I Love New York’s Foliage Reports begin September 12

NEW YORK STATE (WROC) — New York is far from a small state, and while there are quite a few cities and towns dotted across the landscape, much of it is dominated by acres of forest. All of which around this time of year begin to change color as fall arrives across the state. It’s a lot of ground to cover and according to Ross Levi the Executive Director of I Love New York, it’s a team of just over 85 people across the state who help track it.

“Currently the program has more than 85 volunteer foliage spotters. Some of whom have been with the program for as long as 30 years. We have some spotters at New York State Parks. We have one in the Catskills, who is a renowned nature photographer who sends us observations from the top of the mountains there in the Catskills.”

Each week these spotters submit detailed reports that help I Love New York to design their weekly foliage maps from all over the state. The reports cover a wide range of factors, including what colors are present, is there any additional change expected by the weekend, and more…

“We ask them to estimate the percentage of leaves that will be changed by the weekend, let us know the predominant fall colors, describe the leave’s brilliance, for example, going from muted to bright, and tell us the overall stage of progression in terms of the foliage in their region,” said Levi.

The program itself has been active for about four decades now and grew from the popularity of the fall foliage, but also to get people traveling to see new parts of the state. Due to how far north, and south the state stretches, let alone our extensive changes in elevation we have one of if not the longest fall foliage seasons in the country according to Levi.

“New York State has the longest foliage season of any state in the nation, that basically any weekend between basically mid-September through early November or so, somewhere in New York State is at peak. And we know that people love getting out into New York State to see that foliage.”

It’s a major economic driver too. Helping to contribute significantly to the states tax base, as well as continuing to feed local economies, small businesses and local farms.

“We know that our fall foliage report is the most visited part of our website, IloveNewYork.com, of any page, including our landing page. […] Tourism is literally responsible for one in 10 jobs in the state and saves every household over $1,400 in state and local taxes that they otherwise would have paid,” said Levi. “We just got to release the figures last week that showed that New York State had more visitors and more visitors spending last year in its history.”

With colors already starting to pop in the Adirondacks, as seen first hand by Levi, the first I Love New York Fall Foliage Report and map are set to be released on Thursday, September 12. With subsequent updates to follow each Wednesday through the fall foliage season.

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