The Town of Montgomery Conservation Advisory Council has been working on a proposal to create a Critical Environmental Area (CEA) for the Tin Brook - Valley and Beaverdam Brook aquifers in the Town with technical assistance from the Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudsonia Ltd. These aquifers feed the wellfields of four municipal wells, numerous private wells and coincide with other important resources, including habitats for rare grassland breeding birds, forests, wetlands, streams and floodplains.

CEAs are locations with exceptional or unique environmental character that local governments may identify and designate under the State Environmental Quality Review process. The two areas encompass several parcels with formal conservation status and at least ten of the large parcels identified as “Preservation Priorities” by the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the public. The 2021 Comprehensive Plan also called for protecting water quality through public acquisition of buffers and establishment of critical environmental areas. In addition, the recently updated Natural Resources Inventory has provided a foundation for this planning effort.

The CEA team consists of several members of the Conservation Advisory Council, a member of the Town Board and a trustee of the Village of Walden. The team will present its proposal to the Town Board and the general public at the December 1st Town Board meeting.

For more information about the project, contact CAC Chair Patricia Henighan at henighanpatricia@gmail.com.