BALANCING WETLAND INTERESTS
SCIENCE, POLICY AND ECONOMICS

ABSTRACTS

NEW YORK STATE WETLANDS FORUM, INC.
1999 ANNUAL MEETING

Tuesday and Wednesday,
March 23^rd and 24^th
Liverpool, New York

WETLANDS AND WATER RESOURCES IN ONONDAGA COUNTY

WETLANDS AS AN EDUCATIONAL/INTERPRETIVE RESOURCE. Bruce Stebbins, Executive Director, Beaver Lake Nature Center. East Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. 315-638-2519. Beaver Lake Nature Center is the most successful facility of its kind in New York State as well as a nationally recognized leader in nature interpretation/education. Beaver Lake Nature Center's mission centers upon two prime areas - stewardship and the enhancement of visitor's awareness and appreciation of the natural world. This session will introduce participants to Beaver Lake - the natural area and to the program philosophy that has made it a treasured resource in the Central New York community. Studies of the lake have lead to changes in both the management of the area and the content of interpretive/educational programs.

Robert Asanoma, Director, Save the County. 4839 O'Donnell Street, Liverpool, NY 13088. 315-457-7837. Save the County Land Trust (STC) was founded in 1972 to try and stop the loss of green space around Syracuse and Onondaga County. Since its beginnings, it has grown to include Oswego County and currently owns about 1,00 acres valued at some $2.25 million. About 60% to 70% of all those acres are wetlands. Costs to run STC are small but so is its income stream. In the past the Walk To Save The County was STC's primary source of income but the Walk has been discontinued due to falling receipts. Future fundraisers include a Whale Watch and Silent Auction. STC depends on volunteers for all its work accomplishments. There is an endowment fund for maintenance, but again, most of the work accomplished is by volunteers. We do have problems with vandalism, beer parties, hunters, beaver dams, phragmites, and purple loosestrife but hopefully new methods will surface to help combat those problems. Funds available for the acquisition of properties are not large. Most land is donated. We have been a benefactor of The Federal In Lieu Fee Program and it has enabled us to purchase the last large parcel in the Camillus Valley. We have also benefited from other Federal and State rulings with local developers who have impacted wetlands by being named as the holder of mitigated wetlands. Private environmental companies have also helped us by proposing STC hold those wetlands. Grants are becoming more and more important. We have a current grant from the Rural NY Grant Program administered by the Land Trust Alliance of NY to develop a new brochure. We also have a larger grant from the Central New York Community Foundation to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS). Hopefully other groups will be willing to join us and form the basis of a network of environmental groups with very similar causes. All our properties are open to the public to enjoy. No trapping or hunting is allowed. Please come and enjoy our properties. If you need directions to any of our properties, please call anytime.

Ray Nolan, NYSDEC Region 7. 615 Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13204. No abstract received.

INTERPRETATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF HYDRIC SOILS

COMMON HYDRIC SOILS IN NEW YORK STATE AND THEIR IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS. Fred Gilbert, Consulting Soil Scientist. 131 W. Seneca Street, Suite B214, Manlius, NY 13104. 315-6820-6267. Hydric soils are one of the three parameters measured in delineating federal wetlands. They are an important part of New York State's wetland definition also. The criteria for hydric soils is defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and NYSDEC. This criteria has been in use in New York State and other regions in the United States for over a decade. The actual identification of hydric soils in the field by wetland delineators that do not have a background in soil classification and soil mapping has been difficult at times, especially where the site observed is marginal to a non-hydric soil. Wetland delineations with soil classification and soil mapping experience approach the task of hydric soil identification by classifying the soil in terms given in Soil Taxonomy while delineators without experience in soil classification and mapping rely more on measurable soil properties as hydric soil indicators. This presentation will be directed more toward the later group and emphasis will be given to the understanding of the concept of Redoximorphic Features in the soil as a clue to the hydrologic history of a site.

TACKLING THE PROBLEM WETLAND SITES - ATYPICAL HYDRIC SOILS AND DISTURBED SITES. Michael Whitehead, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley MA 01035. 413-253-8620. While many wetland delineations are fairly straight forward, there are also many situations that present problems for wetland delineators. In some cases, soils associated with bonafide wetlands do not possess typical hydric soil properties. In other cases, hydric soil properties are present but the hydrology has been altered to the extent that an assessment of the current hydrology is warranted. The presenter will discuss problematic situations for wetland delineation and offer tips on how to handle such sites including guidance on hydrologic monitoring.

