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		The Nature Conservancy in New York New York Home Contact Us Places We Protect   Adirondacks   Central & Western   Eastern   Long Island   New York City News Room Field Trips and Events Young Professionals Internship Program Science Volunteer Ways of Giving

Get Involved Your donation will support the Eastern New York Chapter's work in the Hudson River Estuary and across the chapter. Rising Waters Rising Waters is a collaborative effort designed to develop adaptive strategies to protect the Hudson Valley's environment, economy and quality of life from threats associated with climate change. Go Deeper Help the Hudson The Hudson River Estuary is a special place. Find out how we're battling climate change, invasive species, and unchecked development - and get involved. Reduce Your Impact You can make a difference! Discover helpful tips for reducing your personal carbon emissions. Feeling the Heat Climate change is already beginning to transform life on Earth. Find out how it's going to impact places you care about. Contact Us Katie Dolan Executive Director, Eastern New York kdolan@tnc.org

While the effects of climate change on different interests will vary, the root problems remain the same, and solutions that help one interest can be designed to benefit many. Presently, the Rising Waters project is evaluating proposed ideas for adapting the Hudson River Estuary Watershed to the expected impacts of climate change. 

You can be part of the process and the solution.  We have created short surveys for each of the proposed response options presently under consideration. Each survey takes only two or three minutes to complete. We also encourage you to share links to the surveys with others you know who might have an interest in providing feedback.

Take a Survey

To complete a survey, select a category below. The numbers associated with each survey are unique identifiers that correspond back to the master survey list. If you choose to complete surveys during more than one on-line session, you can use the numbers to keep track of those surveys you have completed and those that you have not yet answered.

(Note: Some surveys apply to more than one category and are listed in all applicable categories. Please answer each survey only once.)

• Residential
• Commercial
• Infrastructure and Industrial
• Wetlands
• Shorelines
• Riparian
• Forests
• Agriculture
• Design, Engineering and Construction
• Government
• Insurance
• Emergency Response
• Restoration, Planning and Monitoring
• New Technology
• Conservation
• Communication, Outreach and Education
• Cultural Change
• Energy and Transportation

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RESIDENTIAL:

• Response Option #2: Change requirements for all new stormwater permits 
• Response Option #3: Require flood impact assessments and mitigation plans prior to any development
• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #15: Enact zoning ordinances that restrict development in the floodplain
• Response Option #51: Undertake ‘urban-area greening programs’ in response to more heatwaves
• Response Option #65: Become a "StormReady" community (click here for more info)
• Response Option #66: Convene open, regularly scheduled meetings for joint adaptation planning
• Response Option #73: Install distributed stormwater systems (rain gardens, etc.) 
• Response Option #77: Require surface permeablility for all open surfaces

Back to the list >>

COMMERCIAL: 

• Response Option #2: Change requirements for all new stormwater permits
• Response Option #3: Require flood impact assessments and mitigation plans prior to any development
• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers 
• Response Option #15: Enact zoning ordinances that restrict development in the floodplain 
• Response Option #51: Undertake ‘urban-area greening programs’ in response to more heatwaves
• Response Option #65: Become a "StormReady" community (click here for more info)
• Response Option #73: Install distributed stormwater systems (rain gardens, etc.)
• Response Option #77: Require surface permeablility for all open surfaces

Back to the list >>

INFRASTRUCTURE AND INDUSTRIAL: 

• Response Option #2: Change requirements for all new stormwater permits
• Response Option #3: Require flood impact assessments and mitigation plans prior to any development
• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #15: Enact zoning ordinances that restrict development in the floodplain
• Response Option #41: Pass $5 billion NYS Green Bond Act in 2009
• Response Option #77: Require surface permeablility for all open surfaces

Back to the list >>

WETLANDS:

• Response Option #3: Require flood impact assessments and mitigation plans prior to any development
• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #15: Enact zoning ordinances that restrict development in the floodplain
• Response Option #40: Create $50 million fund to restore, reconnect, and protect riparian corridors
• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains 

Back to the list >>

SHORELINES:

• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #15: Enact zoning ordinances that restrict development in the floodplain
• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains 

Back to the list >>

RIPARIAN:

• Response Option #2: Change requirements for all new stormwater permits
• Response Option #3: Require flood impact assessments and mitigation plans prior to any development
• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #15: Enact zoning ordinances that restrict development in the floodplain
• Response Option #40: Create $50 million fund to restore, reconnect, and protect riparian corridors
• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains 

Back to the list >>

FORESTS:

• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains

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AGRICULTURE:

• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains 

Back to the list >>

DESIGN, ENGINEERING and CONSTRUCTION:

