open space strategies nys - dec dave forness, supervising forester
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN SPACE STRATEGIESNYS - DEC
Dave Forness, Supervising Forester
DEC and Open Space
DEC – The Department DEC – Lands and Administrative
Responsibilities Open Space Protection -- Acquisition tools
and funding Open Space Protection -- The Open Space
Plan
The Department of Environmental Conservation
Our Department…..
DEC Offices and Divisions
Commissioner - Erin M. Crotty
Executive Deputy Commissioner - Denise Sheehan
Office of General Counsel James Ferreira, Deputy Commissioner
Division of Legal Affairs
Division of Environmental Enforcement
Environmental Justice
Regional Enforcement Coordination
Office of Natural Resources and Water Quality- Lynette Stark, Deputy Commissioner
Division of Lands and Forests
Division of Mineral Resources
Division of Water
Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
Office of Air and Waste Management - Carl Johnson, Deputy Commissioner
Division of Air Resources
Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials
Division of Environmental Remediation
Office of Administration - Jack McKeon, Assistant Commissioner
Division of Public Affairs and Education
Division of Operations
Division of Management and Budget
Division of Information Services
Division of Environmental Permits
Office of Public Protection - James Tuffey, Assistant Commissioner
Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management – Forest Rangers
Division of Law Enforcement – Environmental Conservation Officers
Office of Employee Relations
Regional Offices
Region 1 - Stony Brook Region 6 - Watertown
Region 2 - New York City Region 7 - Syracuse
Region 3 - New Paltz Region 8 - Avon
Region 4 - Rotterdam Region 9 - Buffalo
Region 5 - Ray Brook
Office of Hearings and Mediation Services - Louis Alexander, Assistant Commissioner
Office of Media Relations - Michael Fraser, Assistant Commissioner
Office of Internal Audit - Henry Hamilton, Director
DEC Organizational Structure
Matrix Organization– Two lines of reporting
Regional Bureau - Division
DEC Lands
Administrative Responsibilities
DEC Lands
Forest Preserve –Adirondack and Catskill Parks 3 Million Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Lands and Forests, Bureau of Forest Preserve Management
State Forests, Multiple Use and Unique Areas 745,000 acres
Administered By DEC Division of Lands and Forests, Bureau of State Land Management – (Foresters)
DEC Lands
Wildlife Management Areas– 250,000 Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Bureau of Wildlife - (Wildlife Biologists)
Tidal Wetlands – 3,000 Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Bureau of Marine Resources - (Biologists)
Freshwater Wetlands – 20,000 Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Bureau of Habitat - (Biologists)
DEC Lands
Environmental Education Centers – Three locations Administered By DEC Division of Public Affairs and Education –
Bureau of Environmental Education
Miscellaneous – 50 Campgrounds, 1 Ski Center, Office and Maintenance Complexes
Administered By DEC Division of Operations
DEC Easements
Fishing Rights Easements – 1,200 Miles of Stream Access and Associated Parking Lots Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, Bureau of Fisheries - (Fisheries Biologists)
Conservation Easements – 500,000 Acres (Including IP’s 255,000)
Administered By DEC Division of Lands and Forests
Open Space Protection
Acquisition and Funding
Acquisition Tools
Fee Simple Easement
– Public Access– Development– Timber Rights– Hunting and Fishing Rights
Acquisition $$$$$$
Environmental Protection Fund– 1993 Environmental Protection Act $31.5 –
125 million– Acquisition of Open Space Priority Projects, biological
diversity research and protection, OPRHP muni parks and historic protection, Ag & Markets Farmland protection, DOS waterfront revitalization program, DEC&OPRHP facility stewardship, Urban Forestry
Acquisition $$$$$$
1996 Clean Water / Clean Air Bond Act– All acquisition funds are spent
Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund– For land acquisition by municipalities,
expanded in 2002 to open it up to not-for-profit organizations
Acquisition $$$$$$
Migratory Bird Stamp and Print– Wetland Acquisition $200,000/yr.
Various Non-Profit NGO’s– Conservation Fund of Arlington, VA– The Nature Conservancy– The Mellon Foundation
Acquisition $$$$$$
Gifts and Donations Conservation License Plate Sales -
$220,000 total since 1993 Legal Enforcement Settlements and Natural
Resource Damages settlements
Acquisition $$$$$$
Various Federal Funds– US Dept. of Interior Land & Water Cons. Fund
$201 million (Nationally) since 1965
– Pittman-Robertson Program 10-11% excise tax on firearms and archery equipment
Habitat Protection, Sportsperson Ed, and Wildlife Management
– Forest Legacy Program $30- 60million/yr. Nationally Used only in Forest Legacy Areas. In NY that includes NYC
Watershed, LI Pine Barrens, Northern Forest, NY-NJ Highlands, Taconic Ridge
Working Within DEC
POLITICS – Willing Sellers etc.
