Fran Dunwell, was our featured speaker at the July 31, 2018 Association meeting. Since 1974 Fran has spent her career in conservation of the Hudson River’s scenic, historic, and environmental heritage. Currently the coordinator of the Hudson River Estuary at the NYSDEC she oversees the implementation of an ambitious program; conserving fish and wildlife, landscape, and water resources from Troy to NY Harbor. Author of The Hudson: America’s River Fran will discuss efforts to develop new public access areas for boaters and recent proposals by CSX railroad to fence-in their property limiting public access to the river.
From the www.dec.ny.gov website:
The Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2015-2020 (PDF 1.14 MB) is a conservation and restoration blueprint that guides the work of the Estuary Program and its partners. The Action Agenda defines the challenges we face and identifies practical solutions that can be carried out by civic leaders, policy makers, and citizens working together.
The 2015 – 2020 Action Agenda is organized around six key benefits that result from a strong and vibrant estuary ecosystem and watershed:
- Clean Water
- Resilient Communities
- Vital Estuary Ecosystem
- Estuary Fish, Wildlife, and Habitats
- Natural Scenery
- Education, River Access, Recreation, and Inspiration
For a synopsis, please see the Action Agenda Summary (PDF 1.96 MB).
Coordinated by the Hudson River Estuary Program, the Action Agenda is implemented over a five year period by DEC in partnership with other state agencies and the federal government, as well as local municipalities, non-profit groups, academic and scientific institutions, businesses, trade organizations, conservation groups, landowners, and dedicated citizens. State and federal agency partners include the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Office of General Services, the Departments of Health and Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Department of Commerce/NOAA.
The first Estuary Action Plan was approved in 1996 and was updated in 1998, 2001, 2005, 2010, and 2015.
Details of the accomplishments of the Hudson River Estuary Program and its partners in meeting the objectives of the Action Agenda are available in the Estuary Program Progress Reports.
More about Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda:
- Hudson River Estuary Management Act – The law that created the Hudson River Estuary Program