What's happening
This bill adds Kinderhook Creek in Columbia and Rensselaer counties to New York’s designated inland waterway system.
Why it matters
Expanding the designated inland waterway system to include Kinderhook Creek means towns along the creek become eligible for state funding and technical assistance for waterway-related revitalization projects, such as waterfront parks, trails, and environmental restoration.
This designation could increase local tourism and recreational opportunities, as communities may invest more in public access, signage, and amenities along Kinderhook Creek.
Environmental protections and planning resources from the state may become more accessible, potentially improving water quality and habitat for wildlife in the Kinderhook Creek watershed.
Local governments in Columbia and Rensselaer counties could see increased leverage when applying for grants or coordinating regional development efforts linked to the creek’s economic, recreational, and ecological value.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Kinderhook Creek Waterway
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A2980
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1039
- Referred to finance
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Add Kinderhook Creek Waterway
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Steven McLaughlin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1125
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MARCHIONE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to designating the Kinderhook Creek as part of the inland waterway system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 4 of section 911 of the executive law, as separately amended by chapters 113, 126, 154, 157, 175, 176, 214, 216, 217 and 227 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
(c) the state's major creeks comprised of the 18 Mile Creek located in Erie county, Bash Bish and Kinderhook Creek located in Columbia county, Kinderhook Creek located in Rensselaer county, Basher Kill, Bushkill, Cattaraugus, Cincinnati, East Kill, Esopus (including upper and lower branches), Fish (including east and west branches), Gooseberry, Little Sandy, Onondaga, Roeliff Jansen Kill, Rondout, Sandy, Schoharie, Shawangunk Kill, South Sandy, Oatka, Tonawanda, West Kill, Scajaquada, Wappinger, Black Creek located in Monroe county, Black Creek located in Genesee and Wyoming counties, Ellicott Creek located in Erie county and Wynantskill, Claverack, Taghkanic and Agawamuck and Wyomanock;
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06763-02-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to designating the Kinderhook Creek as part of the inland waterway system
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 adds Kinderhook Creek to the list of inland waterways.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
Kinderhook Creek originates in Hancock, Massachusetts and flows for 49 miles before meeting Claverack Creek, with which it forms Stockport Creek, an inlet of the Hudson River. Along the way, it flows through the Taconic Mountains, Rensselaer County, and Columbia County, including seven towns - Stephentown, New Lebanon, Nassau, Chatham, Kinderhook, Stuyvesant, and Spockport - as well as three villages - East Nassau, Valatie, and Kinderhook. The total length of the Creek within the State of New York - from the Massachusetts state line to Stockport Creek - is 46 miles.
Kinderhook Creek has been a location of historic development dating back to before European colonization, and has since been established as an important location for commerce and agriculture. The home of the 8th President of the United States, Martin van Buren, is located adjacent to the creek within the Town of Kinderhook. The importance of the Creek on the localities extends not only to potential economic benefits, but would also allow for increased environmental and historic preservation of the Creek.
Designating the Kinderhook as an inland waterway would allow the municipalities listed above - and the Van Buren historic site - to apply for grants though the Local Waterfront Revitalization Program. These grants will help in local plans to implement local waterfront revitalization programs to foster the beneficial use of the waterfront and to protect and preserve the health and quality of the Kinderhook for the residents of the areas surrounding it as well as the State of New York as a whole.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.