HomeMy WebLinkAboutCB Packet 2024-08-01 TOWN OF ITHACA
t � 1 NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
215 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca NY 14850
607-273-1747
www.townithacanygov
TO: CONSERVATION BOARD MEMBERS
FROM: MICHAEL SMITH, SENIOR PLANNER
DATE: JULY 25, 2024
SUBJECT: UPCOMING CONSERVATION BOARD MEETING —AUGUST 1 , 2024
This is to confirm that the next meeting of the Conservation Board (CB) is Thursday,
August 1st at 5:30 p.m. The agenda for this meeting is enclosed (see the back of this
memo).
The draft minutes from the May 2nd meeting are attached. Please email me any spelling,
grammatical, or other minor edits you have prior to the meeting.
At this meeting, we will discuss the draft NYS regulations to protect freshwater wetlands
and the draft NYS 30x30 Methodology and Strategies conservation document. NYS is
current accepting public comments on both items, with the deadline to submit
comments on the draft wetland regulations is September 19th and the deadline for the
30x30 document is August 301h. The CB should review the draft regulations/documents
and consider if there are any comments you would like to provide to NYS. Attached are
emails with brief descriptions of each item and you can find the full draft material at:
- Wetlands: https:Hdec.nv.gov/news/press-releases/2024/7/dec-releases-draft-
reg u lations-for-review-to-protect-freshwater-wetlands-across-new-vork-state
- 30x30: https:Hdec.nv.gov/nature/open-space/30x30
We will also continue the conversation on indigenous environmental justice with Mike R.
and discuss the possibility of scheduling a tour this fall at the Bolton Point water
treatment facility for CB members.
Frank is signed up to take minutes at the August meeting.
If you have any questions prior to the meeting or are not able to attend, please contact
me at msmith(a)townithacany.gov or 607-273-1747.
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TOWN OF ITHACA
CONSERVATION BOARD
5:30 p.m., Thursday,August 1, 2024
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Aurora Conference Room
215 N.Tioga Street
Ithaca,New York 14850
(The rear entrance is handicapped accessible)
(607)273-1747
Members of the public are welcome to attend in-person at Town Hall
or virtually via Zoom (httys://zoom.us/i/6750593272).
AGENDA
1. Persons to be heard
2. Members comments/concerns
3. Environmental Review Committee Update (Lori)
4. Chair and Coordinator reports
5. Approval of minutes from May 2,2024
6. Discuss draft NYS regulations to protect freshwater wetlands as part of the current public
comment period(deadline September 19')
7. Discuss draft NYS 3000 Methodology and Strategies conservation document as part of the
current public comment period(deadline August 30')
8. Continue discussion of Indigenous Environmental Justice (Mike)
9. Regular reports and updates(6:30 pm)
a. Scenic Resources Committee (Eva)
b. Communications Committee (Ingrid)
C. Tompkins County EMC(Ingrid)
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program(James)
e. Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas Program (James)
10. Other Business(6:50 p.m.)
-Discuss potential Bolton Point water treatment plant tour
11. Review 2024 Work Goals/Discuss September Agenda
12. Adjourn(7:00 p.m.)
Conservation Board Members and Associates(*)
Lori Brewer(Chair),Frank Cantone(Vice-Chair),Lindsay Dombroskie*,
James Hamilton,Eva Hoffmann,Michael Roberts,Ingrid Zabel
Town of Ithaca Conservation Board meeting
May 2,2024,5:30 p.m.
(In Person at Town Hall and via Zoom Video Conference)
Draft Minutes
Members present: Lori Brewer(Chairperson), Frank Cantone,James Hamilton, Eva Hoffmann, Mike
Roberts, Ingrid Zabel
Staff present: Michael Smith,Senior Planner
1. Persons to be heard: none
2. Members comments/concerns
Ingrid brought up the idea of the CB hosting a public tour of Bolton Point, based on her
positive experience of touring the city's drinking water plant(as a conference field trip). It
could be a way to help educate town residents about the importance of water
conservation. We could also educate about how the town gets water at events. Mike S.
will contact Bolton Point staff to help arrange the tour.
Relatedly, questions came up about a past study on greenhouse gas emissions from town
water use. The 2021 update is on the Town website.
It was noted that it would also be interesting to have a tour of the wastewater treatment
plant.
3. Environmental Review Committee Update(Lori)
• There is nothing to respond to currently
• The Soil Factory is just changing use/classification, no comments necessary.