THE REDEVELOPMENT OF NEW YORK STATE'S CANAL SYSTEM

CANAL REVITALIZATION PROGRAMS. Linda Pomeroy, New York State Canal Corporation. 200 Southern Boulevard, P.O Box 189, Albany, New York 12210. The following events lead up to the release of the Canal Revitalization Program:
In 1992 "Thruway 2000" legislation transferred the Canal System from the New York State Department of Transportation to the Thruway Authority and created the Canal Corporation (CC) as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Authority, governed by the CC Board. Also established the 24-member Canal Recreationway Commission, which was charged with developing a Canal Recreationway Plan. Six (6) state agencies (TWY, DOT, DEC, Parks, ESD, DOS), eight (8) regional planning boards, and ten (10) private citizens representing business community, conservation/preservation groups, and canal users groups.
Summer `95 the Canal Recreationway Commission approved final Canal Recreationway Plan and in September `95 the Board adopted the Plan with the stipulation that a detailed schedule of the costs, funding sources and phasing be prepared prior to implementation.
August `96 Chairman Howard Steinberg released the Canal Revitalization Program.
The goals of the Revitalization Program are to: preserve and rehabilitate Canal infrastructure so that it is safe, accessible and available for future use; enhance recreational opportunities for water-based and land-side users; and promote and foster economic development throughout the Canal corridor. A major program objective is to secure private-sector funding for economic development initiatives. The Revitalization Program is a $32.3 million, 5-year program. Program expenditures fall into four categories: Canal harbors, service port & lock projects, Canalway trail and marketing. The Canal System is 524 miles, is comprised of four canals which pass through 25 counties and more than 200 municipalities. There are seven Canal harbor sites (Waterford, Whitehall, Little Falls, Seneca Falls, Oswego, Rochester and Tonawandas). All harbor sites are in various stages of design/construction. Seneca Falls was completed last spring. 96 service ports and lock projects are proposed across the system that will include basic services and amenities, rehabilitation of the Canal infrastructure and enhanced boater access to communities. Completion of these projects will raise investor confidence in the future of the Canal system, and private investment for additional project components such as marinas, charter and tour boat operations and tourism and hospitality services will be pursued through our marketing program. We will be seeking private investors to develop restaurants, hotels and B&B's and other revenue-generating businesses. Examples of increased interest in the Canal:
1993 approximately 4,000 800 number inquiries. 1998 more than 9600. In addition there were 20,400 mail/electronic inquiries.
Tour Boats - 1993 approximately 11 tour/hire boat companies and 15 boats. In 1998, there were 21 companies and 42 boats.
Commercial shipping has decreased dramatically over the last ten years; but Canal Corporation efforts are underway to bring commercial shipping back on the Canal. Examples, Sept. 27, 1998, Times Union article regarding reviving traditional river route for moving scrap metal and bulk salt south on the Champlain and across the Erie Canal down the Hudson River.
Two other initiatives that will impact development along the Canal corridor are underway…
The National Park Service has completed a Special Resource Study of the Canal System. The study demonstrates the Canal's national significance and appropriateness of a National Heritage Corridor designation, an important marketing and promotion tool. Such designation could be extremely helpful in our efforts to secure federal funding for Canal development.
In December `96, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced its Canal corridor Initiative. Under this program, more than $130 million in grants and loans became available to Canal corridor communities.
The Canal Revitalization Program and these other initiatives present significant opportunities for Canal System development. By working with the private sector, state and federal agencies, and local governments, significant economic benefits for Canal corridor communities and the state will be realized.

THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT OF THE CANAL SYSTEM. Barbara B. Beall, Environmental Scientist. The LA Group, P.C, 40 Long Alley, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866. 518-587-8100. The New York State Canal Corridor is a somewhat complex regulatory environment in which to conduct projects. The areas of regulatory involvement and environmental issues fall generally into the following categories: NEPA/SEQRA review, New York State Canal Corporation, property ownership, contaminated sites, local land use review, cultural resources review, wetlands and waters permitting, and miscellaneous permits such as Coastal Zone Management, SPDES permits for stormwater management control, etc. NEPA is triggered whenever there is a federal action, such as funding, permitting, or a direct undertaking. SEQRA is triggered whenever there is a state or local action. Since the NYS Canal System has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, any project impacting the NYS Canal System is a Type I action under SEQRA. The NYS Canal Corporation owns much of the land along the canal corridor, and work permits and use and occupancy permits are required for projects on their land. John Dergosits will discuss this in greater depth in the following presentation, however, it should be noted that the NYS Canal Corporation can assert lead agency status under SEQRA for any project involving NYS Canal Corporation properties. Property ownership can be difficult and confusing along the waterfront. It is important to obtain a property boundary survey early in the project. Because of past land uses along the canal there is also the potential for contamination. Contaminated sites have become less difficult to develop. A Phase 1 ESA is recommended to examine the potential contamination both on site and in buildings. The canal system contains a vast number of historical and archeological significant sites, and it is important to assess this issue early in the process. Both the NYSDEC and the US Army Corps of Engineers regulate the wetlands and waters associated with the NYS Canal System. In the process of designing a project, it is important to assess conditions thoroughly in the beginning of the project design, assess feasibility issues and design the project to avoid those issues as much as possible. Then the design of the project can undergo public review under NEPA and SEQRA. During the development of construction drawings, permit applications can be made and processed. Three rules of thumb are to avoid developing construction drawings until SEQRA has been initiated, avoid releasing construction drawings for bid until SEQRA has been finalized, and avoid releasing the contract until all permits have been obtained.

THE REGULATORY ROLE OF THE NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION. John R. Dergosits, P.E., Canal Environmental Engineer. New York State Canal Corporation. 200 Southern Boulevard. Albany, New York 12201-0189. 518-471-5020. The New York State Canal Corporation is the public benefit corporation entrusted with the operation, maintenance and development of the New York State Canal System. Using the Canal Recreationway Plan as a guide; we review proposed projects for compatibility with the plan's vision for the Canal System. During the early stages of project development communities are advised to contact the Canal Corporation to obtain guidance for project development and to determine the technical requirements needed for project implementation. Compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) is required during the early stages of a project. In some cases the Canal Corporation may request Lead Agency status or at a minimum we will require coordinated review as an involved agency for the project. Correspondence regarding lead agency status must be requested in writing to the Canal Corporation's headquarters in Albany. Coordination during project development should be with both our headquarters office as well as our division offices for that area of the Canal. Once SEQRA is completed, we require permits to occupy canal property. All applicants must apply for both a Use & Occupancy Permit for their proposed project as well as a Work Permit to construct the proposed facility. Both of these permits are obtained by contacting our division offices. Multiple copies of project plans that show the proposed facility along with Canal Corporation property boundaries are required with the project application. A review by division and headquarters engineering, architectural and environmental staff is then conducted on the applicant's project.

REDEVELOPMENT OF THE BALDWINSVILLE WATERFRONT. Daniel O'Hara, Mayor of Baldwinsville. 16 West Genesee Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. 315-635-1410. The revitalization of the Baldwinsville riverfront will involve a variety of projects. There has been involvement with a number of federal and state governmental agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the NYS Department of Transportation, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

LAND USE ECONOMICS AND WETLANDS

ECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS. Elaine Van S. Carmichael, Economic Research Associates. 1101 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. 202-496-9870. No abstract received.

WETLAND PRESERVATION THROUGH OPEN SPACE PLANNING. James Smith, Supervisor. Town of Perinton, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport, NY 14450. 716-223-0770. See article from NYS Wetlands Forum newsletter in registration package.

