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The challenge of predicting the distribution of alien species has long been a focus of invasion ecology. Herein, we assessed biotic and abiotic factors from the 1980s as potential predictors of alien bird species patterns 20 years later in the state of New York. To assess the ability of each factor to predict future alien species patterns, we analysed the influence of biotic (native taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity, and human population density) and abiotic (climate and land use) factors from the 1980s on the observed alien species richness patterns in the 2000s and the temporal change in the composition of the alien communities between the 1980s and the 2000s using both single-predictor and multivariate models. Alien species richness from the 1980s was a reliable predictor of the alien species richness and temporal beta-diversity patterns in the 2000s. Among abiotic factors, maximum temperature and agricultural land-uses constituted sufficient predictors of future alien species richness and better predictors than the native biotic factors. The performance of single-predictor models was generally weaker in predicting temporal alien beta-diversity; however, past alien species richness and maximum temperature again outperformed the other factors. Predictions and management decisions should focus on warm and agricultural areas, as well as areas with an already high number of established alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable development plan should identify future urban development sites to maintain a balanced condition between transportation systems and land use. Most commonly used for Transit Oriented Development (TOD), the node–place model checks the balance between transportation systems and land use. While previous node–place research focused mostly on rail transportation, this research focuses on highway accessibility to assess future growth and urban development. To gain insight into the development dynamics, the node–place model is utilized with a focus on the I-287 Corridor located in New York, U.S. The node function describes the transport activity and connectedness of the area to other places of interest, which measures the accessibility of the locations, the type of connections, and the number of directions connected. In addition, population, number of workers in the labor force, and degree of a functional mix are also considered for place values. According to the results, four exits are in balanced areas with stable traffic and customer flow support and strong support from local government departments. This case study contributes to a deeper understanding and evaluation of highway accessibility and provides an exciting assessment tool for sustainable development planning. While node–place models cannot predict development, they can be used to understand development dynamics better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When nonresidents purchase agricultural properties, the land use decision can make farmland operate below potential, still allowing for tax credits. We empirically investigate how nonresident ownership affects the agricultural land use decisions in upstate New York. A difference-in-difference matching approach shows a causal link between purchases by nonresidents and a loss of 11% of acreage to a lower-productivity use. A generalization shows this conversion counts for one-seventh of the decreased agricultural land in intensive uses in similar counties. Perhaps a simple opportunistic use of the tax-credit criteria, this phenomenon contradicts the policy's objective and might impose other consequences on rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines how land use laws are prolonging the segregation of Long Island, New York and proposes solutions to counteract regulations that perpetuate segregation. It reviews the role of racism in the historical land use framework of Long Island and examines the impact of common land use regulations on historically disadvantaged communities including African Americans. It also calls for legislation to catalyze desegregation and incentivize equitable community development of the island.

Measuring wildlife responses to anthropogenic activities often requires long-term, large-scale datasets that are difficult to collect. This is particularly true for rare or cryptic species, which includes many mammalian carnivores. Citizen science, in which members of the public participate in scientific work, can facilitate collection of large datasets while increasing public awareness of wildlife research and conservation. Hunters provide unique benefits for citizen science given their knowledge and interest in outdoor activities. We examined how anthropogenic changes to land cover impacted relative abundance of two sympatric canids, coyote (Canis latrans), and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) at a large spatial scale. In order to assess how land cover affected canids at this scale, we used citizen science data from bow hunter sighting logs collected throughout New York State, USA, during 2004-2017. We found that the two species had contrasting responses to development, with red foxes positively correlated and coyotes negatively correlated with the percentage of low-density development. Red foxes also responded positively to agriculture, but less so when agricultural habitat was fragmented. Agriculture provides food and denning resources for red foxes, whereas coyotes may select forested areas for denning. Though coyotes and red foxes compete in areas of sympatry, we did not find a relationship between species abundance, likely a consequence of the coarse spatial resolution used. Red foxes may be able to coexist with coyotes by altering their diets and habitat use, or by maintaining territories in small areas between coyote territories. Our study shows the value of citizen science, and particularly hunters, in collection of long-term data across large areas (i.e., the entire state of New York) that otherwise would unlikely be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of data can be sensed and analyzed to discover patterns of human behavior in cities for the benefit of urban authorities and citizens, especially in the areas of traffic forecasting, urban planning, and social science. In New York, USA, social sensing, remote sensing, and urban land use information support the discovery of patterns of human behavior. This research uses two types of openly accessible data, namely, social sensing data and remote sensing data. Bike and taxi data are examples of social sensing data, whereas sentinel remote sensed imagery is an example of remote sensing data. This research aims to sense and analyze the patterns of human behavior and to classify land use from the combination of remote sensing data and social sensing data. A decision tree is used for land use classification. Bike and taxi density maps are generated to show the locations of people around the city during the two peak times. On the basis of a geographic information system, the maps also reflect the residential and office areas in the city. The overall accuracy of land use classification after the consideration of social sensing data is 85.3%. The accuracy assessment shows that the combination of remote sensing data and social sensing data facilitates accurate urban land use classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the tools and capabilities of New York State in promoting agriculture and land use planning. Topics discussed include the importance of agriculture, tools available to preserve farmland, preservation of agricultural land at the local level and recommendations such focusing on the needs of local communities, utilizing the NYS Agricultural Mediation Program in land use issues and promoting the programs and organizations that provide information on agricultural practices.

