Environment DEC
From the December 2005 issue
State Releases 2005 Draft Open Space Conservation Plan
Campers and canoers now enjoy
the 15 islands on Blue Mountain
Lake as part of the state's decade
long plan to create new opportunities
State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan, Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Commissioner Bernadette Castro and First Deputy Secretary of State in the Department of State (DOS) Frank Milano recently announced the release of the 2005 draft State Open Space Conservation Plan for public comment.
Guides Protection Efforts
"The Open Space Conservation Plan has guided the state's aggressive efforts over the past 11 years to protect the remarkable and diverse open space resources of the Empire State," Commissioner Sheehan said. "The 2005 draft continues New York's leadership on open space protection by identifying priority projects, policies and programs that will enhance our future efforts. We are grateful to the many members of our staffs, regional advisory committees, local governments, and the public who contributed countless hours, and years of wisdom and conservation knowledge to create this important blueprint for our open-space future."
"New York's Open Space Plan has provided an important framework for expanding public parklands, preserving critical lands, and creating new opportunities for residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty and natural resources of the Empire State," Commissioner Castro said. "The 2005 draft plan builds upon Governor Pataki's unprecedented commitment to land conservation and open space protection in our communities. We appreciate the hard work of the many partners whose input and expertise have helped us establish new goals and strategies that will benefit all New Yorkers."
Importance of Local Government
The Beaverkill and its major
tributary, Willowemoc Creek, are
revered in the angling world as the
birthplace of American fly fishing
"New York's open space protection program recognizes the importance of local government participation in open space planning and protection," First Deputy Secretary of State Milano said. "The 2005 draft plan focuses on expanding the tools and strategies that help every community in New York protect its open space resources-for water quality protection, recreation, natural resource protection and economic benefit-exactly what the state's Quality Communities program is working so hard to achieve. This new draft plan also includes criteria for the development of New York's Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, funded from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and implemented by the New York Department of State."
As required by law, the state Open Space Conservation Plan is updated every three years. The first state open space plan was adopted in 1992, subsequent versions include the 1995, 1998 and 2002 plans. The state is assisted in its development of the plan by nine regional advisory committees, which are jointly appointed by state and county governments.
Plan Outlines Priorities
The Ganondagan State Historic
Site is the burial place of one of
the most important figures in
Iroquois history, Jikohnsaseh,
the Mother of Nations
The plan outlines priority project areas eligible for state acquisition funding from the Environmental Protection Fund and other state, federal and local sources. Most of these projects come directly from the deliberations of the advisory committees, which are knowledgeable about conservation issues facing their region. Many of the priority project areas have increased in geographic size from previous versions of the plan in recognition of broad public support for a comprehensive open space conservation program. The plan also makes policy and program recommendations to guide the state's open space protection program in the future, including:
- Incorporating the state's new Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy into the land acquisition and conservation strategies of the plan;
- Approving the Community Preservation Act, introduced by Governor Pataki, which would provide local governments with new tools and resources to develop local open space conservation programs that complement state efforts consistent with the state's Quality Communities Program;
- A new generic priority project category that will enable the state to acquire lands adjacent to, or in holdings within, existing state forests, unique areas and wildlife management areas;
- Enhancing the ability of local governments to carry out open space conservation programs;
Significant progress has been made
to protect open space in the Hudson
River Estuary\Greenway project area
- Implementing the Erie Canal and Empire State Greenway initiatives outlined by Governor Pataki to encourage the comprehensive development of greenways across New York;
- The federally funded Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), administered by the Department of State, in the plan;
- Expanding the existing Catskill Mountain Forest Legacy area to include the Shawangunk Ridge and creating a new forest legacy area in the Finger Lakes region enabling these two areas to compete for funding from the United States Forest Service to conserve forest resources;
- Opposing efforts to weaken or eliminate tax incentives for the donation of conservation properties to public land management agencies or qualified non-profit conservation organizations;
- Continuing efforts to identify funding and other resources to provide adequate stewardship of public lands, and
- Developing new financial incentives to encourage the stewardship of private lands as part of the state's overall open space program.
The plan also describes the many accomplishments that have occurred during the past several years and encourages partnerships among all levels of government, conservation organizations, land owners and the public to continue open space conservation efforts in the future.
Public Comment
Public comment will run through January 18, 2006. Public hearings on the draft plan were already held at different locations across the state on November 29, 30 and December 1. See "Related Links" below for the complete text of the draft plan.
"We encourage the public to review the draft plan and provide comments, either at the public hearings, by mail, or through the website," Commissioner Sheehan said. "Public participation is an important element of our open space program and helps contribute to the future of New York's wonderful outdoor heritage."
