Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper
View the Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper (leaves DEC website).
The Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper is an online, interactive tool designed to help identify and understand important habitat and water resources, the connections between them, and their broader regional context. The mapper also highlights Hudson River recreation sites and other areas where residents and visitors can enjoy the region's natural beauty . By bringing together information about natural features such as streams, wetlands, and large forests, as well as recreation amenities and existing protected lands, communities can begin to identify conservation priorities and strategies that can be incorporated into local land-use planning. This process will help ensure that future generations continue to enjoy the numerous benefits provided by the Hudson Valley's natural systems.
User Resources
- Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper Fact Sheet (PDF)
- Online Tools for Conservation Planning in the Hudson Valley, July 20, 2021, webinar recording (leaves DEC website)
- Introduction to the Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper, May 15, 2019, webinar recording (leaves DEC website)
- Natural Heritage Important Areas, April 15, 2020, webinar recording (leaves DEC website)
- Forest Condition Index, May 20, 2020, webinar recording (leaves DEC website)
Mapper Contents
The Natural Resource Mapper contains more than 40 geographic data sets organized under seven categories:
- Hudson River Estuary
- Stream and Watershed
- Wetland
- Forest
- Biodiversity
- Scenic and Recreation
- Reference
Users can zoom in to a focus area and turn layers on or off to produce custom, printable maps, as well as query data layers for additional information.
Mapper Uses
The maps are a source of information for landowners, municipal officials, project sponsors, watershed groups, and other organizations engaged in land-use decision-making, environmental assessment, conservation, and watershed planning. They can help to visualize an area's resources-where they occur and how they relate to each other, their context, and existing development-and provide a foundation for informed land-use planning and decision-making. They can also serve as a starting point for natural resources inventories, open space plans, and watershed plans. Residents and visitors may also use the maps to learn about scenic areas and recreation sites along the Hudson River, and the rich environmental resources they support.
Visit the Important Links on the right side of this page for information on related training, technical assistance, and publications available from the Hudson River Estuary Program.
Important Information
The Natural Resource Mapper works best in the most current versions of popular web browsers. This tool is intended for general information and planning purposes and does not indicate the extent of DEC regulatory authority. It contains data compiled from numerous sources and may not be complete or accurate. Any resource shown on a map should be verified for legal purposes, including environmental review. Contact your DEC regional office for assistance with regulatory questions. Hudson River Estuary Program staff can assist with interpreting and using the data provided.
