For the purposes of protecting tributaries and upland habitat, the boundary establishing project eligibility for the DEC Hudson River Estuary Grants Program includes the watershed area of the counties within New York State draining to the Hudson River from the Verrazano Narrows bridge to the Troy dam and tributaries including the East River to Hell Gate, the Harlem River, and Kill Van Kull. A boundary of approximately 5,280 feet (1 mile) has been established as a general guideline for projects in New York City.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program
For more information: Grants Program And Funding Opportunities For The Hudson River Estuary
The elevation of the water bottom in the Hudson River Estuary constrains the use of the estuary by plants, animals and humans. Rooted plants need light to reach the estuary floor. The
turbid nature of the water limits light penetration to a few meters. Animals that depend on areas of rooted vegetation may be limited to shallow water for parts of their life cycle. Vessel
navigation is limited by water depth – deep draft vessels are confined to the navigation channel. Construction of infrastructure including docks, bridges, and pipelines is influenced by
water depth.
Water depth is provided in feet below sea level. Tides in the estuary cause water depth to change with time at any given place. The water depth displayed in this Mapper is water depth relative to
the North American Vertical Datum 1988 (NVD88). This is the same vertical reference as used in the US Geological Survey topo maps, but is ~2.5 feet above the vertical datum used in NOAA
navigational charts. Water depths shown on this Mapper will appear ~2.5 feet greater than shown on NOAA charts.
Publisher: Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
For more information: NY Department of Environmental Conservation
Link to GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Approximate boundary of the Hudson River Estuary shoreline based on interpretation of 1995-1997 air photos.
Publisher: Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
In 2023, the Hudson River Estuary Shoreline was mapped in the field and on desktop to inventory all existing 'Engineered' and 'Natural' shorelines. Each shoreline segment was inventoried using a pre-defined set of descriptions for 'Nature', Structure', 'Substrate', 'Adjacent Land Use', and 'Condition'. Each shoreline was geo-located using ArcGIS Survey 123 on a computer tablet and a photo was taken for shorelines mapped in the field. Engineered shorelines immediately adjacent to railroad tracks and the river were mapped from desktop and used stock photos of rail road shorelines to represent the existing condition.
Publisher: Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
For More Information: Shoreline Habitats
DEC has identified and evaluated coastal habitats throughout the state’s coastal regions, providing recommendations to the New York State Department of State (NYSDOS) so that the most important or “significant” habitats may be designated for protection in accordance with the Waterfront Revitalization and Coastal Resources Act. The Significant Coastal Fish and Wildlife Habitats (SCWFWs) are useful for planning at the local level because they describe the highest quality habitats on the Hudson, outlining fish and wildlife values and activities that may have large impacts on the habitats. State and federal law requires that some projects may be reviewed for consistency with coastal policies on significant fish and wildlife habitat. Contact the NYSDOS Office of Planning & Development for more information on the protection and regulation of these habitats. SCWFW habitat narratives are available from the NYSDOS Consistency Review website.
Publisher: NYS Department of State, Division of Coastal Resources
For more information: NY Department of State
Link to GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Migratory fish runs highlight stream reaches providing important passage for fish traveling between ocean and freshwater habitats, such as American eel and river herring. Routes were modeled to the Atlantic Ocean from tributary stream reaches with documented migratory fish presence based on DEC Bureau of Fisheries surveys and other studies completed in New York since 1980. This data set is a product of the New York State Freshwater Conservation Blueprint Project.
Many streams throughout the Hudson River estuary watershed comprise migratory routes for American eel, a fish species that begins life in the Atlantic Ocean and migrates to the headwaters of North American tributary streams as tiny "glass eels" . American eel is in decline throughout much of its range and is a New York State High Priority Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Although eels are able to bypass certain dams, culverts, and other aquatic barriers, they rely on being able to move freely up and downstream to access habitat and return to the sea to spawn.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program and the Nature Conservancy
For more information: New York Natural Heritage Program
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) consists of plants that grow under water. SAV improves water quality by trapping fine sediment and organic matter and adding oxygen to the water. It also provides
essential habitat for organisms like insects, worms, and snails that feed fish and birds in the estuary. Native species of SAV in the Hudson such as water celery currently compete for habitat with
invasive, non-native water chestnut. Water chestnut does not provide the same water quality benefit as native SAV because its floating leaves release oxygen into the air rather than into the water.
