What's happening
This bill designates Swamp River, Tenmile River, and Fishkill Creek as inland waterways for waterfront revitalization in New York.
Why it matters
Expanding eligibility for state and federal waterfront funding. By designating Swamp River, Tenmile River, and Fishkill Creek as inland waterways, local governments and organizations along these rivers/creeks can now apply for grants and technical assistance aimed at waterfront revitalization, which were previously unavailable to them.
Potential for economic development and environmental restoration. The new designations can attract investment for projects such as park improvements, public access, restoration of natural habitats, and responsible tourism, potentially boosting local economies and enhancing community well-being.
Increased local planning authority. Municipalities along these newly designated waterways will have greater leverage to develop Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs (LWRPs), giving them more say in how waterfront areas are managed and protected.
Recognition of regional significance. By amending the law to include these specific rivers and creeks, the state acknowledges their ecological, recreational, and cultural importance, which can raise their profile and encourage stewardship among residents and policymakers.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Local Rivers and Creeks
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1554
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to rules
- Referred to finance
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
Show 6 earlier actions
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.1268
- Print number 4244a
- Amend (t) and recommit to finance
- 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 Rivers to Waterway List
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Didi Barrett
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4244--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to designating Swamp river, Tenmile river and Fishkill creek as inland waterways for the purposes of waterfront revitalization
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 4 of section 911 of the executive law, as separately amended by chapters 113 and 216 of the laws of 2016, and paragraph (c) as further separately amended by chapters 126, 154, 157, 175, 176, 214, 217 and 227 of the laws of 2016, are amended to read as follows:
(b) the state's major rivers comprised of the Allegheny, Ausable, Battenkill, Black, Boquet, Bronx, Canisteo, Chaumont (including Chaumont bay), Chemung, Cohocton, Delaware, Deer, Genesee, Grasse, Great Chazy, Hoosic, Hudson north of the federal dam at Troy, Indian, Little (in the Adirondack park), Little Ausable, Little Salmon (including north and south branches), Mad, Mettowee, Mohawk, Oswegatchie, Pocantico, Racquette, Sacandaga, Salmon, Saranac, Saw Mill, Schroon, Susquehanna, Swamp, Tenmile (in the county of Dutchess), Tioga, Tioughnioga, Wallkill and Buffalo rivers, and the north and middle branches of the Moose river;
(c) the state's major creeks comprised of the 18 Mile Creek located in Erie county, Bash Bish located in Columbia county, Basher Kill, Bushkill, Cattaraugus, Cincinnati, East Kill, Esopus (including upper and lower branches), Fish (including east and west branches), Fishkill, 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09616-02-7
S. 4244--A 2
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.
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 Swamp river, Tenmile river and Fishkill creek as inland waterways for the purposes of waterfront revitalization
Purpose
Designates the Swamp River, Tenmile River and Fishkill Creek as inland waterways for purposes of waterfront revitalization.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends paragraphs (b) and (c) of subdivision 4 of section 911 of the executive law, regarding the definition of "inland waterways", by adding the Swamp river, Tenmile (in the county of Dutchess) river and Fishkill creek.
Section two establishes the effective date.
Justification
The Great Swamp is one of New York's greatest natural resources, a National Historic Landmark and a Critical Environmental Area designated by the Department of Environmental Conservation. It drains 63,000 acres and spans two watersheds, divided in the town of Pawling into a north and south flow.
Northward in the Tenmile River Watershed, the Great Swamp empties via the Swamp River, which soon becomes the Tenmile River and crosses into Connecticut where it joins the Housatonic River and eventually empties southward into the Long Island Sound.
The southern flow of the Swamp River, located in the East Branch Croton Watershed, becomes the East Branch of the Croton River, which heads through Putnam County in Patterson and South East where it empties into the East Branch of the Croton Reservoir, making it an important part of New York City's Croton Reservoir System.
DEC's Waterbody Inventory/Priority Waterbodies List classifies the lower Swamp River as impaired and aquatic life is thought to experience minor impacts due to nutrient enrichment from agricultural activities and other nonpoint pollution sources.
As the headwaters of New York City's drinking water system, it is imperative that these rivers be designated as inland waterways to ensure their protection and best management practices. The Great Swamp and Swamp River are also part of the Harlem Valley groundwater system. By aligning their use with the State's Coastal and Inland Waterway Policies, the municipalities in the watershed will be able to pursue our shared goals of improved water quality, preservation of open space and wildlife habitat, promotion of tourism and economic development opportunities, as well as combating threats to the Great Swamp such as pollution, stormwater run-off and invasive species.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None of the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.