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Despite recent criticism, state Adirondack Park Agency spokesman Keith McKeever says his organization is increasing recreational access opportunities on Adirondack Forest Preserve.

"Millions of people snowmobile, ski, paddle, motorboat, camp, fish, hunt, hike and climb throughout the Park's open spaces," McKeever wrote in a recent letter he sent the Enterprise. "Recreational pursuits on state lands help sustain the outdoor recreation and tourism industries which have been significant components of the Adirondack economy since the 19th century and represent a majory economic growth opportunity."

The letter was written in response to an opinion article that ran recently in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and Press Republican, of Plattsburgh, by Local Government Review Board Executive Director Fred Monroe. Monroe commentary criticized state policies, including the attempt to classify much of Lows Lake as wilderness, are being too restrictive and not inclusive to all user groups.

"A clear pattern is developing of the state systematically and quietly restricting public access to public land," Monroe wrote. "These steps exclude ordinary New Yorkers who might want or need to use a motorized fishing boat, a snowmobile, an ATV, even a motorized wheelchair to get to the most remote backcountry areas. The vote to classify a lake as a wilderness for the first time is a major step toward less access for all but the most able-bodied canoeists and kayakers."

Monroe has also written at least one letter to Gov. David Paterson criticizing the APA's attempts to classify Lows Lake and surrounding lands as wilderness. Monroe also forced a revote after pointing out that the APA Empire State Development designee, Chris Walsh, was no longer employed by ESD when he voted. Without Walsh's vote, the motion didn't have enough to pass. Last month, the APA decided to revisit the issue and the ESD now has a new designee.

But McKeever's letter takes issue with the claims that the APA doesn't consider all user groups when making decisions, saying that "the agency is always in the position of considering a range of stakeholder advocacy positions concerning the present and future of the Adirondack Park."

He wrote that "within the mix of wilderness, wild forest and easement lands, wilderness by its very definition is not easily accessible and is intentionally managed to provide important opportunities for solitude and remoteness. Lows Lake is one of these places."

McKeever also took issue with Monroe's presentation of the facts, saying there is "an ongoing need for accurate representation of the facts, regardless of opinions, to facilitate a positive and constructive dialogue to ensure outcomes that are beneficial to the Adirondack Park's people, communities and environment."

In particular, McKeever questioned Monroe's statement that "the state now owns or controls (through the most restrictive classification available) 75 percent of all the land in the Adirondacks, public and private."

The most restrictive classification of state land is wilderness, which accounts for roughly 20 to 25 percent of the Adirondacks six million acres.

"Statements that the state owns or controls 75 percent of all the land inside the Park are grossly inaccurate," McKeever writes. "Over the past decade the state has spent millions of dollars acquiring conservation easement rights to maintain working forests; these easement lands also provide additional recreational opportunities for residents and visitors."

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Contact Mike Lynch at 891-2600 ext. 28 or mlynch@adirondackdailyenterprise.com.