NYSG provided climate resiliency training to local government representatives to enhance their land-use planning and management. Credit: NYSG/M. Austerman

Contact:

Mary Austerman, NYSG Great Lakes Coastal Community Specialist, E: mp357@cornell.edu, P: (315) 234-1160

Newark, NY, March 25, 2024 - Local government training focused on climate resilience, land use planning, and floodplain management is crucial as it empowers communities to mitigate environmental risks, fostering long-term sustainability and resilience, especially in light of the escalating impacts of climate change.

New York’s Great Lakes region faces climate threats, including increased risk of extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, temperature fluctuations affecting lake ecosystems, and potential impacts on water levels, and ice cover. In recent years Lakes Erie and Ontario have experienced record high water levels that resulted in catastrophic flooding along their shorelines, exposing community vulnerabilities.

New York’s Great Lakes region faces climate threats, including increased risk of extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns, temperature fluctuations affecting lake ecosystems, and potential impacts on water levels, and ice cover. In recent years Lakes Erie and Ontario have experienced record high water levels that resulted in catastrophic flooding along their shorelines, exposing community vulnerabilities.

From 2017 to 2023, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) established a timely climate-resiliency training initiative in the Great Lakes region. Recognizing the imminent threats posed by climate change, the organization designed a series of training events tailored specifically for local government officials. Focused on climate resilience, land use planning, and floodplain administration, these events addressed the critical need for informed decision-making in the face of environmental challenges.

With partners, NYSG coordinated and held 10 events, reaching more than 400 individuals, each representing more than 50 municipalities from 15 different counties. Participants were engaged in hands-on workshops and immersive training sessions and gained tangible experience with the latest strategies and best practices. NYSG fostered an environment for collaboration to thrive, connecting leaders with a shared commitment to safeguarding their communities.

These innovative training events led by NYSG were dynamic experiences that equipped officials with practical tools to navigate the complexities of climate adaptation.



Project Partners: 

• Central New York Regional Planning and Development Council 
• Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy 
• Environmental Finance Center at Syracuse University 
• Erie County Planning 
• Finger Lakes-Lake Ontario Watershed Protection Alliance 
• Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council 
• Lake Erie Watershed Protection Alliance 
• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation 
• NYS Department of State 
• Tug Hill Commission


More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Oswego, the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark, and in Watertown. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County on Long Island, in Queens, at Brooklyn College, with Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC, in Bronx, with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County in Kingston, and with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County in Elmsford.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly.