New Guide Available to Help Hudson River Valley Communities Conserve Natural Areas

• by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

ALBANY, NY (03/17/2009)(readMedia)-- Communities in the Hudson Valley looking for help in protecting natural resources can now tap into a new handbook, Conserving Natural Areas and Wildlife in Your Community: Smart Growth Strategies for Protecting the Biological Diversity of New York's Hudson River Valley, released today by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The guidebook provides a roadmap for municipalities to use their local powers to protect valuable natural resources. It includes "How They Did It" profiles of numerous Hudson Valley communities that already have consulted successfully with DEC to protect their natural areas, wildlife habitat and water bodies.

"Up and down the Hudson Valley, communities are recognizing the importance of fostering green and healthy communities - and the vital role planning plays in achieving local goals," said DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis. "DEC is here to help. This new handbook provides practical guidance to communities on key topics such as conservation, mapping, public participation and education, and inter-municipal approaches to land use. We hope it serves as a 'how to' book for municipalities working to conserve the Hudson Valley's natural heritage."

Eight years ago, through the Hudson River Estuary Program, the DEC began helping Hudson Valley communities take local action to protect their important natural areas and wildlife. Since then, more than 80 towns, villages and cities in the Hudson Valley have mapped habitats, taken training, or adopted plans and local laws. The new handbook provides these examples to assist others who are looking for models. Some examples:

Coxsackie, a rural town in Greene County, adopted standards for planning board applicants to identify and conserve natural areas as part of the update of its new comprehensive plan and zoning. The Town's action supplements conservation by Greene County, where the county Industrial Development Authority (IDA), Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Greene Land Trust has protected more than 400 acres of open habitat for the state-listed Northern harrier and short-eared owl. The conservation work was funded by the IDA through development of the Kalkberg and Greene business parks.

"I want the children from our local communities to be able to work in Greene County and appreciate the rural landscape as so many of our residents do," said IDA Executive Director, Sandy Mathes.

Philipstown, a riverfront town in the Hudson Highlands with large, healthy forests, was one of the first communities to work with the DEC Estuary Program in 2001. Since then, town representatives have received technical assistance and a grant from DEC and have trained on land use and natural area mapping. In 2006, the town adopted a comprehensive plan including a detailed section on natural areas that recognized their importance for clean water and scenic beauty. In early 2009, the Town Board adopted a Natural Resources Plan and Open Space Index. The plan identified Philipstown's most important habitat and lays the groundwork for protecting those resources for future generations.

In Hyde Park, a rapidly developing suburban community in the Mid Hudson Valley, town volunteers completed 10 months of training in October, and produced a 3,000-acre map of natural areas. With their data and additional information provided by DEC, the town is attempting to create Critical Environmental Areas (CEA). The town recently updated their zoning and is drafting a local wetlands law. "We hope the CEAs will raise awareness of valuable natural areas among developers and the public," said Mike Rubbo, member of the town's conservation advisory council. "This will help the planning board balance conservation and development."

The mission of DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program is to conserve the natural resources of the river and its watershed, promote full public use and enjoyment of the river and clean up the pollution that affects our ability to use and enjoy it. The publication of Conserving Natural Areas and Wildlife in Your Community, implements the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda goal: to conserve plants and animals of the Hudson River Valley by partnering with municipalities to create and enhance local programs to conserve high quality wildlife habitat.

The book can be downloaded at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/50083.html on the DEC website.

To learn more about biodiversity programs and assistance offered by the Hudson River Estuary Program, visit the DEC website or contact Karen Strong, Biodiversity Outreach Coordinator, by email at klstrong@gw.dec.state.ny.us or call 518-402-8878.