• Response Option #2: Change requirements for all new stormwater permits
• Response Option #3: Require flood impact assessments and mitigation plans prior to any development
• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #40: Create $50 million fund to restore, reconnect, and protect riparian corridors
• Response Option #41: Pass $5 billion NYS Green Bond Act in 2009
• Response Option #45: Have state require and fund master flood protection plans by local governments
• Response Option #51: Undertake ‘urban-area greening programs’ in response to more heatwaves
• Response Option #65: Become a "StormReady" community (click here for more info)
• Response Option #73: Install distributed stormwater systems (rain gardens, etc.)
• Response Option #77: Require surface permeablility for all open surfaces

Back to the list >>

GOVERNMENT:

• Response Option #2: Change requirements for all new stormwater permits
• Response Option #3: Require flood impact assessments and mitigation plans prior to any development
• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #15: Enact zoning ordinances that restrict development in the floodplain 
• Response Option #40: Create $50 million fund to restore, reconnect, and protect riparian corridors
• Response Option #41: Pass $5 billion NYS Green Bond Act in 2009
• Response Option #45: Have state require and fund master flood protection plans by local governments
• Response Option #56: Require all health and social care facilities to have a ‘cool room’
• Response Option #60: Develop emergency action plans with NYS EMO and local communities
• Response Option #61: Get local governments to work w/NYSEMO toward regional hazard/disaster mitigation plan
• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains
• Response Option #65: Become a "StormReady" community (click here for more info)
• Response Option #70: Develop local plans for alerting people of heatwave forecasts, and what to do
• Response Option #73: Install distributed stormwater systems (rain gardens, etc.)
• Response Option #77: Require surface permeablility for all open surfaces

Back to the list >>

INSURANCE:

• Response Option #12: Increase riparian setbacks and buffers
• Response Option #60: Develop emergency action plans with NYS EMO and local communities
• Response Option #61: Get local governments to work w/NYSEMO toward regional hazard/disaster mitigation plan

Back to the list >>

EMERGENCY RESPONSE:

• Response Option #30: Use LIDAR technology to improve on existing FEMA maps
• Response Option #56: Require all health and social care facilities to have a ‘cool room’
• Response Option #60: Develop emergency action plans with NYS EMO and local communities
• Response Option #61: Get local governments to work w/NYSEMO toward regional hazard/disaster mitigation plan
• Response Option #65: Become a "StormReady" community (click here for more info)
• Response Option #70: Develop local plans for alerting people of heatwave forecasts, and what to do

Back to the list >>

RESTORATION, PLANNING and MONITORING:

• Response Option #30: Use LIDAR technology to improve on existing FEMA maps
• Response Option #45: Have state require and fund master flood protection plans by local governments
• Response Option #58: Conduct community outreach campaigns on the local threats posed by climate change
• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains
• Response Option #70: Develop local plans for alerting people of heatwave forecasts, and what to do 

Back to the list >>

NEW TECHNOLOGY:

• Response Option #30: Use LIDAR technology to improve on existing FEMA maps
• Response Option #41: Pass $5 billion NYS Green Bond Act in 2009
• Response Option #77: Require surface permeablility for all open surfaces 

Back to the list >>

CONSERVATION:

• Response Option #40: Create $50 million fund to restore, reconnect, and protect riparian corridors
• Response Option #63: Develop longterm property acquisition and easement plans to conserve floodplains
• Response Option #64: Begin intensive program to revegetate banks & restore streams to natural state

Back to the list >>

COMMUNICATION, OUTREACH and EDUCATION

• Response Option #58: Conduct community outreach campaigns on the local threats posed by climate change 
• Response Option #60: Develop emergency action plans with NYS EMO and local communities
• Response Option #61: Get local governments to work w/NYSEMO toward regional hazard/disaster mitigation plan
• Response Option #65: Become a "StormReady" community (click here for more info)
• Response Option #70: Develop local plans for alerting people of heatwave forecasts, and what to do
• Response Option #73: Install distributed stormwater systems (rain gardens, etc.)
• Response Option #80: Hold neighborhood meetings to "listen" to local adaptation needs

Back to the list >>

CULTURAL CHANGE

• Response Option #51: Undertake ‘urban-area greening programs’ in response to more heatwaves
• Response Option #58: Conduct community outreach campaigns on the local threats posed by climate change
• Response Option #60: Develop emergency action plans with NYS EMO and local communities 
• Response Option #73: Install distributed stormwater systems (rain gardens, etc.) 
• Response Option #77: Require surface permeablility for all open surfaces 
• Response Option #80: Hold neighborhood meetings to "listen" to local adaptation needs

Back to the list >>

ENERGY & TRANSPORTATION

• Response Option #41: Pass $5 billion NYS Green Bond Act in 2009
• Response Option #70: Develop local plans for alerting people of heatwave forecasts, and what to do

Back to the list >>

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © Doug Schneider/istockphoto (Hudson River at sunset); Photo © Mark Godfrey/TNC (scientists).