• Cornell—center campus-Meinig fieldhouse and multi-use field
o They are proposing field use changes,to multi-use. They are still proposing
artificial turf
o The field hockey field will shift to Game Farm Road. Also artificial turf.
Lori attended a webinar put on by Zero Waste Ithaca. They suggest we should call
artificial turf"plastic carpet"The webinar was recorded and will be shared. Lori will
share with us, and noted that the third speaker's content was the most relevant to
issues we have discussed.
A few takeaways from the webinar:
• The EPA doesn't have a good handle on contamination from plastic carpet
• The webinar mentioned high levels of cancer in young athletes who play on
plastic carpet
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• They didn't have concrete data on what contaminants are coming from
fields
• 10%of micro plastics in streams are from plastic carpet
• Regarding disposal: plastic carpets are being warehoused
Comments/Questions:
• The references from the web inar might be the most useful thing to us
• We should continue to raise the concern about plastics, and cite previous
references
• Can the Planning Board deny approval of plastic carpet if there's no town
policy against it?
o It would be difficult at the site plan level. They could, however,get a
change at the environmental review stage(SEQR)
• How close is the Game Farm site to the creek?
• Cornell has put in stormwater retention ponds. How long do plastics stay in
ponds like this? Bioretention filters: is there any evidence on how effective
they are over time?
o We could invite Kara Bugis from Cornell to educate us about this and
to talk with us about microplastics in waterways, student health
issues, and local&state codes
o https://ehs.cornell.edu/about-us/staff-directory/kara-bugis
• Mike Smith noted that the Town and Cornell have a maintenance agreement
for stormwater facilities(retention ponds). Cornell does annual reporting
• Plastic carpet apparently lasts only 8 to 12 years. Does the Town of Ithaca
have waste disposal regulations that would apply?
o Waste is more of a county-level issue. Ingrid will ask the EMC if
anyone knows more about this.
o Zero Waste says that plastic carpet can't be recycled,and ends up
being incinerated
o Can the Town or County ask for details on how it will be recycled?
• During the 2016 drought,when a grass soccer field was installed, people
complained about watering during a drought
Summary comments:
1. We should focus on evidence-based arguments about plastic carpet
2. We should start a subcommittee to work on this issue. Lori will start this; Frank is
interested
Other ERC-related: Cornell's Maplewood II proposal is expected in June
4. Chair&Coordinator Reports
a. Chair Report: none
b. Coordinator report:
i. South Hill Recreation Way extension project:all four towns have approved
signing the easement with NYSEG,which owns the former rail line. The next
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step is applying for Federal funding has been announced for a feasibility
study and cost estimate to move forward. The Town of Caroline will lead.
ii. The Town has hired a new planner: Nick Quilty-Koval,formerly with the Town
of Dewitt.
iii. Regarding the idea of creating a pollinator garden in a town park,Joe Talbut
has suggested Eastern Heights Park-the flatter area at the bottom of the
sledding hill. How do we want to move forward? Have Joe do it?With CB
help?Could the CB buy seed?What kind of signage should we have?
• Possible concern that this particular location is out of view. Maybe
that's OK,since this is a first attempt. If this is successful,we could
do this more visibly in other parks.
• It was decided that the CB could buy seed
• It would be good to have signage about the benefits of pollinator
gardens both on the existing board at the park and separately,to call
attention to the garden
• Ingrid will contact Joe
5. Minutes from Marchand April 2024 meetings:James Hamilton moved to approve,with
minor edits. Mike Roberts seconded this;all approved.
6. Fischer Award tree planting(Thursday May 30)
a. Location TBD, but will likely be near a stream
b. Basswood has been chosen as the tree type.
c. Mike Smith hasn't found anyone in Tompkins County to engrave the existing plaque.
He found a place in Geneva. They will help us figure out the font,for future
reference
d. Mike will draft the event invitation
Relatedly,the hemlock planted in Forest Home from a previous FischerAward has died.
The CB has funds—do we want to replace it? Joe has funds, can buy a tree, but he's had
trouble finding hemlock. Should we find something different? Lori heard that Cornell is
working with a hemlock that is a resistant variety. Mike Roberts will reach out to Mark
Whitmore (hemlock/hemlock wooly adelgid expert)about it.
7. Invasive species awareness week
a. James proposes theme of treating the"l0 big nasties."Show the public howto
recognize and abate these species.
b. Location: meet at Raffensberger Gazebo (on Pew trail),Thursday,June 6 at 5:30 PM-
instead of usual CB meeting.
c. Communications committee will work on a strategy for encouraging participation.
