COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. LOCATION
The Columbia-Greene North Scenic Area of Statewide Significance (SASS) extends about 15 miles along the Hudson River from the vicinity of Schodack Landing in southern Rensselaer County and Coeymans hamlet in southern Albany County southward to just north of the City of Hudson in Columbia County and to the northern boundary of the Village of Athens in Greene County. The scenic area's east and west boundaries generally follow the State coastal boundary with some variations.
On the western shore of the Hudson River the northern boundary of the SASS begins at the mouth of the Coeymans Creek in the Town of Coeymans and follows Stone House Road on the north side of the creek to the intersection with the coastal boundary, NY Route 144. The northern boundary extends east across the Hudson to the Albany-Rensselaer County line, follows the county line north before turning northeast to encompass the northern portion of Lower Schodack Island, then continues across Upper Schodack Island to join the coastal boundary on the eastern bank of the Hudson at the intersection of NY Route 9J and Knickerbocker Road.
The western boundary of the SASS generally follows the coastal boundary along NY Routes 144, 61 and 385, except where the coastal boundary reaches west of Route 61 in the Town and Village of Coxsackie.
The southern boundary in Greene County is the northern boundary of the Village of Athens. The boundary then follows the eastern shoreline of Middle Ground Flats until it is across the Hudson from the North Bay outlet under the railroad tracks on the eastern shore. The boundary then crosses the river and runs through the outlet, continuing up the east bank of the Hudson to Gifford Parkway in the Town of Greenport, just north of the City of Hudson's northern boundary.
The eastern boundary follows the coastal boundary along NY Routes 9J and 9 beginning in the north at Knickerbocker Road north of Schodack Landing. In the south the SASS boundary follows the coastal boundary along Joslen Boulevard in the Town of Greenport to its intersection with Cedar Parkway, follows Cedar Parkway to the intersection with Riverview Boulevard, then follows Riverview Boulevard to Gifford Parkway, the southern boundary of the SASS.
The Columbia-Greene North SASS is located in the following municipalities: the Town of Coeymans, Albany County; the Town of Schodack, Rensselaer County; the Towns of New Baltimore, Coxsackie and Athens and the Village of Coxsackie, Greene County; and in the Towns of Stuyvesant, Stockport and Greenport, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS Map for the SASS boundaries.
II. DESCRIPTION
The Columbia-Greene North SASS is comprised of 29 subunits:
CGN-1 Coeymans Hamlet Waterfront, CGN-2 Hannacrois Creek Outlet, CGN-3 New Baltimore Hamlet, CGN-4 Islands, CGN-5 Otter Hook, CGN-6 Coxsackie Creek, CGN-7 Coxsackie Island, CGN-8 Coxsackie Farmland, CGN-9 Coxsackie Village, CGN-10 Lampman Hill, CGN-11 Vosburgh Swamp, CGN-12 Athens-Coxsackie Farmland, CGN-13 Schodack Landing, CGN-14 Stuyvesant Farms, CGN-15 Poolsburg, CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods, CGN-17 Mill Creek Marsh, CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing, CGN-19 Sheffer, CGN-20 Stuyvesant Hamlet, CGN-21 Stuyvesant Ravine, CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms, CGN-23 Nutten Hook, CGN-24 Stockport Flats, CGN-25 Newton Hook Ravine, CGN-26 Judson Farms, CGN-27 Columbiaville, CGN-28 Stottville Farms, and CGN-29 Stockport Creek.
The SASS constitutes a predominantly rural area of low bluffs and ravines, flanked on the west shore by narrow alluvial plains and on the east shore, by a broader plateau. It is a quiet, pastoral area of working farms and river landings which has changed little since the 19th century. Because most of the land visible from the Hudson River is either inaccessible, too steep or too wet to build upon, the river corridor remains in a predominantly natural state. Early European settlers of the area were primarily Dutch immigrants who migrated south from Rensselaerwyck manor because they wanted to own property rather than be tenant farmers on the manor which spanned both sides of the Hudson River to the north. The Dutch purchased land from the resident Indians and laid out their farms quite isolated from each other. Landings along the Hudson River were the only clustered settlements initially, their commerce being the transfer of lumber, furs and farm produce from land to water. The Hudson River was the main transportation artery to the cities now called Albany and New York. Grist mills and lumber mills were constructed on the tributaries where the water tumbled over falls and plunged through steep ravines to the Hudson River.