The Documented SAV layer shows areas where SAV was found at any point during 1997, 2002, 2007, 2014, 2016, or 2018 surveys. Even if SAV is not present today, these areas could support it in the future.
The Tidal Wetlands layer in this map distinguishes detailed locations of native SAV and water chestnut identified in a 2018 survey.
Publisher: Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
For more information: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Link to GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Tidal wetlands along the Hudson River are subject to periodic flooding by tides. They are classified by the amount of water covering the area at high and low tides and the type of vegetation. Tidal wetlands provide vital habitat for plants, young fish, and shellfish species and sources of nutrients for the estuary food web. They also offer important nesting sites and migration stops for many birds. In addition, tidal wetland systems help filter pollutants from water and buffer shorelines from waves and strong storms. This layer shows tidal wetland extent and type in the Hudson River estuary based on interpretation of 2018 air photos.
Publisher: Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
For more information: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Link to GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
The Hudson River estuary is connected to the Atlantic Ocean and affected by sea level rise due to climate change. The Hudson has already risen by 12 inches since 1900 and is likely to rise by as much as 65 inches by the year 2100. As water levels rise in the estuary, the location, extent, and type of tidal wetlands will change. Some tidal wetlands will persist, others will be lost, some will expand, and new tidal wetlands will also emerge. For tidal wetlands to move to higher ground in response to sea level rise, they must have room to do so. However, in some areas steep terrain, transportation infrastructure, or existing development will prevent wetland migration and may result in eventual loss or decrease in tidal wetland area. The most effective way to conserve the Hudson River estuary’s tidal wetlands in the face of these changes is to protect and manage the areas where wetlands may move over time.
The Tidal Wetland Migration Pathways represent the range of possible tidal wetland locations by year 2100 based on modeling by Scenic Hudson to predict changes to tidal wetlands in the estuary under various sea level rise scenarios. This layer may serve as a planning tool for conservation, management, restoration, and land use policy. The information is intended to inform decisions about climate adaptation, coastal development, and natural resource conservation. Scenic Hudson’s aim is to enable communities to minimize risks and impacts to people, property, and natural communities while maximizing opportunities for waterfront revitalization.
Publisher: Scenic Hudson
For more information: Scenic Hudson
A watershed is the area of land draining to a stream, river, lake, or other waterbody. Watersheds are divided by high points on the land, such as ridges, mountains, and hills, and may be made up of many smaller drainage areas, or subwatersheds. Watershed boundaries are provided from the USGS National Hydrography Dataset. Percent canopy and impervious cover (e.g., roofs, pavement) were calculated for each watershed based on the National Land Cover Database's 2016 Percent Developed Imperviousness and USFS 2016 Tree Canopy data product, respectively. The analyses are basic metrics of watershed health.Preserving forest cover and minimizing impervious surfaces in the watershed, especially in floodplains and riparian corridors, reduces flood risk and supports water quality.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program and the Water Resources Institute at Cornell University
For more information: U.S. Geological Survey and National Land Cover Database
Effective stream conservation and restoration occurs beyond stream channels and banks. The New York Natural Heritage Program has identified riparian buffers to highlight important streamside areas that influence stream dynamics and health. Well-vegetated riparian buffers intercept stormwater runoff, filter sediment and nutrients, and help attenuate flooding. Forested buffers provide organic matter that supports the in-stream food web and shade that helps maintain cool water temperatures. Natural buffers also support unique and diverse habitats, and often serve as wildlife travel corridors. The riparian buffer areas were mapped around streams through modeling based on digital elevation data, known wetlands, and estimates for the 50-year flood height. They can provide a starting point to inform land use strategies and stream protection efforts, but field visits are necessary to verify conditions for site-level planning or conservation actions. The Hudson River Estuary Program’s “Trees for Tribs” initiative offers free consultation and native trees and shrubs for qualifying streamside buffer planting projects in the estuary watershed.