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8. Indigenous Environmental Justice report(Mike Roberts)
Mike Smith submitted a proposal for a grant forth e Tutelo Park project. We're waiting to
hear from the County. Steve Hen hawk has drawn down funds for his work and is on hiatus.
Mike Roberts also mentioned that he will be meeting with Kristy Sullivan at East Ithaca
Nature Preserve on May 14 to assess if the woods there are suited for a deer browse study.
9. Regular reports and updates
a. Scenic Resources(Eva): no news. Perhaps prepare some materials to send to
Cornell as a reminder, and a draft of what the sign will look like? Mike S. said all the
draft information and previous example photos have been provided to Cornell.
b. Communications Committee(Ingrid): Facebook,last 28 days, Reach of posts: 95,
Engagement:20.We have 347 followers, none new in the last 28 days.
Top post: news about South Hill Recreation Way extension.
c. EMC: upcoming May meeting, in person at Stewart Park. All are invited. Ingrid will
highlight the CB's activities.
d. Six Mile Creek Volunteer Monitoring Program (James): November 8,2023 synoptic
monitoring results have been posted to CSI's database at:
http://database.communityscience.org/events/3109. The BMI sample data are
posted at: http://www.communityscience.org/bmi-results/. There were six different
riffles sampled for BMI in 6MC lastyear! CSI posted an appreciation of Adrianna
Hirtler's FischerAward on their Facebook page.
e. Cornell University Botanic Gardens (James): A Hemlock Wooly Adelgid hunt had to
be cancelled due to rain one Tuesday afternoon, but the Eames Bog(aka Mud Creek
Swamp) near Freeville was surveyed on April 16 and 23 when HWA hiding under
hemlock needles were more visible.This was the first time any considerable HWA
were found here,especially in the west side of the swamp near Mud Creek. On April
30,volunteers took the annual Trollius laxux(American Globeflower)census in a fen
near Salt Road in Groton. Recent weeding of woody plants there has improved
sunshine for the short endangered buttercups,though we counted them a couple
weeks past peak blooming.
10. Other Business: none
11. Works Goals/June Agenda:June meetingwill be cancelled,with the invasive species event
taking place atthat day/time. Future agenda item: Pollinator garden in town park
12. Meeting adjourned at 6:53 pm
Minutes drafted by Ingrid Zabel.
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Mike Smith
From: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
<nysdec@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Monday,July 1, 2024 1:59 PM
To: Mike Smith
Subject: DEC and OPRHP Announce Release of Draft 30x30 Conservation Strategy for Public
Review
address,**WARNING**This email comes from an outside source. Please verify the from
. - . .
DECDEL =-�,y #, Department
nl
TATE
Conservation
' .
Stay ConmactQd With Your Environm�qnt
Methodology and Strategy Document Outlines Key Measures
to Support National Goal of Conserving 30 Percent of U.S.
Lands and Waters by 2030
Aug. 30 Deadline for Public Comments
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Office
of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP)today announced the release
of a proposed strategy document for implementing New York's commitment to
support the national goal of conserving 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030.
The draft New York State 30x30 Methodology and Strategies document is available
for public comment until Aug. 30, 2024, and outlines a comprehensive framework to
achieve the directive in the 30x30 legislation signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in
December 2022.
DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, "New York's sustained leadership to
invest in and advance natural climate solutions is vital to achieving both our climate
goals and our efforts to conserve 30 percent of state lands and waters by 2030. Public
input on the draft 30x30 Methodology and Strategies document released today will
help inform these efforts as New York State moves forward with planning and
managing new acquisitions, conservation partnership work, and applicable policies
and regulations to meet our goals."
OPRHP Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons said, "OPRHP is proud to be
a partner in the conservation of New York's lands and waters under the 30x30
initiative. Our ever-expanding State Park system is just one piece of the puzzle. We
are committed to the protection of biodiversity, resilient habitats, connectivity, and
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providing public recreation as we uphold our continued mission of responsible
environmental stewardship."
The 30X30 Methodologies and Strategies document builds upon New York State's
extensive efforts to preserve open space through numerous programs, partners, and
funding sources. Recent accomplishments include the acquisition of 287 acres at
the former Bell Station power plant to create the Cayuga Shores Wildlife
Management Area, acquisition of 203 acres to add to Fillmore Glen State Park,the
creation of the 500-acre Sojourner Truth State Park in Ulster County, and the ongoing
finalization of an agreement to permanently protect more than 14,600 acres at
Follensby Pond and the Raquette River in the Adirondacks. Key components of the
draft 30x30 Methodology and Strategies document include:
• Defining what will be counted towards New York's 30x30 goal including both
permanent and persistent protections;
• Creating a baseline of what is already protected to determine the number of
acres needed to reach 30 percent of New York State's lands and waters;
• Identifying priority conservation areas based on ecological significance and
biodiversity;
• Pinpointing strategies for providing support to conservation partners to protect
lands and waters, including enhancing existing grant and other programs that
protect land, developing new grant and other programs to protect land, and
legislative initiatives that protect land; and
• Establishing methods for supporting sustainable land management practices
and promoting climate resilience.
