lake users and permit holders, was formed to develop strategies to protect the environmental, economic and legal interests of the entire lake community. Please visit www.lovethesacandaga.com for more information. Thank you for your support!

Adirondack Sunset