New York Flora Association Blog

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, US Geological Survey, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and the Catskill Institute for the Environment are sponsoring an informal research forum to be held on November 17th and 18th, at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Highmount, NY.
This meeting is intended mainly for researchers and resource managers working in the region, but we do not intend this meeting to be exclusive. Therefore, please forward this to others you think may be interested in attending or presenting.

The purpose of this forum is to:

1. exchange information about current research, monitoring, and data collection efforts within the Catskill Mountains related to
   • climate change
   • stream water quality
   • biodiversity
   • forest health, and
   • stream stability
2. identify monitoring and research gaps; and
3. stimulate discussion; and promote collaborative efforts that address present and future environmental issues within the region.

We request that you forward topics for discussion, titles, and abstracts (300 word maximum) for a poster or verbal presentation (15-20 min talks) to Elizabeth Higgins, of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, at emh56@cornell.edu on or before October 15, 2010.

Some additional activities will be planned for Wednesday evening and part of Thursday afternoon will be kept open for general discussions and/or breakout meetings.

The submission form is available on the conference website
(www.ashokanstreams.org\research%20 conference.html).  You can also find registration and lodging information there.  A final agenda and program will be forwarded to interested parties in late October and will be available on the conference website.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Higgins at (845) 688-3047 or emh56@cornell.edu.

From a DEC press release:

City of Rochester, State Preserve Last Two Undeveloped Finger Lakes in New York

(Thursday, July 1, 2010) – Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy and State Environmental Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today that New York State has completed the purchase of Hemlock and Canadice lakes from the City of Rochester for $13.7 million. The transaction, which has been in the works for over two years, will preserve and protect the last two undeveloped Finger Lakes – which have supplied water to Rochester for more than 130 years.

Of New York’s 11 Finger Lakes, Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake are the only two with undeveloped shorelines. In 1895, the City recognized the value of protecting the source of its public water supply, and thus began acquiring watershed property adjacent to the lakes. By 1950, the City owned 7,000 acres of critical shoreline property. Cottages and houses were removed. Agricultural land was replanted to forest.

City stewardship of the lakes and adjacent lands over the last century has provided a superior water supply while also protecting valuable regional resources, including open space, wildlife habitat and fisheries. As a direct result of City efforts, these are the only Finger Lakes with no shoreline development.

The lakes have been identified as a “high priority” on the state’s Open Space Conservation Program since its inception in 1992 – state acquisition would remove the pressure on the City to sell off the buffer lands for development. Under the terms of the transaction, the state purchased approximately 7,000 acres of land in the towns of Livonia, Conesus, Springwater, Richmond and Canadice. The City will retain the use of the lakes, which serve as much of its drinking-water supply.

Per agreement with the City, DEC will continue property maintenance and preservation that meets or exceeds the City’s current standards, sealing the City’s legacy of good stewardship. Over the long term, a comprehensive unit management plan will be developed for the property, with extensive public input. That process will likely take two or more years to complete.

The video of the lecture is available here: Naczi lecture.

It is 34 minutes long.

A Janet Meakin Poor Research Symposium
Alsdorf Auditorium
Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe, IL
Friday, June 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Become enlightened about assisted migration and its role in fighting plant extinction in this year’s Janet Meakin Poor Research Symposium.

When fragmentation limits migration potential of plants or when natural migration and adaptation rates are outstripped by the pace of climate change, some conservation biologists propose purposeful, human-mediated migration, known as “assisted migration” or “managed relocation,” as a way to prevent extinction. In this symposium, we examine this controversial topic from both sides of the issue and suggest ways that the benefits of assisted migration can be maximized while minimizing the costs and risks. Details will be posted as they are confirmed.

For more info go to:
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/school/symposia/JMP.php

Naturalist/Photographer Frank Knight’s (NYFA Member)

Seventeen Native Orchids and a Weed

Opening Wine Reception

Friday, June 4th, 4 to 7 pm

Harmony House Marketplace

184-190 Remsen Street, Cohoes, NY 12047    Ph. 238-2232

Across from Smith’s Restaurant and Cohoes Farmer’s Market

Exhibition hours: M, T, 10 – 4 PM, W, Th, F 10 – 7 PM, Sat. 10 – 4 PM