To support the development of clean water plans, as required by the federal Clean Water Act 303(d) program, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) developed the Loading Estimator of Nutrient Sources (LENS) tool. DEC has prioritized clean water planning for fresh waterbodies experiencing negative impacts due to excessive phosphorus levels. LENS, an Excel based tool, combines several simple steady state models into a single screening tool that may be used to estimate the relative contribution of phosphorus sources within a watershed, waterbody response, and recovery potential of a waterbody. To validate that LENS results are reasonable approximations, LENS loading estimates were statistically compared with loading estimates from more complex watershed models that were used to develop existing clean water plans using simple linear regressions. For this comparison, DEC selected a variety of completed models that have modeled watershed phosphorus loads with different land use compositions and loading from both point and nonpoint sources. This analysis shows that LENS performs reasonably well at estimating the relative loading from a range of source sectors, though cannot replace more robust watershed models. DEC has used LENS to prioritize waterbodies for clean water plans and to guide management actions in watersheds where data is lacking to support more complex modeling efforts. Future expansions of LENS may include modifying the tool to estimate other pollutants (i.e. nitrogen), add the ability to account for internal loading of nutrients within waterbodies; and estimate the contribution of nutrients from groundwater. • A simple watershed screening tool (Excel based) was created to guide clean water planning in New York State. • LENS provided reasonable coarse estimates compared to complex models. • LENS can be adapted to site specific data and updated to include other parameters (e.g., nitrogen). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the history, purpose and significant effects of amendments to the adverse possession law upon the personal responsibility of landowners and the industrious land productivity and uses in New York. It discusses the judicial decision of the Supreme Court of New Jersey in the case of Mannillo v. Gorski, in which the Court addressed the great responsibility of land owners to protect the land from trespassers and maintenance of land for his benefit and community.

Although intra-urban air pollution differs by season, few monitoring networks provide adequate geographic density and year-round coverage to fully characterize seasonal patterns. Here, we report winter intra-urban monitoring and land-use regression (LUR) results from the New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS). Two-week integrated samples of fine particles (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (S02) were collected at 155 city-wide street-level locations during winter 2008-2009. Sites were selected using stratified random sampling, randomized across sampling sessions to minimize spatio-temporal confounding. LUR was used to identify GIS-based source indicators associated with higher concentrations. Prediction surfaces were produced using kriging with external drift. Each pollutant varied twofold or more across sites, with higher concentrations near midtown Manhattan. All pollutants were positively correlated, particularly PM2.5 and BC (Spearman's r= 0.84). Density of oil-burning boilers, total and truck traffic density, and temporality explained 84% of PM2.5 variation. Densities of total traffic, truck traffic, oil-burning boilers and industrial space, with temporality, explained 65% of BC variation. Temporality, built space, bus route location, and traffic density described 67% of nitrogen dioxide variation. Residual oil-burning units, nighttime population and temporality explained 77% of S02 variation. Spatial variation in combustion-related pollutants in New York City was strongly associated with oil-burning and traffic density. Chronic exposure disparities and unique local sources can be identified through year-round saturation monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routine air monitoring provides data to assess urban scale temporal variation in pollution concentrations in relation to regulatory standards, but is not well suited to characterizing intraurban spatial variation in pollutant concentrations from local sources. To address these limitations and inform local control strategies, New York City developed a program to track spatial patterns of multiple air pollutants in each season of the year. Monitor locations include 150 distributed street-level sites chosen to represent a range of traffic, land-use and other characteristics. Integrated samples are collected at each distributed site for one 2-week session each season and in every 2-week period at five reference locations to track city-wide temporal variation. Pollutants sampled include PM2.5 and constituents, nitrogen oxides, black carbon, ozone (summer only) and sulfur dioxide (winter only). During the first full year of monitoring more than 95% of designed samples were completed. Agreement between colocated samples was good (absolute mean % difference 3.2-8.9%). Street-level pollutant concentrations spanned a much greater range than did concentrations at regulatory monitors, especially for oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. Monitoring to characterize intraurban spatial gradients in ambient pollution usefully complements regulatory monitoring data to inform local air quality management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over 75% of the New York City Watershed is forested, and the majority of the land is owned hy family forest owners. Ownership fragmentation and development may impact both the working forested landscape and water quality. We surveyed the owners of intact and subdivided family forest parcels across various parcel sizes to gauge their awareness of forest management practices and to assess the potential property-level impacts of their activities on water quality. To support the landowner survey, we used field data on forest stocking and timber quality gathered at each property. Results indicate that owners of large parcels ( > 5 0 ac) hod significantly higher water quality awareness scores than did owners of small parcels and were more likely to hove a written forest management plan. Full-time resident owners were more likely to engage in practices that may negatively impact water quality more directly, such as adding structures and a driveway, which increases impervious surface orea and associated runoff, and using additives on their lawns, which can odd nutrients and chemicals to surface water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses two land use control and management strategies: New York's Adirondack Park Agency Act and Vermont's Act 250. Topics include how both land use programs reflect state interests, the revision and implementation of land use amendments, and state-level oversight over rural landscape protection.

