January 2013 E-Newsletter: Hudson River Valley Greenway, Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area

January 2013

Barnabas McHenry, Chair Greenway Council, Co-Chair National Heritage Area

Sara Griffen, Acting Chair Greenway Conservancy, Acting Co-Chair National Heritage Area

Mark Castiglione, Acting Executive Director Greenway, Acting Director National Heritage Area

In This Issue

What's New? Upcoming Grant Opportunities Regional Events

Heritage Spotlight Project Spotlight Green Tip Of The Month

What's New?

Greenway Water Trail Receives $90,000 Regional Economic Development Grant

Paddlers on the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail
Photo credit Glenn Charles

The Regional Economic Development Councils recently announced their 2012 awardees, including the Greenway, which was awarded a $90,000 grant to promote use of the Hudson River Greenway Water Trail. The Water Trail, which spans 3 Regional Economic Development Council Regions, was recently designated a National Water Trail by the Department of the Interior. The Greenway is pleased to work with the Regional Councils on such an important economic development project.

NEW DATE for Hudson River Valley Greenway Board Meeting - January 25, 2013

The meeting of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Boards has been changed to January 25, 2013. The previously scheduled meeting on January 9th will now take place on January 25th. The location and time remain the same. A public input meeting for the new Path Through History initiative will be held from 1-4 PM, following the board meeting. Read more...

Economic Development Council Op Ed Cites Greenway Model

In a commentary to the Albany Times Union, the co-chairs of the Capital Region Economic Development Council recognized the contributions of the Greenway and projects like the Hudson River School Art Trail to the region's economy. Read more...

Hudson River Days 2013 - July 20-21

Hudson River Day 2012 was so successful--with more than 40 events that spanned the length of the Hudson River Estuary--that in 2013, the fifth-annual celebration of our estuary and watershed will take place over a full weekend, July 20-21, 2013. Activities will include the 2nd Annual Great Hudson River Fish Count, as well as festivals, swims, kayak outings, sails and more! More information at www.hudsonriverdaysny.org .

Upcoming Grant Opportunities

Greenway Community Grants

Applications for the next round of Greenway Community Matching Grants are due February 13 for our March Board Meeting. Read more...

Teaching the Hudson Valley Explore Awards

Provides grant funds for place-based education by funding trips to culturally significant sites. Read more...

The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation plans on holding a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant round this year. There will be over $2 million available in funding. The grant application process is expected to be folded into the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. Timing for the next CFA round is yet to be determined. Check future editions of the newsletter for updates.

Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program

Approximately $540,000 is available from USFS, EPA, and NOAA through the Federal Urban Waters Partnership, along with funding from partners listed below, to improve water quality, increase access, and restore riparian and forest habitat in urban watersheds throughout the United States. Read more... (February 7)

2013 Barnabas McHenry Hudson River Valley Awards

Awards to support projects in environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts and to strengthen tourism in the Hudson Valley. Any nonprofit organization working in the Hudson Valley may nominate an undergraduate or graduate student candidate and the project that he or she will undertake. Read more... (February 15)

Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program
The U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the National Institutes for Water Resources
requests proposals for matching grants to support research on the topic of improving and
enhancing the nation's water supply. Read more... (February 21)

Fields Pond Foundation

Provides grants to community-based nature and land conservation organizations that serve to increase environmental awareness by involving local residents in conservation issues in the six New England states and New York State. Priorities include land acquisition for conservation and project grants for trailmaking and other enhancement of public access to lands, rivers, and coastlines. Grants range between $2,000 and $15,000. Read more... (Ongoing)

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation State Assistance Programs for waste reduction, recycling and household hazardous waste programs.

Read More... (Ongoing)

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Technical Assistance Grants for community groups to increase public awareness and understanding of remedial activities taking place in their community Read More... (Ongoing)

Enterprise Green Communities to help cover costs of planning and implementing green components of affordable housing developments, as well as tracking their costs and benefits. Read More... (Ongoing)

.Regional Events

January 2013

January Events at Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Snow-shoeing, cross country skiing, and more in the great outdoors! Winter can be fun!

January 12

Winterfest at Taconic Outdoor Education Center
TOEC's Outdoor Educator staff will offer guided nature and winter bird walks. REI's Outdoor School instructors will show you how to set up a comfortable Winter Camp site. "Hands on Nature Crafts" will allow kids to be creative. Food and hot beverages will be available in Highland Lodge. Information about all types of winter activities and sports will be available. Join the fun!

January 11-20
The Secret Garden at Sand Land Center for the Arts
Circle Theatre Players opens its 2013 season with the musical, The Secret Garden, based on the classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

January 13

Cole and the American Revolution in Landscape
Join the Thomas Cole NHS for Sunday Salons,featuring a lecture at 2 pm followed by a reception at the home of Thomas Cole.Dr. Kevin Avery, Senior Research Scholar of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, addresses the implications of the Cole revolution in American art

January 16

Hudson River PCB Forum at Marist College

Topics to be covered at the forum include an update on General Electric's PCB remediation project from the EPA, a discussion of the impacts of the cleanup on the Hudson River fish by the NYSDEC, and a discussion about Hudson River fish consumption advisories relating to PCB contamination by the NYSDOH.

January 22

Green Infrastructure: Encouraging Green Designs - Rockland County

Using the techniques and standards outlined in the NYSDEC August 2010 Stormwater Design Manual, this workshop will give an overview of GI practices. This training will focus on GI practices and practice selection, basics of design, how planning and zoning boards encourage developers to implement GI practices, and an overview of the newest version of the Notice of Intent. RSVP to Arlene Miller, Rockland County Planning Department at (845) 364-3448 or
[email protected] .

Do you have an heritage event you would like to promote? Go to our website and submit one today!

Heritage Spotlight

Heritage Weekend to become Path Through History Weekends

Heritage Weekend has been a great success, and we thank all of those who have participated in this phenomenal program. Heritage Weekend will not take place in May, but will become part of an even greater effort to promote the unique history of our State, Path Through History Weekends!

The same heritage and cultural celebrations and special programming will now be held June 1-2 and 8-9. More information about these exciting weekends will be coming to you soon! Please email us with questions about 2013 Path Through History Weekends at [email protected].

Project Spotlight

Stillwater Trail Feasibility Study

In 2010, the Greenway awarded a $10,000 Conservancy Grant to the Town of Stillwater for a Trail Feasibility Study. The goal of this study was to develop a vision for the extension of the Stillwater Multi-Use Trail, to the municipal borders of Mechanicville and Stillwater. Expanding the trail would link Stillwater's trail system to the Champlain Canalway Trail, the Mohawk Towpath / Erie Canalway Trail, the Zim Smith Trail, the Glens Falls Feeder Canal Trail, and the Warren County Bikeway. The new trail, when complete, will also connect to several important historical landmarks, such as such as the Old Champlain Canal, Stillwater Blockhouse, and Saratoga National Historical Park.The Stillwater Trail Feasibility Study provides alternative trail routes, trail cost estimates, and trail phasing into a comprehensive foundation for construction.

Having this feasibility study in place will help the Town of Stillwater to plan and prioritize their trail development, and knowing where future trails are envisioned will enable the Planning Board to guide development proposals and open space protection in the future. The Greenway is pleased to be able to sponsor important trail development plans. The Stillwater Multi Use Trail will become an integral section of the Champlain Canalway Trail from Waterford to Whitehall, part of the Hudson River Valley Greenway Trail System.

Green Tip Of The Month

leaf

To help stop the spread of invasive species such as the emerald ash borer, burn only local firewood. Invasive species cost the U.S. economy as much as $120 billion annually, due to such impacts as lost timber sales.