VERNAL POOLS

CRITERIA FOR VERNAL POOL IDENTIFICATION AND INVENTORY. Edward Pawlak. Connecticut Ecosystems LLC. 38 Westland Avenue. West Hartford, CT 06107. 860-561-8598. Vernal pool wetlands are valuable landscape components that pose many difficult regulatory issues. In southern New England vernal pools typically occur in forested basin depressions, are fishless, and remain inundated for at least two months in spring and early summer. Vernal pools also serve as the exclusive breeding sites for several amphibian species (i.e., spotted salamander, Jefferson's salamander, blue-spotted salamander, marbled salamander, wood frog) and one invertebrate (fairy shrimp). Numerous other wildlife species breed and/or feed in vernal pools (e.g., spring peeper, gray tree frog, spotted turtle, etc.). Vernal pools can be difficult or impossible to identify during their "dry" phase. The inability to distinguish between a vernal pool and a seasonally saturated wetland during seasons when biological indicators are absent makes effective regulation problematic. Amphibians may travel more than 200 meters from their terrestrial non-breeding habitat before arriving at a breeding pool. Anthropomorphic barriers (e.g., roads, houses, lawns) may impede this migration. Preservation of a large terrestrial buffer adjacent to a vernal pool, along with travel corridors to nearby pools, may be critical to maintaining breeding amphibian populations. State wetland regulations that fail to recognize small, hydrologically isolated wetlands provide inadequate protection to vernal pool systems. A study is described in which potential vernal pools (PVPs) were identified on aerial photographs in the town of Haddam, Connecticut. Spring and summer PVP inspections identified a total of 22 confirmed vernal pools in the town. This information has been placed on a GIS map, and is being used for planning and regulatory purposes.

VERNAL POOLS: ARE THERE RELIABLE INDICATOR SPECIES? Kristian Whiteleather, SUNY-CESF. P.O. Box 113, Dryden, NY 13053. 607-844-4551. The life histories of the fauna of vernal systems are tightly tied to the soil type, water regime and other parameters that differentiate these systems from lakes, marshes and roadside ditches. With increasing awareness of the importance of vernal pools to biotic integrity, rapid assessment of pools for protection or management will rely on vertebrate and invertebrate indicators for identification. A brief overview of obligate and facultative candidate fauna will be presented along with sampling suggestions. Related Projects: Breeding Site Selection of Ambystomatid Salamanders in Ohio, Distribution of Diploid Ambystoma jeffersonianum in New York, Streamside Salamanders as Potential Indicators of Acid Mine Drainage Abatement in West Virginia.

SUCCESSFUL WETLAND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN WETLANDS CREATION AND RESTORATION AND THEIR EFFECTS ON MITIGATION SUCCESS. Joseph M. McMullen. Terrestrial Environmental Specialists, Inc. 23 County Route 6, Suite A, Phoenix, New York 13135. 315-695-7228. The effect that practical considerations have on the basic steps in the design and implementation of wetland creation and restoration projects will be discussed. Examples from first-hand experience on numerous projects will be provided. Practical considerations have a significant effect on the selection of a location for wetland creation, development of a grading plan, backfill material specifications, planting/restoration plan development, and use of best management practices. Practical considerations are important not only during the design phase, but also during implementation, when on-site conditions and equipment limitations can play a role. Seasonal constraints, water levels, access, and proper installation of best management practices will be discussed. Monitoring during the construction and planting phases by an experienced individual is emphasized.

IN-LIEU FEE AS AN OPTION FOR MITIGATION. Diane C. Kozlowski ¹ and Jim Howe ². U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, New York 14207.¹ 716-879-4433. The Nature Conservancy, Central and Western New York Chapter, 339 East Avenue, Suite #300, Rochester, New York, 14604.² 716-546-8030. The Oswego County Department of Public Works (OCDPW) applied for a Department of the Army permit in 1993. The OCDPW proposed relocation of County Route 1 in New Haven, resulting in the impact of 2.5 acres of wetland. On-site wetland creation and restoration was included as compensation for the wetland impacts. However, the private property owner decided not to sell the parcel to the OCDPW for mitigation. Therefore the OCDPW presented a list of alternative mitigation sites for review by the involved State and Federal agencies. These sites were rejected by the agencies due to unsuitable site conditions. The OCDPW then made a proposal to donate monies to the Nature Conservancy for acquisition and preservation of a parcel of land as mitigation. The agencies felt the review of other more suitable mitigation options had not been exhausted. Therefore, a list of applicants in the Partners for Wildlife Program was contacted to determine their interest in having wetlands restored on their parcels. There were no positive responses received to this request. It was not until all other mitigation options had been evaluated that the agencies agreed to accept the acquisition and preservation of a 112-acre tract of land. The acquisition parcel is located adjacent to South Sandy Pond in the Town of Sandy Creek, Oswego County. It contains an inland poor fen and rich shrub fen, and supports a number of rare plants and animals. Two of the nine colonies of bog buckmoth in the world are found in this wetland. Sixty to seventy percent of the site is a Class I State regulated wetland. In-lieu fees provide us with another option for mitigating project-related impacts. Just as the project design must consider alternatives to avoid, then minimize impacts to wetlands and waters, the sequencing for review of compensatory mitigation must likewise be followed. The creation and restoration of wetlands where project impacts have occurred remains the preferred option for mitigation. However, site conditions may necessitate an evaluation of off-site alternatives. In-lieu fees provide the regulatory agencies with flexibility in determining the most ecologically sound mitigation option for a given situation.

