In New York State, as in many other states, municipal agencies (e.g., town councils, town planning boards) have substantial authority for land use planning, for environmental reviews, and for issuing regulatory approvals for development projects. Most such decisions, however, are made without the benefit of good biological information or knowledge of potential impacts to biological resources. Consequently, biodiversity resources are disappearing at an accelerating rate in the rapidly developing Hudson Valley due to loss, fragmentation, and other degradation of habitats. (reference Hudsonia Ltd.)
Did you know?....
Orange County has the second highest number of dragonfly and damselfly in the United States!
Orange County has the second highest number of plant species in New York.
Orange County has the highest concentration of Northern Cricket Frogs in New York. This species is listed by NYS as Endangered.
Orange County contains the statewide hotspot for reptiles and salamanders.
The Hudson Valley has the third highest number of turtles in the WORLD!
There are thirteen species in the region, one of which, the Bog Turtle is Federally listed as Threatened.
(reference, Orange County Open Space Plan)
NEW! Wednesday, December 16, 2009
DEC SURVEY SHOWS BAT POPULATIONS DOWN 90 PERCENT IN CAVES IMPACTED BY
“WHITE NOSE SYNDROME”
Wide-ranging, Coordinated Research Effort Continuing; NY Gearing Up for
Next Round of Winter Surveys
Populations of some bat species have plummeted more than 90 percent in
Northeast
caves impacted by “White Nose Syndrome,” according to an extensive
investigation by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Commissioner
Pete Grannis
announced today.
Surveying 23 caves at the epicenter of the bat die-off in early 2009,
researchers found an
alarming decline - 91 percent on average -- in the number of
hibernating bats. The study
included 18 caves in eastern New York, four in western Massachusetts
and one in Vermont.
“These steep declines are alarming and disheartening,” Commissioner
Grannis said.
“Researchers from around the country are focusing on the bat die-off
and DEC will continue to
work with a wide range of partners to try to get to the heart of the
problem.”
At Central Chester - recent review of development projects around wetlands in central Chester has brought attention to environmental impacts. 2007
"Report - Bog Turtle Habitat".....In response to above article, local resident Jay Westervelt says ....." As to the Town Of Chester Planning board's alleged "putting to rest" of the issue of Chester's well-documented Bog Turtle population along County Hwy. 13, I find it interesting that they chose not to verify the several letters which they've received, from qualified experts, which state both that endangered Bog Turtles exist in the associated wetlands complex, and that the firm which the planning board prefers to use for field reports has committed gross misidentification of reptiles which they've observed locally, in the past. This is no matter of opinion, as the firm (North Country Environmental Services), has gone on public record stating that they have observed a "Banded Water Snake, nerodia fasciata", in Chester. A quick web search will reveal the fact that this species does not occur north of The Carolinas.(Try "http://www.uga.edu/~srelherp/snakes/nerfas.htm" for starters). This misidentification was cited by the director of the Trailside Museum at Bear Mtn., Dr. Edwin McGowan, in a letter to the Chester Planning Board, on official letterhead with contact info, etc. Further, a senior DEC Endangered Species unit biologist has gone on record, in a letter to the Chester Chronicle, regarding my own expertise in the decade or so in which he and I have periodically worked together in the field, stating: "It is my opinion that Mr. Westervelt is a competent assessor of habitat suitability for such species as bog turtle and northern cricket frog -- in fact he is more able in that regard than most environmental consultants I have dealt with over that same time frame." This statement is considerable in light of the fact that I have observed several Bog Turtles on the parcel in question. This DEC biologist sent the Chester Planning Board a separate letter of testimonial regarding my own expertise in field taxonomy. This letter, on official DEC letterhead, containing all relevant contact information, was ignored by the planning board, as was a letter (again, on official letterhead with contact info) from the president of aan environmental consulting firm who actually identified Chester's first Bog Turtle observed along Rt. 13, in 1977. Even a letter from a high school teacher of Environmental Science, Earth Science and Biology, with a bachelor's degree in Zoology, and master's in Biological Sciences/Secondary Education, who has observed a Bog Turtle collected (For a captive breeding program at the Staten Island Zoo) from Rt. 13 in the same wetlands complex, was ignored. Again, this letter contained all salient contact info for verification. What the Chester Planning Board did do, instead of verifying the authorship of these official letters, was to contact the "Banded Water Snake" firm which they use for all of their field surveys, (A firm which conducts surveys at the request of developers), to discuss the feasibility of legal action against those of us whom have sought to see due dilligence performed, according to state and federal law, prior to giving the green light to more sprawl in our hometown. The Chester Planning Board certainly keeps a close relationship with this firm. The very suggestion of either group taking action against any citizen who cites facts of public record is a frivolous and desperate threat, at best..."
Jay Westervelt, Pres.,
Sugar Loaf Historical Society
------------------------------
At Lake Glenmere -
Assemblywoman wants cricket frog off of state's endangered species list
Also, discussions about Orange County conducting a study for a park along the shore has brought much criticism. On top of that, there was an investigation into dumping that is filling the nearby stream. See link for more info:http://www.glenmere.us/
