U.S. Forest Service reports look at FOREST management, ecosystem services, and sensitivity of forests
The U.S. Forest Service released two reports as part of their Forests on the Edge' Series. The paper "Forest Land Conversion, Ecosystem Services, and Economic Issues for Policy: A Review" focuses on the use of the ecosystem service conceptual framework as a basis for understanding the ecological effects of forest land conversion, and as a basis for understanding the economic issues that arise in designing policies to conserve forest ecosystems. (http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace/fote/literature.html ).
The U.S.F.S. also conducted an analysis of "FORESTS ON THE EDGE: Housing Development on America's Private Forests,- examining the sensitivity of the results of the first Forests on the Edge report to four factors: (1) use of updated private land and forest cover spatial data and a revised model of housing density change, (2) projection of residential development on woodland identified as shrub/scrub land cover, (3) inclusion of very-low-density residential development in the housing density change categories, and (4) inclusion of additional watersheds in the analysis by changing the screening criteria. http://www.fs.fed.us/openspace/fote/sensitivity.html
LEARN WHAT POLLUTANTS MIGHT BE IN YOUR DRINKING WATER
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization, has analyzed almost 20 million records obtained from state water officials. You can go to http://www.ewg.org/tap-water/whats-in-yourwater and type in your zip code and water supplier to find out what contaminants might and might not be in your tap water.
VIRTUAL LISTENING SESSION on EPA's Plan to Initiate National Rulemaking
to STRENGTHEN STORMWATER PROGRAMS
EPA has announced plans to initiate national rulemaking to strengthen its stormwater program. In order to seek stakeholder input to help EPA shape this proposed rule, EPA is hosting a virtual listening session on February 3, 2010 from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Eastern time. After a presentation from EPA, this webcast will allow members of the public to call in and give brief (3 minute) statements. Audience members will be able to listen to the webcast and all public statements using their computer speakers. Registration information for the webcast is available at www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking. Written comments on the rulemaking must be submitted on or before February 26, 2010 to the address specified in the Federal Register notice. Proposed changes include: Redefine the area subject to federal stormwater regulations; Establish specific requirements to control stormwater discharges from new development and redevelopment; Develop a single set of consistent stormwater requirements for all MS4s; Require MS4s to address stormwater discharges in areas of existing development through retrofitting the sewer system or drainage areawith improved stormwater control measures; and Explore specific stormwater provisions to protect sensitive areas.
TREES for TRIBS Initiative: Accepting applications for buffer plantings
The Hudson River Estuary Program's 'TREES for TRIBS' Initiative is offering free native trees and shrubs for qualifying riparian buffer projects in the Hudson River Estuary watershed within the State of New York from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to the Troy Dam. The Estuary Programs Riparian Buffer Coordinator can assist with plant selection, designing a planting plan, site preparation, project installation, and other technical information to improve the odds of success for your project. In addition, if the project site is accessible to small machinery and the planting is of adequate size, the Estuary Programs Riparian Buffer Coordinator will pre-dig all planting holes. Riparian (streamside) buffers are a major component to maintaining healthy streams and water. These buffers, composed of trees, shrubs, and grasses help to reduce pollution entering waterways by slowing down and filtering runoff, thus extending retention time. Buffers also help to reduce flooding and erosion by stabilizing shorelines and absorbing high velocity flows. In addition, they serve an important role for wildlife as a shoreline transition zone and travel corridor, not to mention increasing overall biodiversity and improving in-stream health. The "Trees for Tribs" initiative started in 2007. In just three years, it has been responsible for planting more than 49,000 feet of stream buffers along the estuary's tributaries with over 18,000 native trees, shrubs, and grasses. Over 130 projects have been completed to date with the help of some 1,500 volunteers. Spring applications are due by March 1st. Additional information including contact information on volunteering, other planting projects, and applying to the 'Trees for Tribs' program is available from: Kevin Grieser, Hudson River Estuary Program's Riparian Buffer Coordinator - 845-256-3145, kagriese@gw.dec.state.ny.us. See http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/43668.html.
