Stream Corridor Regulations
Through the review process in Albany, the Commission was required to separate out its stream corridor/buffer protection standards into a separate regulatory package. This was necessary to meet the intent of NYS ECL Article 43 (the Lake George Law). The benefits of stream buffers and the science behind these protections were discussed at length during the stormwater regulatory process, prior to these regulations being separated out from the stormwater regulations.
The Commission’s draft stream corridor protection regulations are now available to the public on the LGPC website homepage. The public comment period regarding the Commission’s proposed Stream Corridor regulations was open October 28th, 2020 until January 18th, 2021.
A public hearing on these proposed stream corridor regulations was held Tuesday, January 12th, 2021.
Click here to view the Assessment of Public Comment
In summary, the Commission’s proposed stream corridor protections also mirror our previously discussed standards as follows:
1. 35 foot stream buffer protection/clearing standards, applying to DEC regulated streams
2. Standards for stream crossings/culverts that mirror existing updated DEC permit conditions
Public Hearing Documents
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Assessment of Public Comment - Proposed Stream Corridor Regulations
This document is divided into two parts for clarity:
1. Written comments submitted by the public
2. The full transcript of the Stream Corridor Public Hearing on 1/12/2021The public comment period for the LGPC stream corridor management regulations was open from October 28, 2020 through January 18, 2021. This document includes all comments and questions submitted to date, responses to those questions, and the official transcript of the 1/12/2021 public hearing on the proposed stormwater regulations.
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Stream Corridor Scientific Literature
These peer reviewed scientific papers helped the Commission draft the new stream corridor regulations.
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Buffler 2005
Synthesis of Design Guidelines and Experimental Data for Water Quality Function in Agricultural Landscapes in the Intermountain West
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Ellis, 2008
Scientific Recommendations on the Size of Stream Vegetated Buffers Needed to Protect Water Quality, Part One, The Need for Stream Vegetated Buffers: What Does the Science Say?
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Liu et al, 2008
Major Factors Influencing the Efficacy of Vegetated Buffers on Sediment Trapping: A Review and Analysis
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Yuan et al 2009
A review of effectiveness of vegetative buffers on sediment trapping in agricultural areas.
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Zhang et al, 2010
A Review of Vegetated Buffers and a Meta-analysis of Their Mitigation Efficacy in Reducing Nonpoint Source Pollution
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