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Creating a Greenway in Oneida County: Part of the Mohawk River Corridor

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Creating a Greenway in Oneida County: Part of the Mohawk River Corridor green way (gren -wa ) greenways connect greenways tie together people, parks, historic sites and natural areas greenways are created through local initiative greenways help improve water quality greenways are an economic asset greenways preserve natural areas Creating a Greenway in Oneida County: Part of the Mohawk River Corridor Prepared by peter j. smith & company, inc. Buffalo, NY for the Oneida County Department of Planning Utica, NY Amended November 2008 The plan title and certain references to the Mohawk River corridor have been amended to clarify that this report presents a greenway corridor concept for the Oneida County portion of the Mohawk River corridor and Oneida Lake Plain. Other than minor title references, the overall content and context of this plan remains the same as found in the June 2008 version. Acknowledgments peter j. smith & company, inc., gratefully acknowledges the assistance and input provided by the residents of Oneida County, NY who participated in public meetings, focus groups or who otherwise participated in the preparation of this Greenway Plan. We would also like to acknowledge the members of the project Working Group, who provided insight, guidance and feedback during the course of work. Working Group Jessica Breiten, Oneida County Department of Planning Steven Heerkens, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Heather Pritchard, NYS Department of Transportation Joe Homburger, Citizen, retired NYS DEC Brian Dam, Citizen, Oneida County EM&WQC Photo credits: photos in this document are by peter j. smith & company, inc. or Oneida County Department of Planning unless otherwise noted. This project was made possible through the FY 05-06 Quality Communities Grant program offered by the NYS Department of State. What is a Greenway? 1.0 green•way (gren’-wa’)- - n. Greenways connect. They tie together people, parks, historic sites, and natural Introduction to areas. They follow streams and rivers, ridgelines, abandoned rail lines, hedgerows, canals, and other transportation corridors. All are unique, created through local initiative and reflecting a consensus of Greenways community needs and concerns.1 green•way (gren’-wa’)- - n. Greenways can take on a number of characteristics, including pedestrian or bike paths, interpretive trails, ecological reserves, parks, campground or picnic areas or strips of land with native cover linking a combination of these features. A greenway can be a mix of private and public lands with or without public access.2 green•way (gren’-wa’)- - n. 1 Greenways are corridors that follow natural features like the floodplain of creeks, or human made features such as utility corridors, roads or railroad beds. When designed along Did you know... creeks and rivers, greenways help improve water quality and reduce the effects of flooding in flood plains. 2 Greenways provide alternative transportation choices. 3 Greenways are recognized as an Greenways have their roots economic asset. Greenways have been proven to increase real estate values of adjacent properties, in historical precedents. In and to attract tourists, and to produce tourism revenues. 4 Greenways help protect flora and fauna by the late nineteenth and preserving natural areas and facilitating movement along natural corridors.3 early twentieth centuries, linear open spaces were first Greenways are linear networks of open space. As one can see from the above definitions, a greenway designed as parkways, which can serve a wide variety of purposes. Greenways are often categorized into three types: ecological, often tied together urban park recreational, and historic and cultural, but it is important to note that these categories are not mutually systems. During the same exclusive. period, broad greenbelts were first used to encircle cities and limit urban sprawl. What is a Greenway Plan? Since the 1960s, landscape architects, planners and scientists have recognized The variety of functions served by a greenway development and preservation of the Oneida Lake the need to protect corridors underscore the importance of a comprehensive Plain and Mohawk River Corridor in Oneida and for the preservation of natural plan to guide the greenway development process. Herkimer Counties, NY. This specific plan focuses features and the protection This Greenway Plan for the Mohawk River Corridor on Oneida County. However, it is the desire of the and management of plant is part of a series of plans that, when presented Working Group to undertake similar efforts along and animal biodiversity. collectively, offer a strategy for the long-term the Mohawk River through Herkimer County. 