Environment

Our staff works to engage with the community to solve and respond to key environmental challenges, reduce and make more equitable our collective use of the Earth's resources, and inspire respect for natural systems and our reliance on them.

Emerald Ash Borer

Learn how to identify the Emerald Ash Borer, monitor your Ash trees, detect and report possible EAB in your trees, and more, with resources we've compiled on this site.

young boy drinking water from a glass. Used with permission of the father, Bill Foster.

Water Quality

Find consumer information about drinking water, home water treatment, wells, septic systems, bottled water, and other water quality issues here.

Open Burning

Burning trash (even in a barrel) is now illegal in all areas of NY State,and can lead to fines starting at $375. Be sure you know the law before you burn!

Bulldozers involved in stream restoration, from 'DEC Guidelines for Post-Flood Stream Construction' online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/postfloodguid.pdf

Stream Reconstruction

Visit our list of links to find information on how to rebuild your stream following a flooding event, and on the advantages of creating riparian buffers.

Deer Tick

Get the facts on Lyme disease and its prevalence in NY State, other tick-borne diseases, how to remove ticks, and options for tick management including IPM.

Invasive Plants

Many plants that are now considered invasive started out as popular garden ornamentals. Learn more about what plants to avoid in your garden.

Last updated July 15, 2016

Environment

Don't Move Firewood!

Firewood Transport Rules were revised August 2012 to improve regulatory compliance and enforcement. The existence of this regulation helps prevent firewood infested with invasive insects such as emerald ash borer and Asian longhorned beetle from being transported throughout the state, destroying trees from one place to another.