For more information:
Hudson River Estuary Trees for Tribs Program
Statewide Riparian Opportunity Assessment.
Publisher:New York Natural Heritage Program
Link to GIS Data Download: New York Natural Heritage Program
The National Hydrography Dataset (NHD) represents the water drainage network of the United States with features such as rivers, streams, canals, lakes, and ponds. The Hudson River estuary watershed includes all the streams and waterbodies that contribute flow to the tidal Hudson River.
Streams and waterbodies depicted are from the NHD Plus High Resolution dataset, produced at a scale of 1:24,000 or more detailed.
For more information: NHD Plus High Resolution
Publisher:United States Geological Survey
This dataset shows the location of dams in New York State's inventory of dams, and lists selected attributes of each dam. The data should not be relied upon for emergency response decision-making. The presence or absence of a dam in this inventory does not indicate its regulatory status.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Link to GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Since 2013, the DEC Hudson River Estuary Program and partners have assessed and prioritized culverts and bridges on local, county and state roads to identify barriers to aquatic organisms and ability to pass stream flow from large storms. Communities can query the assessed road-stream crossings to identify culverts and bridges that pose barriers to passability for fish such as American eel and brook trout. Each crossing was also modeled to determine the maximum passable storm event, identifying culverts and bridges that may be undersized and pose local flood risk.
This data set is under continued development and will be updated as new data become available.
Publisher: The Nature Conservancy, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program and the Water Resources Institute at Cornell University
For more information: New York State Water Resources Institute
Link to GIS Data Download: North Atlantic Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative
The Waterbody Inventory/Priority Waterbodies List (WI/PWL) is an inventory of the state's surface water quality. The data set provides a summary of general water quality conditions, tracks the degree to which a water body supports its designated uses, and monitors progress toward the identification and resolution of water quality problems, pollutants, and sources. The WI/PWL reports are produced for each of the 17 major drainage basins in the state on a schedule that allows each to be updated every 5 years.
For more information: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Classifications designate the “best uses” that waterbodies should support and are the basis for programs to protect New York State waters. In addition to letter classifications, the symbols T and TS appearing in the "standards" column of the classification regulations mean that the classified waters in that specific item are trout (T) or trout spawning (TS) waters, respectively. Any NYS regulatory water quality standard, guidance value, or thermal criterion that specifically refer to trout or trout waters applies. Trout waters and trout spawning waters are defined in regulation 6 NYCRR (see part 700.1).
Trout live in coldwater streams and lakes and depend on clean gravel for spawning. They require cool, clean water to survive and are often the first species to disappear from polluted waters.
For more information: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Water Quality and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has mapped approximate floodplains based on flood frequency according to the extent of land expected to have a 1% or greater chance of being inundated in any given year, often referred to as the “100-year flood.” The “0.2% annual chance flood hazard” is the area corresponding to the 500-year floodplain. It is important to note that some flood-prone areas may not appear on designated floodplain maps, and floodplain designations may change over time as more information becomes available.
This layer shows flood hazard zones in areas with completed FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps (DFIRMs). At the time of publication, DFIRMs have not been completed for Columbia County and portions of Rensselaer County.
