Here is a selection of educational resources for landowners. Explore this collection to learn more about voluntary land protection agreements (technically known as "Conservation Easements"), conservation land sales, and conservation practices that can improvement private property. 

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This collection will grow over time, so be sure to check back later for more!

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Workshop Recordings
Residential Landowner Conservation Practices Workshop (12/2/20)
Agricultural Landowner Conservation Practices Workshop (12/9/20)
 

General Water Quality Information

 

• US Environmental Protection Agency: Safe Drinking Water Act

• Upper Hudson River Watershed Coalition Priority Issues Report 

• Wetlands Guide (US Army Corps of Engineers)

• Statewide Water Resources Management Program (NYS Association of Regional Councils) 

Best Management Practices for Water Quality

 

• Watershed Training Program (US Environmental Protection Agency)

• Source Water Protection Common Considerations (USEPA)

• After the Storm: A Citizen's Guide to Understanding Stormwater (USEPA)

• Basic Information about Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution​ (USEPA)

• The Solution to Stormwater Pollution (USEPA) 

• Septic Systems and Surface Water​ (USEPA)

• ​Septic System Improvements to Protect Nearby Water Sources​ (USEPA)

• Landscaping for Water Quality (Cornell Cooperative Extension) 

• Soil Contaminants and Best Practices for Healthy Gardens (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• What Plants Do I Choose? (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Plants for New York Stream sides: (Cornell Cooperative Extension) 

• Woody Shrubs for Stormwater Retention (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Woody Plants Database (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Native Flowers for Gardening and Landscaping (NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation)

• Native Plants Database (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)

• Rain Gardens (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Audubon Native Plants to Attract Birds Database

• NY Invasive Species Information (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation)

• Capital Regional Partnership for Invasive Species Management (PRISM)

• Managing Invasive Plants in Riparian Areas guide (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation)

• How to Build a Rain Barrel (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Downspout Diverters (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Forestry Best Management Practices for Water Quality (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation) 

• Woodlot Management (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Woodlot Resources (NY Forest Owners Association)

• Looking Into Your Woodlot (Cornell Cooperative Extension and NY Forest Owners Association)

• Hudson River Sustainable Shoreline (Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program, and Stevens Institute of Technology

• Shoreline Stabilization Techniques (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation) 

• Stream Buffers Fact Sheet (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation)

• Buffer in a Bag Program (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation provides property owners with at least 50ft. of shoreline along a waterbody with free trees and shrubs)

• Trees for Tributaries Program (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation offers grants to organizations and municipalities looking to undertake streamside plantings

• Trees for Tribs Fact Sheet (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation)

• Tree Planting and Maintenance Guide (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation)

• Homeowners Guide for Safe, Beautiful, and Healthy Trees (US Forest Service) 

• Pruning: An Illustrative Guide to Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program

• Soil Testing (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

• Organic Pest Management (Cornell Cooperative Extension) 

• Cornell Pesticide Guidelines for Managing Pests Around the Home

• Road Salts and De-Icers (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

 

Agriculture-Specific Best Management Practices 

• Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff (USEPA)

• National Management Measures to Control Nonpoint Source Pollution from Agriculture​ (USEPA)

• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

• Capital Area Agriculture and Horticulture Program (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

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Agriculture Water Quality Assistance Programs  

 

Natural Resource Conservation Service 

A US Department of Agriculture agency that works with farmers, ranchers and foresters on conservation practices to benefit the soil, water, air, and wildlife.
 

Farm Service Agency

An USDA agency that provides programs and services that support the economic stability of American farmers, ranchers and rural landowner.

 

Additional Contacts:

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Rensselaer County Soil & Water Conservation District

 

Conservation District Technician

Rensselaer County Soil & Water Conservation District
Department of Agriculture & Life Sciences Building
61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180

www.RenscoSoilandStormwater.org

Office: (518) 271-1740 Extension 3

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​USDA ​Natural Resource Conservation Service​

 

​Diana Stanton
District Conservationist
Natural Resource Conservation Service​

Department of Agriculture & Life Sciences Building
61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180
Office:  (518) 271-1740 ext. 3
Mobile:  (518) 598-2344

www.nrcs.usda.gov

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension​ - Rensselaer County​

Association Regional Issue Educator
CCE Rensselaer County
61 State Street
Troy, NY 12180
Phone: 518-272-4210
 

Association Regional Issue Educator
CCE Washington County
415 Lower Main Street
Hudson Falls, NY 12839
Phone: 518-746-2560
 

 

• CCE Rensselaer website

• CCE Rensselaer on Facebook

• CCE Rensselaer YouTube Channel

 

Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM)

Invasive Species Coordinator
Capital Region PRISM
Cornell Cooperative Extension - Saratoga County
50 West High St.  

Ballston Spa, NY 12020

518-885-8995

Mobile: 518-321-0189 

www.capitalregionprism.org

 

USDA Farm Service Agency

County Executive Director

​Rensselaer County Farm Service Agency​

​61 State St​

​Troy, NY 12180-3412

(518) 271-1889
 

 

​New York State Floodplain and Stormwater Managers Association​

Certified Floodplain Manager

Association of State Floodplain Managers

PO Box 1785
Schenectady, NY 12301

518-707-6516

https://nyfloods.org/

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