Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards · CAC Tips: Educate Yourself Photo: Ingrid Haeckel. 22 - Establish good working relationships with local decision-makers Photo: Laura Heady

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Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards

Ingrid Haeckel, Conservation & Land Use Specialist

Hudson River Estuary Program/Cornell University

Conservation and Land Use Webinar SeriesSeptember 25, 2019, 12:00-1:00pm

Photo by Laura Heady

The webinar will begin shortly.

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You may connect to the audio via computer or by phone:1. Click on the “i” icon, upper

left, for call-in details, and 2. Enter your unique

attendee ID when prompted.3. Call-in details

also available at bottom of the screen:

Welcome!

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Problems or technical issues?Questions for the presenter?Use WebEx Q&A(Ask All Panelists)

Other Notes:• Participants are muted.• The webinar is being recorded.• Please take the survey at the end!

4Today’s Webinar:

➢ Program background➢ Introduction to Conservation

Advisory Councils/ Boards➢ Case Studies/Perspectives:

• Carla Castillo• Julie Noble

➢ Q&A


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Working to achieve key benefits:• clean water• resilient communities• vital estuary ecosystem• fish, wildlife, and habitat • natural scenery• education, access, recreation, and inspiration

The Hudson River Estuary Program

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• Fill in gaps in biological data.

• Improve understanding of natural areas and their benefits.

• Provide technical assistance for incorporating data and conservation principles into local planning.

Photo by Ingrid Haeckel

Conservation and Land Use Program

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Photo: Laura Heady

• Focus on environmental planning/policy/education

• Can have different names, e.g. environmental commission

• Can fit a diversity of local needs

Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards

CACs/CBs conduct planning and policy research, educate the public, and advise local agencies on the conservation and management of the environment

8Origins

Photo by Gary Miller / US National Archives John Neubauer / US National Archives

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1970: Environmental Conservation

Law – establishes DEC

NYS General Municipal Law Article 12-F § 239-x – CAC-enabling legislation

Article 47 – Local Environmental Protection Act

Legislative Basis

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• Resolution or local law• 3-9 appointed members• 2 junior members allowed• 2-year terms• No minimum qualifications• Chair appointed by

legislative body• Meeting minutes, annual

report

Establishing a CAC

Photo: Laura Heady

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Specific activities:• Land research • Open space/ wetlands/

natural resource inventories• Related planning/ policy research• Advising/ coordination• Educational literature• Other consistent work

Article 12-F § 239-x

Photo: Emily Vail

12Emerging Priorities

NYSDEC

NOAA NYPA

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• Environmental review • Inventory and mapping• Open space planning, protection• Comprehensive planning, zoning• Policy research• Critical Environmental Areas• Wetland and Watercourse Laws• Climate Smart Communities and

Clean Energy Communities certification

Examples of CAC/CB Activities

• WAVE/ water quality monitoring• Trees for Tribs• Tree City USA, Arbor Day• Urban forestry projects• Invasive species management• Pollinator habitat creation• Pesticide/herbicide education• Clean-up events • Recycling, composting programs• Repair Café

14Inventory and Mapping - Article 12-F § 239-yOpen Areas:“Any space or area characterized by natural scenic beauty or, whose existing openness, natural condition or present state of use…would maintain or enhance the conservation of natural or scenic resources.”

Open Areas Inventory:“… each area identified, described, and listed according to the priority of acquisition or preservation.”

Photo by Ingrid Haeckel

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geologyand soils

cultural resources

habitats &wildlife

climate conditions

water resources

land usePhotos by Laura Heady

What is a Natural Resources Inventory?

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• educate landowners and developers

• valuable reference for land use planning and decision-making

• keep track of the “big picture”• foundation for comprehensive

plan and zoning updates

Benefits of Creating an NRI


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naturalresourcesinventory

open areasinventory and map

(NRI + prioritization)

open space index

(open areas inventory

and map accepted and

approved by local

legislative body)

From NRI to Open Space Index

Open Areas Inventory and Map:a compilation and description of natural, scenic, and cultural resources, prioritizing areas for protection or acquisition.

18Example Open Areas Map

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A CAC may be re-designated a Conservation Board after official approval of the municipal Open Areas Inventory and Map.

Photo: Laura Heady

• Remains advisory• More formal role in

environmental review

Article 12-F § 239-y - Conservation Boards

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CACs/CBs can help with reviews by:• Participating in site visits• Raising questions about potential

impacts to resources of concern• Providing maps of resources on a

site and in the surrounding area• Providing written reports and memos

with science-based information• Being timely!

Review of Development Proposals

Photo: Ingrid Haeckel

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- Attend trainings, conferences, and roundtable events

- Know your local code and planning documents

- Understand the SEQR process- Learn about funding opportunities

and how to apply for grants

CAC Tips: Educate Yourself

Photo: Ingrid Haeckel

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- Establish good working relationships with local decision-makers

Photo: Laura Heady

CAC Tips: Build Relationships

- Establish lines of communication with other boards

- Send a liaison to meetings- Hold periodic workshops- Invite other local

environmental organizations to your meetings

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- Organize public education or stewardship programs

- Maintain a website- Bulletin boards

- Social media- Letters to the editor- Community newsletter- Tabling at events

CAC Tips: Be a Community Presence

Photo: Jen Rubbo

24Support Networks

Annual Training Conference:Friday, October 25th, 9:30am-4:00pmNYSDEC Central Office625 Broadway, AlbanyContact: Karl Berger or Maria Katchmar - (518) 402-8044 or [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]?subject=NYS%20DEC%20One-Day%20Training%20Conference

25Publications

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Ingrid HaeckelConservation & Land Use Specialist

NYSDEC/ Cornell University21 S. Putt Corners RdNew Paltz, NY [email protected]/lands/5094.htmlwww.hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu

Thank you!

