This page is geared to provide the public with information on local and regional environmental organizations and initiatives such as invasive species management, community science, stormwater management, agriculture, environmental education and more. The RC DER partners with many of these organizations to deliver exciting programs and initiatives to visitors and residents. In addition to environmental initiatives, the organizations outlined below are a boundless resource for civic engagement, continuing education, professional development and more.

Scroll through the page to locate organizations under the headings: Local Environmental Organizations, Other Water Agencies and Organizations, New Jersey Watershed Organizations, Invasive Species Management.
Click on the items under each heading to expand/collapse them to obtain further information.

Local Environmental Organizations:

Cornell Cooperative Extension
Cornell Cooperative Extension puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being. It brings local experience and research based solutions together, helping New York State families and communities thrive in our rapidly changing world.
Cropsey Farm
Cropsey Farm is run by a local non-profit organization called The Rockland Farm Alliance (RFA). The RFA, under a licensing agreement with the County of Rockland and the Town of Clarkstown, launched Rockland's first community farm at the retired Cropsey farm on Little Tor Road. This project represents an historic inter-municipal collaboration, and is the first tangible step toward developing a local foodshed in Rockland County.
Keep Rockland Beautiful
Keep Rockland Beautiful Inc programs motivate thousands of volunteers annually to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, thereby creating healthier, safer and more livable community environments.
New York Department of Parks Recreation
New York Department of Parks Recreation and Historical Preservation helps communities identify, evaluate, preserve, and revitalize their historic, archeological, and cultural resources.
New York New Jersey Trail Conference
The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference is a volunteer-powered organization that builds, maintains, and protects public trails. Together with our partners, we strive to ensure that the trails and natural areas we share are sustainable and accessible for all to enjoy for generations to come.
Orangetown Environmental Committee

The Orangetown Environmental Committee (OEC) was formed in February 2008 with the mission of protecting and improving our local environment for the health and well-being of all Orangetown residents. The OEC is an advisory committee comprised of Town Board-appointed volunteers. The OEC works in a number of areas of environmental concern and is currently organized under the following subcommittees: Energy, Waste Reduction and Recycling, Water, Land Use and Open Space.

Rockland Audubon Society
The Rockland Audubon Society is a non-profit organization that was organized in 1947 and is dedicated to the appreciation of nature and the preservation of a healthy environment. The mission of the Rockland Audubon Society is to promote environmental conservation and foster an appreciation of birds and nature through educational programs and other activities.
Rockland Conservation and Service Corps
Rockland Conservation and Service Corps building Rockland pride through service. RCSC offers college aged students with exciting opportunities in the conservation field for a 350 hour long paid internship program each summer. RSCS members are placed at local environmental organizations and participate in weekly trainings from June through August.
Rockland Farm Alliance
Rockland Farm Alliance is a community coalition that was founded to facilitate local sustainable agriculture in Rockland County, NY, and to provide educational resources to the community to promote awareness of the need for local food resources. Through hands-on learning programs and new community-supported small farms, RFA is striving to raise awareness around local food issues while increasing access to organic, locally grown produce.
Rockland Green
Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority (information about recycling in the county).
Rockland Sierra Club
Rockland Sierra Club - The Rockland County chapter of the national Sierra Club applies the Club’s mission to To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; To practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; and To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives for Rockland County.
Village of Nyack Sustainability Department
The Village of Nyack Sustainability Department focuses on providing environmentally friendly decision making through the efforts of a Sustainability Coordinator and Green Policy Task Force. Nyack has received several grants and awards over recent years for their efforts towards sustainable development.

Other Water Agencies and Organizations:

