Raquette LakeOn Election Day, voters not only decided their own local races, but also the fate of safe and potable drinking water in the tiny Adirondack hamlet of Raquette Lake. Seventy percent of voters across the state approved Proposition 1, an amendment to the New York State Constitution that retroactively legalized the drilling of two emergency wells in a state forest preserve.

The amendment was needed because Raquette Lake's drinking-water wells -- which had been operating with an emergency permit -- are on land designated "forever wild." In addition to the statewide referendum, the initiative required Assembly and Senate approval.

NYLCV, other environmental groups and major editorial boards (including the New York Times) supported the proposal because of its narrow, case-specific focus that averts the loosening of essential forest preserve water restrictions. In addition, to appease environmental concerns of alienating one acre of parkland, Hamilton County will add 12 acres to the forest preserve.

As Brian Houseal, executive director of the Adirondack Council, put it: "We thank all New Yorkers for aiding a small hamlet and increasing the size of the Forest Preserve at the same time.”