Matrix Organization Roles within the DEC
– Land and Forests - Real Property – Surveyors and Appraisers
– Lands and Forests – Foresters –SF, UA, CE’s– Wildlife – WMA’s– Fisheries – PFR Easements
Open Space Policy Goals
Protection of rare and endangered species and habitats
Protecting highly valued scenic, recreational and cultural resources
Consolidation of existing properties Watershed protection Ecosystem Management
Open Space Protection
The Open Space Plan
Open Space Plan
Guides DEC and OPRHP Open Space Acquisition Programs
– Priorities set by regional advisory committees Representatives from county governments, conservation and
environmental organizations, and recreational and natural resource interests
13 –23 appointed members ½ appointed by county governments, ½ (plus 1) BY DEC &
OPRHP No DEC employees allowed on the committee
Seven years of progress under Open Space Plans (1995-2002)
– 394,000 acres of priority projects with $378 million dollars
2002 Open Space Plan
PRIORITY PROJECTS DEC Region 7 ,Cortland District, Lands and Forests
– CAMILLUS VALLEY - NINE MILE CREEK– CARPENTERS FALLS / BEAR SWAMP WATERSHED– WHITE LAKE COMPLEX– TUG HILL CORE FORESTS & HEADWATERS – EASTERN ONTARIO SHORELINE– SALMON RIVER CORRIDOR
CAMILLUS VALLEY -NINE MILE CREEK NMCreek from Otisco Lake to Onondaga Lake Significant Development pressure Nine Mile Creek CEA Nine Mile Creek – Most significant Trout Stream
in CNY Camillus Forest Unique Area Water Trail in the Towns of Camillus and
Marcellus
Bear Swamp / Carpenters Falls
Protection of a significant watershed, (Syracuse – Skaneateles Lake)
Protection of Rare and Endangered Species Protection of a significant scenic resource
White Lake Complex
650 Acres, Town of DeWitt, Onondaga Co.
– Steep limestone ledges and caves – Marl Fen– Wetlands– In a suburban setting with development
pressures
TUG HILL CORE FORESTS & HEADWATERS
Tug Hill Plateau– Unique by climate and lack of fragmentation– Headwaters for many important rivers
Mohawk, Deer, Salmon and Mad Rivers East Branch of Fish Creek and Sandy Creek
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
Largest freshwater dune system in the Northeastern U.S.
Largest undeveloped island in Lake Ontario (Galoo Isl. , 1934ac)
Sacketts Harbor Battlefield Historic Site
Very significant bogs and wetland complexes
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE Sandy Island Beach
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE Sandy Island Beach
Actively managed by DEC and TNC with the valuable assistance of The Friends of Sandy Pond Beach.
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE Dune restoration at Sandy Island Beach
Restoration of a blow out in the dunes44,000 cubic yards of sand relocated and
stabilized – Protection of rare and endangered plants– Protection of the wetlands and water resources
of North Sandy Pond– Protection of private property
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE Sandy Pond Beach
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE Sandy Pond Beach
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE Sandy Pond Beach
We have acquired a couple of parcels over the past year which were in-holdings or adjacent to the original purchase. Additional purchases of similar undeveloped properties should be considered.
Management continues to be a joint effort between DEC, TNC, and The Friends of Sandy Pond Beach.
Dune Stewards – Seasonal Employees – Public Education (funding provided by the EPA, DEC, Sea Grant and next year, OPRHP) .
The Salmon River Corridor Project
A more in depth view of Open Space Protection
Salmon River Corridor
Salmon River Corridor
Salmon River Corridor
Trail Easements Protection of significant habitats In holdings Recreational enhancements
Salmon River Corridor Salmon River Falls
Challenges in the Salmon RiverCorridor
Land for sale signs located in Redfield across the road from the upper reservoir
Salmon River Corridor
Current Subdivision Activity
Note all the lots listed as “SOLD”
Development Impact
Heavy harvesting of timber prior to subdivision
ATV damage and active erosion
Invasive Species Introduction: Japanese Knot Weed
Invasive Species Introduction – Japanese Knotweed
Challenges on Existing Easement Lands
Land Clearing for Development that stops right at the easement buffer on the river.
Politics and Individual Projects
NiMo and the Salmon River– Timing is everything
Background Politics Appraisals Negotiations Bureaucracy
Land Management Philosophy
Ecosystem Management based on the promotion of biodiversity through the enhancement of vegetative and habitat diversity within the State Forests and their respective landscapes
Management Tools
Global Positioning Systems - GPS Geographic Information Systems - GIS