AmeriCorps and the Student Conservation Association
AmeriCorps and the Student Conservation Association are organizations that provide youths and adults with exciting service terms in the environmental field as well as opportunities in emergency management, literacy, teaching and more. Program lengths vary from two weeks to 10+ months. A stipend, living allowance and education award vary based on the position.
Center for Watershed Protection
The Center for Watershed Protection works to protect, restore, and enhance our streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and bays. We create viable solutions and partnerships for responsible land and water management so that every community has clean water and healthy natural resources to sustain diverse life.
Hudson River Estuary Program
The Hudson River Estuary Program (HREP) is a division of the NYS DEC created in 1987 with the mission of protecting and revitalizing the Hudson River and its communities. The HREP offers several citizen science programs for youths and adults throughout the year.
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) is part of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, located in Palisades, NY. LDEO houses leading earth scientists who gather data on the health of our oceans, climate physics, plate tectonics and much more. LDEO hosts an annual Open House where the public can visit the campus and learn from scientists on the state of our planet. Amongst many exciting finds, LDEO contains the largest collection of deep-sea sediment cores from across the globe.
Riverkeeper
Riverkeeper is an independent organization funded and driven by concerned individuals like you. Its vision is to realize clean, swimmable waters, a Hudson River teeming with life, and safe and abundant drinking water supplies.
Rockland Water Coalition
The Rockland Water Coalition is a partnership of many of the environmental and civic groups in Rockland County and the Hudson Valley. It was formed to take a critical look at the impacts of Suez / United Water’s proposal to build a desalination plant on the Hudson River and to advocate for sustainable water management policies, such as conservation, in Rockland County and the Hudson Valley.
Scenic Hudson, Inc
Scenic Hudson, Inc. is a land preserve oriented organization. Several riverside and inland parks have been established since the foundation of Scenic Hudson from Black Creek Preserve to West Point Foundry, locals and visitors can enjoy these beautiful sites.
Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance
The Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance is a community action group committed to promoting environmental awareness, partnerships and practices that restore and preserve the health of the Sparkill Creek from its headwaters on Clausland Mountain to its confluence with the Hudson River in the Piermont Marsh.
United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stresses that water is essential for life and plays a vital role in the proper functioning of the Earth's ecosystems. Water pollution has a serious impact on all living creatures, and can negatively affect the use of water for drinking, household needs, recreation, fishing, transportation and commerce.

Stormwater Information:

Stormwater Consortium of Rockland Country
The Stormwater Consortium of Rockland County was formed to allow for a collaborative approach to addressing water quality concerns. In collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Soil & Water Conservation District, the Consortium has provided the following: Stormwater educational sessions for homeowners, businesses and professional; Established two local stormwater laws: Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination and Erosion and Sediment Control; and Grant assistance to fund efforts.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was created to conserve, improve and protect New York's natural resources and environment and to prevent, abate and control water, land and air pollution, in order to enhance the health, safety and welfare of the people of the state and their overall economic and social well-being.

New Jersey Watershed Organizations:

Bergen SWAN
Bergen SWAN (Save the Watershed Action Network) has been aggressively pursuing the preservation of the watershed buffer forests around our drinking water reservoirs.
Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc
Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc. is the independent, non-governmental advocate for the Hackensack River.

Invasive Species Management:

Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management
Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (LHPRISM) - One of eight PRISMs in New York State funded by the Department of Environmental Conservation to help coordinate invasive plants management activities across five counties in the Lower Hudson region. LHPRISM offers classroom and field training on how to identify, map, and control widespread and emerging invasive plant species.
New York New Jersey Trail Conference
New York New Jersey Trail Conference - Invasives Strike Force - Information and volunteer opportunities to experience how the Trail Conference is fulfilling one of its land stewardship goals by surveying and controlling invasive plants along 1,500 miles of trails in the region. Lists other online resources including native plant alternatives.
New York Species Information
New York Species Information - Information portal on all invasive species in New York state including animals and terrestrial and aquatic plants.
New York State's Invasive Species Regulations
New York State's Invasive Species Regulations - Describes activities at the state level to control invasive plants and offers e-pamphlets on invasive animals and terrestrial and aquatic plants. Color hardcopies of the booklets are available from the state upon request.

Table 1. The below table outlines commonly found invasive plants throughout New York State.  Each column provides information on the specific plant species, including: plant type (tree, shrub, vine, or herbaceous), common name, scientific name, and a species  profile which will take you to an external website that outlines species information, removal techniques, impacts to the local environment and more. 

 Plant Type:  Common Name:  Scientific Name:  Species Profile:
 Tree  Norway Maple
 Tree-of-Heaven		  Acer Platanoides
 Ailanthus Altissima		  GISP/ISSP
 GISP/ISSP
 Shrub  Japanese Barberry
 Multiflora Rose
 Burning Bush		  Berberis Thunbergii
 Rosa Multiflora
 Euonymus Alatus		  GISP/ISPP
 GISP/ISSP
 GISP/ISSP
 Vine  Japanese Honeysuckle
 Mile-a-Minute
 Oriental Bittersweet		  Lonicera Japonica
 Polygonum Perfoliatum
 Celastrus Orbiculatus		  GISP/ISSP
 GISP/ISSP
 GISP/ISSP
 Herbaceous  Japanese Knotweed
 Garlic Mustard
 Mugwort
 Japanese Stilt Grass		  Reynoutria Japonica
 Alliaria Petiolata
 Artemisia Vulgaris
 Microstegium Vimineum		  NYIS
 GISP/ISSP
 GoBotany
 GISP/ISSP