1 Spitzer, William T. Preface. How Greenways Work: A Handbook on Ecology. By Jonathan M. Labree, National Park Service Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program and QLF/Atlantic Center for the Environment, 1997. 2 “Greenway On The Red: What is a greenway?.” Prairic Public: River Watch. 1 November 1997 <http://www.prairiepublic.org/features/riverwatch/greenway/ Whatisgreenway.html>. 3 City of College Station, TX. Greenway Implementation Task Force. A Network of Greenways for College Station: A Master Plan Document, February 1999. College Station: City of College Station, 1999. 1. 20 December 2007 <http:// http://www.cstx.gov/docs/master_plan.pdf>. 4 peter j. smith & company, inc. Why Create a Greenway Along the Mohawk River Corridor? A greenway along the Mohawk River in Oneida future publicly held land within the Mohawk River County will provide opportunities to protect Corridor in Oneida County. The Plan will also valuable resources, enhance recreation, act as a guide for municipalities and private encourage ecological and cultural education, landowners within the greenway to collectively minimize flood damage, and spur compatible develop and manage lands according to a economic development. broadly accepted plan. The Greenway Plan provides the framework to: There exists a multitude of publicly held lands along the Greenway Corridor. There is an • Identify networks of land, which comprise Planning Partners opportunity to mass and link these lands to the spine of the greenway create a body of land for the benefit of the Landscape Architects and Planners from the environment and the public. Formation of • Identify opportunities within the corridor firm of peter j. smith & company, inc. led the this greenway not only provides opportunity to (ecological, recreational, historic/cultural) development of this Greenway Plan for the Mohawk River Corridor. They worked closely Oneida County communities, but also brings • Accommodate multiple uses while with an advisory Working Group, which was led New York State one step closer to the creation minimizing impacts to natural processes by the Oneida County Planning Department. of the “Empire State Greenway”, a series of three and wildlife This Working Group includes representatives linked greenways (the Erie Canal, Niagara, and • Identify themes and develop a from public agencies who own or manage Hudson Valley Greenways) outlined in the 2006 land within the corridor and are interested marketing concept NYS Open Space Conservation Plan. in partnering with the County to maintain • Develop greenway interpretation and the land for multiple purposes, including the Vision wayfinding plans protection of the corridor’s natural resources. Represented agencies include the NYS The broad vision for the Mohawk River Corridor • Provide policy recommendations, Department of Environmental Conservation, Greenway in Oneida County includes the implementation strategy and action NYS Department of Transportation, and establishment of a network of land along the plan Oneida County Environmental Management river corridor and Erie Canal, which preserves and Water Quality Council. The public • Provide a management plan, which and highlights the unique environment of the participated in the planning process through includes recommendations for Mohawk River. The focus of the greenway is to public meetings and focus group information coordinating multi-agency and multi- protect and enhance natural features, natural gathering sessions. jurisdictional methods for managing processes and wildlife habitat, while providing greenway lands opportunities for recreation and appreciation of the area’s cultural and historical significance. More details about the framework of this Greenway Plan and the greenway project overall Purpose can be found in the Goals and Objectives The purpose of this project is to develop a written section. plan to organize and manage existing and peter j. smith & company, inc. Why is this Area Unique? 2.0 Geologic Context Context Geologic forces have shaped the upstate New York region, causing uplifting and erosion, which has influenced the landscape we experience today. Of the geologic process at work in the area, glaciation leaves the most significant signature on the Greenway Corridor. The ice age in upstate New York began 1.6 million years ago and ended about 10,000 years ago. Advancing and The study area for the Mohawk River Greenway includes retreating glaciers, ancient lakes and mighty rivers sculpted portions of the Mohawk River and Erie Canal in Oneida Rediscovering Nature... the land. Glaciers more than a mile high covered this part County, central New York State. There are two major waterways of the state. As the glaciers started to melt and retreat northward, ice dams, glacier deposits and rock within the Greenway Corridor: formations held back vast areas of fresh water. These ancient lakes existed for
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