Protecting Wetlands and Streams in Your Community

The Rockland Municipal Planning Federation, the Orange County Department of Planning, and the Sullivan County Division of Planning, Community Development and Environmental Management are pleased to host Ingrid Haeckel, Conservation and Land Use Specialist at the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University, and Attorney Emily Svenson, Partner at Gordon & Svenson LLP, who will present: Protecting Wetlands and Streams in Your Community. Protecting wetlands and streams is vital to safeguarding water resources, but gaps in federal and state regulations leave many wetlands and streams vulnerable to degradation and loss. The Supreme Court’s June 2023 Sackett v. EPA ruling significantly rolled back federal protection for wetlands and streams. New York State is meanwhile set to expand some protection for wetlands, but major gaps remain, especially for smaller wetlands, seasonal streams, and adjacent buffers around these sensitive water resources. This webinar will cover: • the importance and functions of wetlands and streams in the Hudson Valley; • status and changes to federal and state wetlands and stream regulations; and • ways local government can provide more comprehensive protection for these key water resources. Please join us. Attendees can earn 1.5 hours towards the NYS training requirement for land use board members.