Town of Coeymans Natural Resources Inventory Prepared by the Coeymans Conservation Advisory Council July 2019 Contents Contributors .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Why inventory natural resources?............................................................................................................. 5 What is a natural resources inventory (NRI)? ........................................................................................... 5 Community Setting ................................................................................................................................... 6 Historic Setting ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Data and Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 11 How to Use This Inventory ..................................................................................................................... 12 Background Maps ....................................................................................................................................... 14 Base Map (Map 1) .................................................................................................................................. 14 Aerial View (Map 2) ............................................................................................................................... 15 Infrared Aerial View (Map 3) ................................................................................................................. 16 Topography ................................................................................................................................................. 17 Elevation (Map 4) ................................................................................................................................... 17 Steep Slopes (Map 5) .............................................................................................................................. 19 Landslide Susceptibility (Map 6) ............................................................................................................ 21 Geology and Soils ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Bedrock Geology (Map 7) ...................................................................................................................... 23 Karst Geology (Map 8) ........................................................................................................................... 27 Surficial Geology (Map 9) ...................................................................................................................... 29 Soils (Map 10)......................................................................................................................................... 31 Water Resources ......................................................................................................................................... 36 Public Water Supply Catchments (Map 11) ........................................................................................... 36 Wells and Major Aquifers (Map 12) ....................................................................................................... 38 Streams and Watersheds (Map 13) ......................................................................................................... 39 Flood Hazard Areas and Water Quality Classifications (Map 14) ......................................................... 42 Alcove Emergency Action Plan Inundation Area (Map 15) ................................................................... 46 Wetlands (Map 16) ................................................................................................................................. 47 Habitats and Wildlife .................................................................................................................................. 50 Land Cover and Land Use (Map 17) ...................................................................................................... 50 Significant Ecological Features (Map 18) .............................................................................................. 53 Large Forests (Map 19) ........................................................................................................................... 60 Forest Types (Map 20) ............................................................................................................................ 63 1 Grassland, Shrubland, and Young Forest (not mapped) ......................................................................... 65 Stream Habitats (Map 21) ....................................................................................................................... 66 Coastal Habitats (Map 22) ...................................................................................................................... 70 Hudson River Shoreline (Map 23) .......................................................................................................... 74 Climate and Air ........................................................................................................................................... 76 Climate and Sea Level Rise Scenarios (Map 24) .................................................................................... 76 Air (not mapped) ..................................................................................................................................... 81 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................................... 83 Zoning (Maps 25 and 25a) ...................................................................................................................... 83 Assessed Land Use (Maps 26 and 26a) .................................................................................................. 85 Regulated Facilities and Industrial Land Use (Map 27) ......................................................................... 87 Agricultural Resources (Map 28) ............................................................................................................ 90 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 92 Historic Sites (Map 29) ........................................................................................................................... 92 Conservation and Recreation Assets (Map 30) ....................................................................................... 95 Scenic Resources (not mapped) ............................................................................................................ 100 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................ 102 Afterword .................................................................................................................................................. 103 Appendix A: Ecologically Significant Habitats of the Binnen Kill and Tidal Habitats............................ 105 Appendix B: Regulated Facilities List ...................................................................................................... 108 Appendix C: Community Air Screen ........................................................................................................ 113 2 Contributors Principal Mapper: Andrew Varuzzo, Cornell University Mapping and Editorial Assistance: Ingrid Haeckel, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University Writers: Sylvia Lawler (Introduction, Conservation, Recreation, and Scenic Assets, Conclusion) Dan Bosworth (Base Map, Aerial View, Infrared Aerial View, Public Water Supply, Wells and Major Aquifers) Ro Woodard (Elevation, Steep Slopes) Bryan Rowzee (Bedrock, Surficial, and Karst Geology) Ingrid Haeckel (Landslide Susceptibility, Soils, Streams and Watersheds, Floodplains, Alcove Flood Hazard, Wetlands, Habitats Section, Regulated Facilities) Libby Zemaitis (Climate Section) Mike McGuire (Zoning and Tax Parcels, Existing Land Use) Laura DeGaetano (Agricultural Resources) John Bonafide (Introduction-Historic Setting, Historic Sites) Reviewers: Laura DeGaetano, Albany County Dept. of Economic Development, Conservation and Planning Elisa Chae, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program (Public Water Supply, Wells and Major Aquifers) Nate Nardi-Cyrus, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program Dr. Alexander Bartholomew, SUNY New Paltz (Bedrock Geology section) Barbara Heinzen, Geographer and local resident Joe Tracey, CAC member This project was carried out through a partnership with Cornell University and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program with funding from the New York