The Town of Webb has agreed to work toward improving the 90-Mile Canoe Trail-which starts in Old Forge and runs through Saranac Lake-as a recreational resource and to promote it better to water-recreation enthusiasts.
Webb will be doing this with other communities along the water route, including the towns of Inlet, Long Lake, Harrietstown, and North Elba, as well as the villages of Tupper Lake and Saranac Lake.
The first step was to approve the creation of a planning document, which the Town of Webb Board did at its Tuesday meeting.
The planning document will involve public input and take place over the course of several months, said Webb Supervisor Robert Moore.
The planning documents, that will be created by all communities, will contribute to a broader “90-Miler Community Revitalization and Blue Way Trail Strategy.”
According to Moore, the strategy will describe the Blue Way corridor and locations of access points, enhanced community linkages between the waterfronts, business districts, forest preserve lands, and other community assets.
Also included will be recommendations for site and facility improvements, as well as related actions that will enhance recreational access and boater services for canoeing, kayaking, fishing and scenic viewing.
Working with the Town of Webb in creating a water revitalization plan, as part of the 90-Miler project, will be Elan Planning, Design and Landscape Architecture, PLLC of Saratoga Springs.
“The project cost for the entire planning action and proposed agreement with Elan will be $28,000, however, it will not cost the Town anything,” Supervisor Moore said.
“Our local match is already in place with the work we have done on the navigation dock, and I believe that the funds we have already invested in replacing the dock will be used as part of our local match.”
A regional second grant for funding the 90-Miler project will come from the Department of State.
“Having this plan in place really solidifies things. Going forward, as grants get more competitive for brick and mortar construction, having a working plan in place and knowing what you want to do will create better access to the funds that will help to complete those projects,” Moore said.
Moore described the project as a continuation of work the town is doing to improve the Old Forge Lakefront and its infrastructure.
This has involved two grants that had been secured with the assistance of CAP-21.
The first grant totaled $22,000 and went towards the engineering costs that were associated with replacing the navigation dock, Moore said.
So far, the project has included the development of conceptual designs for the enhancement of the public waterfront including the town beach and park, the preparation of an engineering feasibility study for the enhancement of the navigation docks, as well as the total replacement of one of the two navigation docks.
About $6,000 remains from the initial grant, Moore said.