The draft document incorporates the following legislative objectives:
• Conserving lands prioritized through the Open Space Conservation Plan;
• Providing protections for water sources, sole source aquifers, and watersheds;
• Preserving biodiversity through habitat restoration and means for wildlife
migration, with a focus on endangered and threatened species;
• Expanding public access to nature and the outdoors;
• Considerations of urban, suburban and rural natural areas, wetlands, and
forests;
• Protecting food sources through farmland preservation; and
• Increasing climate resilience, including reducing risk from extreme weather
events, cooling urban landscapes, and the prevention of erosion and flooding.
The draft 30x30 Methodology and Strategies document will be available for review
and comment for 60 days during which DEC and State Parks will hold two virtual
public meetings to ensure input from stakeholders, community leaders, and
environmental experts across the state.
To access the draft document and provide comments, visit DEC's 30x30 webpage.
The details for the virtual meetings will also be posted on this webpage. A summary
of public comments will be included in the final document as an appendix. Progress
towards the 30x30 goal will be posted annually to the DEC webpage.
https://dec.ny.gov/news/press-releases
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Mike Smith
From: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
<nysdec@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 10, 2024 4:01 PM
To: Mike Smith
Subject: DEC Releases Draft Regulations for Review to Protect Freshwater Wetlands Across New
York State
address,**WARNING**This email comes from an outside source. Please verify the from
. - . .
.�, *, repartment of
nl
DECDEL
STATE
Conservation
' .
Stay ConmactQd With Your Environmvq,
DEC Releases Draft Regulations for Review to Protect
Freshwater Wetlands Across New York State
Proposal Would Protect an Estimated One Million Additional
Acres of Wetland Habitat and Address Changes to Freshwater
Wetlands Act
Comments Accepted through Sept. 19; Hearings Scheduled Sept.
10 and 12
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim
Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced the release of proposed regulations to
protect freshwater wetlands across New York State. The draft regulations are now
available for public comment until Sept. 19, and would safeguard an estimated one
million additional acres of unprotected wetland habitat by expanding the number of
wetlands regulated by DEC. "Wetlands provide economic and ecological benefits to
all of New York's communities by improving natural resiliency, helping protect
communities from flooding, particularly in response to climate change, while
providing essential habitat for fish and wildlife," Interim DEC Commissioner Mahar
said. "I encourage New Yorkers to review this proposal and provide input as we fulfill
Governor Hochul's commitment to modernize wetlands protections and work to
ensure the long-term health of these vital ecosystems." Freshwater wetlands are
lands and submerged lands—commonly called marshes, swamps, sloughs, and
bogs—that support aquatic or semi-aquatic vegetation. New York's Freshwater
Wetlands Act was enacted in 1975 and modernized as part of the 2022-2023 Enacted
State Budget. The proposed rule would take effect in January 2025 and clarify
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jurisdictional status of smaller wetlands of "unusual importance" that meet one of
11 specific criteria contained in the newly amended Freshwater Wetlands Act. In
addition, the draft regulations provide a revised wetlands classification system and a
process for the public to request and appeal jurisdictional determinations. The
proposed regulations continue DEC's ongoing efforts to involve interested
stakeholders in regulation development and, along with public feedback, build upon
an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rule Making DEC released in January 2024.
The proposed rule and supporting documents can be viewed and
downloaded on DEC's website. DEC encourages the public to comment on the
proposed regulations. Comments will be accepted through Sept. 19, 2024, and can
be submitted via e-mail to WetlandRegulatoryComments(&dec.ny.gov (subject:
"Wetlands Part 664 Comments") or via mail to NYSDEC, Attn: Roy Jacobson, Jr.,
5th Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4756. The public can also provide
comments duringvirtual and in-person public hearings. The virtual public hearings
are scheduled Sept. 10, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. An in-person public hearing is
scheduled Sept. 12, at 1 p.m. at the DEC office at 625 Broadway, Albany,
NY. Registration forthe public hearings can be found on DEC's website.
https:Hdec.ny.gov/news/press-releases
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