CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL

 Conservation Advisory Council
  Town of New Lebanon, Columbia County, New York

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Town of New Lebanon Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) is to gather and disseminate information, conduct research, and advise town agencies on matters related to the conservation of natural resources within the town. The CAC considers issues of air quality, surface water and groundwater quality and quantity, soils, plants, wildlife, and habitats of conservation concern.  As well, the CAC addresses other issues bearing on the integrity of ecosystems and sustainable uses of the natural resources that support the health and well-being of the community.

The CAC’s role in policy-making and environmental reviews is advisory only. The CAC takes a science-based approach to questions related to natural resource conservation, provides information as needed, and proposes solutions and alternatives that aim to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on sensitive resources.

The CAC’s basic tasks are to: 1) assist the Planning Board in reviews of land use proposals, as well as use of existing commercial properties within the town; 2) advise the Zoning Board of Appeals, as necessary, on decisions affecting land use; 3) gather and provide natural resource information to town agencies, land use applicants, and the general public; 4) update as needed the Natural Resource Conservation Plan for the Town of New Lebanon (2017) and Open Space Inventory (2014); and 5) provide recommendations for local policies, procedures, and legislation related to natural resource uses and conservation.  In this regard, the CAC advises the Town Board.

The CAC meets once monthly. Its members also serve on various town committees, including the Zoning Rewrite Committee, the Comprehensive Plan Update Committee, and the Climate Smart Community Task Force. CAC members regularly attend monthly Town Board meetings, special meetings, budget hearings, and public hearings. In addition, the CAC occasionally offers public programs on environmental issues which affect, or are of interest to, the community.                                                                                                                                                       Adopted 06.08.2020
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The Conservation Advisory Council has completed the Natural Resource Conservation Plan for the Town of New Lebanon.   The document can be viewed at the link below in 5 different section (due to the length of the document it had to be broken into sections).

Cover, How to use the NRCP, Contents, Summary and Introduction
Physical Setting and Land Use History
Natural Resources: Enduring Features, Mineral and Water 
Natural Resources: Biological, Farmland, Scenic and Recreation
Threats to Resources, Conservation Areas, Achieving Conservation Goals, Conservation Action Plan, and References Cited
Appendices

MEETINGS
Meetings are typically held on the second Monday of the month (unless a conflict arises) from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the New Lebanon Town Hall, 14755 State Route 22, New Lebanon.  All meetings are open to the public.

A Sample of Websites and Publications to help Landowners and Towns Conserve High Quality and Connected Habitats

Hudson Valley Natural Resource Mapper  – Interactive online map sharing habitat and water resource data in the Hudson River Estuary watershed.

Conservation Guides – Web-based animal, plant, and ecological community guides developed by the NY Natural Heritage Program.  Each guide includes description, habitat, distribution, places to see, and conservation and management issues.

Forestry Habitat Management Guidelines for Vernal Pool Wildlife (Handbook) – Describes the basic ecology of the temporary woodland pools that are important for forest wildlife as well as guidelines for forest and vernal pool habitat management and harvest operations

Audubon New York Bird Habitat Management Guidance – Web guidance on managing for forest, young forest.  For Bird Habitat Management Decision Tree [PDF version] please contact [email protected]

Stream Stewardship: Riparian Buffers – Various websites are available with stream management guidelines for landowners, including:  The Catskill Streams Initiative as well as Cornell Cooperative Extension Stand by Your Stream brochure series.

Staying Connected Initiative – An international collaboration to conserve, restore, and enhance landscape connectivity across the Northern Appalachian region of the U.S. and Canada for the benefit of nature and people.  Website includes many resources for landowners and towns.

Cornell Forest Connect – Information and resources for ensuring sustainable production and function on private forest lands.

Rensselaer Plateau Region Conservation Plan and Ecological Maps – Access multiple tools for landowners, municipalities, and GIS data available through www.databasin.org

 Private Landowner Stewardship Assistance

• NYDEC Forest Stewardship Program
• Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Forest Owner Program
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Environmental Quality Incentives program 

NEW LEBANON DRINKING WATER SOURCE PROTECTION PROGRAM (DWSP2) PLAN:  *DRAFT*
This is a DRAFT plan that is likely to have modifications after New York State reviews it and when a final plan is adopted by the Town Board we will replace the draft plan with a final plan.
Please click here to view the DWSP2 Plan Draft

WELL OWNER’S HANDBOOK: A consumer’s Guide to Wells in Minnesota:
(This manual also includes a useful chart on remediation.)  Please click here to view handbook

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The Shaker Swamp Conservancy has released an overhead video of our Shaker Swamp here in New Lebanon.  The video was created by Merrill Ross and his drone.  You can watch it by  clicking here.