Habitats and Wildlife in the Town of Huntertownofhuntergov.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/... · A...
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Ingrid Haeckel, Conservation & Land Use Specialist
Hudson River Estuary Program/Cornell University
July 25, 2017
Habitats and Wildlife in the Town of Hunter
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Hudson River Estuary Program Hunter
Working to achieve key benefits:
• clean water
• resilient communities
• vital estuary ecosystem
• fish, wildlife, and habitat
• natural scenery
• education, access,
recreation, and inspiration
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Photo by Laura Heady
What’s at stake if we don’t plan proactively to conserve important natural areas?
natural areas“ecosystem services”
water quality and quantity
flood control
temperature moderation
carbon storage
clean air
human health
recreation and education
scenery
fisheries and forest products
natural pollinators
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Ecosystem Benefits: FLOOD CONTROL
A 10% increase in impervious
cover can double runoff and
increase flood risk by 28%
(United States EPA)
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www.geoscape.nrcan.gc.ca
A single acre of wetland
can store 1-1.5 million
gallons of floodwater
(United States EPA)
Ecosystem Benefits: CLEAN WATER
Wetlands can remove or trap:
- 20 to 60% of metals
- 80 to 90% of sediment
- 70 to 90% of entering nitrogen
(Ecological Society of America)
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In 2011, residents and
nonresidents spent
$9.2 billion on wildlife-
related recreation
(hunting, fishing, and
wildlife-watching)
in New York.
(USFWS 2014)
Photo by L. HeadyP
ho
to b
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Hea
dy
Ecosystem Benefits: RECREATION & TOURISM
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Forbidding forecast for Lyme Disease in the NortheastNational Public Radio, March 6, 2017
Ecosystem Benefits: HUMAN HEALTH
In forest patches less than 5
acres, risk of human exposure to
Lyme disease was almost 5
times greater than in larger
forested areas.
(Allan et al., 2003)
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Individual land-use
decisions can lead to
death by 1000 cuts to
natural systems.
… but these benefits are vulnerable.
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAS A CRITICAL ROLE
- Comprehensive plan
- Zoning
- Subdivision regulations
- Local laws
- Project review
- SEQR
- Stormwater management
Photo by Laura Heady
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Recommended Planning Approach
Photos by Laura Heady
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What’s in the Habitat Summary? Existing data (mostly from state sources) with
interpretation for municipal decision-makers
prepared for municipalities (on request) to support
land-use and conservation planning efforts
include maps, tables, and text, and sources for
additional information
(PDF versions have hot links to websites)
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Wood turtle
Photo: Catskillstreams.org
Photo by Ingrid Haeckel
NY State Museum
Brook Trout
Photo by Ingrid Haeckel
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Photo by Ingrid HaeckelPhoto by Laura Heady
Red-shouldered
hawkPhoto by Greg Lasley
American black duck
Photo: USFWS
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Beech-maple
mesic forest
Photos from NY Natural Heritage Program Conservation Guides
Chestnut
oak forest
Mountain
spruce-fir forest
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Bicknell’s
Thrush
Sensitive forest wildlife
Cerulean Warbler
Scarlet tanager
Photos from NYNHP Conservation Guides, Audubon, and I Haeckel
Eastern box turtle
Timber rattlesnake
West Virginia White
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Rare species table and conservation guidance
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Recommendations for Comprehensive Planning
Identify significant environmental resources
Recognize the benefits natural areas provide the community
Establish priorities
Explicitly state the attributes you wish to protect and preserve
Include specific policy statements and recommendations
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Conservation Principles
From Hudsonia, Biodiversity Assessment Manual
• Avoid or minimize forest fragmentation
• Preserve broad connections between
large forest blocks.
• Maintain or restore broad buffer
zones of around sensitive resources
(e.g. streams, wetlands).
• Minimize impervious surfaces.
• Concentrate new development near
existing centers.
