Town of Washington Embarks on a Natural Resources Inventory
The Town of Washington was selected by the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Hudson River Estuary Program to receive technical assistance in creating natural resource inventories (“NRI”) for our town. As described by the DEC, “An NRI compiles maps and descriptions of natural areas and provides a reference in planning in a community.”
Press Release: DEC Announces Conservation Assistance Awarded to Hudson River Valley Towns
NRI TB Presentation - September 21st, 2023
Washington has embarked on this project in partnership with the Village of Millbrook and the Town of Clinton. Together these municipalities were selected following a competitive application process. To prepare this joint NRI, the Town of Washington NRI Task Force Committee, along with Task Forces for the Village of Millbrook and Town of Clinton, is working with the Estuary Program’s Conservation and Land Use Team and the program’s partner, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County.
NRIs include information about water resources, soil, habitat, topography, wildlife, farmland, topography, and geology. By identifying the locations of these important resources, the Town of Washington is better informed when creating plans and policies around resource protection and land use.
The Town of Washington’s Task Force Committee is comprised of (in alphabetical order) Town councilwoman Leslie Heaney, Planning Board member Richard Philips and Conservation Advisory Committee Chair Margaret Schneible.
The Task Force plans to engage the residents of Washington later this Spring/early summer to solicit resident feedback on this important work.
If you have any questions, thoughts, or comments for the Task Force, you may contact them by email at nritaskforce@washingtonny.org
Natural Resources Inventory Brochure
The Town of Washington, Village of Millbrook and Town of Clinton is working on a joint Natural Resources Inventory with New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation and the Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension.
A Natural Resources Inventory (“NRI”) is an accounting of a municipality’s natural resources. Natural resources include things like water, animal habitats, trees, and vegetation. It can also take account of a municipality’s cultural resources as well. NRIs are maps and narrative descriptions identifying these unique and varied resources.
NRIs enable municipalities to make informed decisions around land use. It is vital to fully understand the location and extent of our natural resources when making important decisions about town planning and zoning.
To learn more, come visit the Town of Washington and Village of Millbrook’s NRI Task Force members at the Farmer’s Market from 9:00am-1:00pm.
If you have questions or thoughts about our NRI, feel free to email the Task Force at
Town of Washington: nritaskforce@washingtonny.org or
Village of Millbrook: mhtrusteevom@gmail.com