Scenic Hudson

Scenic Hudson is a land trust in New York that promotes environmental health, economic growth, and community awareness.^[1]

History

Scenic Hudson was founded by the original group Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference on November 8, 1963. The community came together in order to save Storm King Mountain from turning into the world's largest pumped-storage hydroelectric plant. After Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference v. Federal Power Commission, Scenic Hudson saved the mountain, with over 20,000 people in support. The case also became the cornerstone of U.S.A’s federal environmental law.^[2]

After the Storm King Mountain cause, Scenic Hudson gained more visibility. Local communities began to seek environmental guidance from the land trust.

Scenic Hudson adopted three principles:^[3]

1. Outstanding quality of life is achievable only when a clean, healthy environment is a key component of economic development.
2. All citizens have a right to outstanding quality of life, including access to our Hudson River, to open space and to participate in community decision-making.
3. Our natural environment is an irreplaceable source of spiritual and artistic vitality and must be preserved forever.

Current projects

Hiking trails at Black Creek Preserve, one of Scenic Hudson's parks, in Esopus

The organization is currently working on a variety of projects in three distinct areas of work, all over Hudson Valley.

Land preservation

Scenic Hudson preserves land in the Hudson Valley by creating parks, preserving farmland, working with private landowners, and also partnering with other local organizations. In partnership with The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Scenic Hudson has protected over 31,000 acres in nine counties in the Hudson Valley. Scenic Hudson also uses conservation easements, which restrict property development, to protect land.^[4]

Partners

• Audubon New York
• Columbia Land Conservancy
• Dutchess Land Conservancy
• Esopus Creek Conservancy
• Greene Land Trust
• The Highlands Coalition
• Hudson Highlands Land Trust
• Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy
• The Nature Conservancy, Eastern New York Chapter
• New York-New Jersey Trail Conference
• Open Space Institute

Riverfront communities

Scenic Hudson works with other environmental organizations to improve the water quality of the Hudson River as well as revitalize the Hudson River Waterfront. They are currently working with the Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance to enhance the waterfront as well as solutions to urban sprawl in the region. Currently, Scenic Hudson is working with the Hudson Valley Smart Growth Alliance (HVSGA).

Public policy

Scenic Hudson does public policy and advocacy work with government agencies in the Hudson Valley. They have helped establish many environmental initiatives including the Hudson River Estuary Program, the Coastal Management Program, the Hudson River Valley Greenway, the Clean Water Act, the Hudson Valley Community Preservation Act and the National Heritage Area Designation. Scenic Hudson is currently working with other environmental organizations to clean up Polychlorinated Biphenyl contamination in the Hudson River.^[5]

References