The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has granted a permit for the expansion of the Upper Saranac Lake Marina, formerly known as Hickok’s Marina. The permit allows the installation of a new dock system with 92 slips, extending nearly 200 feet into the 79-acre Lower Fish Creek Pond, along with the placement of three no-wake buoys. The marina, which connects to Upper Saranac Lake via a narrow 50-foot-wide, 0.85-mile channel, has become a focal point for ongoing debate.
Residents and environmental groups have raised serious concerns over the increased boat traffic and potential navigational hazards that could result from the expansion. The approved dock length of 200 feet far exceeds the 100-foot limit enforced on Lake George, a much larger body of water, which is 374 times the size of Lower Fish Creek Pond.
The Upper Saranac Foundation (USF), alongside other environmental organizations, voiced apprehension about the potential impact on aquatic ecosystems and water quality, and the natural aesthetics of the area. USF advocated for a carrying capacity study to assess the physical, biological, and social consequences of the expansion, emphasizing the need for a balance between environmental preservation and development as outlined in both the State Land Master Plan and the Saranac Lakes Wild Forest Unit Management Plan.
Despite these concerns, the DEC concluded that a formal carrying capacity study was not required for this private project. Instead, the agency relied on a rudimentary boating study provided by the marina. Additionally, the DEC used its own calculations, based on an estimated 43 historical dock slips rather than the 71 claimed by the applicant, to evaluate potential increases in boat traffic. The agency ultimately determined that the expansion “is not likely to endanger health, safety, or welfare, nor cause unreasonable harm to natural resources,” and deemed the project “unlikely to significantly affect water quality or contribute to algal blooms.”
The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) Board of Directors gave its approval for the marina’s expansion at their May 2024 meeting. The project had previously received support from the Town of Santa Clara in 2023, though further review may be needed due to modifications in the site plans.
Environmental advocates remain concerned about the long-term consequences of the marina’s expansion and the precedent it sets for future development within the park.
