Balancing Act: Lake George's Long Island Resort

Grade Level: 8-12
Subjects: science
Duration: 1 45-60 minute period, homework the night before to read their positions, and come up with compromises if appropriate. It may help to have them read about LGA's land use program (see under "Materials").
NYS State Science Standards: Standard 4: The Living Environment: Key Idea 6 and Key Idea 7

Objectives:
1) To teach students that the reality of environmental protection is often complicated by the issue of human needs
2) To familiarize students with the issues of development in the Lake George Basin
3) To develop student debate skills

Materials: Copies of the position handouts for each group, maps of area (PDF files Full View 11"x17" and Features 8 1/2" x 11") (Contact the Education & Outreach Coordinator if you need a smaller or larger map).
Optional: A copy of LGA's Feb 2006 Newsletter with articles on land use and the Land Use Coordinator position.

Terms: Development, septic tank, sewer system, stormwater, oligotrophic, eutrophic, Eurasian watermilfoil, erosion controls, silt fences, catch basins, cumulative effect, nonpoint source pollution, hamlet

Background:

The Balancing Act is designed to teach students that the needs of man and nature often need to be balanced. It's easy for everybody to be in favor of protecting the environment in theory, but in reality, that's often difficult to achieve.

As chairperson of the Planning Board, it's your job to encourage students to give reasons both for and against the project. Don't let a simple "for" or "against" stand, but make sure that students give reasons for their answers.

When St. Isaac Jogues first came across Lake George and named it Lac du Saint Sacrament, (Lake of the Blessed Sacrament), he was paying tribute to the exceptionally clear waters of the lake; water so clear that Jogues believed them to be specially blessed by God.

Since then, more and more visitors have come to the lake and dirtied those waters. But while development has threatened the waters of Lake George, that same development has become the basis of the local economy. Overdevelopment, however, could ruin the very lake that draws people to the area. While an individual project wouldn't ruin the lake itself, the cumulative effect of too much development certainly would.

In the end, there are no easy answers. We can't go back to the "good ol' days." All of us must work together to protect Lake George from the dangers of our own greed.

Procedure:

1) Divide the class into 6 groups: the Planning Board, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, the Adirondack Chamber of Commerce, the Pilot Knob Association & Concerned Citizens, the Long Island Resort Co., and the Lake George Association. The Planning Board should have 5 members; the rest of the students should be divided evenly between the groups.

2) Give each group the handout with its own instructions as well as a copy of the introduction and the proposal. Make sure each group gets a copy of the introduction and the proposal. Print out the maps (PDF files Full View 11"x17" and Features 8 1/2" x 11") so that students have a visual idea of where they are talking about. (This part may be given as homework, so there is more time for discussion).

3) Begin the hearing. Alternate speakers from each group until everyone has had a chance to speak. Encourage the Planning Board members to ask as many questions as possible, but you will also have to move along fairly quickly to allow everyone to speak.

4) Once everybody has spoken, ask the Planning Board to vote either for or against the project. Tell them they can also vote for the project but with recommended changes in the project, such as a sewer system or additional erosion control and stormwater management.

5) Ask the members of the Planning Board to explain why they voted as they did.

6) Class discussion (time permitting): Ask the class as a whole to vote on the project. What are the things in favor of the resort? What most strongly influences them against it? How could the overall plan be improved? How can the needs of man and nature best be balanced?