Photo: Karen Strong
Dodson Associates and Behan Planning
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CACs conduct research and advise municipal agencies on
matters related to the environment, including:
Photo:Laura Heady
Natural resource inventories and
open space planning
Assistance with project reviews
Policy research and planning
Public education and outreach
Stewardship activities
Establish a Conservation Advisory Council (CAC)
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Develop a Natural Resources Inventory
A compilation and description of
natural resources within the town:
o Topography
o Geology
o Soils
o Water resources
o Habitats and wildlife
o Climate
o Land use
o (Cultural)Town of Rosendale NRI
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Greene County Natural Resources Inventory
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A specific area having exceptional or
unique environmental or cultural
characteristics.
Brings attention to high priority
resources during SEQR
View from Stissing Mountain fire tower
Designate Critical Environmental Areas
Photo: the Nature Conservancy
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Resource Analysis determines:
What resources are present?
Interior forest? Wetlands?
Streams? Buffer areas?
How are they configured?
How do they relate to resources
on adjacent properties?
Create a site resource analysis checklist
Example from Town of Rhinebeck
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• identify significant habitats,
• evaluate habitat quality,
• prepare and submit report,
Example from Town of New Paltz
Checklist used for initial screening.
Guidelines provide clear instructions to:
prior to initiating SEQR and enable
town agencies to work with applicants
to conserve valuable resources on site.Photo: Laura Heady
Adopt Habitat Assessment Guidelines
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Conservation Subdivision
Conventional
Subdivision
Maximize natural areas
and connections
Minimize road
construction and
development footprint
Conserve areas with
highest habitat value
Can set open space
requirement percentage
(20-60%)
Encourage Conservation Subdivision Design
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Investigate a timber-harvest
ordinance to promote
sustainable forest management
Encourage landowners to:
• Use the CCE Agroforestry
Resource Center
• Take advantage of financial
assistance programs
(480-A, EQIP)
Promote sustainable forestry as a use
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Model Green Infrastructure and
Runoff Reduction Amendments
New DEC model law available with
enhanced resilience elements
NYS Stormwater Management
Design Manual guidelines:
Preserve existing natural areas
Minimize impervious surfaces
Use green infrastructure practices
to reduce additional runoff
Strengthen stormwater management practices
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Remove sensitive areas from
density calculations
Require wetland and stream
setbacks/ buffers
Adopt performance standards
Identify forestry as a use for
appropriate districts
Forestry zoning district
(10-20 ac density, clustering
allowed)
Conserve sensitive resources through zoning
Dutchess County Greenway Guide
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Overlay Zoning examples:
Steep slopes
Ridgelines
Floodplains
Stream Corridors
Aquifers
Forest
Biodiversity Areas
Scenic Resources
Overlay zoning for resource protection
Lexington Stream Corridor
Overlay District:
“The purpose of this Overlay
District is to protect the scenic
character and water resource
values of Schoharie Creek, West
Kill Creek, Broadstreet Hollow
Creek, Timberlake Creek, and
Peck Hollow Creek and the
tributaries thereto.”
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Photo by S. Cuppett
Extends protection to small
streams, and small, isolated
wetlands of critical importance to
ecosystems and water supplies
Protects all wetlands and
streams in a municipality (or
those above a size threshold), not
just on new development sites
Protects adjacent buffer areas
Wetland and Watercourse Laws
Example from Town of Woodstock:
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Jen Rubbo © 2014
Raising public awareness is a vital step
toward building a local conservation
program. Outreach strategies include:
Public events
Landowner programs
Website, social media
Newsletter
Local media stories
Education and Outreach
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Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper
Interactive web maps:
• Estuary
• Streams
• Wetlands
• Forests
• Biodiversity
www.hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/mapper
Where can I get more information?
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Publications - www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5094.html
Where can I get more information?
Sign up for RiverNet Newsletter
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Questions?
Ingrid Haeckel
Conservation & Land Use Specialist
NYSDEC
21 South Putt Corners Rd
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 256-3829
www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html