Department of Parks, Recreation Department Agriculture Department of Environmental and Historic of State and Markets Transportation Conservation Preservation 2016 NEW YORK STATE OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN www.dec.ny.gov This page intentionally left blank Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor Lead Agencies: The Department of Environmental Conservation Basil Seggos, Commissioner The Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Rose Harvey, Commissioner Partnering Agencies: The Department of Agriculture & Markets The Department of Transportation The Department of State DEFINITION OF OPEN SPACE Open space is defined as land which is not intensively developed for residential, commercial, industrial or institutional use. Open space can be publicly or privately owned. It includes agricultural and forest land, undeveloped coastal and estuarine lands, undeveloped scenic lands, public parks and preserves. It also includes water bodies such as lakes and bays. What land is defined as open space depends in part on its surroundings. A vacant lot or a small marsh can be open space in a big city. A narrow corridor or pathway for walking or bicycling is open space even though it is surrounded by developed areas. And while not strictly open space, this Plan also discusses cultural and historic resources which, along with open space, are part of the heritage of New York State. Inside Cover: View of Henderson Lake, Tahawus Tract acrylic by Lauryn Kashdan-Schrom Cover: Clockwise from left. Ashland Pinnacle State Forest by Melody Wolcott; Catskill Challenge 2016; Playground at Roberto Clemente State Park by John Rozell; Essex Chain of Lakes by Melody Wolcott. This page intentionally left blank TABLE OF CONTENTS NEW YORK STATE OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS NEW0B YORK STATE’S _____________________________________________________ 1 OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN ________________________________________ 1 It starts with the land. ________________________________________________________ 1 New11B York’s Open Space Conservation Goals ______________________________________ 1 New12B York’s Open Space Conservation Principles ___________________________________ 2 A LEGACY OF CONSERVATION _____________________________________________ 4 A13B Tradition of Recreation ______________________________________________________ 9 Ensuring14B Environmental Justice ________________________________________________ 10 Enhancing15B Our Approach _____________________________________________________ 10 Continuing16B New York’s Conservation Legacy _____________________________________ 13 PROMOTING2B OUTDOOR RECREATION _____________________________________ 16 Recreational17B Access for All ____________________________________________________ 16 Connecting18B our Children with Nature ___________________________________________ 19 Meeting19B the Open Space Needs of our Urban Communities _________________________ 21 ADDRESSING3B CLIMATE CHANGE __________________________________________ 25 Protecting20B Our Coastlines ____________________________________________________ 32 Establishing21B Riparian Buffers __________________________________________________ 35 and22B Wetland Protections _____________________________________________________ 35 Mitigation23B and Adaptation through Sustainable Forestry Management _______________ 38 Promoting24B Urban Forestry and Green Infrastructure _______________________________ 40 ENSURING4B CLEAN WATER, AIR AND LAND FOR A HEALTHY PUBLIC AND VIBRANT ECONOMY ____________________________________________________________ 45 Providing25B Watershed and Water Quality Protections ______________________________ 45 Community26B Greening for Environmental Justice __________________________________ 48 Health27B Benefits of Forests and Open Space ______________________________________ 48 Connecting28B To Our Food and Our Neighborhoods _________________________________ 49 Promoting29B Smart Growth and Improving Our Transportation Uses ___________________ 51 PROTECTING,5B UTILIZING AND CONSERVING OUR STATE'S NATURAL RESOURCES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ___________________________________________________ 58 Supporting30B Our Working Farms and Forests ______________________________________ 58 2016 NEW YORK STATE OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN i TABLE OF CONTENTS Stewarding31B Our Open Spaces _________________________________________________ 62 Preserving32B Our Scenic, Historic and Cultural Heritage ______________________________ 69 CONCLUSION6B _________________________________________________________ 73 REGIONAL PRIORITY CONSERVATION PROJECTS _____________________________ 79 NEW33B YORK STATE'S REGIONAL OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEES _________________ 79 NEW34B YORK STATE'S PRIORITY OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PROJECTS ________________ 79 REGION35B 