The Jamaica Bay portion of Gateway National Recreation Area, located next to highly urbanized New York City, faces many challenges to preserve and protect its natural, cultural, and recreational resources. To aid in the management of the park resources, detailed estuarine shoreline analyses of Jamaica Bay were undertaken using imagery taken in 1951, 1974, and 2006. A 15-class land use/land cover (LULC) classification scheme was created after doing an initial examination of the types of LULC in the 2006 orthoimagery and then applied in the analyses of the previous years. By quantifying how and where the shoreline has changed over the past 60 years, park managers can better assess the impact of management practices by comparing LULC of the shoreline within the park boundary to the LULC of the shoreline outside the park boundary before and after the park was created in 1972. Despite the heavy development of New York City and the trend for shoreline modification, the overall shoreline of Jamaica Bay has maintained large percentages of undeveloped vegetation and sandy beaches. Much of the LULC change has occurred in the creeks as a result of dredging and shape modification for residential and commercial uses. Park management has been effective in limiting the alteration of undeveloped shoreline although there have been significant changes in the relative percentages of sand and vegetated beaches between 1974 and 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ecological indicators have gained increasing attention within the scientific community over the past 40 years. Several taxonomic groups have been used successfully as indicators including most prominently fish, invertebrates, plants, and birds because of their ability to indicate environmental changes. In the Laurentian Great Lakes region, there has been recent concern over the applicability of using indicators on a basin-wide scale due to species range restrictions and lake-based differences. The objective of this study was to determine the ability of the Index of Marsh Bird Community Integrity (IMBCI) to indicate land use disturbance surrounding coastal marshes of Georgian Bay and Lake Ontario. To meet this objective, we surveyed birds and vegetation at 14 marshes in Georgian Bay (low land use disturbance) and Lake Ontario (high land use disturbance). Even though Lake Ontario marshes were surrounded by significantly more altered land than Georgian Bay marshes, and had poorer water quality, we found significantly fewer birds in Georgian Bay marshes (mean=8.2) compared to Lake Ontario (mean=13.7) and no significant difference in IMBCI scores. This inconsistency could be due to vegetation differences affecting the strength of the index, because Georgian Bay wetlands had significantly more bulrush (Schoenoplectus spp.) and floating vegetation, while Lake Ontario wetland vegetation was taller and cattail-dominated (Typha spp.). These findings suggest that the IMBCI may not be useful on a basin-wide scale in the Great Lakes region in detecting human disturbance surrounding wetlands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article examines the arc of eminent domain law in New York. It mentions that the constitutional protections of this law expired in the 1930s which coincided with the exercise of Robert Moses of his power as chairman of the Council on Parks. It notes the changes in the Court of Appeal's view of the constitutional protections against government takings as Moses seized property. It also emphasizes the problem that Moses faced in his efforts to acquire land for the Southern State Parkway.

An essay is presented on the Eminent Domain Procedure Law (EDPL) in New York. It explores the issue of when to use or not use the eminent domain power and the composition of a public purpose in the wake of Kelo v. City of New London case. It discusses the author's participation in a debate which centers on the condemnation law in the state. It also analyzes the need to clarify the provisions of the EDPL.

The article explores the tension between the advantages of the organic development of cities and the increasing reliance on mixed public-private arrangements in New York. It mentions the proactive stance of the government in determining land use. It notes how the publication of Jane Jacobs "The Death and Life of Great American Cities" affects how the courts treat land use regulation and eminent domain powers. It also emphasizes the implication of the Jacobs' work in urban revitalization.