The Dutch were later joined by migrating New Englanders and British soldiers who chose to remain in the New World. Although several industries primarily related to the Hudson River and water transport were established along the shores, farming was the primary occupation. When ice harvesting flourished in the 19th century, it provided winter employment for the farmers and their farmhands. Later industries took advantage of the abundant water power of the creeks, then were abandoned as larger industrial centers developed, leaving the landscape primarily rural again.
The development pattern of the Columbia-Greene North SASS is essentially the same today, comprising large stretches of pastoral landscape broken by river landings which have grown to hamlets or incorporated villages. There is a stimulating mix of land uses: the historic hamlets of New Baltimore and Stuyvesant and the village of Coxsackie; semi-wild regions of dense forest and marsh; and an intervening farm landscape of pasture, orchards and fields. A strong contrast remains between the tight village centers and adjoining woods and fields, with little blurring of the edges. The traditional close relationship of the settlements to the Hudson is also intact. Areas and individual structures of particular historic and cultural interest exist, but most must yet be surveyed to determine their eligibility for the National and State Registers of Historic Places.
The SASS is a unified landscape, its visual integrity resulting from development closely tied to specific characteristics of the land. The landscape exhibits great visual variety and contrast in landform and vegetation, unified by an underlying cultural pattern which provides a visible logic to the organization, location and design of scenic elements.
Along with the internal cultural unity of the area, the setting unifies this distinctive landscape. The Hudson River is the dominant element on the landscape and can be seen from many locations. It ranges from 1,000 to 4,000 feet wide. In the northern portion of the SASS, islands divide the Hudson into narrow sections of a friendlier, less imposing character.
Once tied to each other by ferries, each shore of the river now appears unattainable from the opposite bank, intriguing viewers with what may lie in the distant landscape. In panoramic views where the Hudson is not visible, landscapes of similar quality and character on each bank of the river appear as a single expanse. The distant Taconic Hills and Catskill Mountains provide dramatic backdrops to the open fields and orchards. Along with the traditional development patterns, these background elements give a strong sense of place to this portion of the Hudson River corridor. In addition, many intimate compositions abound which focus on clusters of historic farm buildings, streams folded in ravines and deep woodland landscapes.
III. AESTHETIC SIGNIFICANCE
The Columbia-Greene North SASS is of statewide aesthetic significance by virtue of the combined aesthetic values of landscape character, uniqueness, public accessibility and public recognition. There exists in the SASS unusual variety as well as unity of major components and striking contrasts between line, forms, textures and colors. The SASS is generally free from discordant features. It is both visually and physically accessible to the general public, but public recognition is limited primarily to local residents and travelers on the State and local highways. Perhaps because development pressures have not been present to the extent experienced in the rest of the Hudson Valley, most of the historic and natural resources have not been subject to the types of survey and evaluation which leads to recognition through government designations.
A. Landscape Character
1. Variety
The Columbia-Greene North SASS exhibits an unusual variety of major components. The landform is composed of alluvial plains and steep bluffs along the Hudson River, especially around several small drumlin-like hills along the east shore. Behind the bluffs lie expansive level plains cut by ravines through which several creeks flow before emptying into the Hudson River. The shoreline of the Hudson is extremely varied, incorporating a number of large and small islands, coves, mud flats and creek mouths.
Vegetation ranges from dense hardwood forest along the bluffs and ravines to tilled fields, orchards and meadows of the working farms. Wetland species cover the river flats, and street trees and gardens decorate the river landings. Lawns line the river in the settled areas.
There is a wide variety of water elements. The Hudson River ranges in width from 1000 to 4000 feet, in some locations appearing as a formidable body of water and in others as a manageable stream where it divides to flow around large islands. Creeks contain placid pools as well as waterfalls tumbling off bluffs and over piles of rocks.
Views include panoramic vistas 180 degrees in breadth that unite both shores into a single landscape and reach to the Catskill Mountains and Taconic Hills. Clusters of farm buildings and significant trees provide focal points in these broad sweeps of pastoral countryside. More intimate views vary from narrow compositions of stream corridors lined with rock walls to tunnel views through dense woodland with the Hudson River glistening in the distance. Other glimpses of the Hudson are framed by the street trees and historic buildings of the river landings.
Of interest in the views are the varied ephemeral effects of wildlife in the marshlands and forests, the operations and livestock of the working farms and the variety of vessels which pass along the Hudson. Occasional trains travel the eastern shore, bringing a fleeting mechanistic touch of technology to the scene.
2. Unity
The variety of components is unified by the predominantly rural landscape, the dominant presence of the Hudson River and the development pattern which creates edges between clustered settlements and the adjacent rolling open lands. The cultural character of the landscape still reflects its historic development which was centered first on the commerce of the river and the use of waterpower for early industries. In the hamlets the historic structures are compatible with each other and their setting. In the working landscape the farm operations respect the natural contours of the topography.
