Home: CCFE Logo Slogan: Research and education to protect our environment and public health.
About CCFE/ContactSupport CCFEVolunteer Information
Return to CCE
Program Categories
Water Resources Environmental Education Energy Education Environmental and Public Health Research Endangered Species and Conservation
 

CCFE PROGRAMS

Endangered Species and Conservation

Image of a piping plover.Piping Plovers
CCFE has a long history of protecting piping plovers, endangered shorebirds that utilize Long Island shores as their breeding and nesting grounds. The Piping Plover Protection Project has become an annual tradition for CCFE, its members, and volunteers. In 2009, CCFE generated 30 volunteers on Memorial Day and over 35 volunteers on July 4 at Jones Beach State Park, to protect plover nests on days of the year when nests are particularly vulnerable to human traffic and recreational pursuits. In March of 2009 CCFE generated volunteers to help the NYS Parks Department put up protective fencing enclosures around prime plover nesting habitat.

Image of horseshoe crabs.

Horseshoe Crabs
In 2009, CCFE continued to work to educate the public and policy makers on the importance of protecting Horseshoe Crabs. We also worked with the NYS DEC and the Fire Island National Seashore to ensure that the federal policy prohibiting the taking of this species from the shores of the wildness area were enforced. CCFE staff engaged in multiple public education events that included information on protection of this species.

Advisory Committees, Task Forces and Coalitions – CCFE staff continued to serve on numerous advisory committees and task forces involved in studies of environmental problems. These included:

  • Erie County Environmental Management Council: The ECEMC was established in the Erie County Charter in 1971. The ECEMC acts in an advisory role to the County Executive and County Legislature on environmental issues and helps to facilitate environmental programs throughout Erie County. A representative from CCFE was appointed to the ECEMC for a two-year term in 2005.
  • Erie County Water Quality Committee: CCFE is a member of this committee that coordinates various water quality projects throughout Erie County.
  • Wind Action Group – The Wind Action Group was formed to develop information that will allow thoughtful, informed decisions on the future of wind power in the WNY region, and maintains a colorful and informative website.
    www.greengold.org/wind
  • Healing Our Waters Coalition: CCFE is one of more than 100 organizations representing millions of residents in the Great Lakes have joined the HOW coalition whose goal is to restore and protect the Great Lakes. Led by the National Wildlife Federation and the National Parks Conservation Association, the coalition seeks to secure a sustainable restoration plan and the billions of dollars of state and federal funding needed to implement it. www.healthylakes.org
  • Clean Water Network: CCFE was elected to serve on the executive committee and board of directors for the national network of local, state, and federal organizations focused on clean water. www.cleanwaternetwork.org
  • NYS Water and Energy Working Group: CCFE chairs this working group of state agencies including Environmental Facilities Corporation, NYSERDA, DEC, NYPA and LIPA. The goal is to streamline opportunities for sewage treatment plant operators to obtain funding for implementing energy efficiencies and upgrades. The group is planning several conferences in 2010.
  • Great Waters Coalition: CCFE has joined with groups nationally to work to protect our nations great water bodies including Long Island Sound, the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.
  • Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA): Appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2005, CCFE staff was re-appointed and chairs the recycling committee. A public benefit corporation charged with the solid waste management of 33 of the 35 municipalities in Onondaga County, OCRRA operates the popular Household Hazardous Waste Days, coordinates Operation Separation, a countywide recycling program with a 65% recycling rate, and oversees the operation and energy generation of an incinerator.
  • New York State Great Lakes Basin Advisory Council:Appointed by the Governor, CCFE staff serves on this council charged with overseeing state’s Great Lakes Protection Fund and recommending regulatory and legislative solutions to implement the Great Lakes Compact in New York State.
  • New York State Clean Water Collaborative: Named by the Governor, CCFE staff works the broad collective of labor, business, environmental, public health, regulatory and legislative leaders to address New York State’s clean water crisis.
  • Brookhaven National Laboratory Citizens Advisory Committee: This committee evaluates and advises BNL on the ongoing environmental remediation efforts at this important laboratory.
  • Suffolk County Vector Control Long Term Management Plan Citizens Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee: These committees are conducting review and public education as to the best mosquito and wetlands management practices.
  • Suffolk County Pesticide Phase Out Committee: CCFE serves as a voting member of this committee which is responsible for phasing out the most toxic pesticides being applied on Suffolk County properties.
  • Carmans River Working Group: CCFE chairs this committee comprised of New York State, Suffolk County and Town of Brookhaven representatives, as well as many stakeholder organizations. Committee is assessing remediation options for upper and lower lakes on the Carmans River.
  • Bayshore Manufactured Gas Plant Task Force: CCFE works to provide assistance to the community in obtaining comprehensive and expedited remediation of this toxic waste site.
  • Chair, Citizens Advisory Committee for the South Shore Estuary Reserve - The Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) of the South Shore Estuary Reserve Council was established in 1994 to make recommendations and provide guidance to the Council in the preparation of the Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP). Since the adoption of the CMP in 2001, the CAC has focused on implementation of CMP recommendations. It is authorized to prepare reports, recommend studies, and submit findings and recommendations to the Council.
  • Citizens Advisory Committee for Long Island Sound - The Long Island Sound Study (LISS) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) provides ongoing advice to the Federal, state, and local government Management Conference partners working on implementing the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the restoration and protection of Long Island Sound.
  • Additional Committees include:

    ACE New York – Alliance for Clean Energy.
    Partnership to Reduce Mercury in Schools
    Albany County Soil and Water Conservation Committee
    Agriculture Environment Management Steering Committee
    DEC CAFO workgroup
    Suffolk County Planning Commission
    Long Island Energy Roundtable
    Long Island Sound 400 Anniversary Committee
    Tonawanda Commission for Conservation of the Environment
    NYS Association of Environmental Management Councils