Questions?Please type them in the Q&A box and well answer them at the end.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5094.html

http://www.hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/

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Carla CastilloDeputy Executive DirectorHudson Valley Regional CouncilChair, Town of Cornwall CAC

Julie NobleEnvironmental Education and Sustainability CoordinatorCity of KingstonChair, City of Kingston CAC

Invited Speakers

CORNWALL CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL

Conservation & Land Use 101 Webinar Series

NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities Program –

Partnership between NYSERDA, HVRC, and CDRPC

Conservation & Land Use 101

HUDSON VALLEY REGIONAL COUNCIL

NYSERDA CLEAN ENERGY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM



CORNWALL CAC MOTIVATORS


















CCAC &LAND USE

Cornwall Natural Resources Inventory


CCAC &LAND USE

Cornwall Natural Resources Inventory


CCAC &LAND USE

Cornwall Scenic Resources Inventory


CCAC &LAND USE

Cornwall Scenic Resources Inventory

CCAC &LAND USE

Cornwall Natural Heritage Project


CCAC &LAND USE



CCAC &LAND USE



CCAC &LAND USE



CCAC &LAND USE



Know Your Community

Demonstrate Commitment

Plan Ahead

Be Well-Informed

Build Broad Partnerships

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Persevere & Reconvene

Be Thankful

Have Fun & Celebrate Successes!

MAXIMIZING OUR CCAC’S EFFECTIVENESS


Conservation Advisory

Councils and Boards

Conservation and Land Use 101 Webinar Series

September 25, 2019

City of Kingston, NY

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Environmental

Educator

#2 Hired

Climate Smart and Green

Jobs Community Pledge

Adopted

Climate Analyst

Hired

Planning for Rising Waters Plan Adopted

Designated 1st City

as Clean Energy

Community

Environmental

Educator

#1 Hired Kingston

Conservation

Advisory

Council (CAC)

Formed

Climate Smart and

Green Jobs Task

Force Formed

Climate Action

Plan Adopted

Certified

Bronze

Climate

Smart

Community

Kingston Climate Initiatives

2015

Sustainability Coordinator &

Climate Smart Kingston

Commission Appointed

2016 2017 2018

Environmental

Specialist Hired

Certified

Silver

Climate

Smart

Community

Conservation Advisory Council Initiatives:Kingston-ny.gov/kingstoncac

• Natural Resources Inventory and Open Space Plan

• Wood Burning/Air Quality Sub Committee

• Climate Resiliency

• Planning Board Development Reviews

• Environmental Reviews

• Commission Liaisons

• Climate Smart Kingston Commission

• Outreach and Engagement

Natural Resources Inventorywww.kingston-ny.gov/nri

• Process began in 2011 with a CAC subcommittee

• Completed by John Mickelson, Geospatial & Ecological Services

• With support from

• NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program

and the Environmental Protection Fund

• City of Kingston, Kingston CAC

• Kingston Land Trust

• SUNY New Paltz Internship Program

Forest canopy cover

Urban street trees

Terrestrial corridors

Biologically important areas

Natural habitats

Principal aquifers

Surface waters

Wetlands & hydric soils

Riparian buffers

Aquatic biology

Recreational amenities

Parcels adjacent to parklands

Parcels adjacent to historic sites

City of Kingston owned land

Natural Resource Inventory

Natural Resource Inventory

Using the Inventory-Spatial Analysis

Recreation Areas

Riparian Buffers

Historic Resources

Biologically Important Areas

Forest Cover

Prioritization of Resources -Composite

Open Space Plan

• Began in 2018

• Consultant: Behan Planning and Design

• With support from

• NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Environmental Protection Fund

• City of Kingston

• Kingston CAC

Next Steps

• Adoption by Kingston CAC

• Common Council review determination

• SEQRA Review

• Public Input

• Incorporation as Element of

Comprehensive Plan or Adoption as City Plan

Contact

Julie NobleSustainability Coordinator

Kingston CAC ChairClimate Smart Kingston

Coordinator

[email protected]

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Ingrid [email protected]

Carla [email protected]

Julie [email protected]

Thank you! Questions?

Upcoming webinars:- Introduction to Habitats of the

Hudson Valley Thurs., Oct. 24th

- Biodiversity ConservationWed., Nov. 20th

www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5094.htmlwww.hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu




http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5094.html

http://www.hudson.dnr.cals.cornell.edu/

Conservation Advisory Councils and Boards · CAC Tips: Educate Yourself Photo: Ingrid Haeckel. 22 - Establish good working relationships with local decision-makers Photo: Laura Heady

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