Publisher: Federal Emergency Management Agency
For more information: FEMA Flood Map Service Center
National Wetland Inventory maps often underestimate wetland area and omit smaller and drier wetlands, which can sometimes be inferred from county soil surveys. Poorly drained and very poorly drained soils are commonly used indicators of probable wetland areas, while somewhat poorly drained soils suggest the location of possible wetland areas. In general, soils maps tend to somewhat overestimate the acreage of wetland soils, due in part to the scale of the soils mapping (the smallest mapping unit is two acres). Soil units indicating possible and probable wetland areas were extracted based on drainage class from digital county soil surveys for counties bordering the Hudson River estuary, obtained from the U.S. Natural Resource Conservation Service. Additional information about soil units is available in the county soil survey reports.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program and Cornell University Department of Natural Resources
For more information:Web Soil Survey, NY Soil Surveys
Wetlands are areas saturated by surface water or groundwater sufficient to support distinctive vegetation adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. There are many types of wetlands in the Hudson River estuary watershed, including emergent marsh, wet meadows, forested and shrub swamps, vernal pools, floating and submerged vegetation, and open water, as well as tidal wetland types. They provide important habitat for many plants and animal species, in addition to essential benefits to people and communities. Wetlands help to control flooding and buffer shorelines, act as filters to cleanse water of impurities, and provide valuable recreation opportunities.
National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) maps for New York were developed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service using aerial photo interpretation and some field checking, and include wetlands of all sizes and a basic habitat classification. They are not intended for regulatory purposes. Note that NWI maps are incomplete in portions of Albany and Greene counties and need to be updated throughout the Hudson Valley.
For more information: National Wetlands Inventory
Publisher: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Link for GIS Data Download: National Wetlands Inventory
Disclaimer: These maps are for informational purposes only and are intended to be used as a guide for landowners and project sponsors. If you are in, or near a wetland as shown on these maps, you should contact your regional DEC office for more information about how to proceed with your project.
These maps show only those wetlands that are currently mapped or officially proposed for addition to the wetland maps and currently regulated under the New York State Freshwater Wetlands Act outside the Adirondack Park. They do not show ALL wetlands that may be present in an area. There may be additional wetlands on a site that may be protected under local or federal law. This map information is also available as paper maps or as digital data.
DEC occasionally amends the regulatory maps to correct errors, such as inaccurate boundaries or wetlands that are missing from the maps. These amendments are conducted through a formal process that includes public notice and an opportunity to comment on the accuracy of the amendment. When official notice of the amendment has been placed, the area proposed for addition becomes regulated and the proposed amendment changes will be included on the website. When new maps are completed, they are filed in the offices of local government clerks. At that time, the boundaries on this website are also updated.
Around every state-protected wetland is an “adjacent area” that is also subject to regulation in order to help better protect the wetland against surrounding disturbance. This adjacent area is a minimum of 100 feet..
State Regulated Freshwater Wetlands are classified from Class I (which provide the most benefits) to Class IV (which provide fewer benefits). The classification is based on the work that wetlands do, such as storing flood water and providing wildlife habitat. The system for classifying wetlands is contained in the New York State wetlands Classification System. Information about how any individual wetland was classified is contained in program files at the regional DEC office in which the wetland is located.
Not all activities in wetlands are regulated. There are many exempt activities that landowners may undertake without permits, however, if you are not sure, please contact your regional DEC office to help you determine if a permit is required.
For more information: New York State Freshwater Wetlands Mapping, New York State Freshwater Wetland Classification System, New York State Freshwater Wetlands Program
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Link for GIS Data Download: Cornell University Geospatial Information Repository
Disclaimer: The Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping layer is only intended to be used for informational purposes in identifying the general location and extent of freshwater wetland areas of any size throughout the state. Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping is not regulatory.
The Freshwater Wetlands Act changed in 2022 such that wetlands greater than 12.4 acres in size are regulated regardless of their mapping status. In addition to larger wetlands, the Freshwater Wetlands Act regulates smaller wetlands of “unusual importance” if they meet one of eleven criteria described in the law and regulation. While maps contained on the Environmental Resource Mapper provide information on the potential locations of wetlands, the only definitive way to determine if a particular parcel or property contains regulated wetlands outside the Adirondack Park is to request a jurisdictional determination through DEC’s website (https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/wetlands/freshwater-wetlands-program).
