OPEN SPACE STRATEGIES
NYS - DEC
Dave Forness, Supervising Forester
DEC and Open Space
DEC – The Department
 DEC – Lands and Administrative
Responsibilities
 Open Space Protection -- Acquisition tools
and funding
 Open Space Protection -- The Open Space
Plan
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The Department of
Environmental Conservation
Our Department…..
DEC Offices and Divisions
Commissioner - Erin M. Crotty
Executive Deputy Commissioner - Denise Sheehan
Office of General Counsel James Ferreira, Deputy Commissioner
Division of Legal Affairs
Division of Environmental Enforcement
Environmental Justice
Regional Enforcement Coordination
Office of Natural Resources and Water Quality- Lynette Stark, Deputy Commissioner
Division of Lands and Forests
Division of Mineral Resources
Division of Water
Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources
Office of Air and Waste Management - Carl Johnson, Deputy Commissioner
Division of Air Resources
Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials
Division of Environmental Remediation
Office of Administration - Jack McKeon, Assistant Commissioner
Division of Public Affairs and Education
Division of Operations
Division of Management and Budget
Division of Information Services
Division of Environmental Permits
Office of Public Protection - James Tuffey, Assistant Commissioner
Division of Forest Protection and Fire Management – Forest Rangers
Division of Law Enforcement – Environmental Conservation Officers
Office of Employee Relations
Regional Offices
Region 1 - Stony Brook
Region 6 - Watertown
Region 2 - New York City
Region 7 - Syracuse
Region 3 - New Paltz
Region 8 - Avon
Region 4 - Rotterdam
Region 9 - Buffalo
Region 5 - Ray Brook
Office of Hearings and Mediation Services - Louis Alexander, Assistant Commissioner
Office of Media Relations - Michael Fraser, Assistant Commissioner
Office of Internal Audit - Henry Hamilton, Director
DEC Organizational Structure
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Matrix Organization
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Two lines of reporting
 Regional
 Bureau
- Division
For More Information:
www.dec.state.ny.us
DEC Lands
Administrative Responsibilities
DEC Lands
Forest Preserve –Adirondack and Catskill Parks
3 Million Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Lands and Forests,
Bureau of Forest Preserve Management
State Forests, Multiple Use and Unique Areas
745,000 acres
Administered By DEC Division of Lands and Forests,
Bureau of State Land Management – (Foresters)
DEC Lands
Wildlife Management Areas–
250,000 Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine
Resources, Bureau of Wildlife - (Wildlife Biologists)
Tidal Wetlands –
3,000 Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine
Resources, Bureau of Marine Resources - (Biologists)
Freshwater Wetlands –
20,000 Acres
Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine
Resources, Bureau of Habitat - (Biologists)
DEC Lands
Environmental Education Centers – Three locations
Administered By DEC Division of Public Affairs and Education –
Bureau of Environmental Education
Miscellaneous – 50 Campgrounds, 1 Ski Center, Office and
Maintenance Complexes
Administered By DEC Division of Operations
DEC Easements
Fishing Rights Easements – 1,200 Miles of Stream Access
and Associated Parking Lots
Administered By DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine
Resources, Bureau of Fisheries - (Fisheries Biologists)
Conservation Easements – 500,000 Acres (Including IP’s 255,000)
Administered By DEC Division of Lands and Forests
Open Space Protection
Acquisition and Funding
Acquisition Tools
Fee Simple
 Easement
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Public Access
Development
Timber Rights
Hunting and Fishing Rights
Acquisition $$$$$$
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Environmental Protection Fund
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1993 Environmental Protection Act $31.5 –
125 million
Acquisition of Open Space Priority Projects, biological
diversity research and protection, OPRHP muni parks
and historic protection, Ag & Markets Farmland
protection, DOS waterfront revitalization program,
DEC&OPRHP facility stewardship, Urban Forestry
Acquisition $$$$$$
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1996 Clean Water / Clean Air Bond Act
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All acquisition funds are spent
Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund
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For land acquisition by municipalities,
expanded in 2002 to open it up to not-for-profit
organizations
Acquisition $$$$$$
Migratory Bird Stamp and Print
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Wetland Acquisition $200,000/yr.
Various Non-Profit NGO’s
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Conservation Fund of Arlington, VA
The Nature Conservancy
The Mellon Foundation
Acquisition $$$$$$
Gifts and Donations
 Conservation License Plate Sales $220,000 total since 1993
 Legal Enforcement Settlements and Natural
Resource Damages settlements
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Acquisition $$$$$$
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Various Federal Funds
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US Dept. of Interior Land & Water Cons. Fund
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Pittman-Robertson Program 10-11% excise tax on
firearms and archery equipment
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$201 million (Nationally) since 1965
Habitat Protection, Sportsperson Ed, and Wildlife
Management
Forest Legacy Program $30- 60million/yr. Nationally
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Used only in Forest Legacy Areas. In NY that includes NYC
Watershed, LI Pine Barrens, Northern Forest, NY-NJ
Highlands, Taconic Ridge
Working Within DEC
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POLITICS
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Willing Sellers etc.