ECONOMIC VALUES OF WETLANDS

EVALUATION OF WETLAND BENEFIT FLOWS, POTENTIALS AND PITFALLS. Richard C. Smardon, Faculty of Environmental Studies, SUNY-CESF, Syracuse, NY 13210. 315-470-6576. The author will report on economic valuation of freshwater wetland value streams that was done for the Lake Champlain Management Plan in 1996 (Holmes et al., 1996). The first part of the presentation will review economic approaches for valuing wetland functions for water quality maintenance, flood control, shoreline erosion, water supply, recreation, wildlife habitat, commercial harvest of fish and game, and land development. The second part of the presentation will look at actual land prices paid for wetland preservation in New York and Vermont on Lake Champlain. The third part of the presentation is synthesis of values and benefits for Lake Champlain wetlands linked to three priority actions; 1) preservation of major shore edge wetland complexes, 2) watershed/floodplain planning for water quality maintenance, and 3) habitat protection for lake flyways and inland watershed systems of linked streams, rivers, wetlands and uplands.
___________________________

T. P. Holmes et al. 1996. Economic Analysis of the Draft Final Plan for the Lake Champlain Management Conference. Submitted to The Lake Champlain Management Conference by Holmes and Associates and others, 203 pages plus appendices

PROMOTING THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE MONTEZUMA WETLANDS COMPLEX TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES. Sheila Sleggs. Montezuma Wetlands Complex, 3395 Routes 5&20 East, Seneca Falls, NY 13148. 315-365-2371. The Montezuma Wetlands Complex (MWC) is a 36,000-acre area in central NY that has been recognized internationally for its significant wetland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. A multi-partner conservation project that includes the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and Ducks Unlimited, Inc. focuses on protecting, restoring and managing habitat within the MWC. Currently, over 16,000 acres are under public protection and management for wildlife habitat. The scope of the MWC project is to work toward the protection of over 15,000 acres of additional habitat in the Complex. This goal cannot be met without the support of local communities. Ecotourism has been shown to provide significant income for communities adjacent to USFWS National Wildlife Refuges and National Parks. Outdoor and wildlife-related recreation and education programs currently attract over 200,000 people to the Montezuma Wetlands Complex each year. This number is expected to grow considerably upon completion of the Montezuma Wildlife Recreation and Education Center. With proper advertisement and infrastructure, local communities can take advantage of the expenditures and needs of these visitors and provide significant income for their community through ecotourism dollars. Encouraging communities to work toward a sustainable, ecology-based economy will mean greater long-term protection and management for MWC wetland resources.

SIMPLE METHOD TO SAMPLE FIRST FLUSH OF STORM RUNOFF EVENT AND ESTIMATE MASS LOADING OF POLLUTANT CONSITITUENTS TO AN URBAN WETLAND. Kerry A. Thurston, O'Brien & Gere Engineers, Inc. 5000 Brittonfield Parkway, Syracuse, NY 13210. (315) 437-6100 x2387. Nonpoint source contaminants were transported by storm water runoff from a public works facility into an urban wetland area via a small stream. The objective of this project was to measure the loading of contaminants to the wetland and develop a conceptual fate and transport model of these contaminants in the system. Mass loading of the measured contaminants was estimated inexpensively using simple tools and basic assumptions about the relationship between the water level of the stream and the stream hydrograph of a storm runoff event. In general, the highest concentration of contaminants in runoff occurs prior to the peak stream discharge ("first flush"). During several storm runoff events, passive samplers were placed upstream of the wetland, at appropriate elevations relative to the stream surface level, to capture the "first flush" of contaminants on the rising limb of the stream hydrograph. Using stream depth, stream bathymetry, and flow velocity data, a conservative estimate of mass loading of nonpoint source contaminants was obtained. Additional data from water column and sediment sampling in the wetland suggested that sedimentation in upstream areas may be the primary mechanism for removal of the measured contaminants from the water column prior to the wetland discharge point.