The Freshwater Wetlands Act regulates most development activities located in the wetland or within a regulated “adjacent area.” This adjacent area is a minimum of 100 feet but may be extended for a limited number of particularly sensitive wetlands. Not all activities in and near wetlands are regulated. There are many exempt activities that landowners may undertake without permits. However, if you are not sure of which activities require permits near New York State regulated wetlands, please contact your regional DEC office.
Wetlands are classified from Class I (which provide the most benefits) to Class IV (which provide fewer benefits). The classification is based on the work that wetlands do, such as storing flood water and providing wildlife habitat. The system for classifying wetlands is contained in regulation (6 NYCRR Part 664) and the classification of individual wetlands is determined as part of the jurisdictional determination process.
For more information: New York State Freshwater Wetlands Program
For information on wetlands inside the Adirondack Park, please contact the Adirondack Park Agency.
For information on wetlands regulated under federal law, please contact the United State Army Corps of Engineers.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Link for GIS Data Download: NYS GIS Resources
*Please note that, due to the large size, the Informational Freshwater Wetland Mapping layer cannot be downloaded in shapefile format.
Conserving Hudson Valley forests is vital for the multiple benefits they provide communities, from wildlife habitat, to clean water, to flood control - but which forests are most important, and why? The Hudson Valley Forest Condition Index is a new data set that maps and prioritizes forest patches based on metrics relating to size, fragmentation, connectivity, stressors, habitat value, and carbon sequestration. The forest condition index can be used to better understand individual forest values within a regional context and to prioritize forest areas for conservation and land-use planning efforts.
The forest patches used in the index were identified using woody land cover classes from the 2016 National Land Cover Database. They represent continuous patches of forest unfragmented by roads, railroads, and non-forest habitat, with a minimum patch size of 100 acres. Individual forest patches were assigned points for 22 component metrics, which were summed to create the forest condition index. To provide additional context for users, subsets of the metrics were grouped to create sub-indexes that describe how a patch scored in the areas of fragmentation, connectivity, stressors, and habitat value. The 90th percentile class was further divided into separate classes for the 95-99th percentile and 99-100th percentile to distinguish the highest scoring forest patches in the region.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program, and Cornell University
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
For more information: Hudson Valley Forest Patch Update and Assessment
Core forests are interior forest areas surrounded by at least a 100-meter wide buffer of edge forest habitat. Core forest is especially important for sensitive wildlife including many forest songbirds, which avoid nesting near areas with human disturbance. Although the value of individual forest patches for wildlife depends on landscape context and other factors, core forests that are at least 500 acres in size are more likely to provide enough suitable habitat to support a diversity of interior forest species.
The fragmentation of large forests by new roads and development into smaller forest patches reduces or eliminates core forest and is a leading driver of biodiversity loss. Fragmentation decreases forest habitat quality, disrupts wildlife movement, and facilitates the spread of invasive species. This layer represents the results of a landscape fragmentation analysis applied to forest patches in the 2016 Hudson Valley Forest Condition Index. Avoiding further fragmentation of core forests will help conserve the integrity and habitat value of ecologically significant forest patches.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program, and Cornell University
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
For more information: Hudson Valley Forest Patch Update and Assessment
Linkage zones are largely intact forested connections between matrix forest blocks that allow animals and plants to move or disperse across the landscape. Forest linkages enable genetic exchange among populations and will allow plants and animals to move north and higher in elevation as the climate warms.
Publisher: The Nature Conservancy Eastern Conservation Science and the New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Matrix forests represent the largest, most intact forests in the northeastern United States, whose size and natural condition allow for the maintenance of ecological processes, forest communities, and populations of forest-interior species. Conserving large, high quality forests and connections between them will allow plants and animals to move north and higher in elevation as the climate warms.