This study examined the effects land use on biomass and ecological stoichiometry of periphyton in 36 streams in southeastern New York State (USA). We quantified in-stream and land-use variables along a N-S land-use gradient at varying distances from New York City (NYC). Streams draining different landscapes had fundamentally different physical, chemical, and biological properties. Human population density significantly decreased ( r = −0.739; P < 0.00001), while % agricultural land significantly increased ( r = 0.347; P = 0.0379) with northing. Turbidity, temperature, conductivity, and dissolved Mg, Ca, SRP, pH, DOC, and Si significantly increased in more urban locations, but NO and NH did vary not significantly along the gradient. Periphyton biomass (as AFDM and Chl- a) in rural streams averaged one-third to one-fifth that measured in urban locations. Periphyton biomass in urban streams averaged 18.8 ± 6.0 g/m AFDM and 75.6 ± 28.5 mg/m Chl- a. Urban Chl- a levels ranging between 100 and 200 mg/m, are comparable to quantities measured in polluted agricultural streams in other regions, but in our study area was not correlated with % agricultural land. Periphyton nutrient content also varied widely; algal C varied >20-fold (0.06-1.7 μmol/mm) while N and P content varied >6-fold among sites. Algal C, N, and P correlated negatively with distance from NYC, suggesting that periphyton in urban streams may provide greater nutrition for benthic consumers. C:N ratios averaged 7.6 among streams, with 91% very close to 7.5, a value suggested as the optimum for algal growth. In contrast, periphyton C:P ratios ranged from 122 to >700 (mean = 248, twice Redfield). Algal-P concentrations were significantly greater in urban streams, but data suggest algal growth was P-limited in most streams regardless of degree of urbanization. GIS models indicate that land-use effects did not easily fit into strict categories, but varied continuously from rural to urban conditions. We propose that the gradient approach is the most effective method to characterize the influence of land use and urbanization on periphyton and stream function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcareous fens are wetlands fed by calcareous groundwater and with predominantly low (, 1 m) vegetation. They are critical habitat for rare species, and development of tall vegetation alters this habitat. Our purpose was to better understand how human activities influence the fen habitat. In 1997 in eastern New York and northwestern Connecticut we located 25 fens using soil maps and field surveys, and delimited these sites using 73 indicator plants classified a priori as fen species, disturbance species, or non-fen woody species. In three plots in each fen we measured species cover, water table depth, organic matter, total inorganic nitrogen, groundwater pH and conductivity, and described land use on and within 100 m of each fen to identify the conditions that may lead to fen degradation. Total inorganic nitrogen correlated most significantly with plant species composition. Fen-species richness was negatively correlated with nitrogen, whereas non-fen woody species richness and cover were positively correlated with nitrogen, suggesting that nitrogen inputs contribute to dominance of tall vegetation in fens. Richness of disturbance indicator species was negatively correlated with soil organic matter. Thus, fens with mineral soil layers may be more susceptible to dominance by non-fen species. Percent cover of disturbance indicator species was greater in fens near public roads. Cover of Lythrum salicaria, an invasive weed, was positively correlated with land-use intensity and was greater near public roads. The use of soil maps, indicator plant richness and cover, inorganic nitrogen, water table, and soil organic matter may be an efficient method for locating, delimiting, and assessing the ecological status of fens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The influence of the proximity of urbanization and agriculture to stream water quality is often difficult to quantify. The objectives of this study were to (1) compare the influence of far-field land-use, encompassing a watershed drainage area, to a near-field, 200-m buffer on each side of the stream in an attempt to determine on which zone of influence land-use has the largest impact on water quality, and (2) incorporate the EPA''s Rapid Habitat Assessment Protocol () to characterize the riparian and channel characteristics of a stream that influence water quality, which can improve New York State''s monitoring protocols. Impacts were assessed through biological, chemical, and physical-habitat data from 29 streams located within a variety of land-use categories. Land-use was identified through USGS National Land Cover Data (NLCD). Principal components analysis (PCA) indicated that land-use and water quality variables were associated with non-point source contaminants (e.g. nutrients and specific conductance). Using Spearman''s rank correlation coefficient, significant relationships between all three land-use types and stream water quality were determined at the 200-m buffer zone of influence. At the watershed zone of influence, water quality indicators did not correlate significantly with land cover type. DO and BAP values within the 200-m buffer zone varied inversely with the percentage of urban-land cover. The stronger correlation between land cover and stream water quality at the 200-m proximity than that of the watershed suggests that the presence of a riparian buffer zone between streams and agricultural and urban areas is a significant factor in reducing contamination from non-point source loading. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies that document changes in long-lived species are valuable in determining how demographic and environmental changes are affecting populations. This study documents apparent declines in Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) populations over the last 20 years in the Allegheny River drainage of New York State. We compared current mark-recapture data to similar data collected in the 1980s at eight sites using a comparable method of capture (rock turning). In addition, we employed several other methods of capture including trapping, bank searching, and night lighting. Despite these extra efforts, the number of Hellbenders captured was less than the number captured historically. Hellbenders were extirpated from a single site and the ecological density (number of individuals per 10 m2 of habitable area) decreased in several other sites relative to the 1980s. Current and historical populations contained more mature adults than juveniles, but we found more Hellbenders <20 cm total length at five sites compared to the 1980s study. The sex ratio changed from predominantly female in the 1980s to predominantly male currently. Eggs in nests were found in both studies, although little is known about egg or larval survival and overall recruitment. Although demographic issues such as reproduction and recruitment may be contributing to Hellbender declines in the Allegheny drainage, these do not appear to have changed drastically from the 1980s. Other possible causes of decline include factors such as land use changes, introduced species, or some other environmental issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the Hunters and Willets Points in New York. It notes the two points are industrial landscapes marked by cycles of use and abandonment and ragged shoreline. It mentions that the New York City Council approved the zoning challenges which allows redevelopment of Willets Points and Hunter Point South. It states that the Willet Point lies at the northern end of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and is the home to World's Fairs in 1939 and 1964. Furthermore, it mentions that the Willets Point's streets and sidewalks will have to be reconstructed above current levels to prevent flooding.

