Latest news with #AmandaLefton
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEC announces $100M fish hatchery modernization effort
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton recently announced the launch of a nation-leading $100 million freshwater fish hatchery modernization plan. The funding supports the first of three phases of modernization projects for 12 hatcheries operated by DEC across the state. The hatcheries are integral to effective fisheries management and conservation, and contribute up to $5 billion in economic benefits provided by New York's recreational freshwater fishing industry. 'DEC's fish hatchery system serves as the backbone for the management and restoration of our freshwater fisheries,' Lefton said. 'Today's launch of the hatchery modernization plan will further strengthen New York State's commitment to the angling community and the continued stewardship of our fisheries resources far into the future.' First established in 1864, New York's fish hatchery system is the oldest in North America. The DEC operates 12 hatcheries that annually produce up to 850,000 pounds of fish that are stocked into more than 1,200 waterbodies for recreational and restoration purposes. The average age of DEC's hatcheries is 93 years and the integrity of many buildings, water supply assets, and fish-rearing structures are at risk. In recent years some of the most crucial needs have been addressed with a steady flow of DEC capital funding, but more extensive work is needed to sustain and improve operations to truly modernize the hatchery system for the future. The historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 dedicated up to $75 million for hatchery improvements as part of the $650 million specified for improving access to and protecting nature. This funding, combined with funding from New York Works and other capital funds, provides a solid foundation for creating a modern hatchery system that is technologically advanced, more efficient, adaptable, and environmentally responsible. The DEC will use Bond Act monies and capital funds to leverage other state and federal funding to modernize the hatchery system in multiple phases over the next 10 years. Improvements center on employing contemporary culture technologies to maximize fish production and ensuring greater sustainability by using the best technology available to reduce energy use and minimize the facilities' carbon footprint. DEC will implement its modernization plan in three phases, with Phase 1 beginning immediately. Highlights of Phase 1 include: • Covering the rearing ponds to exclude predators, reduce sunlight, and provide a surface for a photovoltaic system at the Caledonia Hatchery • Refurbishing ponds at the South Otselic Hatchery for increased walleye production • Overhauling the water supply system at the Salmon River Hatchery • Building a new hatch house at Chateaugay Hatchery • Replacing the existing hatchery at Randolph with a brand-new facility 'This plan not only ensures the continued health and sustainability of our state's freshwater fisheries but also preserves critical recreational and economic opportunities for future generations. New York's fish hatchery system is a vital part of our state's natural heritage and supports recreational fishing that benefits local communities, small businesses, and tourism across the state,' New York State Conservation Council President Dr. Keith Tidball said. 'The hatcheries are not just facilities — they are centers of fisheries conservation, education, and economic vitality.' Visit the DEC website for more information about the fish hatchery system. Stocking information, along with fishing regulations, maps, and access information is also available in 'The Tackle Box' feature of the DEC 'HuntFishNY' smartphone app. Other features include driving directions to state boat launch sites and an offline feature that allows a user to access information when cell coverage isn't available.
