Draft New York State Open Space Conservation Plan 2005 Draft New York State Open Space Conservation Plan & Generic Environmental Impact Statement November 2005 George E. Pataki, Governor Prepared by: The Department of Environmental Conservation Denise M. Sheehan, Acting Commissioner The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Bernadette Castro, Commissioner The Department of State First Deputy Secretary of State Frank Milano DRAFT GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT COVER SHEET Title. .New York State 2005 Draft Open Space Conservation Plan and Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement Responsible Agencies. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Project Location. Statewide Prepared By. Staff of the Responsible Agencies Contact Persons. DEC, Francis Sheehan, (518) 402-9405 OPRHP, Robert Reinhardt, (518)474-0415 Date of Completion . November 9, 2005 Comments Due. .. January 18, 2005 Address. .Open Space Conservation Plan 625 Broadway, 5th Floor Albany, NY 12233-4250 Fdsa NEW YORK STATE’S OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN 2005 DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT INTRODUCTION ................................................ 1 Creating New York’s Open Space Conservation Plan ............... 2 Developing this Plan........................................ 5 CHAPTER I - FOUNDATIONS OF THE OPEN SPACE PLAN ............ 9 Guiding Principles for the Open Space Conservation Plan ........... 9 Definition of Open Space .................................... 9 Goals and Overall Strategy .................................. 10 Missions of the Agencies .................................... 11 CHAPTER II - EVALUATING THE BENEFITS OF OPEN SPACE ......... 15 Benefits of Open Space .................................... 15 Economic Impacts ................................... 15 Environmental/Ecological Benefits ....................... 19 Social Benefits ...................................... 20 Conservation Successes.................................... 21 CHAPTER III - SUMMARY OF RESOURCE INVENTORIES, RESOURCE CATEGORIES AND AN ASSESSMENT OF NEED ............... 61 Summary of Resource Inventories ............................ 62 Resource Categories ....................................... 79 Needs Assessment ........................................ 90 CHAPTER IV - PROJECT ELIGIBILITY AND EVALUATION PROCESS .... 95 Priority Project Area Selection Process......................... 96 Project Identification Process ................................ 96 Project Review and Approval Process ......................... 97 CHAPTER V - REGIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS.................................... 109 Origin and Organization ................................... 109 Purpose and Function of Regional Advisory Committees .......... 110 Regional Summaries ...................................... 110 Region 1.......................................... 111 Region 2.......................................... 124 Region 3.......................................... 137 Region 4.......................................... 167 i Region 5.......................................... 178 Region 6.......................................... 195 Region 7.......................................... 210 Region 8.......................................... 228 Region 9.......................................... 243 CHAPTER VI - PRIORITY CONSERVATION PROJECTS.............. 255 Priority Conservation Projects............................... 255 Region 1.......................................... 258 Region 2.......................................... 263 Region 3.......................................... 269 Regions 3 & 4...................................... 277 Region 4.......................................... 284 Region 5.......................................... 287 Regions 5 & 6...................................... 292 Region 6.......................................... 293 Regions 6 & 7...................................... 295 Region 7.......................................... 295 Regions 7 & 8...................................... 298 Region 8.......................................... 300 Regions 8 & 9...................................... 303 Region 9.......................................... 304 Regions 6, 7, 8 and 9 ................................ 306 Multi-Region....................................... 306 CHAPTER VII - STEWARDSHIP OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE LANDS .................................... 311 Stewardship of Private Open Space Lands ..................... 311 Stewardship of State Lands ................................ 321 Accomplishments................................... 321 Stewardship Needs ................................. 323 CHAPTER VIII – MAINTAINING A COMPREHENSIVE OPEN SPACE PROGRAM FOR THE FUTURE....................................... 327 Using Conservation Tools.................................. 328 Creating Effective Partnerships and Quality Communities ......... 332 New Recommendations ................................... 338 Funding Open Space Conservation in New York ................ 368 Sources of Funding ....................................... 371 ii CHAPTER IX - GENERIC ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT..... 385 Summary............................................... 385 Introduction ............................................. 386 Description of the Proposed Action ........................... 386 Environmental Setting..................................... 390 Significant Environmental Impact ............................ 390 Adverse Environmental Effects that Cannot Be Avoided if the Project Is Implemented.......................................... 399 Alternatives............................................. 399 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources .......... 402 Mitigation Measures to Minimize Environmental Impact........... 402 Forest Preserve .................................... 404 Non-Forest Preserve ................................ 404 Growth Inducing Aspects .................................. 405 Effects on the Use & Conservation of Energy................... 405 Evaluation of Coastal Zone Policies .......................... 406 Exceptions - Project Specific Reviews ........................ 407 Bibliography for the DGEIS ................................. 412 APPENDICES: Appendix A: The Legislative Mandate ............................. A-1 Article 49, Title 2, State Land Acquisition ...................... A-1 Article 54, Title 3, Open Space Land Conservation Projects ........ A-6 Article 54, Title 9, Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation Projects A-7 Appendix B: Project Eligibility Criteria & Definitions ................... B-1 Forest Preserve.......................................... B-2 Water Resources ........................................ B-3 Significant Ecological Areas ................................ B-6 Recreational Opportunities ................................ B-10 Distinctive Character..................................... B-13 Enhancement of Public Lands .............................. B-15 Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Area ................ B-16 Appendix C: Resource Value Rating Systems....................... C-1 Forest Preserve.......................................... C-2 Water Resources ........................................ C-6 Significant Ecological Areas ............................... C-10 Recreational Opportunity .................................. C-18 Distinctive Character..................................... C-26 iii Enhancement of Public Lands .............................. C-30 Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Area ................ C-32 Appendix D: Projected Relative Index of Recreational Needs ........... D-1 Appendix E: Assessment of Public Comment Appendix F: List of Commenters and their Affiliations Appendix G: OPRHP, DEC & DOS Regional Office Addresses .......... G-1 Appendix H: Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program ........ H-1 Appendix I: Forest Legacy Expansions ............................. I-1 iv NEW YORK STATE’S OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN 2005 DRAFT FOR PUBLIC COMMENT A. Introduction New York has a long and proud tradition of conserving and managing open space and natural, historical and recreational resources for the benefit of its citizens. More than 100 years ago New Yorkers led the people of our country to understand the significance of open land and the wisdom of setting aside the most remarkable natural areas to meet important human needs. Earlier generations had the foresight to protect large tracts of the Adirondacks and Catskills through the creation of the Forest Preserve and provisions of the New York State Constitution, Section 1 of the New York State Constitution which keeps the Preserve “forever wild.” Before that, in 1850, New York designated the first state historic site, Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh. In 1885, New York established this nation's first state park at the Niagara Reservation for the protection and preservation of the natural magnificence of the Great Falls. More recently, the state's Heritage Areas Program has pioneered the coordinated protection, interpretation, and reuse of developed areas of historic importance. As in the case of land conservation, New York is also a leader in adopting programs to clean up its waters to restore their recreational use and ecological value. All of this has been a bi-partisan tradition with roots reaching deep into the history of our state, nurtured through the efforts of many state leaders.