Although many low-income urban areas are highly walkable by conventional measures such as population density or land use mix, chronic diseases related to lack of physical activity are more common among residents of these areas. Disparities in neighborhood conditions may make poor areas less attractive environments for walking, offsetting the advantages of density and land use mix. This study compared poor and nonpoor neighborhoods in New York City, using geographic information systems measures constructed from public data for US census tracts within New York City (N=2,172) as well as field observation of a matched-pair sample of 76 block faces on commercial streets in poor and nonpoor neighborhoods. Poor census tracts had significantly fewer street trees, landmarked buildings, clean streets, and sidewalk cafes, and higher rates of felony complaints, narcotics arrests, and vehicular crashes. The field observation showed similar results. Improving aesthetic and safety conditions in poor neighborhoods may help reduce disparities in physical activity among urban residents.Journal of Public Health Policy (2009) 30, S264–S285. doi:10.1057/jphp.2008.47 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We sought to test whether the association between walkable environments and lower body mass index (BMI) was stronger within disadvantaged groups that may be particularly sensitive to environmental constraints. Methods. We measured height and weight in a diverse sample of 13102 adults living throughout New York City from 2000-2002 Each participant's home address was geocoded and surrounded by a circular buffer with a 1-km radius. The composition and built environment characteristics of these areas were used to predict BMI through the use of generalized estimating equations. Indicators of individual or area disadvantage included low educational attainment, low household income, Black race, and Hisparic ethnicity. Results. Higher population density, more mixed land use, and greater transit access were most consistently associated with a lower BMI among those with more education or higher incomes and among non-Hispanic Whites. Significant interactions were observed for education, income, race, and ethnicity. Conclusions. Contrary to expectations, built environment characteristics were less consistently associated with BMI among disadvantaged groups. This pattern may be explained by other barriers 13 maintaining a healthy weight encountered by disadvantaged groups. {Am J Public Health. 2009;99:279-284. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.138230) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroplastics are a ubiquitous and growing environmental contaminant with impacts in both marine and terrestrial systems. Marine sampling has dominated research in this field, despite the terrestrial origins of most plastic debris. Due to the high surface water connectivity facilitated by roadside ditches, these landscape features provide a unique sampling location linking terrestrial and surface water systems. We collected and analyzed macroplastic accumulation by number of pieces, mass, and polymer type in roadside ditches across four land uses, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. Commercial land use plastic accumulation rate was highest, while forested land use accumulation rates were lowest on a piece basis. Pre-COVID-19 piece accumulation rates were significantly higher than COVID-19 piece accumulation rates across all land uses. Mass accumulation rates followed similar patterns observed in piece accumulation, but the patterns were not always statistically significant. Plastic type 4 (i.e. thin plastic films), especially plastic bags and wrappers, was the most frequently collected type of macroplastic by piece across all land uses within the 1–7 Resin Identification Codes. By mass, the data were distributed less consistently across land uses. Cigarette filters, containing the polymer cellulose acetate, were the most frequently found roadside plastic, but are not within the 1–7 classification system. Our results suggest that policies in place limiting plastic bag usage could substantially reduce roadside plastics but other plastics, such as food wrappers and other single use plastic films, which comprised a large proportion of the plastic debris collected, should also be regulated to further decrease macroplastic pollution. [Display omitted] • Plastic piece accumulation rates across land-uses were higher in the pre-COVID-19 period. • Commercial sites accumulated more plastic pieces than other land-uses. • Plastic type 4 (e.g. bags, wrappers, films) was the most frequent plastic type collected by piece. • Patterns of plastic mass accumulation were less statistically significant than piece-counts. • Cellulose acetate was the most numerous polymer piece found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of water-level (WL) fluctuations on both the structure and functioning of coastal marshes is well documented, and in the past, scientists have demonstrated this by relating historical changes in the areal cover of emergent