Publisher: The Nature Conservancy Eastern Conservation Science and the New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
This data set identifies areas of importance for sustaining known populations of rare animals based on occurrence records from the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) database. Important Areas include the specific locations where rare animals have been observed, as well as additional habitat needed to support animal populations. This includes areas which may be used by rare animals for breeding, nesting, feeding, roosting, or over-wintering; and areas that support the ecological processes critical to maintaining the habitats of these rare animal populations. Proactive planning that avoids or minimizes impact to the habitat quality of Important Areas and maintains habitat connections for wildlife movement will contribute to the long-term survival of rare animal species and their associates.
This 2018 update classifies rare animal Important Areas according to the primary habitat type used by the animal species: terrestrial, aquatic, and wetland. Note that the data set includes animals that are not listed as threatened or endangered, but are tracked by NYNHP. Important Areas for two non-tracked Special Concern turtle species are also included based on records from the 1990-1999 NY Amphibian and Reptile Atlas. Due to their large spatial extent, bat foraging areas are shown separately from the Important Areas for rare terrestrial animals.
NYNHP makes its data available to inform biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, land protection, land use decisions, environmental assessment, and project review. To learn more about a specific rare plant occurrence, you may request natural heritage information. Conservation and management guidance for rare animals is available through the NYNHP online conservation guides.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
For more information: NYNHP
Request information: Natural Heritage Information for Project Screening
This data set identifies areas of importance for sustaining known populations of rare plants based on occurrence records from the New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) database. Important Areas include the specific locations where rare plants have been observed, as well as areas that support the ecological processes critical to maintaining the habitats of these rare plant populations. Proactive planning that avoids or minimizes impacts to the habitat quality of Important Areas will contribute to the long-term survival of rare plant species and their associates.
NYNHP makes its data available to inform biodiversity conservation, natural resource management, land protection, land use decisions, environmental assessment, and project review. To learn more about a specific rare plant occurrence, you may request natural heritage information. Conservation and management guidance for rare plants is available through the NYNHP online conservation guides
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
For more information: NYNHP
Request information: Natural Heritage Information for Project Screening
This data set identifies areas of importance for sustaining known populations of migratory fish based on DEC Bureau of Fisheries surveys and other studies completed in New York since 1980. The important areas highlight stream reaches providing important passage for fish traveling between ocean and freshwater habitats, such as American eel and river herring. Routes were modeled from tributary stream reaches with documented migratory fish presence to the Atlantic Ocean. Specific documented migratory fish species may be identified using the Migratory Fish Runs data set, located under Estuary data layers. The important areas include upstream habitat and stream adjacent areas that support the health and integrity of stream habitats used by migratory fish. Proactive planning that avoids or minimizes impacts to the habitat quality of Important Areas and maintains habitat connectivity will contribute to the long-term survival of migratory fish populations.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
For more information: NYNHP
This data set identifies areas of importance for sustaining coldwater habitat based on New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) fish survey records and habitat modeling from the New York Natural Heritage Program. Coldwater streams are important to maintaining native wild brook trout and other coldwater fishes in region-wide decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. Brook trout inhabit clear, cool, well‐oxygenated streams and lakes and depend on clean gravel areas for spawning. They are sensitive to increases in water temperature and sedimentation of stream habitats. Other threats include the introduction of exotic species such as smallmouth bass and non-native trout, which are better adapted to warm water temperatures. .
Mapped areas include wild brook trout locations identified in DEC fish surveys since 1980, as well as buffers along associated stream and waterbody segments to account for lands most likely to contribute to the continued presence and quality of the stream habitat. The map does not account for habitat fragmentation that might be caused by local dams and culverts.
Please note that this map does NOT indicate areas with public fishing rights, and many areas are unsuitable for recreational trout fishing due to small fish populations and small fish size.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
For more information: NYNHP
A natural community is an assemblage of interacting plant and animal populations that share a common environment; particular assemblages occur across the landscape in areas with similar environmental conditions. Natural communities in this data set include wetlands, forests, grasslands, streams, and other types of habitats, ecosystems, and natural areas. They are considered significant from a statewide perspective because they are rare or high quality based on size, habitat condition, and quality of the surrounding landscape. Significant natural communities may provide habitat for rare plants and animals, support intact ecological processes, and contribute other ecosystem benefits. Conservation and management guidance for significant natural communities is available through the NYNHP online conservation guides.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Audubon New York has identified over 130 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) across the state through a rigorous scientific process by leading avian experts. Each recognized IBA meets one of three criteria: a place where birds congregate in large numbers at one time; a place for species that are at-risk; or a place that supports groups of birds representing certain habitats such as forests, wetlands, grasslands and shrublands. IBAs can be a catalyst for bird conservation through open space preservation, habitat management and restoration, monitoring, and education.
