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Responsible stewardship of our state's natural resources is a team effort. It includes all employees throughout the state park system as well its many visitors. The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) within the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) consists of dedicated employees that have training and experience in environmental science, natural resource protection, and environmental impact analysis.

EMB, as part of the State Parks team, assists other agency staff and the public in responsible stewardship of natural resources. The bureau assists in protecting outdoor resources such as water and land; plants and animals; the environmental health and safety of patrons and employees; and in ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations.

State Parks are an excellent resource for conducting scientific research. To conduct research in state parks, please complete the application for the Scientific Research Permitting System.

Program Areas

The work of the EMB is performed in three general program areas: natural resource stewardship, environmental compliance and environmental health.

Natural Resource Stewardship

EMB provides recommendations on natural resource conservation in state parks, including the protection of threatened or endangered species, bird conservation, and invasive species control. The bureau coordinates the Bird Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas programs within the agency and works closely with staff from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the New York Department of State (DOS). EMB also works with other resource protection organizations to develop invasive species management protocols and natural resource management strategies. It seeks ways to advance agency initiatives in a manner that ensures adequate protection of environmental resources. EMB provides natural history and interpretive information to assist in the development of environmental education programs offered through state parks, historic sites, nature centers, visitor centers and museums.

• New York State Parks Announces Projects to Prevent Invasive Species and Protect Sensitive Habitat

Northeast Association of Environmental Biologists Conference- participation by NYS Parks Staff

Sponsored by the US EPA and the NYS DEC, the NEAEB Conference held in Lake Placid, NY in April 2013 provided an opportunity for State Park Staff to share current research and receive feedback on state park natural resources and pressing environmental conservation and stewardship activities. For more information on the conference including the abstract summary please go to http://www.epa.gov/region1/neaeb2013/. For more information on the topics presented please contact the Environmental Management Bureau, 518-474-0409

• Stream Monitoring to Identify Impacts of Oil and Gas Well Drilling in Allegany State Parks Watersheds (pdf) - Karen Terbush, Lynn Bogan and Matt Spargo
• Plant management strategies based on historic and current data for Rudd Pond in Taconic State Park, Dutchess County, NY (pdf) - Gabriella Cebada-Mora
• Investigation of trophic changes in Lake Minnewaska, a pristine sky lake in Ulster County, NY (pdf) - Lauren Townley

Northeast Natural History Conference - participation by NYS Parks

The Northeast Natural History Conference (NENHC) held in Albany in April, 2011 provided an opportunity for State Parks to highlight our resources and initiatives in a special session entitled "Science and Stewardship in NY State Parks". With the assistance of our former visiting scientist George Robinson from SUNY Albany, this session looked at biodiversity conservation at state parks with presentations on management and conservation. Additional presentations on state park resources and efforts were provided in other oral presentations sessions and poster sessions. Presentations and posters on State Parks at the NENHC are provided here.

Presentations

• Science and Stewardship in New York State Parks (pdf) – George Robinson
• Robert G. Wehle State Park: What do you do when you are awash in a sea of Swallow-wort? (pdf) – Casey Holzworth
• ESF F.O.R.C.E.S.: A Model for Engaging College Students in Natural Resource Stewardship Projects (pdf) – Tom Hughes
• The Effectivness of Field Teams in Creating Invasive Species Prevention Zones (pdf) – Robert O'Brien
• Deer Management in State Parks: The Letchworth Model (pdf) – Mark Rogers
• Rediscovery of Two Federally Listed Rare Plant Species in New York (pdf) – Kimberly Smith
• Biodiversity Distribution in NY State Parks (pdf) – George Robinson

Posters

• Integrating Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) in NYS Parks: Balancing Ecosystem Sustainability with Human Needs (pdf)
• Mitigating Impacts of an Invasive on Recreation: Fanwort Control at Belmont Lake State Park (pdf)
• Stream Monitoring to Identify Impacts of Oil and Gas Well Drilling in Allegany State Park Watersheds (pdf)
• Restoration of Native Grasslands at Ganondagon State Historic Site (pdf)
• New York Natural Heritage Program & State Parks: Working Together to Protect Biodiversity (pdf)
• Searching for a Mechanical BMP for Large-scale Management of Pale Swallow-wort (Cynanchum rossicum) (pdf)
• Students Gather Data for Tidal Flow Restoration Project at Sunken Meadow State Park (pdf)

Northeast Chapter of International Erosion Control Association Conference- NYS Parks staff participation

Sustainable Development: "Practical Solutions to Real World Problems". He highlighted a successful, collaborative project at NYS Parks Coxsackie Boat Launch (Coxsackie, NY) which utilized natural and environmentally friendly techniques to improve and reduce shoreline erosion to protect the sites parking area.

• Case Study: Coxsackie Boat Launch (pdf)

State Park Research

In November 2012 the scientific Natural Areas Journal, published an article that resulted from collaboration with State Park Visiting Scientist, Dr. George Robinson from SUNY Albany. The paper explains the stewardship potential of State Parks and how important they are for biodiversity conservation (Robinson, George R. 2012. Assessing the Conservation Significance of a State Park System, New York, USA. Natural Areas Journal. 32(4):412–419).

• Assessing the Conservation Significance of a State Park System, New York, USA (pdf)
• Daily Gazette Article- Scientist says state parks protects rare species

Environmental Compliance

EMB coordinates procedural and substantive compliance with various environmental law, such as the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) and the State Agency Environmental Audit. An important component of the planning process within OPRHP is environmental review. For all projects, the agency must make a determination of the significance of the environmental impacts of a project. The bureau leads oversight of the preparation of any agency environmental impact statements or assessments and in coordinating public participation within the environmental review process. As a part of the State Agency Environmental Audit, OPRHP submits an annual report to DEC that assesses the impact of park operations.

Environmental Health

Water quality in state parks is also an important part of OPRHP's commitment to the public. State parks provide drinking water to park patrons and offer many swimming opportunities at bathing beaches and pools. Good water quality is essential to these services. EMB coordinates the agency's bathing beach and pool monitoring programs and serves as a liaison with the New York State Department of Health (DOH) on safe drinking water monitoring. Results from monitoring are used to protect public health and safety, as well as environmental quality.

2012 Water Quality Team Distinguished Service Award

In 2013 Commissioner Rose Harvey presented EMB’s Water Quality Team with a Distinguished Service Award for their extraordinary team accomplishment and dedicated professional service in working to protect NYS Parks streams, lakes and bathing beaches. Congratulations to the Water Quality Team! For more information about the Water Quality Team’s work in NYS Parks please contact the Environmental Management Bureau (518)474-0409

• 2012 Distinguished Service Award- Water Quality Team Nomination (pdf)

Contact

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
Albany, New York 12238
Phone: (518) 474-0409
Fax: (518) 474-7013