vegetation (EM) of a particular site to corresponding WL data. This approach of relating areal cover to WL cannot be applied to multiple sites from a region experiencing the same WL because in that instance, WL would be a constant and cannot be used as an explanatory variable for emergent cover. In a previous study of Cootes Paradise Marsh, we proposed the use of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) to examine the effect of WL fluctuations on emergent plant cover over a 60-year period (1934–1993), and found that the inundated area (IA) was a better predictor of emergent cover than WL. However, the transferability of the marsh-inundation model and the related uncertainty has not yet been tested in a distinct geographic region. In the present article, we test the transferability of the model and develop a regional model of vegetation response to validate the DEM-based method. We confirm the existence of a highly significant relationship between percent IA and percent emergent cover over a large spatial scale in Eastern Lake Ontario. Additionally, we showed that this general relationship might be modified by the degree of urbanization in wetland watersheds. Our results suggest that this DEM-based approach is useful for predicting the aggregate response of EM to annual WL fluctuations and is transferable from local to regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stream water exports of nutrients and pollutants to water bodies integrate internal and external watershed processes that vary in both space and time. In this paper, we explore nitrate (NO3) fluxes for the 326 km2 mixed-land use Fall Creek watershed in central New York for 1972–2005, and consider internal factors such as changes in land use/land cover, dynamics in agricultural production and fertilizer use, and external factors such as atmospheric deposition. Segmented regression analysis was applied independently to dormant and growing seasons for three portions of the period of record, which indicated that stream water NO3 concentrations increased in both dormant and growing seasons from the 1970s to the early 1990s at all volumes of streamflow discharge. Dormant season NO3 concentrations then decreased at all flow conditions between the periods 1987–1993 and 1994–2005. Results from a regression-based stream water loading model (LOADEST) normalized to mean annual concentrations showed annual modeled NO3 concentration in stream water increased by 34% during the 1970s and 1980s (from 1.15 to 1.54 mg l−1), peaked in about 1989, and then decreased by 29% through 2005 (to 1.09 mg l−1). Annual precipitation had the strongest correlation with stream water NO3 concentrations ( r = −0.62, P = 0.01). Among land use factors, corn production for grain was the variable most highly correlated to stream water NO3 concentrations ( r = 0.53, P = 0.01). The strongest associative trend determined using Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) was found between stream water NO3 concentrations and N-equivalence of dairy production (Bonferroni adjusted P value = 0.0003). Large increases in dairy production were coincident with declining nitrate concentrations over the past decade, which suggest that dairy management practices may have improved in the watershed. However, because dairy production in the Fall Creek watershed has been fueled by large increases in feed imports, the environmental costs of feed production have likely been externalized to other watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We compared seven small (2-6 km2) upland watersheds located in two land-use categories (logged and unlogged) in the Adirondack Park (New York). Watersheds were considered logged if the lands were managed for timber harvesting, while unlogged watersheds have not been logged for at least 85 years. Riparian litter species composition and biomass were estimated for each stream. In-stream leaves were also sampled to assess invertebrate community assemblages and leaf species composition. Leaf material in logged catchments was composed mainly of litter that decomposes more quickly and is thus of higher quality to the invertebrate consumer (i.e., Acer spp., Populus tremuloides and Fraxinus americana). Leaves in unlogged catchments contained a higher abundance of invertebrates and detritivorous insects throughout the year. The results suggest that alterations to the invertebrate community related to land-use may result in differing energy processing rates in logged Adirondack watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the implications of casinos and racinos on land use control by local governments in the New York. It defines the types of existing casinos in the state and how they are created. It also discusses how the U.S. Supreme Court case and subsequent federal district court cases may change the backdrop of implications of land use controls for some types of casinos. In addition, it offers case studies of two municipalities, the City of Niagara Falls, which has an Indian casino within its borders, and the City of Saratoga Springs, which houses a racino.