New York Post
09-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Proposal to OK swimming in notoriously polluted Harlem River won't stop 2B gallons of sewage from being dumped there: activists
What a dump. Bronx activists are fuming that a proposal aimed at opening up the notoriously polluted Harlem River to swimming won't do anything to keep raw sewage from being dumped there. The state Department of Environmental Conservation said it wants to make the most polluted waterway in the city — and possibly all of New York — clean enough for swimmers to be able to take a dip in it. Advertisement But clean water activists are boiling mad about the effort, claiming the DEC's plan will effectively lock in poor quality standards, continuing to allow nearly 2 billion gallons of raw sewage to spill into the river every year. 3 An estimated 1.9 billion of raw sewage is dumped into the Harlem River every year. The Harlem River's current classification, 'Class I,' means it only needs to be clean enough to allow for 'secondary contact recreation,' like boating and fishing. Advertisement The crux of the activists' outrage lies with a proposal released by the DEC in April to reclassify the river as a 'wet weather (WW) limited use' waterbody — that could allow swimming there on so-called dry days. When it rains, the river routinely gets flooded with raw sewage and other pollutants because the overstrained systems cannot handle the additional stormwater, according to environmental advocates. As a result, the activists are calling out state and city officials for the plan to open up the river to swimming — without investing time and money into overhauling the Bronx's outdate sewage systems that overflow when it rains. It would cost around $9 billion to fix the outdated 'Combined Sewer Overflows' systems, which the DEC has ruled too costly. Advertisement 'By using an all or nothing argument to sewage pollution reduction, the city and state are attempting to justify maintaining the status quo of poor water quality for the Harlem River generations to come, and that improving water quality really is not all or nothing effort,' Ruby said. 'They're trying to say this is an upgrade when it's not,' argued Ruby. 'They're not proposing to do pollution reduction. This 'reclassification' is going to take generations to come. They need to set the goal as swimmable 100% of the time.' 3 A reclassification for the waterway would mean that the state would suspend all required water quality standards up to 36 hours after it rains. More than a dozen state and city politicians have already penned a letter to DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton demanding that the agency reconsider the proposed reclassification and replace it with a loftier goal — namely, to institute initiatives that would require the river to be swimmable at all times. Advertisement Two public hearings on the proposal are slated for the end of the month. Other New Yorkers also accused the DEC of throwing the towel on cleaning up the river, including kayaking and rowing groups groups who currently try their best to avoid touching the polluted water during their excursions. 'This is not making anything better. It's essentially observing that if it hasn't rained in a while, the river might actually be clean enough to swim in — maybe. I wouldn't swim in it by choice,' said Joy Hecht, a member of the Harlem River Rowing Community. 3 'We know the status quo is not good. The Harlem River deserves better,' said Em Ruby. metpromo_40733 'It's essentially saying, 'We give up. We're not going to try and improve it.'' A DEC spokesperson did not address the claims, saying the proposed 'landmark regulatory changes are unprecedented, building upon decades of ongoing progress to transform the Harlem River and other waters in and around New York City.' 'Collectively, New Yorkers are making significant progress in improving water quality, and the new requirements would provide additional ecological benefits and positive impacts to the region's fishing, boating, and swimming conditions,' the statement said. Chauncy Young, a coordinator at the Harlem River Coalition, griped that the proposed change marks another injustice that the borough has been dealt, pointing to other waterways throughout the city that boast free, city-run kayaking and canoe programs in their cleaner-by-comparison water. Advertisement Even the Hudson River has numerous swimming spots and opportunities throughout the year. 'We definitely feel like the forgotten borough,' Young said. 'We've been advocating for access to the river for decades and decades and decades …We definitely feel like the Bronx and upper Manhattan have been left out of development and resources that have been provided to communities in terms of access and programming and just beautiful parks.'
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wildfire smoke from Canada prompts air quality health advisory
NEW YORK (WWTI) – New York DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton and DOH Commissioner Dr. James McDonald are issuing an Air Quality Health Advisory for fine particulate matter on June 7, 2025, due to wildfire smoke from Canada. Air quality alert issued for much of New York State The pollutant of concern is: Fine Particulate Matter The advisory will be in effect 10 a.m. through 11:59 p.m. The Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of: Adirondacks, which includes Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, northern Herkimer, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Warren counties; Eastern Lake Ontario, which includes northern Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Oswego, and Wayne counties; Central New York, which includes Allegany, Broome, southern Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, southern Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Onondaga, Oneida, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates, and Western New York, which includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties. DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when pollution levels, like ozone or PM2.5, are expected to exceed an AQI value of 100, indicating health risks. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) consists of tiny particles or droplets in the air, measuring 2.5 microns or less. These particles can come from combustion sources like vehicle exhaust, power plants and fires, as well as chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Exposure to PM 2.5 can lead to short-term health issues such as eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath. It may also worsen conditions like asthma and heart disease, particularly affecting sensitive groups like those with heart or breathing problems, children, and the elderly. To reduce exposure during elevated outdoor levels, staying indoors can help, although indoor sources like tobacco or cooking fumes can still keep levels high. Recommendations include minimizing sources of PM 2.5 and avoiding strenuous activities in polluted areas. More information is available on DEC's and DOH's websites. Bongino, Patel defend ICE amid unrest over Los Angeles raids Ohio girl with brain injury from flu complications returns home Simone Biles rails against 'sore loser' conservative activist over trans athletes Protesters confront immigration agents, deputies during raid in Los Angeles County Streaming services next steps: What are Mubi, Tubi, and more? Additional information on PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website (PM 2.5). A new DEC fact sheet about the Air Quality Index is also available on DEC's website or by PDF download. To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts through DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) was also established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest air quality situation Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New York State invests $120M to modernize fish hatcheries
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A big investment is reeling in major improvements for New York State's fish hatcheries. The Department of Environmental Conservation is announcing a $120 million investment to modernize freshwater fish hatcheries across the state. The announcement took place at the historic Caledonia Fish Hatchery, the oldest in the Western hemisphere, just in time to kick off the annual Caledonia Trout Festival this weekend. The funding marks the start of a three-phase project to upgrade 12 hatcheries statewide, ensuring the continued success of fish stocking and conservation programs. And as it happens, Friday, the New York State Senate confirmed the first openly gay DEC commissioner Amanda Lefton. We heard from her today on the investment. 'So our hatcheries systems in NYS really stock over 1,000 water bodies all across New York,' Lefton said. 'So, we have anglers that go out and catch fish. And they might not even know that we helped raise those fish and these stocking efforts are really so helpful to help with restoration efforts but for the angling communities. And what's so neat about Caledonia is the history, a lot of people grew up going to this hatchery.' These hatcheries support a recreational fishing industry that already contributes $5 billion annually to New York's economy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DEC issues warning on young wildlife
The state Department of Environmental Conservation is reminding New Yorkers to appreciate wildlife from a safe distance and resist the urge to touch or move young wildlife. According to a DEC news release, fawns, baby birds and other offspring may seem abandoned, but their parents are often close by and well-intentioned interference can pose risks to the animals and humans. 'Spring's warmer weather brings with it more sightings and encounters with wildlife, especially young birds and other animals,' said DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton. 'While some might think these baby animals need assistance, human interactions with wildlife typically do more harm than good. Please remember — if you care, leave it there.' Interacting with young wildlife can be problematic for both the animal and people, the release stated. When young wildlife venture into the world, for a brief time they may have limited ability to fly or walk on their own. While one or both parents teach survival skills to their offspring, some young wildlife receive little or no care. DEC reminds the public that young wild animals like fawns and baby birds are rarely abandoned. Parents often place their young somewhere to keep them hidden from predators while they are off collecting food. Bird nestlings can have closed eyes and can be featherless, spending about two weeks in the nest until they begin to outgrow the space. Once they outgrow the nest, nestlings become fledglings, a bird with developed feathers, and begin to flap their wings and learn how to fly. In both stages (nestlings and fledglings) the adult birds are nearby and care for them. If a nestling is found on the ground and cannot be easily and safely returned to the nest, the public is advised to refrain from approaching and instead should call a wildlife rehabilitator. Fledglings, on the other hand, can hop and flutter on their own, and spend short periods out of the nest on the ground or in low branches. If a young bird is alert, fully feathered, and moving around, people are encouraged to watch from a distance and not intervene. Fawns are born during late May and early June, and although they can walk shortly after birth, they spend most of their first several days lying still in tall grass, leaf litter, or sometimes relatively unconcealed. During this period, a fawn is usually left alone by the adult female, except when nursing. Fawns are vulnerable to predators during this period. If human presence is detected by the doe, the doe may delay its next visit to nurse. Fawns should never be picked up. A fawn's protective coloration and ability to remain motionless help it avoid detection by predators and people. By the end of a fawn's second week of life, it begins to move about, spend more time with the doe, and eat on its own. At about 10 weeks of age, fawns are no longer dependent on milk, although they continue to nurse occasionally into the fall. Anyone who encounters a wild animal that is injured or obviously orphaned should call a trained and DEC-licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators are the only people legally allowed to receive and treat distressed wildlife, and have the experience, expertise, and facilities to successfully treat and release wild animals, the release stated. DEC reminds the public that young wildlife are not pets. Keeping wildlife in captivity without authorization from DEC is illegal and harmful to the animal. Wild animals are not well-suited to life in captivity and may carry diseases that can be transferred to humans. DEC also advises the public to keep domestic pets indoors when young wild animals are present. Many fledgling birds cannot fly well when they first leave the nest and are easy prey for house cats.