Comprehensive site specific surveys have not been conducted for each IBA, therefore, these data cannot be relied on as a definitive statement of the presence or absence of all species at a given location. These data should not be considered a substitute for on-site surveys that may be required for an environmental assessment or conservation planning. The boundaries should not be perceived as absolute, definite boundaries. No responsibility is assumed by the National Audubon Society or Audubon New York in the use of these data.
Publisher: Audubon New York
For more information: Audubon - Important Bird Areas of New York
Significant Biodiversity Areas (SBAs) are landscape areas in the Hudson River estuary watershed that contain high concentrations of biodiversity or unique ecological features. These areas contribute to and serve as a framework for conservation partnerships and voluntary protection efforts. While SBAs account for much of the range in regional biodiversity throughout the watershed, they should not be interpreted as the only important areas for biodiversity.
For more information: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program, New York Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University, and the New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download:GIS.NY.GOV>
The Public Fishing and Boating access layer features more than 90 access sites along the main stem of the Hudson River from the Troy dam, south to Yonkers and includes both trailer and hand-launch boating sites as well as shore access for fishing. The data set includes municipal, county, state, and nonprofit sites. Information provided includes on-site facilities, directions, websites, and contact numbers. For more detailed information, contact the site operator.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Hudson River Estuary Program
For more information:
Hudson River Estuary Program Access page: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Hudson River Greenway Water Trail: Hudson River Greenway
This feature class contains boundaries and names of New York State Parks and Historic Sites and related properties that are administered by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP).
Lands under the care, custody and control of DEC, including Wildlife Management areas, Unique Areas, State Forests, and Forest Preserves. The data set is a work in progress.
Publisher: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Lands and Forests.
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Of the waterfront's many attributes, its scenery is perhaps the most universally appreciated. A major component of community character is a community's scenic resources, with special
landscape features and views contributing to a community's visual quality. In order to protect community character, the scenic characteristics of your waterfront and community should
be considered when making planning and development decisions.
New York State Department of State Office of Planning and Development has developed a scenic assessment program that identifies the scenic qualities of coastal landscapes, evaluates them
against criteria for determining aesthetic significance, and recommends areas for designation as Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance (SASS). SASS designation protects scenic landscapes
through review of projects requiring State or federal actions, including direct actions, permits, or funding. In the Hudson River Valley coastal region, six areas in Columbia, Greene,
Dutchess and Ulster counties were designated in 1993 as Hudson River Valley Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance. These areas encompass unique, highly scenic landscapes accessible to the
public and recognized for their outstanding quality.
For more information: Department of State, Office of Planning and Development
Publisher: NYS Department of State, Office of Planning & Development.
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
The 750-mile Empire State Trail showcases New York’s special places, diverse history, and iconic landscapes. The Trail welcomes bicyclists and walkers of all ages and abilities to experience the Empire State’s urban centers, village main streets, rural communities, and diverse history, from New York City through the Hudson River Valley, west to Buffalo along the Erie Canal, and north to the Champlain Valley and Adirondacks
For more information: NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
Publisher: NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.
Boundaries for incorporated places (counties, cities, towns, and villages) in New York State
Publisher: NYS Office of Information Technology Services, Geospatial Data Services
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Potential Environmental Justice Areas (PEJAs) are census block groups with high percentages of minority or low-income populations that may face
disproportionate environmental burdens. PEJAs are marked by hatched purple polygons, and you can click on them to see more details about each area,
including the census block group ID, poverty level, percent minority, and urban or rural designation.
The Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) designates PEJAs, which the DEC uses for various environmental justice efforts, including those mandated by
Commissioner Policy #29 (CP-29), requiring additional community outreach during permitting, targeted environmental impact review, and enforcement of
Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) violations. DEC prioritizes PEJAs for various grant programs that support environmental justice initiatives and
community empowerment.
To identify these areas, OEJ follows established methods detailed in the Interim Environmental Justice Policy (US EPA Region 2, December 2000) and
recommended by the DECs Environmental Justice Advisory Group on January 2, 2002. OEJ initially determined thresholds for low-income populations
(statewide), minority populations (rural communities), and minority populations (urban communities) by using ArcGIS 10.3 and IBM SPSS Statistics 26.
Service is updated annually. The 2021 update includes the 2014-2018 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) data.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV
Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) census tracts that meet specific criteria defined by the Climate Justice Working Group (CJWG) under the 2019 Climate
Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). DACs are defined in the CLCPA as communities that bear burdens of negative public health effects,
environmental pollution, impacts of climate change, and possess certain socioeconomic criteria, or comprise high concentrations of low-and-moderate
income households. CLCPA requires that DACs receive at least 35% of overall benefits from programmatic investments by State entities to achieve
economy-wide greenhouse gas reductions.
The CJWG finalized the criteria on March 27, 2023, which measure 45 indicators grouped into two categories that measure a census tract's relative
level of "Environmental Burdens and Climate Change Risks," and "Population Characteristics and Health Vulnerabilities." Based on this combined score
the top 35% of census tracts are considered DACs. Additionally, 19 tracts that contain federally designated reservation territory or State-recognized
Nation-owned land are automatically included as DACs—regardless of percentile ranking on these indicators.
Publisher: NYSERDA New York New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
For More Information: Disadvantaged Communities Criteria
These layers display the New York Protected Areas Database (NYPAD), a comprehensive database of lands in New York that are protected or designated as natural areas,
conservation lands, open space, or recreational areas. While the database has ‘protected’ in its name, the term applies broadly. Lands in NYPAD may be public or
private, open or closed to public use, permanently protected from development or subject to future changes in management..
NYPAD is divided in three layers that distinguish fee, easement, and proclamation lands. Fee-owned lands are lands directly owned by a government or private
organization. Conservation easement properties have both a landowner and an easement holder. The conservation easement is a legally enforceable land protection
agreement between the landowner and the easement holder wherein the landowner gives up the right to develop the land and the easement holder is responsible for
ensuring that the provisions of the easement are followed by the owner. The Proclamation layer shows areas proclaimed in federal legislation as dedicated to a
specific purpose, such as military lands or areas approved for acquiring land for a federal park or wildlife refuge. Any land acquired for these purposes is
included in the fee layer.
Note: Not all lands in NYPAD are open to the public -- "protected" is not the same as "open". Inclusion in NYPAD does not imply permission for the public to enter that area – many lands in NYPAD are not publicly accessible. Assume any protected area included in NYPAD is closed to the public until you verify it is open by contacting the managing organization or consulting their website for information on public access and other rules regarding use of the area.
Publisher: New York Natural Heritage Program
Link for GIS Data Download: New York Protected Areas Database
Areas that have been designated as Critical Environmental Areas (CEAs) under 6 NYCRR Part 617 - State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR). To be
designated a CEA, an area must have exceptional or unique characteristics with respect to human health, agriculture, culture, history, archaeology,
recreation, education, or it must have inherent ecological, geological or hydrological sensitivity to change. Local agencies may designate specific
geographic areas within their boundaries as CEAs. State agencies may also designate geographic areas they own, manage or regulate.
Following designation, the potential impact of any Type I or Unlisted Action on the environmental characteristics of the CEA must be evaluated during
the SEQR process. This dataset is updated as needed.
Publisher: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Environmental Permits
Link for GIS Data Download: GIS.NY.GOV