The article discusses an 1877 legal case of eminent domain between the city of New York and Anna Bishop and her sons DeForest and Frank of the town of Olive, Esopus Valley in Catskills Mountains. The city acquired the land to build water reservoirs to supply the growing city of New York. According to the legal arguments of the city of New York, the Bishop's land had no value while according to the legal arguments of the Bishop family the land was everything to them.

This article discusses the influence of Quaker education on the Allegany Seneca Indian Reservation in western New York during the 1800s. Between 1816 and 1822, Quaker educator Joseph Elkinton was subject to debate when he formed a school on the reservation. Elkinton's teachings caused a divide among the Seneca chiefs, where several had advocated education while others felt that the school invaded the sacred spirit of the tribe's land. The school was eventually moved outside of the reservation limits to Tunessassa.

The article discusses the eminent domain issues that have emerged from the proposal by real estate developer Bruce C. Ratner to construct a basketball arena along with a commercial and residential complex in Brooklyn's Atlantic Yards. The eminent domain issues have risen because the proposal requires the condemnation of private property to be used by a private property. An overview of eminent domain law in New York is presented.

The article reports on the ruling of the New York Supreme Court on the case, Penn Central Transportation Co. v. City of New York, that the economic impact of the regulation on the claimant and, particularly, the extent to which the regulation has interfered with distinct investment-backed expectations are, of course, relevant considerations. The Court established a three-part inquiry for determining when land use regulation goes too far and caused a taking private property in violation of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Court repeatedly indicated that the inquiry into investment-backed expectations, and especially the reasonableness of those expectations, goes far toward determining whether fairness requires the government to compensate for the effects of a land use regulation.

Climate, topography and soils drive many patterns of plant distribution and abundance across landscapes, but current plant communities may also reflect a legacy of past disturbance such as agricultural land use. To assess the relative influences of environmental conditions and disturbance history on vegetation, it is important to understand how these forces interact. This study relates the geographical distribution of land uses to variation in topography and soils; evaluates the consequences of land-use decisions for current forests; and examines the effects of agricultural land use on the chemical properties of forest soils.Tompkins County occupies 1250 km2 in central New York's Finger Lakes region. Like much of eastern North America, this area underwent forest clearance for agriculture during the 1800s and widespread field abandonment and forest recovery during the 1900s. The current landscape consists of a patchwork of forests that were never cleared, forests that developed on old fields and active agricultural lands.We investigated relationships among topography, soils and land-use decisions by gathering information about land-use history, slope, aspect, elevation, soil lime content, soil drainage and accessibility in a geographic information system (GIS). To assess the effects of agriculture on forest soil chemistry, we measured pH, organic matter content and extractable nutrient concentrations in field-collected soil samples from 47 post-agricultural and uncleared forests.Steeper slopes, less accessible lands and lower-lime soils tended to remain forested, and farmers were more likely to abandon fields that were steeper, farther from roads, lower in lime and more poorly drained. Slope had by far the greatest impact on patterns of clearance and abandonment, and accessibility had a surprisingly strong influence on the distribution of land uses. The effects of other factors varied more, depending for example on location within the county. Current forest types differed accordingly in topography and soil attributes, particularly slope, but they also showed much overlap. Post-agricultural and uncleared forest soils had similar chemical properties. Forests on lands abandoned from agriculture 80–100 years before had slightly higher pH and nutrient concentrations than adjacent, uncleared forests, but these changes were small compared to environmental variation across the county.Despite differential use of lands according to their topography and soils, the substantial influence of accessibility and the relatively small scale of land-use decisions allowed for broad similarity among forest types. Thus, the topography and soil differences created by land-use decisions probably contribute little to landscape-level patterns of diversity. Subtle changes in forest soil chemistry left from past agriculture may nevertheless affect plant distribution and abundance at finer scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil nutrient pools and nitrogen dynamics in old-growth forests were compared with selectively logged stands and stands that were selectively logged and then burned approximately 100 years ago to test the hypothesis that land-use history exerts persistent controls on nutrient capital and nitrogen (N) transformation rates. We provide estimates of net N mineralization and nitrification rates for old-growth forests from the northeastern United States, a region in which few old-growth forests remain and for which few published accounts of mineralization rates exist. At the plot level, no effects of the dominant tree species were observed on any measured soil properties or N-cycling rates. Effects of alternate disturbance histories were detected in soil carbon (C) and N pools. Old-growth forest soils had higher total C (67 Mg·ha-1) and N capital (3.3 Mg·ha-1) than that of historically logged then burned soils (C = 50 Mg·ha-1 and N = Mg·ha-1), with intermediate values (C = 54 Mg·ha-1 and N = 2.7 Mg·ha-1) in the stands that were historically logged. Despite these differences in C and N content, corresponding differences in C–N ratio, net N mineralization rates, and net nitrification rates were not observed. The N concentration in the green foliage of American beech trees (Fagus grandifolia) was also highest from canopy trees growing in old-growth stands (3.0%), followed by logged stands (2.6%), and lowest in the logged/burned stands (2.2%). These data suggest that some legacies of light harvesting on ecosystem processes may be detected nearly 100 years following the disturbance event. These results are discussed in the context of how multiple forest disturbances act in concert to affect forest dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the decision of New York courts on the adoption of the Ramapo plan for land use management based on the home rule tradition of the state. Discussion of the promotion of smart growth in the state; Suggestion for the Hudson River Valley Greenway planning effort.

