Moriah Shock, Camp Gabriels given priority at State of the State address

ALBANY | New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has committed to a 50 percent increase in state funding for clean water infrastructure projects, steady funding for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and a constitutional amendment to release former prison sites on the Adirondack Forest Preserve from state ownership in the 2026 State of the State message she delivered on Tuesday. "Adirondack communities depend on state grants for water and sewer projects. State investment is vital to updating aging infrastructure and helps keep Adirondack waters clean for year-round residents and the millions who visit each year," said Adirondack Council Executive Director Raul J. Aguirre. "Most Adirondack towns have fewer than 1,000 residents but need water and sewer infrastructure costing millions of dollars. State grants make these projects affordable for Adirondack residents, while protecting the purity of Adirondack rivers that flow outward and provide clean water to other regions of the state." AMENDMENT WOULD AFFECT FORMER PRISONS' FUTURE The Governor also renewed her call for a Constitutional Amendment to allow the state to sell or redevelop former prison campuses in Saranac Lake (Camp Gabriels), Franklin County; Mt. McGregor in Saratoga County; and Mineville (Moriah Shock) in Essex County — all within Adirondack Park counties. She acknowledged the crumbling sites are "more than just eyesores; they are environmental hazards and lost opportunities for the people who call the North Country home." "We applaud Governor Hochul for her commitment to create a new future for decommissioned prisons in the Adirondack Park region," said Raul J. Aguirre. "We have worked for years to create a solution that honors the 'Forever Wild' clause of the State's Constitution and builds new opportunities for the communities these former prisons reside in. We look forward to partnering with the legislature in a solutions-oriented approach." These and other Adirondack priorities were mentioned during her roughly one-hour speech, and they are outlined in the briefing book she provided to the Legislature to outline her priorities for the new Legislative Session. Making these projects affordable is essential to the future of strong Adirondack communities and the protection of the precious natural resources that make this place so special. The state has appropriated $500 million per year for water and sewer grants for nearly a decade to cities, towns, and villages across the state. In a Dec. 18 letter to the Governor, the Adirondack Council and a host of other environmental organizations called for $500 million in clean water grants and $425 million for the EPF. Nearly $200 million has been awarded to Adirondack communities for clean water grants over the past decade. The Environmental Protection Fund had been $400 million for several years and was increased to $425 in 2025. Environmental organizations worried that federal budget cuts and policy changes might compel across-the-board cuts by state government. The EPF would remain at $425 million under the Governor's proposal.

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Moriah Shock, Camp Gabriels given priority at State of the State address

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