1/LONG ISLAND _____________________________________________________ 80 REGION36B 2/NEW YORK CITY/5 BOROUGHS _______________________________________ 86 REGION37B 3/LOWER HUDSON VALLEY ____________________________________________ 92 REGIONS38B 3 & 4 ____________________________________________________________ 106 REGION39B 4/CAPITAL REGION __________________________________________________ 118 REGIONS40B 4 & 5 ____________________________________________________________ 123 REGION41B 5/EASTERN ADIRONDACKS/LAKE CHAMPLAIN ____________________________ 124 REGIONS42B 5 & 6 ____________________________________________________________ 132 REGION43B 6/WESTERN ADIRONDACKS ___________________________________________ 133 REGIONS44B 6 & 7 ____________________________________________________________ 137 REGION45B 7/CENTRAL NEW YORK ______________________________________________ 137 REGIONS46B 7 & 8 ____________________________________________________________ 140 REGION47B 8/WESTERN FINGER LAKES ___________________________________________ 143 REGIONS48B 8 & 9 ____________________________________________________________ 146 REGION49B 9/WESTERN NEW YORK ______________________________________________ 147 MULTI50B -REGION ____________________________________________________________ 152 STATEWIDE51B _______________________________________________________________ 155 LAND CONSERVATION RESOURCES _______________________________________ 165 RESOURCE52B INVENTORIES ____________________________________________________ 165 PROGRAMS53B and PARTNERS __________________________________________________ 176 PROMOTING54B OUTDOOR RECREATION _________________________________________ 177 ADDRESSING55B CLIMATE CHANGE ______________________________________________ 187 ENSURING56B CLEAN WATER, AIR AND LAND FOR A HEALTHY PUBLIC AND VIBRANT ECONOMY ________________________________________________________________________ 195 57BPROTECTING, UTILIZING AND CONSERVING OUR STATE'S NATURAL RESOURCES AND CULTURAL HERITAGE _______________________________________________________ 202 REGIONAL9B ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS _____________________ 221 2016 NEW YORK STATE OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LONG58B ISLAND - REGION 1 ____________________________________________________ 221 NEW59B YORK CITY - REGION 2 __________________________________________________ 229 LOWER60B HUDSON VALLEY - REGION 3 __________________________________________ 242 CAPITAL61B DISTRICT - REGION 4 ________________________________________________ 251 EASTERN62B ADIRONDACKS & LAKE CHAMPLAIN - REGION 5 _________________________ 257 WESTERN63B ADIRONDACKS / EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO / UPPER MOHAWK VALLEY - REGION 6 ________________________________________________________________________ 272 CENTRAL64B NEW YORK - REGION 7 ______________________________________________ 282 WESTERN65B FINGER LAKES - REGION 8 ___________________________________________ 292 WESTERN66B NEW YORK - REGION 9 _____________________________________________ 299 STATE AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION __________________________________ 308 2016 NEW YORK STATE OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN iii This page intentionally left blank NEW YORK STATE’S OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN NEW0B YORK STATE’S OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION PLAN It starts with the land. New York has one of the largest public land bases in the country, with spectacular scenery and terrain representing every major ecosystem. Ranging from the salt marshes of Long Island to the alpine tundra of the Adirondack High Peaks and the cascades of Niagara Falls, these lands are held for our state's citizens and represent a legacy of more than 100 years of land conservation and stewardship. Privately held lands, including farms and forests, also contribute to open space protection and are part of the rich fabric of New York's outdoor heritage. Under the leadership of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New York has made great strides to continue our conservation legacy including record funding of $300 million for the EPF in the 2016-17 state budget, the guidance of the 2100 Commission Report and the passage of the Community Risk and Resiliency Act. We have made great strides in fulfilling our state's mission of protecting ecosystems, preserving open space, preserving a sustainable quality of life, providing for future environmental benefits and recreational benefits on some of the most heavily used public lands. We will need to continue to work in partnerships and provide adequate funding and other tools to accomplish the goals of this Plan, conserving and maintaining land for our ecosystem health and for our own well-being, providing access to recreational resources and increasing tourism. New York’s formal Open Space Conservation program began in 1990 and was designed to ensure