Public Hearing: Help Protect New Adirondack Land and Ponds as Wilderness

  Protect Boreas Ponds Tract as Wilderness!

This spring Governor Cuomo finalized the purchase of the Boreas Ponds Tract and instantly added almost 21,000 acres of state land to the Adirondack Park. Boreas Ponds is located between the High Peaks Wilderness area and Dix Mountain Wilderness area and is best suited to be Wilderness too. Your input is needed to help ensure that the Boreas Ponds Tract is officially protected as Wilderness.

How YOU Can Help: 

1.  Send a message to Gov. Cuomo and his Adirondack Park Agency. It's Easy! Click here to email a form letter that you should feel free to modify as needed.

2. Attend a Boreas Ponds Classification Hearing to help make sure Boreas Ponds becomes Wilderness!

Voice your support:

• Keep the Boreas Tract motor-free
• Reject current alternative classifications - Keep it Wild!

November 28, 7:00 PM

Rochester Institute of Technology

Golisano Institute for Sustainability

Louise Slaughter Hall (parking lot T), Rochester [Map]
(Note Room Change - previously listed as 'Sustainability Hall')

Need a Ride? Hop on the BUS: The Adirondack Mountain Club and Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter are offering bus transportation to Rochester from Buffalo. Talking points, snacks, and Pro-Wilderness swag/goodies will be provided! 

ADK Members register for the bus here. Contact Cathy Pedler or Paul Gallery at 518-449-3870 or at advocacy@adk.org for more information.

Sierra Club members may contact Caitlin (atlantic.chapter@sierraclub.org) to learn more about the bus option. Please feel free to share this with anyone you may know that is interested in going!

Background on Boreas Ponds Classification

1. A Wilderness Classification is the only designation that will ensure the Boreas Ponds will remain protected from motorized use which destroys the aesthetic quality of backcountry experiences, impacts wildlife and habitat, and spreads invasive species.

2. Reasonable access for parking using a permit system could be accomodated with a wilderness buffer of at least one mile around Boreas Ponds to LaBier Flow, protecting the most sensitive areas of the tract as wilderness, but allowing access for canoes and kayaks for a put-in at LaBier Flow.

3. The Boreas Ponds  and other recent acquisitions (including the Casey Brook Tract) connect the High Peaks Wilderness to the Dix Mountain Wilderness. With a Wilderness designation these parcels would combine to form a nearly 300,000 acre Wilderness area. A Wilderness area of this acreage rivals the size of the Rocky Mountain, Mount Rainier, and Zion National Parks! 

4. With the ever present threat of climate change and invasive species, the best way to protect our public lands is to keep them pristine by only allowing footprints, not tire tracks and motorboat wake. 

For additional information, visit bewildny.org
 

Climate Rally in DC - Reserve Bus Seat - See UPDATE

What: Forward on Climate Rally.
When: February 17, 2013 -- 12 Noon.
Where: Washington Monument on the National Mall, Washington DC.
Who: 350.org, The Sierra Club, Hip Hop Caucus and tens of thousands of Americans.

Click here to join the action.

Sierra Club Niagara Group chartered a Bus

Leave Buffalo Saturday, February 16 at 11:15 PM. Return late Sunday or early Monday.

Cost $70/per person, full fare
$25 "Scholarship" seats are available to students, unemployed and low-income folks

Seating and scholarships are on a first paid/first served basis, 
so send in your check today! 
Make check out to “Sierra Club Niagara Group” and send to Sierra Club, 601 W Ferry Street, Buffalo, NY 14222
If you can’t go but can  afford to help, PLEASE send a donation today !

UPDATE 2/9/2013: Sierra Club is sending a SECOND BUS
Seats will be reserved on a first paid basis.
Checks payable to "Sierra Club Niagara Group" can be mailed or dropped off at the address above.
Alternatively, you can pay by credit card by going to VPSpay.com
Enter this Merchant Phone number 716-849-0140 and the Amount paid ($70 full, $25 scholarship).
Enter "Sierra Club Bus" in the Invoice box. A small service charge will be added.
An email will be sent automatically to the law office of Diane Ciurczak confirming your payment and your name will be entered on the bus list.

Donations are also accepted and should be entered as "Scholarship Donation".

For more information: dianeciurczak@yahoo.com or call 716-849-0140

BUS Departure: 11:15 p.m. Saturday, February 16, from the Park & Ride Lot on the University of Buffalo South Campus (Main St. near Kenmore Ave.)

BUS Return: late Sunday or early Monday. 

Contact Bill Nowak at 716-316-7674 or bill.nowakcwa@gmail.com for more information.