The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s latest episode of “DEC Does What?!” podcast discusses the department’s oversight of more than 6,000 regulated dams across New York State. [Read more…] about New York’s Dams, Dam Removals & DEC
DEC Does What
New York’s Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells
Approximately 35,000 orphaned oil and gas wells are estimated to exist in New York State, many drilled and abandoned before the existence of modern environmental regulations.
The latest DEC Does What? podcast, produced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), spotlights the work of their Division of Mineral Resources, which address the threats that unplugged oil and gas wells have on the environment and public safety across New York State. [Read more…] about New York’s Orphaned Oil and Gas Wells
Verplanck Colvin’s State Land Surveying Legacy
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) latest episode of the bi-weekly podcast “DEC Does What?!” spotlights the work of the department’s forestry staff who manage the boundaries of state lands.
They discuss the history of land surveying and the man who started the process in the 1800s, Verplanck Colvin (1847–1920). [Read more…] about Verplanck Colvin’s State Land Surveying Legacy
The Dirt on Composting Podcast Highlights New York State
The latest New York State Department of Environmental Conservation DEC Does What?! podcast, “The Dirt on Composting,” spotlights the work of DEC’s organics reduction and recycling staff who oversees statewide food scraps and yard waste management and composting efforts. [Read more…] about The Dirt on Composting Podcast Highlights New York State
New York Camping Featured on DEC Podcast
The latest episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) podcast DEC Does What?! showcases how DEC manages its 55 campgrounds and 6,000 individual campsites.
DEC’s first campgrounds — Sacandaga (in Wells, NY) and Sharp Bridge (in North Hudson) — were established in 1920 in the Adirondacks, as was the newest campground, Frontier Town (also in North Hudson), opened in 2019. [Read more…] about New York Camping Featured on DEC Podcast
New York State Bats Subject of DEC Podcast
Bats are the world’s only flying mammal and New York State is home to nine different species. In the latest episode of the DEC Does What?! podcast hosts Executive Deputy Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by DEC Wildlife Biologists Casey Kennedy and Ashley Meyer with the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
They explain how the program tracks population changes and distribution of bats throughout the state, misconceptions about rabies, the devastating impact of White Nose Syndrome that causes mass mortality in four of New York’s hibernating bat species, and how these “angry kittens” of the wild can be identified by their toe hairs. [Read more…] about New York State Bats Subject of DEC Podcast
The Great Lakes: World’s Largest Freshwater Ecosystem
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. [Read more…] about The Great Lakes: World’s Largest Freshwater Ecosystem
When Disaster Strikes: The New York State Incident Management Team
The latest episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s “DEC Does What?!” podcast, “When Disaster Strikes,” takes a closer look at how DEC supported recovery efforts as part of the New York State Incident Management Team (IMT) operations in the city of Asheville, NC, following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in September 2024. [Read more…] about When Disaster Strikes: The New York State Incident Management Team
DEC Relations with Indigenous Nations
November is Native American Heritage Month, a nationwide celebration of the contributions of Indigenous peoples and celebration of their heritage, traditions, culture, art, and history while acknowledging how society has impacted Indigenous peoples and culture. New York State was the first state to recognize “American Indian Day” in 1916, originally observed on the second Saturday in May. [Read more…] about DEC Relations with Indigenous Nations
Who You Gonna Call? Behind DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch Office
The latest episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) podcast DEC Does What? gives listeners an inside look at the work of the DEC communications operators who each year receive more than 100,000 emergency and non-emergency calls for public assistance involving Forest Rangers, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), and Spills Response experts. [Read more…] about Who You Gonna Call? Behind DEC’s Ray Brook Dispatch Office
Extreme Heat In New York State
Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States each year, more than hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding combined. The latest episode of the “DEC Does What?!” podcast tackles the issue of extreme heat in New York State.
[Read more…] about Extreme Heat In New York State
Harmful Algal Blooms: Know It. Avoid It. Report It.
The latest “DEC Does What?!” podcast by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is “Harmful Algal Blooms: Know It. Avoid It. Report It.” The podcast takes a closer look at DEC’s statewide efforts to reduce harmful algal blooms (HABs) in New York waterbodies. [Read more…] about Harmful Algal Blooms: Know It. Avoid It. Report It.
Hooked on Hatcheries
A recent episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) bi-weekly podcast “DEC Does What?!” highlights the work of DEC’s fish hatcheries and how these facilities support fish species restoration and opportunities for anglers in New York’s freshwater streams. [Read more…] about Hooked on Hatcheries
Spread the Word, Not the Species
The latest episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) bi-weekly podcast “DEC Does What?!” highlights the work of DEC scientists to understand and combat invasive species and their impacts on the environment, economy, and human health. [Read more…] about Spread the Word, Not the Species
The Air Up There: Air Pollution Meteorology
The latest episode of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) bi-weekly podcast “DEC Does What?!” highlights the work of DEC air pollution meteorologists who use the latest science to keep New Yorkers informed about air quality across the state. [Read more…] about The Air Up There: Air Pollution Meteorology
The Solar Eclipse & Wildlife Subject of New DEC Podcast
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has launched a new podcast, “DEC Does What?!” Each episode will feature conversations with DEC experts about the agency’s work. The first episode features biologists Dr. Angelena Ross and Dr. Dan Rosenblatt and focuses on the potential effects of the April 8th solar eclipse on New York wildlife, work underway to protect endangered wildlife, and how different species adapt to changes in their habitat caused by climate change and other factors. [Read more…] about The Solar Eclipse & Wildlife Subject of New DEC Podcast