Events and Important Dates

DEC invites the public to comment about a proposal for no further action related to the Dinaburg Distributing, Inc., site ID #828103 (Rochester, Monroe County), within New York's State Superfund Program. Public comments about the proposal will be accepted through March 29, 2021.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the no further action proposal and how to comment.

DEC invites the public to comment about a proposal for no further action related to the Former Perfecto Dry Cleaners, site ID #828155 (Greece, Monroe County), within New York's State Superfund Program. Public comments about the proposal will be accepted through March 29, 2021.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the no further action proposal and how to comment.

Family Field Trips

Enhance your family’s scientific learning this winter by scheduling a Family Fieldtrip to Five Rivers! Meet a Friends naturalist to head afield for one of four offerings: Animal Tracking, Snowman Birdfeeders, Snowshoeing, and Sap to Syrup. (Sap to Syrup is offered in March only and runs at additional times. See Registration Form for details.)
Who: Families or friend groups (maximum 8 participants Friends naturalist)
* 2 adults required on every fieldtrip
What: Nature field trip; visit www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org for topics and outing descriptions
When: 10:00–11:30 AM or 1:30–3:00 PM on Mondays (begins January 4)
Where: In person at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Fee: $10 for members/$15 for non-members
Questions: Contact Nancy at gsp5rivers@outlook.com for further information
Registration: www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org

For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, and in compliance with guidance from New York State, the New York State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing practices must be followed. Masks must be worn throughout guided programs, while at a roving program, and on the trails whenever a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals or households.  

Family Field Trips

Enhance your family’s scientific learning this winter by scheduling a Family Fieldtrip to Five Rivers! Meet a Friends naturalist to head afield for one of four offerings: Animal Tracking, Snowman Birdfeeders, Snowshoeing, and Sap to Syrup. (Sap to Syrup is offered in March only and runs at additional times. See Registration Form for details.)
Who: Families or friend groups (maximum 8 participants Friends naturalist)
* 2 adults required on every fieldtrip
What: Nature field trip; visit www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org for topics and outing descriptions
When: 10:00–11:30 AM or 1:30–3:00 PM on Mondays (begins January 4)
Where: In person at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Fee: $10 for members/$15 for non-members
Questions: Contact Nancy at gsp5rivers@outlook.com for further information
Registration: www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org

For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, and in compliance with guidance from New York State, the New York State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing practices must be followed. Masks must be worn throughout guided programs, while at a roving program, and on the trails whenever a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals or households.  

The CLCPA establishes a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, achieved through a balance of GHG emission sources and sinks. As such, the annual Statewide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report will include an assessment of net emissions. This presentation will provide background information on net accounting and highlight key considerations as well as areas for future improvement. Topics will include carbon sequestration, biogenic and anthropogenic emissions, and carbon neutrality in the context of governmental GHG inventory protocols. Time will be provided to answer questions and take public input on discussed material. 

Event address for attendees: 

https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e7f2b9a015d3085d0680606482f4ccebd 

Event number: 185 907 4946 

Event password: Climate2021 

DEC will host a virtual session to provide information and answer questions about a recently completed habitat management plan for Three Mile Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in the towns of West Monroe and Constantia, Oswego County.

When: Monday, March 29, and will begin at 5:30 p.m.

What: The event will feature an hour-long presentation about the WMA’s history, habitat goals, and planned management actions, followed by a question-and-answer period. 

Where: The presentation will be recorded and made available to the public on DEC’s website after the session. Follow this link for information about how to join the live virtual session. 

The 3,908-acre Three Mile Bay WMA is adjacent to Three Mile Bay on Oneida Lake's north shore. The WMA was originally established to develop high-quality waterfowl habitat for conservation and wildlife-associated recreation. The property is designated as a Bird Conservation Area and waterfowl are abundant, especially during spring migration. Several threatened and special concern species are known to breed in the WMA.

Management activities at the site are consistent with the Young Forest Initiative and include active forest management and improvements to grasslands and wetlands to encourage use by an even greater diversity of wildlife while enhancing public access. The full Three Mile Bay habitat management plan with specific goals is available on DEC’s website, along with the link to join the virtual information session and view the recording.

 Guided School Program
Actively engage your entire class in the discovery process through hands-on experiences and minds-on investigation at Five Rivers. Our classroom is the great outdoors! During January and February, learn about animal adaptations and winter survival as we explore animal tracks and scat in a variety of habitats. In March, join us for a one-hour Marvelous Maples lesson where you will learn the sappy secret of syrup! For additional program details, visit the Friends website at www.FriendsOfFiveRivers.org.
Who: Schools/home schools (maximum daily participants: 30 students with 6 school chaperones, divided into 10-student, 2-chaperon groups.)

