A Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation Framework

Hu

dso

n V

all

ey

Scenic Hudson’s Mission Area

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

Kingston Waterfront

Flooding

April 16, 2005

Sea Level Riseby 2080

Central Range: 12” - 23”

Rapid Ice Melt: 41” - 55”

Source: NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force

Final Report 2010

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)

A Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation FrameworkA Strategic Conservation Framework

Basemap Albany

New York

Poughkeepsie

SASS

Viewshed Analysis

BIA’s

Species Data

Modeled Together1 – 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