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3. DEC cuts New York

I hear that the DEC in New York is suffering some big cuts now-I heard about this from a fly fishing friend who lives up in the Adirondacks who seemed very upset about this. I also heard that one of the bigger Adirondack trout hatcheries (the Essex County Hatchery) is closing it up soon. I'm a little concerned about how this may effect the West Branch of the Ausable, Boquet, Saranac, and other rivers that I frequent on my annual trip up that way. Has anyone heard about this, and what do you think the effects will be?

If this is a controversial topic, I promise I'm not trying to stir the pot- it just sounded kind of alarming.

Don't know, but as usual, one of the departments that generates the most money gets cut the hardest. Supposedly, all the license increases last year was suppose to help fund existing and new programs for DEC. I knew then it'd never happen because what DEC generates for itself usually ends up in "General Fund". It's a lot of hooey!

Mark

More: Here's what I've heard about some cuts:
Agency was told to lay off 209 staff, on top of 260 early retirement incentive approvals this year. This leaves the agency with 2,926 staff, a 23 percent reduction from 2007-08.

The DEC is bearing 10 percent of all state layoffs, although the agency only accounts for 2.5 percent of the total state workforce.

In the last 2.5 years, the agency has lost 595 employees, 16 percent of its workforce.

The DEC’s non-personal services budget (travel and equipment for inspections, oil clean ups) has been cut in half from 2007-08 to 2010-11.

Why does it always have to be our natural resources that bear so much of the pain for fiscal irresponsibility elsewhere? It's a very sad thing with this kind of stuff happens. I'd say all of us, no matter what state we're from, need to be on the lookout for it.

Some people tend to get the idea that managing our natural resources is an "extra" that should taken care of only when there is enough money left over from the "more important" programs. It seems that all too many people don't understand that the fly fishing and other outdoor sports are truly a way of life for us, nothing short of that. If our natural resources are abused because we don't think it is important to take care of them, then I would make the case that none of the other "more important" things are going to matter much. If as Americans we don't start considering the environment even when economic times are bad, we are going to see some very grim results in the near future. I hope it doesn't come to that. I'm not even from anywhere near New York, but this is still almost too painful to watch. Because the same thing could happen to any of us in the next couple years.

And that concludes today's sermon...................

The thing is, Motrout, is we foot the bill to improve our environment, everybody benefits, especially other government agencies.

Mark

The "General Fund" allocation is unfortunate.

I was a DEC fisheries tech in 85. At that time the DEC was socked with a huge shortfall. It cut projects and jobs. What I remember most were some senior techs griping about politics giving a green light to violators of water quality regulations, and a loss of CO's to handle it. And I remember seeing a trout stream --I believe it was Sing-Sing--where somebody ran a bulldozer through it. Our shocking crew was upset that the nearest CO would never fit it into his burgeoned schedule.



Because it's not of value to the majority. Most people do not have experience and therefore any understanding of nature. A good book on the subject: "The Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv.

But... if everyone really valued it, it would keep all those people playing hooky (irresponsible) and our rapacious society would crumble. Then we'd be all be left defending our trout with stone points again. Guess there's no turning back is there. :)

Natural Resource issues usually don't follow a 2-4 year cycle, depending on who's counting.

Hi !
I've just visited this forum. Happy to get acquainted with you. Thanks.





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