 Marvelous Maples 10:00 AM–11:00 AM, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 1:00 PM–2:00 PM Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in March

Where: In person at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Fee: $50 per group of 10 students with 2 school chaperones
Registration: www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org, go to School Programs tab

For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, and in compliance with guidance from New York State, the New York State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing practices must be followed. Masks must be worn throughout guided programs, while at a roving program, and on the trails whenever a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals or households.  

Join DEC land surveyor, Mike Carroll, for a Facebook LIVE from the field. Mike will talk all about what a surveyor does and show off some of the unique tools these licensed experts use.

*This event was originally scheduled for Friday, March 26, but was rescheduled due to poor weather. 

THIS PROGRAM IS FULL.

People with bird-watching skills or the desire to learn are needed to help discover winter feeding areas of endangered raptor species. Volunteers meet at Five Rivers once or twice a month and spend an hour, centered around sunset, scanning for and recording raptor species on Five Rivers’ grasslands. Participants do not have to attend every session and will need their own binoculars. Study dates are subject to change due to weather. Pre-registration is required. Please help us save these threatened and endangered species. Call Five Rivers at 518-475-0291 or email 5Rivers@dec.ny.gov to register

For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, and in compliance with guidance from New York State, the New York State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing practices must be followed. Masks must be worn throughout guided programs, while at a roving program, and on the trails whenever a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals or households.

 Guided School Program
Actively engage your entire class in the discovery process through hands-on experiences and minds-on investigation at Five Rivers. Our classroom is the great outdoors! During January and February, learn about animal adaptations and winter survival as we explore animal tracks and scat in a variety of habitats. In March, join us for a one-hour Marvelous Maples lesson where you will learn the sappy secret of syrup! For additional program details, visit the Friends website at www.FriendsOfFiveRivers.org.
Who: Schools/home schools (maximum daily participants: 30 students with 6 school chaperones, divided into 10-student, 2-chaperon groups.)

 Marvelous Maples 10:00 AM–11:00 AM, 11:30 AM–12:30 PM, 1:00 PM–2:00 PM Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in March

Where: In person at Five Rivers Environmental Education Center
Fee: $50 per group of 10 students with 2 school chaperones
Registration: www.FriendsofFiveRivers.org, go to School Programs tab

For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, and in compliance with guidance from New York State, the New York State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing practices must be followed. Masks must be worn throughout guided programs, while at a roving program, and on the trails whenever a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals or households.  

Wishing you could perform or attend a performance? Then Sparks of Creativity is for you! Once a week through the month of March, Friends will hold an Open Mic (without a mic) at the Amphitheater. Sitting by a cozy fire, a staff member will begin each session and be followed by you, our talented performers. The audience will be seated on reserved, socially distanced benches in the open area stadium.

Pre-registration to reserve a 10’ bench or to perform is required.
Performers must submit a description of their family-friendly talent—all ages may perform.
For: Everyone; Be an audience member, a performer or both!
Fee: members: $10 one day, $40 all days;
 non-members: $12 one day, $48 all days
Contact Nancy Conway by email at gsp5rivers@outlook.com or visit FriendsofFiveRivers.org to register.

For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, and in compliance with guidance from New York State, the New York State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing practices must be followed. Masks must be worn throughout guided programs, while at a roving program, and on the trails whenever a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals or households.  

Norlite facility, Cohoes -- Virtual Public Information Session

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the City of Cohoes will hold a virtual public information session to discuss New York State's comprehensive soil and water sampling initiative and DEC's ongoing permitting process of the Norlite facility in Cohoes.

Date:  March 31, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Location:  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, DEC presentations will be conducted virtually through the WebEx Events online platform or via conference call.

How to Participate:  Local residents and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to join the virtual session and submit questions before and during the session.

To join the virtual session on March 31, 2021 at 6 p.m:

• Visit https://on.ny.gov/3cOa0HV and click "Join"
• Event number: 185 276 7811
• Password: NYSDEC2021
• For information on how to participate in a virtual meeting, visit DEC's website.

To join by phone:

• Dial: 1-518-549-0500
• Access Code:  185 276 7811 #
• Press # again in lieu of an attendee I.D. number

How to Ask Questions: Submit questions to DEC in advance --

• Email: Comments.Norlite2020@dec.ny.gov
• Call: (518) 357-2075
• Mail: Public Participation Office, NYSDEC, 1300 N. Westcott Road, Schenectady, NY 12306

To ask questions during the information session -- to preserve audio quality of the presentation, DEC will be answering questions submitted through WebEx's 'chat' function during the virtual session. DEC will answer verbal questions at the end of the session.

Soon after the meeting, a recording of the information session will be posted on DEC's Norlite website, in addition to the full soil and water sampling initiative report and additional Norlite updates.

