AdkAction, in partnership with the Town of Indian Lake, is proud to announce that they have been awarded a $124,396 Smart Growth Grant by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC). This grant will fund a groundbreaking three-year project to transform a capped landfill in Indian Lake into a thriving native pollinator habitat, marking the first initiative of its kind in the Adirondacks.
Indian Lake, affectionately known as “the town that loves monarchs,” will soon be home to a unique 8-acre pollinator haven. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the project will include the creation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant paths and the installation of interpretive signs to educate visitors about the site’s ecological significance.
Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and other insects, play a crucial role in sustaining ecosystems by aiding in the reproduction of over 85% of the world’s flowering plants, including many of the crops that humans rely on for food. The decline of pollinator populations due to habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change has sparked global concern. By creating a dedicated habitat for these essential species, this project will not only help to preserve local biodiversity but also contribute to broader efforts to safeguard pollinator populations and the critical ecosystem services they provide.
The project site, currently a low-nutrient grassland atop a clay-capped landfill, has been closed, like all Adirondack landfills, for nearly three decades. These landfills now sit vacant as mowed areas. The existing gravel path on the site gently curves and slopes to its highest point, offering a scenic view of the surrounding landscape.
AdkAction and the Town of Indian Lake will collaborate closely with an ecologist and environmental engineer to develop a comprehensive site plan. This plan will include a detailed map of the current and future landscape, encompassing essential information on the site’s size, topography, pathways, well vents, parking, soil composition, and hydrology. The project will also focus on the selection and planting of native species that are vital to pollinators, particularly monarch butterflies, which are emblematic of the town’s identity.
“We are thrilled to embark on this innovative project that aligns with our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability,” said Sawyer Bailey, Executive Director of AdkAction. “This project will not only enhance the ecological and recreational value of the site but also provide a model for more than one hundred inactive landfills across the Park.”
“The Town of Indian Lake is excited to be the first in the Adirondacks to transform its capped landfill into a pollinator site,” said Supervisor Brian E. Wells. “The transition of turning buried trash into beauty will have lasting sustainable ecological benefits for restoring natural habitats for Monarchs and other pollinators. After all, we are the Town that loves butterflies!”
The project represents a significant step forward in sustainable land use and pollinator conservation within the Adirondack region. By restoring the capped landfill into a vibrant ecosystem, AdkAction and the Town of Indian Lake are setting a precedent for future pollinator habitat creation in similar settings. The last active landfills in the Adirondacks were capped three decades ago as part of the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act of 1996.