SPECIAL SESSION

AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT ZONE FOR CONSERVATION OF BLACK-NECKED CRANE WINTERING IN SOUTHCENTRAL TIBET. Jian Zhou, visiting scholar, SUNY-CESF, 114 Marshall Hall, Syracuse, New York 13210. 315-470-6909. Associate Professor, Agro-environment Protection Institute, Ministry of Agriculture; Chinese Society of Agro-ecological Environmental Protection, Tianjin 300191, China. We conducted surveys between 1996 and 1998 on the status and distribution of black-necked crane (Grus nigricollis) in south-central Tibet of China. We found that about 66% (3,900) of the world's known black-necked crane population winter in south-central Tibet. They occur in the three major river valleys (Lasa, Yaluzangbu, and Nanchu) and their tributaries, which are highly populated and heavily farmed areas. This kind of species is found most often during the day in harvested barley and spring wheat fields, and roosts at night on main or secondary river channels. Economic development of the birds' wintering areas, together with these agricultural activities could easily upset the balance that now exists between cranes and people in these farmed areas. In this project, we proposed that Agricultural Management Zones (AMZ) be developed in the most important black-necked crane wintering areas. Special guidelines would serve to define agriculture and other activities within these zones, to balance needs of cranes with people. Crops and farming methods that provide suitable winter food for the cranes would be promoted. Each agricultural management zone would also include roost sites. This program would serve as an important model for conservation of wildlife within agricultural areas, and thus has international significance. Keywords: Black-necked crane, Conservation, Management.

ENDANGERED SPECIES AND WETLANDS

CALCAREOUS FENS IN NEW YORK. Adele Olivero ¹ and Kristine West². ¹New York Natural Heritage Program, 700 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12208, (518) 783-3941. ²The Nature Conservancy Central and Western New York Chapter, 339 East Avenue, Suite #300, Rochester, NY 14604, (716) 546-8030 ext. 24. Calcareous fens are rare natural communities that support many rare species in New York including the globally imperiled Hemileuca sp. 1 (Cryan's buckmoth), the federally threatened Clemmys muhlenbergii (Bog turtle), and a number of state rare plants. The New York Natural Heritage Program recognizes five types of calcareous fens: marl fen, rich graminoid fen, rich sloping fen, rich shrub fen, and medium fen. Calcareous fens differ from other wetlands in that they are open peatlands associated with groundwater discharge areas and calcareous bedrock. The presentation will describe the composition and structure of calcareous fens and compare them to other palustrine communities. Calcareous fens are highly variable in groundwater chemistry, landscape setting, species composition, and species abundance. To focus conservation, The Nature Conservancy and the New York Natural Heritage Program initiated a two year project in 1998, funded by the Biodiversity Research Institute, to map and consistently classify New York's calcareous fens. Goals of the project are to produce a key to fen types, to link the New York fen classification to the national classification, and to identify exemplary examples of each fen type. In the first year of the project, thirty occurrences were surveyed and we now have current information on over half of the high quality calcareous fens known in the state. Preliminary results clarify differences in fen types and assist in applying and assessing specifications used to rank occurrences. The presentation will highlight examples from the first year of the project.

¹Presenter

CAREX SP?: IDENTIFICATION RESOURCES AND EXAMPLES OF RARE WETLAND GRAMINOIDS. Troy Weldy, Associate Botanist, NY Natural Heritage Program, 700 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110. e-mail: twweldy@gw.dec.state.ny.us. During the wetland delineation and environmental review process the proper identification of graminoids, particularly rare graminoids, is often essential. However, many people find identification keys for these species difficult, particularly when identification resources are very limited. This presentation will focus on providing identification sources, the wetland habitats that many of these graminoids prefer and a few examples of rare graminoids that wetland specialist are likely to encounter. Since we at the Heritage Program are most interested in rare species and over 25% of New York's rare plants are graminoids (163 graminoids out of 598 tracked species), we will primarily discuss rare graminoid species. The best resources for identifying sedges collected in New York are Tucker (1995), Gleason & Cronquist (1991), and Voss (1972). Many academic resources are available for sedge verification and learning identification, but the best is probably offered through the Humboldt Institute at Eagle Hill, Maine. Courses like this often highlight tricks that are not found in the keys. Some of these tricks will be shared during the presentation. The Heritage Program soon plans to provide habitat descriptions and distinguishing characteristics for the rarest of NY's plants. Within the next year, such information will be available for most of the S1 species via the web. Visit our website at www.heritage.tnc.org/nhp/us/ny/ and stay tuned for more information.

