The latest episode of “DEC Does What?!” a podcast from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, explores the work of DEC’s Great Lakes Program to protect the iconic Great Lakes, the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world.
DEC’s Great Lakes Program oversees the largest watershed by land area, working across more than 42 percent of the state’s land area and along over 750 miles of shoreline.
New York’s Great Lakes Basin includes Lake Erie, Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River, and holds 21 percent of the world’s freshwater resources.
In this episode, hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Shannon Dougherty, DEC’s Great Lakes Program Director, to discuss restoration work in coordination with other counties, states, and Canadian provinces, why DEC uses nature-based shoreline protection methods to protect local habitats and communities and support public access benefits, and recent success stories like the formal de-listing of the Rochester Embayment Area of Concern after years of cleanup and restoration.
Dougherty also explains how DEC tracks the overall health of the Great Lakes Basin and the impact of threats like harmful algal blooms (HABs) and climate change on lakes Erie and Ontario, including increased erosion and flooding events.
The episode also spotlights the latest environmental news and DEC initiatives, including encouraging New Yorkers to sign up for one of DEC’s “First Day Hikes” to celebrate the New Year, reminding outdoor adventurers to follow winter hiking safety tips, and to sign up to become Volunteer Campground Ambassadors for the 2025 camping season.
All episodes of “DEC Does What?!” are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Am
For a full list of New York Almanack podcasts announcements click HERE.
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