Explore some of the ways nature "fools" us on this guided walk.

We welcome those who have any type of physical challenge to all our programs. If you call ahead to let us know your needs, we will be happy to learn how we can serve you.

PLEASE NOTE

• Pre-registration is required for ALL programs; call 716-683-5959 to register for an in-person program. For virtual programs, please register online at www.reinsteinwoods.org/events.
• You must pre-register by phone; you will receive a call confirming your registration or waitlist status. PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY when leaving your name and phone number as our system does not have caller ID. Unless you receive a callback, you are not registered. *Registration for popular programs is limited to 3 people per party.
• All participants are required to wear a mask; social distancing of 6 feet or more will be practiced whenever possible. 
• In case of poor weather, programs may be cancelled.
• We cannot accommodate organized youth/civic groups at these programs. Please call to make other arrangements.

DEC invites the public to comment about its proposal to delist the Steuben – Allegany BOCES, site ID #851019 (Bath, Steuben County) from New York's Registry of Inactive Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites (State Superfund Registry). Public comments about the proposal will be accepted through April 2, 2021.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the proposal and how to comment.

With spring on the way, black bears will respond to warmer weather and emerge from their winter dens. After spending months relying on fat reserves, the emerging bears will be hungry and on the lookout for an easy meal. Tune in at 1PM for a Facebook LIVE Q&A with Courtney LaMere, from our Region 7 Office, for some facts about New York black bears and tips on how to reduce human-bear conflicts. 

Be sure to bring your questions and leave them in the comments for Courtney!

Additional information on New York black bears can be found here >>

Con la llegada de la primavera, los osos negros se despiertan y salen de sus guaridas. Después de depender por tanto tiempo en sus reservas de grasa, los osos están hambrientos y se rebuscan por cualquier clase de alimento. Únete a una transmission vivo en español por Facebook a las 2pm con una empleada de DEC, Annie Oviedo, para escuchar sobre los osos negros de Nueva York y consejos de como reducir conflictos entre osos y personas.

Asegúrate de preparar tus preguntas y déjanos en los comentarios para Annie!

Se puede encontrar más información sobre los osos negros aquí >>

DEC has received a Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) application, Draft Remedial Action Work Plan and Remedial Investigation Report for a site known as Swan Garage Kent Supply Site, site ID #C360210. This site is located in the City of New Rochelle, within the County of Westchester, and is located at 64 Centre Avenue, Centre Avenue lot, and 8 Westchester Place. Public comments about the application and draft work plan must be submitted by April 3, 2021.

Click the web link above at "Additional Information" to learn about the site and how to comment.

Project documents can be reviewed online at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/data/DecDocs/C360210/

And, once reopened, at:

New Rochelle Public Library
1 Library Plaza
New Rochelle, NY 10801

Bring your rain boots as we look for mud at Five Rivers. We'll seek out animal tracks and make some of our own along the way. Spring's rain puts the fun in nature, so this program is rain or shine!

Space is limited and registration is required. Call 518-475-0291 by Wednesday, March 31, to register.

For the safety of our visitors, staff and volunteers, and in compliance with guidance from New York State, the New York State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), social distancing practices must be followed. Masks must be worn throughout guided programs, while at a roving program, and on the trails whenever a 6-foot distance cannot be maintained between individuals or households.  

In this program, you will build an emergency shelter from natural materials and practice navigation and fire building techniques. For adults and children ages 8 and older.

We welcome those who have any type of physical challenge to all our programs. If you call ahead to let us know your needs, we will be happy to learn how we can serve you.

PLEASE NOTE

• Pre-registration is required for ALL programs; call 716-683-5959 to register for an in-person program. For virtual programs, please register online at www.reinsteinwoods.org/events.
• You must pre-register by phone; you will receive a call confirming your registration or waitlist status. PLEASE SPEAK CLEARLY when leaving your name and phone number as our system does not have caller ID. Unless you receive a callback, you are not registered. *Registration for popular programs is limited to 3 people per party.
• All participants are required to wear a mask; social distancing of 6 feet or more will be practiced whenever possible. 
• In case of poor weather, programs may be cancelled.
• We cannot accommodate organized youth/civic groups at these programs. Please call to make other arrangements.

Tune in as we follow up on our Oneida Fish Hatchery’s annual walleye egg take. We’ll be inside the hatchery where Fish Culturist, Erika Stoddard, will educate viewers on what happens after the walleye are collected from the nets, specifically the egg take process. You won’t want to miss this! 

In case you missed it—on March 29, we hosted two Facebook LIVE segments where we talked about the trap nets staff use to collect walleye, then ventured out on to the lake to see how staff set the nets. Check them out (as well as any other past Facebook LIVEs) here >>