Scenic Hudson’s Mission Area Hudson Valley ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ����������������������������������
Conserving the Rural Landscape 1. Why Conserve the Rural Landscape? 2. Making Choices with Limited Resources -- Techniques for Prioritizing Conservation 3. Funding Options
Why Conserve the Rural Landscape? • To safeguard our regional tourism economy • To protect water quality • To conserve our region’s biodiversity • To conserve our “foodshed” – our agricultural land base, food supply, and farm economy • To help the region adapt to climate change
Economic Benefits of Open Space – The Multiplier Effect • Every $1 New York State invests protecting land and water through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), $7 is returned to local communities in economic benefits. – Source: Trust for Public Land, 2012
Economic Benefits of Open Space - Nationwide • Americans spend over $730 billion a year on outdoor recreation. • Hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching alone generated $145 billion in spending in 2011 – 1% of the U.S. gross domestic product. – Source: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 2011
Economic Benefits of Open Space – in New York • Outdoor recreation delivers: – $11.3 billion annually in sales and services – Nearly $800 million in state tax revenue – Source: National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, 2011
Walkway Over the Hudson’s 2012 Economic Impact Study • 500,000 annual visitors, 48% from outside region • Annual direct spending by non-locals: $15 mm • Direct wages generated: $6 million • Annual county revenue: $780,000
Economic Benefits of Open Space – More Multiplier Effects In May 2012, Northwind Farms of Tivoli and Hudson Solar of Rhinebeck announced the installation of a new photovoltaic array that is projected to gather 20 percent more electricity than the farm uses each year.
Economic Benefits of Open Space Conservation – Water Quality • Conserving wetlands and waterfronts = effective, inexpensive flood control. • Each acre of wetlands in New York = $689,000 in annual storm-protection benefits -- soaking up water and removing pollutants before they reach drinking-water supplies. • Forests: every 10% of a watershed's forest cover eliminates 20% of water-treatment costs. – Source: Trust for Public Land and American Water Works Association, 2004
The Hudson Valley Ecosystem: A Crossroads of Biodiversity • A spectacular ecological mixing zone - some of the highest levels of species richness in NY State. • A trio of geological, biological and hydrological forces has created an unusually complex ecosystem. • Globally significant hotspots of turtle, salamander and dragonfly species. • Critically important tidal and upland breeding areas for oceangoing fish and resident and migrant bird species.
Climate Change • Anticipating sea level rise • Connectivity – for species migration • Protecting the “green infrastructure” that fosters resilience
Sea Level Rise by 2080 Central Range: 12 ” - 23 ” Rapid Ice Melt: 41 ” - 55 ” Source: NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force Final Report 2010 Kingston Waterfront Flooding April 16, 2005
Hurricane Irene, 2011
Hurricane Sandy, 2012
What can we do? • Understand risks to public infrastructure • Steer development away from shorelines and floodplains • Avoid construction of bulkheads, levees and dikes • Employ softer, greener shoreline treatments where appropriate • Adapt to increasing water levels • Protect wetlands and allow them to migrate in/upland
Strategy: Land Protection
Climate Resiliency: Safeguarding Riparian Corridors
2. Making Choices - Techniques for Prioritizing Conservation Work • Scenic Hudson’s Scenic and Ecological Prioritization • Scenic Hudson’s Farmland Prioritization
Scenic Views Conservation Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance (SASS) Viewshed Analysis from Public Viewpoints Scenic / Ecological Model
Ecological / Habitat Conservation Biologically Important Areas (DEC) Natural Heritage Program Species Data Scenic / Ecological Model
GIS Modeling Scenic Areas (1-3) + Viewshed Analysis (1-3) + Biologically Important Areas (1-3) + Species Data (1-3) = Scenic / Ecological Conservation Value (1-12) ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ����������������������������������
Basemap Albany Poughkeepsie New York
SASS
Viewshed Analysis
BIA’s
Species Data
Modeled Together 1 – Some Value 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 – Highest Value
3. Funding for Land Conservation – NY State • New York State EPF – Municipal Parks Grants, Farmland Protection Program, Open Space Acquisition – EPF is at $134 million – Was at $250 million in 2008 – Advocates are calling for at least $164 million next year – Funding sources: State’s Real Estate Transfer Tax; “Bigger, Better Bottle Bill” revenues • Bonding assistance to municipalities through Environmental Facilities Corp.
Funding for Land Conservation – Federal Programs • Land and Water Conservation Fund (National Park Service) – part of budget negotiations • Forest Legacy Program (US Forest Service) - $60 million nationwide • Highlands Conservation Act (US Fish and Wildlife Service) - $5 million to four states • Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Program (NOAA) - $3 million nationwide • Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (USDA’s NCRS) - $4 mm to New York
Other Sources of Land Conservation Funding • Partnering with larger conservation groups • Seller financing • Municipal bonding and community preservation funding • Watershed Improvement Districts (new state law in 2012)
Local Open Space Programs • Red Hook: $3.5 mm open space fund and Community Preservation Act • Warwick: $9 mm farmland protection fund and Community Preservation Act • Beekman: $3 mm open space fund • New Paltz: $2mm open space fund • Many towns in Westchester - $11 mm since 2005
2012 Open Space Funding Referenda • 57 measures on local and statewide ballots in 21 states • 46 passed (81% approval rate) • Will provide more than $2 billion overall, including $767 million in new money for land conservation to protect water quality, working farms, and create new parks and preserves. • In New York: Bedford and Pound Ridge
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