American Wetlands Month: Register for Wetlands Webinars

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Hudson RiverNet
News from the Hudson River Estuary Program

Wetlands Webinars Wednesdays in May for American Wetlands Month

A woman wearing boots bends down in a stream to check for egg masses. Photo by Nava Tabak.May is American Wetlands Month and in recognition and celebration of these vital ecosystems, DEC's  Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudsonia are pleased to offer a 3-part webinar series dedicated to wetland values, identification, and protection. Wetlands provide habitat for wildlife and plants, improve water quality, store floodwater, and offer unique opportunities for people to experience nature. The webinars take place on May 5, May 12, and May 19 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Wetlands: Values and Threats
Wednesday, May 5, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

In the first session of the wetlands webinar series we will discuss the array of wetland types in the Hudson Valley, the ecological, water resource, and carbon storage values of wetlands; threats to wetlands, including threats from climate change; and how to protect wetlands through the establishment of buffer zones, stormwater management, and maintaining surrounding natural areas. The webinar will be presented by Gretchen Stevens, Hudsonia Ltd.; Laura Heady, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University; and Nate Nardi-Cyrus, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, and Cornell University. Register here.

Wetlands: Mapping, Identification, and Field Verification 
Wednesday, May 12, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

A tall flowering plant that tolerates wet soil.In the second session of the wetlands webinar series, we will discuss existing state and federal wetland maps and how to use online resources to identify additional wetland locations through the analysis of topographic maps, soils, and aerial photos. We will walk through examples of map analysis to predict the occurrence of wetlands, and discuss tips for conducting a field visit to verify those predictions through on-the-ground observations of plants, soils, and other indicators. The webinar will be presented by Ingrid Haeckel, DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University, and Gretchen Stevens, Hudsonia. Register here.

Wetlands: Regulatory Status and Local Protection Strategies 
Wednesday, May 19, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

In the third session of the Wetlands webinar series, we will discuss the state and federal regulatory protections for wetlands, including recent changes, and the potential for local regulations, how to address wetlands in environmental reviews of land development projects, and approaches for crafting and adopting local laws and zoning for wetland protection. The webinar will be presented by Emily Svenson, Gordon and Svenson LLP, Gretchen Stevens, Hudsonia, and Roy Jacobson, DEC's Division of Fish and Wildlife, Habitat Protection Section. Register here.

Webinar attendees will receive an email confirming attendance after each webinar, which may be submitted locally for 1.5 hours of municipal planning or zoning board training credit. 

About the Conservation and Land Use Webinar Series

DEC's Hudson River Estuary Conservation and Land Use team created this webinar training series to provide a foundation in conservation and land use planning for members of Hudson River estuary watershed conservation advisory councils/boards and environmental commissions, as well as members of the planning and zoning boards, elected officials, and interested citizens. Participants will learn about biodiversity, conservation principles, best practices, and tools to identify and conserve important habitat and water resources within New York’s home rule system.