For many folks, seeing the year 2010 come to an end will be met with mixed emotions, for it probably will go down as one of our less memorable years and also one many will be happy to put behind us. Among other things, it was the year that saw sweeping changes in those elected to Congress. It was also the year of large budget deficits, both federally and in many individual states, including New York. Closer to home, it will be the year that we bid farewell to what was a local institution, Rogers Environmental Conservation Education Center in Sherburne. And it looks as though our winter may be a severe one this time. However, the worst effect of this waning year will be that it will probably have a carryover impact on the new year.
Faced with nearly a $1B state budget deficit, our current administration and legislature are desperately trying to dig the state out of the deep debt hole that I can only attribute to the years of poor planning and overspending (too many pork projects?) on their part have buried us in. Unfortunately for those of us who cherish the natural outdoor resources that were once so abundant in the state, many of the programs and personnel under the charge of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have taken heavy hits from the Division of Budget knife, Rogers Center being just one of them.
Those of us who purchase hunting, fishing and trapping licenses have historically hoped that our money for these was sufficiently budgeted by Albany to keep the programs dealing with these natural resources solvent. An across-the-board fee increase in these licenses two years ago was touted by DEC as being the solution to avoiding major program cuts. Now, sportsmen are being warned that major cuts are necessary due to the budget crisis. The fee money generated by the license sales increase created a $17M surplus in the Conservation Fund, the fund that provides much of the money for natural resources management and programs. Now many license-holders are crying foul since they feel they were misled or lied to.
Recently, the DEC has hinted that the funds to operate the state’s fish rearing and stocking programs may need to be reduced. Sport fishing generates about $1B annually in the state, and reducing our once healthy fisheries program could see that additional income decline next year and perhaps in the years that follow. From what I gather, many other DEC functions will be negatively affected due to inadequate funds to supply operational needs, such as fuel, materials and upkeep maintenance. Depending on the priorities positioning by our state leaders, this could ripple through many other DEC divisions, such as those charged with lands and forests management and natural gas mining overseeing and inspections.
Over the years I’ve made many lasting friendships with DEC professionals, most of whom are now retired and, to be honest, say they’re glad to be there, not just because they’re retired now, but because they could see this mess within the DEC and the budget gradually developing over the years. That they, on the front lines, could see it, then why couldn’t those higher up the chain of command see it and start reporting their fears to those higher up in Albany who are now scrambling to fix something that’s apparently been failing for an extended period of time? Or is it that accountability is not something high on the list of our leaders’ inactions and poor judgment. And now they expect us to bite the proverbial bullet for it? Just don’t expect many outdoors participants to be joining their fan clubs in 2011.
Despite all this, Happy New Year.

News Flash: Ex APA Official May Get Nod As New DEC Commissioner
Joe Martens, the chairman of the Olympic Regional Development Authority Board of Directors, reportedly may be Gov.-elect Andrew Cuomo's pick to head NYSDEC. Martens worked for the state Adirondack Park Agency (APA) in the late 1980s. After leaving the APA, he served as Gov. Mario Cuomo's deputy secretary for energy and the environment. He is currently the head of the Open Space Institute where he’s in charge of major land conservation agreements in the Adirondack Park. His appointment could validate the rumor that DEC might be shifted into the NYS Department of Parks and Recreation. Martens has said that the communities of the Adirondack Park “may have to play more of a role in managing the region since the state can no longer afford to.” Which begs for the question: Is the State of New York now also “land poor?”