Bibliography:

Gleason Henry and Arthur Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. The New York Botanical Garden. New York, NY. 910 pp.

Tucker, Gordon. 1995. Preliminary Keys to Carex (Cyperaceae) in New York State. NYFA Newsletter 6 (2): 2-18.

Voss, Edward. 1972. Michigan Flora: Part I Gymnosperms and Monocots. Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 488 pp.

STATUS AND HABITAT OF THE BOG TURTLE IN WESTERN AND CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE. Peter A. Rosenbaum, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Biology Department, SUNY-Oswego, Oswego N.Y. 13126. Bog turtles (Clemmys muhlenbergii Shoepff 1801) have always been considered rare. Presently, this species is listed as Rare and Endangered by the New York State (NYS) Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act, and is a CITES Category I species. Various researchers have described bog turtle habitat in NYS and throughout its range. This turtle prefers bogs and fens with slow moving rivulets, organic deposits and elevated hummocks. Most of the nearly sixty (60) historical bog turtle sites in NYS are in the southeastern portion of the state. Less than half of these sites remain suitable for bog turtles. Only 6 of the 19 NYS counties containing these historic sites presently support bog turtle populations, even though suitable habitat apparently remains in many of these areas In Western and Central NYS, only 2 of 7 (Oswego and Seneca) counties with historic bog turtle records are currently deemed by the NYS DEC as containing extant bog turtle populations. Until recently, only one of the historic bog turtle sites in Western and Central NYS was considered active (in Seneca County). Since 1986, three new localities for bog turtle have been documented in Oswego County. The current status of bog turtles in Western and Central NYS will be described along with the results of a floristic analysis of known bog turtle sites in this region.

INCORPORATING ECONOMICS IN WETLAND ALTERNATIVES ANALYSES

THE REGULATORY STANDARDS AND CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH ECONOMIC DATA IN AN ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS. Terresa Bakner. Whiteman, Osterman and Hanna, One Commerce Plaza, Albany, New York 12260. 518-487-7615. No abstract received.

ALTERNATIVES ASSESSMENTS, A VIEW FROM THE APPLICANT'S PERSPECTIVE. Marco J. Marzocchi. The Widewaters Group, 5788 Widewaters Parkway, Dewitt, New York 13214. 315-445-8598. No abstract received.

A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE - SMART GROWTH. Graham Cox, National Audubon Society of New York. 200 Trillium Lane, Albany, NY 12203. 518-869-9731
LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY UPDATES
U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE EFFORTS IN WETLAND CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION. Anne Secord, Fish and Wildlife Biologist. United State Fish and Wildlife Service. New York Field Office. 3817 Luker Road, Cortland, New York 13045. 607-753-9334. The U.S. Fish Service (Service) is involved in a variety of activities that serve to protect and enhance wetland habitat and wetland dependent species in New York State. A significant law governing our wetland activities is the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. This law, enacted in 1934, requires any Federal agency that constructs, permits, or licenses a water resource development project to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal construction or permitting agencies must consider our agency's recommendations to ensure that fish and wildlife conservation gets equal consideration to other project purposes. Because of authority under this and other laws, our agency consults with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Section 404/10 permits and Federal construction projects, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on the licensing of hydroelectric facilities, and the Federal Highway Administration on highway projects. We administer the Endangered Species Act, affording protection to a number of wetland dependent species, such as the bog turtle and dwarf wedge mussel. The Service is also actively restoring wetland, riparian, and upland habitat across New York State through our Partners for Wildlife Program. Since this program's inception in 1990, we have restored more than 7,900 acres of wetland, 2,300 acres of upland, and 21 miles of stream habitat in New York State.