New York State Division of Coastal Resources and Waterfront Revitalization Habitat Protection Program Files 19604

New York State Division of Coastal Resources and Waterfront Revitalization Habitat Protection Program Files

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

This series documents the Department of State's responsibility to evaluate, designate, and map significant coastal fish and wildlife habitats. Records include correspondence, reports and studies, habitat rating forms, maps, and Department of Environmental Conservation technical data. Accompanying the rating forms are assessment reports that detail the precise physical location and description of the habitat, a description of the various species inhabiting the area, and examples of actions which could significantly harm the habitat.

Creator:

New York (State). Division of Coastal Resources and Waterfront Revitalization

Title:

Habitat Protection Program files

Quantity:

7 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1978-2004

Series Number:

19604

Arrangement

Alphabetical by topic or geographical location of habitat.

Administrative History

The Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act (Article 42 of the Executive Law) requires the Department of State to evaluate, designate, and map significant coastal fish and wildlife habitats. The department accomplishes this with assistance from the Department of Environmental Conservation which evaluates the significance of the habitat and then forwards this information to the department. If warranted, the department designates the area a significant coastal fish and wildlife area which means that all proposed actions subject to consistency reviews must address the protection of these significant resources of fish and wildlife in order to ensure that they will be protected, preserved, and where practical, restored so as to maintain their viability as habitats.

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, background publications, reports and studies, habitat rating forms, maps, and technical data forwarded by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Habitat rating forms are used to assign a numerical rating or "significance value" to a specific habitat and are based on the following criteria: ecosystem rarity, species vulnerability, human use, species population levels, and ability of the habitat to be replaced. Accompanying the rating forms are assessment reports which contain detailed narrative information concerning the precise physical location and description of the habitat, a description of the various species inhabiting the area, and examples of the types of action which could significantly impair or destroy the habitat. The assessment reports are used not only by division staff to support planning and review activities that will ensure the protection of these natural resources, but are also made available to localities, state, and federal agencies who are contemplating an action within these areas so that they are aware of the potential impact their actions may have on these areas.