Deals with the variety of roles of the comprehensive plan for the Town of Ramapo, New York City in land use regulation. Discussion of the origin and effects of the Unitary approach and land use regulation; Examination of the changes made in the Unitary approach through state legislation; Union of the structural and procedural with the substantive elements of planning and land use regulation.

Focuses on the ruling of the New York City Appellate Court on the case regarding land use between Ruth Golden and the Planning Board of Town of Ramapo, New York City. Background for the adoption of the Ramapo ordinance; Description of other local inventions emanating from the Ramapo approach to smart growth; Reflection on the report 'Quiet Revolution,' prepared for the Council of Environmental Quality in 1971.

The use of riparian land buffers to protect water quality for human consumption and wildlife habitat has become an important conservation tool of both government and non-government agencies. The funds available to acquire private lands for riparian buffers are limited, however, and not all land contributes to water quality goals in the same way. Conservation agencies must therefore identify effective ways to allocate their scarce budgets in heterogeneous landscapes. We demonstrate how the acquisition of land for a riparian buffer can be viewed as a binary optimization problem and we apply the resulting model to a case study in New York. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on a study about privately owned public spaces in New York City. "The New York City Privately Owned Public Space Project," aims to define and evaluate public spaces built under zoning provisions since 1961. The researchers identified 503 spaces at 320 buildings, and made field visits to evaluate the compliance of these spaces to their corresponding legal agreements. The project also made an assessment of the utility of the spaces. It was found out that only 16 percent of these have become significant neighborhood facilities and more than 40 percent were of little value. The research was published in the book "Privately Owned Public Space: The New York City Experience." Photographs of these spaces and jury comments on the research were also discussed.

The location of noxious uses and the pollution they generate have ramifications for global public health and equity; these uses have been concentrated in the world's poorer places as well as in poorer places within more affluent countries. Planners, policymakers, and public health professionals must collaborate on a worldwide basis to address these equity, health, and land use planning problems. (Am d Public Health. 2001;91: 1033-1041) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the influence of future land development on current agricultural land values. From a theoretical model of land markets, we derive a reduced-form expression for agricultural land values in terms of observable variables. This result dictates the specification of our econometric model and we find strong support for the model in an application to New York State. The estimated model, together with a spatial interpolation algorithm, is used to generate a surface of estimated development rights values for Orange County. This approach overcomes several problems that arise with the use of standard appraisal methods to value conservation easements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the role of Free Exercise principles in resolving a religious land use dispute in New York City. Overview of Free Exercise jurisprudence; Problems with land use regulation; Facts and reasoning of the Second Circuit's rulings in the LeBlanc-Sternberg v. Fletcher controversy.

This article examines the conceptual and informational problems associated with generating use-value estimates of agricultural land in New York. Issues surrounding agricultural land prices and farmland valuation have captured the attention of students of resource use for a number of years. Although a number of factors contribute to increased prices, development patterns and economic growth are among the most important. Improvements in transportation, rising incomes and a preference for single-family dwellings, for example, have contributed to horizontal development patterns, urban sprawl and increased competition for land at the rural-urban fringe. Although researcher Zeimetz et al. argue that urbanization has not greatly encouraged upon the total supply of land for crops, increases in agricultural land value have preceded much of this urbanization. To complicate the situation, part of the rise in agricultural land value is caused by instability in agricultural prices and general inflation. Through farm-to-farm sales of land and the investment in machinery, high prices have been capitalized in good years, establishing, by a ratchet effect, a floor under costs which could be difficult to live with in future years. These trends have posed problems for the administration of the real property tax.

Presents information on a study which examined the impact of land use control systems on land market values, in reference to the Adirondack Park Land Use and Development Plan. Methodology; Results of the study.

Examines the farmland preservation program at Suffolk County, New York. Insight on land use at Suffolk County; Failure of use-value assessment to limit development; Justification for the program of Suffolk County.