Training workshops: STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, green infrastructure concepts and opportunities
The Hudson Valley Regional Council is planning a series of training workshops in March on stormwater management and green infrastructure concepts and opportunities. Pending finalization of grant funding for these workshops, we are announcing this opportunity and inviting interested people, businesses, municipalities, and other organizations to contact us about participating or enrolling staff or clients. These will be one-day workshops focusing on basic concepts and emerging design principles for using bioretention, green roofs and walls, rain gardens, rain barrels and cisterns, vegetated swales, constructed wetlands, and a range of other practices to manage water on the landscape. These workshops are designed to provide introductory training on emerging job opportunities and small business niches in the water resources management industry. Unemployed or underemployed people are especially encouraged to apply, but others can also participate. If funding is finalized, these trainings will be offered at no charge to participants in March and possibly early April 2010. For more information please contact Simon Gruber, Consulting Partner, Hudson Valley Regional Council, at sgruber100 (at) verizon.net, or call the Hudson Valley Regional Council at 845-564-4075. Please send full contact information in your email including name, affiliation, phone, fax, and mailing address, and if possible include a brief note about why you are interested.
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Tuesday - Thursday, March 9 -11, 2010: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Hudsonia BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT SHORT COURSE
Norrie Point Environmental Center, Staatsburg, Dutchess County, NY
This three-day intensive course will teach the methods outlined in
Hudsonia's Biodiversity Assessment Manual for the Hudson River
Estuary Corridor. Through hands-on exercises in remote sensing,
participants will learn to interpret topographic, geologic, and
wetland maps; soil surveys; and aerial photos to predict the
presence of ecologically significant habitats in the landscape.
Outdoor exercises will help participants learn field indicators
of HABITATS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN, including those that may support
rare species or provide important ecological services. Discussions
of land use planning for biodiversity conservation will cover many
issues and scenarios relevant to the work of town agencies, land
trusts, and conservation NGOs. Who should attend? Land-use decision
makers in the ten-county Hudson River Estuary Corridor are encouraged
to participate. Space is limited, and preference will be given to
members of town boards, planning boards, conservation commissions, and
watershed councils; staff of land trusts; and municipal representatives
directly involved in environmental reviews and land use planning.
To register, see: http://hudsonia.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/
Short-Course-Flyer-20102.pdf . This is a competitive application and
space is limited. The registration fee for the course is $55.
Lunch and snacks will be provided. Do not send money at this time.
If selected, you will be notified and an invoice
will be sent with your registration information.
You will be notified if accepted. For more information,
contact Andrew Meyer, Biodiversity Educator, 845.758.0600 or
ameyer@bard.edu .This project has been funded by the New York State
Environmental Protection Fund through the Hudson River Estuary Program
of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
Wednesday March 10 - 7:30 PM
WILL DOLLARS DROWN our DEMOCRACY?
The Supreme Court "Citizens United" Decision
Harmon Community Center, 44 Main St, Hastings-on-Hudson
Panelists: Pace Law School constitutional law experts
KARL COPLAN, RALPH STEIN and RANDOLPH McLAUGHLIN
The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v .FEC overturned
decades of settled law and
unleashed a flood of corporate money into our electoral process.
Help us put the power in our democracy back where it
belongs: in the hands of voters.
Sponsored by Democratic Committee of Dobbs Ferry
Democratic Committee of Hastings-on-Hudson
Democratic Committee of Tarrytown
Democratic Committee of Irvington
Concerned Families of Westchester
Citizens for Voting Integrity
Sierra Club LHG
Thursday, March 11, 2010: 8:00 am - 9:30 am
HRWA Mid-Hudson Watershed Omelette Series:
SHORELINE MANAGEMENT OPTIONS along the Hudson Estuary
in an Era of Accelerated Sea Level Rise.
Location: Plaza Diner, New Paltz, NY
Featuring: BETSY BLAIR, Marine Habitat Program Manager and
Manager, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve for the NYS DEC.
Blair will present information about the Sustainable Shorelines project,
a 6-year program to explore the ecological, economic, and performance
tradeoffs among a variety of shoreline stabilization approaches in the context
of accelerated sea level rise, and to convey these results to key decision-makers.
The project is being carried out by an interdisciplinary team of engineers,
ecologists, social scientists, legal scholars, hydrologists, and climatologists.
Blair will discuss study findings and products from the project's first phase
and future project plans.
Please RSVP to Katy Dunlap, katy@hudsonwatershed.org . -: there is a $4 minimum
breakfast purchase.
Tuesday, March 11, 2010: 8:00 am - 1:15 pm
EROSION and SEDIMENT CONTROL CONSTRUCTION Activity Training Workshop
Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains NY;
For directions and parking information, go to www.countycenter.biz
Under the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's Stormwater
Permit GP-0-08-001, all developers, contractors and subcontractors
must identify at least one trained individual from their firm who will
be responsible for implementation of a SWPPP, and have at least one
trained individual on site on a daily basis when soil disturbance
activities are occurring. A qualified inspector must conduct regular
site inspections. *Qualified inspectors and trained individuals must
have four hours of training in the principles and practices of erosion
and sediment control endorsed by the NYS DEC and/or County SWCD.
