Scenic Hudson

Scenic Hudson is a not-for-profit environmental organization in New York that protects land, creates and enhances parks, and advocates for environmentally responsible policies and development practices.[1]

History

Scenic Hudson was founded as the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference on November 8, 1963, when Hudson Valley residents organized to save Storm King Mountain from being transformed into a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant. The organization successfully mounted the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference v. Federal Power Commission court case, which saved the mountain and, for the first time, gave U.S. citizens legal standing to challenge development proposals on environmental grounds. Known as "The Scenic Hudson Decision," the case became a cornerstone of environmental law in the United States, and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement.[2]

After the Storm King Mountain case, Scenic Hudson gained more visibility, and began working with other local communities to protect important natural resources and adopt sound environmental policies. The Chairman of the organization is David Redden.[3]

Current projects
Hiking trails at Black Creek Preserve, one of Scenic Hudson's parks, in Esopus

The organization has three major focus area: Protecting land, creating and enhancing parks and preserves, and advocating for environmentally responsible policies and development outcomes.[4]

Land

Working primarily along the Hudson River between New York City and Albany, the organization acquires land and conservation easements to create parks and preserves, protect lands of high scenic and ecological importance, and conserve farmland.. Much of its land protection work is completed in partnership with private landowners, local land trusts, and local, state, and federal public agencies. Land and conservation easements are typically acquired and held by Scenic Hudson's affiliate organization, The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. The organizations have protected over 31,000 acres in nine counties . In 2011, the organization received the Land Trust Alliance's National Land Trust Excellence Award.[5]

Parks

Scenic Hudson has created and enhanced more than 60 parks, preserves, and historic sites. In addition to owning and maintaining its own parks and preserves for public enjoyment; in this work .[6]

Advocacy

Land-Use

Scenic Hudson works with municipalities and other environmental organizations to connect the public with the Hudson River, improve water quality, encourage responsible development practices, and revitalize urban waterfronts. In 2010, the organization published an award-winning handbook, Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts [7] which provides guidance for balancing conservation and development goals on urban waterfronts. More recently, it launched a series of taskforces to help riverfront communities adapt to climate change-induced sea level rise. The organization also works with the Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance [8]].

Public policy

Scenic Hudson has helped establish and advance numerous environmental initiatives, including the Hudson River Estuary Program, the New York State Coastal Management Program, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Clean Water Act, the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act and the National Heritage Area Designation, and the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, a National Estuarine Research Reserve, created and managed in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Scenic Hudson is currently working with other environmental organizations to facilitate the removal of polychlorinated biphenyl materials from the Hudson River.[9]

Conservation Partners
gollark: Possibly? But wiping out *all humanity* is hard. Wiping out civilization is much easier though.
gollark: I mean, it's *bad*, sure, but not "likely to wipe out humanity" bad.
gollark: I doubt it.
gollark: At least not very reliably.
gollark: I generally just assume that the future can't be predicted except in terms of very broad trends.

See also
  • Glynwood Center

References
  1. Feifel, Kirsten. "Scenic Hudson Land Trust: Prioritizing Lands in Light of Sea Level Rise". Climate Adoption Knowledge and Exchange. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  2. "The Scenic Hudson Decision". Marist Environmental History Project. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  3. Roger Stone (2012). Mightier Hudson: The Spirited Revival of a Treasured Landscape. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 52.
  4. "Our Mission". Scenic Hudson. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  5. "Scenic Hudson Receives National Land Trust Excellence Award". Land Trust Alliance. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  6. "Parks". Scenic Hudson. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  7. Revitalizing Hudson Riverfronts
  8. [http://www.sustainable.org/creating-community/building-partnerships/1636-hudson-valley-smart-growth-alliance HVSGA
  9. "Public Policy". Scenic Hudson. Archived from the original on 2013-10-19. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
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