Matrix Organization
Roles within the DEC
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Land and Forests - Real Property – Surveyors and
Appraisers
Lands and Forests – Foresters –SF, UA, CE’s
Wildlife – WMA’s
Fisheries – PFR Easements
Open Space Policy Goals
Protection of rare and endangered species
and habitats
 Protecting highly valued scenic, recreational
and cultural resources
 Consolidation of existing properties
 Watershed protection
 Ecosystem Management
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Open Space Protection
The Open Space Plan
Open Space Plan
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Guides DEC and OPRHP Open Space Acquisition
Programs
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Priorities set by regional advisory committees
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Representatives from county governments, conservation and
environmental organizations, and recreational and natural
resource interests
13 –23 appointed members
½ appointed by county governments, ½ (plus 1) BY DEC &
OPRHP
No DEC employees allowed on the committee
Seven years of progress under Open Space Plans
(1995-2002)
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394,000 acres of priority projects with $378 million dollars
2002 Open Space Plan
 PRIORITY PROJECTS
DEC Region 7 ,Cortland District, Lands and
Forests
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CAMILLUS VALLEY - NINE MILE CREEK
CARPENTERS FALLS / BEAR SWAMP WATERSHED
WHITE LAKE COMPLEX
TUG HILL CORE FORESTS & HEADWATERS
EASTERN ONTARIO SHORELINE
SALMON RIVER CORRIDOR
CAMILLUS VALLEY NINE MILE CREEK
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NMCreek from Otisco Lake to Onondaga Lake
Significant Development pressure
Nine Mile Creek CEA
Nine Mile Creek – Most significant Trout Stream
in CNY
Camillus Forest Unique Area
Water Trail in the Towns of Camillus and
Marcellus
Bear Swamp / Carpenters Falls
Protection of a significant watershed,
(Syracuse – Skaneateles Lake)
 Protection of Rare and Endangered Species
 Protection of a significant scenic resource
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White Lake Complex
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650 Acres, Town of DeWitt, Onondaga Co.
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Steep limestone ledges and caves
Marl Fen
Wetlands
In a suburban setting with development
pressures
TUG HILL CORE FORESTS &
HEADWATERS
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Tug Hill Plateau
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Unique by climate and lack of fragmentation
Headwaters for many important rivers
Mohawk, Deer, Salmon and Mad Rivers
 East Branch of Fish Creek and Sandy Creek
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EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
 Largest freshwater dune system in the Northeastern U.S.
 Largest undeveloped island in Lake Ontario (Galoo Isl. , 1934ac)
 Sacketts Harbor Battlefield Historic Site
 Very significant bogs and wetland complexes
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
Sandy Island Beach
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
Sandy Island Beach
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Actively managed by DEC and TNC with
the valuable assistance of The Friends of
Sandy Pond Beach.
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
Dune restoration at Sandy Island Beach
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Restoration of a blow out in the dunes
44,000 cubic yards of sand relocated and
stabilized
– Protection of rare and endangered plants
– Protection of the wetlands and water resources
of North Sandy Pond
– Protection of private property
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
Sandy Pond Beach
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
Sandy Pond Beach
EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO SHORELINE
Sandy Pond Beach
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We have acquired a couple of parcels over the past
year which were in-holdings or adjacent to the
original purchase. Additional purchases of similar
undeveloped properties should be considered.
Management continues to be a joint effort between
DEC, TNC, and The Friends of Sandy Pond
Beach.
Dune Stewards – Seasonal Employees – Public
Education (funding provided by the EPA, DEC,
Sea Grant and next year, OPRHP) .
The Salmon River Corridor
Project
A more in depth view of Open Space
Protection
Salmon River Corridor
Salmon River Corridor
Salmon River Corridor
Trail Easements
 Protection of significant habitats
 In holdings
 Recreational enhancements
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Salmon River Corridor
Salmon River Falls
Challenges in the Salmon River
Corridor
Salmon River Corridor
Current Subdivision Activity
Land for sale signs located in Redfield
across the road from the upper reservoir
Note all
the lots
listed as
“SOLD”
Development Impact
Heavy harvesting of
timber prior to subdivision
ATV damage and
active erosion
InvasiveSpecies
Species
Invasive
Introduction –Japanese
Introduction:
Japanese
Knot
WeedKnotweed
Challenges on Existing Easement
Lands
Land Clearing for Development that stops
right at the easement buffer on the river.
Politics and Individual Projects
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NiMo and the Salmon River
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Timing is everything
 Background
 Appraisals
 Negotiations
 Bureaucracy
Politics
Land Management Philosophy
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Ecosystem Management based on the
promotion of biodiversity through the
enhancement of vegetative and habitat
diversity within the State Forests and their
respective landscapes
Management Tools
Global Positioning Systems - GPS
 Geographic Information Systems - GIS
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