The training is valid for three years. workshop is sponsored by
This Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District Department
of Planning, Westchester County Department of Planning and Hudson
Valley Regional Council. Cost - $95, includes continental breakfast.
Photo ID is required to register. Participants must pre-register and
pre-payment is required. Registration will not be accepted at the door.
Payment and completed trainee form for each attendee must be received
no later than March 3, 2010 by the Hudson Valley Regional Council,
1662 State Route 300, Suite 155, Newburgh NY 12550-1735.
Make checks payable to Hudson Valley Regional Council.
Credit cards not accepted.
For questions or further information, call 845-564-4075.
Thursday, March 11, 2010: 6:00 pm
Continuing Legal Education Series: CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER
New York State Judicial Institute at Pace Law School,
78 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY
Pace Law School continues their continuing legal education series with a program on
Climate Change Adaptation. This program will provide a focused look at the impacts of
climate change on water resources, with a particular focus on New York States response.
Topics such as sea level rise planning, stormwater management, fisheries and ocean impacts,
and sewer overflow mitigation will be addressed. The speakers will look at laws and
authorities that allow local jurisdictions to manage the impacts of climate change,
New York City's planning efforts, and future projections. The role of technology innovation
in managing water in the future will also be discussed. Faculty: Assistant Dean for
Environmental Law Programs ALEXANDRA SAPOLITO DUNN, Adjunct Professor of Law,
Pace Law School (Program Moderator); KATY DUNLAP, Esq., Executive Director,
Hudson River Watershed Alliance; SEAN T. DIXON, J.D., MEM; Pace Law LLM Candidate
and Center Fellow; Lecturer, Yale University; SARAH NEWKIRK, J.D., M.S., Director of
Coastal Conservation, The Nature Conservancy; and HILARY MELTZER, Senior Counsel,
Environmental Law Division, New York City Law Department. 2.5 CLE credits available.
For more information and to register, please see http://www.pace.edu/page.cfm?doc_id=35378 .
$35 registration cost ($75 for 3-part series).
Thursday, March 4, 11, 18 and 25: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm (repeat program)
'SUPERB SUGARS' Program, hosted by Stony Kill Farm.
Environmental Education Center, Beacon, NY.
Meet at the Manor House Visitor Center
Stony Kill Farm Environmental Education Center is offering a unique opportunity
this spring for the general public and groups to learn about maple sugaring.
During 'Superb Sugars' participants will engage in the entire maple sugaring process
from sap to syrup, and taste the sweet result. The program encourages an appreciation
of forest resources and an understanding of how people depend on, and affect, the
natural environment. Participants will appreciate why the sugar maple has been named
New York's official state tree. Participants will use all five senses during this class as
they watch the crystal-clear sap drip from the tapped trees, smell the sap boiling in the
evaporator, touch the rough bark while they twirl a drill and pound a spile, and of course,
taste the final product-maple syrup!
Free and open to the public. All ages welcome. Individuals and families need not call ahead.
Organized groups who wish to take part, such as scout groups, are asked to call at least
one week in advance to reserve space. Classes take place completely outdoors.
In the event of inclement weather, some of the class may be taught indoors, but participants
will still go outdoors to inspect the trees. Please note, the same program is being repeated
on each Thursday of the month. For more information about Kill Farm please call 845-831-8780,
ext. 300.
Thursday, March 25, 2010: 7:00 pm
World Affairs Council of the Mid The Global Water Crisis:
WATER AS A HUMAN RIGHT or PRIVATE PROPERTY?
Coykendahl Auditorium, SUNY New Paltz
The world is running out of available fresh water and billions are at risk. Already, many conflicts
have arisen from this scarcity, paramount among them question of whether water should be
considered a public trust and a human right. Maude Barlow will present the causes and nature of
the crisis and share her three-point plan toward a water secure world. Ms. Barlow is Chairperson
of the Council of Canadians, author of The Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the
Coming Battle for the Right to Water, and senior advisor on water to the President of the
United Nations General Assembly. She is also co-founder of the Blue Planet Project which works
internationally for the right to water. Light refreshments will be served.
This lecture is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the World Affairs Council of the
Mid-Hudson Valley, CRREO at SUNY New Paltz, and the Gillespie Forum.
For more info, contact Laraine Mai, cragsmai@gmail.com or
Martin Charwat, macharwat@yahoo.com .
