N.Y. Environmental Conservation Law § 9-0113: Adopt-a-natural resource stewardship program

§ 9-0113. Adopt-a-natural resource stewardship program.

1. The commissioner may enter into stewardship agreements with any

person or persons for the purposes of preserving, maintaining, or

enhancing a state-owned natural resource or portion thereof in

accordance with the policies of this article.

2. The stewardship agreement shall provide that the natural resource

be preserved and maintained in its natural state or managed to enhance

or restore the natural resource values they provide, consistent with the

provisions of this chapter and purposes of this article. Activities may

include: remediating vandalism, picking up litter and trash,

establishing or maintaining access or nature trails, providing

interpretive services for school groups and other citizens, managing

fish and wildlife habitat, and otherwise providing positive benefits to

the natural resource.

3. Stewardship agreement with any person or persons may provide for

assistance of personnel, facilities and supplies of the department for

the purposes of supporting appropriate activities under such stewardship

agreement, in accordance with the provisions of this article.

4. The department shall establish procedures by which a person or

persons may apply for a stewardship agreement, and shall be responsible

for working with such persons to identify specific sections of a

state-owned natural resource and specific activities deemed appropriate

for such stewardship agreement. The department may consider factors such

as safety, environmental sensitivity, need, cost and other factors

deemed relevant in determining which natural resource or activities may

be eligible or appropriate for a stewardship agreement.

5. Consistent with other laws of the state and regulations of the

department, the department shall provide recognition of the stewardship

activities by appropriate signage on or near the adopted natural

resource, and may provide recognition by such other measures as it may

determine to be appropriate, including but not limited to press

releases, certificates, newsletters, and articles in the

conservationist.

6. The stewardship agreement may be modified in scope or altered in

any other manner at the sole discretion of the department, not

inconsistent with the provisions of this section. The person or persons

shall have the option of renewing the agreement subject to the approval

of the department and the continuation by the department of the

adopt-a-natural resource stewardship program. The department may

terminate the agreement and remove the signs upon thirty day notice, if

in its sole judgment it finds and determines that the person or persons

are not meeting the terms and conditions of the agreement.

7. The department shall, to the maximum extent practicable, provide

assistance to other state agencies that are interested in developing

stewardship programs for natural resources under their jurisdiction.

8. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, the state and

its employees shall not be liable for damages suffered by any person

resulting from the actions or activities of such volunteers.