Along the river corridor the bluffs, marshes and flood plains remain generally undeveloped, giving a consistent natural character to the corridor. Where once ferries tied the two shores of the Hudson together, they are now connected by the common viewshed and similar landform of vistas to both the east and the west.
3. Contrast
Contrast is provided among the colors and textures of the varied vegetation, by the drama of the steep bluffs contrasting with the expansive plateau and Hudson River, and between the hard, rugged rock faces of ravines and the placid pools and shimmering waterfalls of the creeks which they line. Clusters of farm buildings and significant trees provide vertical elements in areas of broad, flat expanses. Sharp edges exist between the settled river landings and the adjacent farm fields and forests. The Catskill Mountains and Taconic Hills stand as distant sentinels, marking the edge of the generally level valley and providing a dramatic backdrop for the panoramic views.
4. Freedom from Discordant Features
The SASS as a whole is generally free from discordant features. Although there are some instances of structural blight in the river landings, many historic houses have been restored and the landscape is well maintained overall. The railroad tracks along the east bank of the Hudson are discordant in certain perspectives, for instance when they appear in the foreground of views, but they blend into the landscape where they closely follow the shoreline or when seen from locations removed from the right-of-way.
B. Uniqueness
The river landings are unique in their strong sense of place and orientation to the Hudson River.
The remains of the R. and W. Scott Ice Company Powerhouse and Ice House at Nutten Hook are unique as the most complete industrial ruins of the Hudson River ice industry in the region. They remain as a reminder that the Hudson's northern corridor once was lined with icehouses, power generating stations and shipping terminals.
The landscapes in the CGN-9 Coxsackie Village, CGN-13 Schodack, CGN-14 Stuyvesant Farms, CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms, CGN-23 Nutten Hook, CGN-29 Lampman Hill and CGN-13 Schodack Landing subunits of the SASS are unique landscapes.
C. Public Accessibility
The SASS is visible to the general public from the Hudson River and the railroad trains which run along the Hudson's eastern shore; from NY Routes 144, 61, 385, 9J and 9; and from a network of local roads. Municipal parks and State-owned shorelands allow the public to reach the shore in some places, although the railroad tracks constitute a formidable barrier on the eastern shore. Boat launches are more plentiful on the western shore, but the Stockport Flats portion of the National Estuarine Sanctuary and Research Reserve on the eastern shore provides significant access for launching small boats and observing Hudson River wildlife.
D. Public Recognition
Public recognition is limited for the most part to local residents and travelers along the State and local highways. There is, however, evidence of the growing public awareness of the value of this landscape. The following highway segments are designated Scenic Roads under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law: NY Route 61 from the Village of Coxsackie north 5.03 miles; NY Route 385 from the Village of Coxsackie south 3.48 miles; and NY Route 9J from its junction with Brickyard Road in Stockport south .38 mile and in Stuyvesant, from its junction with County Route 23A north 1.67 miles.
The following properties and districts are listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places: the Ariaanje Coeymans House in Coeymans, the Reed Street Historic District in the Village of Coxsackie, the Schodack Landing Historic District in Schodack Landing and the R. and W. Scott Ice Company Powerhouse and Ice House Site in Nutten Hook.
The following lands are in public ownership: the municipal parks in Coeymans, New Baltimore and Coxsackie; an 85 acre forest preserve detached parcel bordering Coxsackie Creek in New Baltimore; the State boat launch in the Village of Coxsackie; Nutten Hook and a portion of Stockport Flats in Stockport; Houghtaling Island in New Baltimore; and the Lower and Upper Schodack Islands in Stuyvesant.
IV. IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Whether within or outside a designated SASS, all proposed actions subject to review under federal and State coastal acts or a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program must be assessed to determine whether the action could affect a scenic resource and whether the action would be likely to impair the scenic beauty of the scenic resource.
Policy 24 provides that when considering a proposed action, agencies shall first determine whether the action could affect a scenic resource of statewide significance. The determination would involve:
(1) a review of the coastal area map to ascertain if it shows an identified scenic resource which could be affected by the proposed action, and
(2) a review of the types of activities proposed to determine if they would be likely to impair the scenic beauty of an identified resource.
Impairment includes:
(i) the irreversible modification of geologic forms; the destruction or removal of vegetation; the modification, destruction, or removal of structures, whenever the geologic forms, vegetation or structures are significant to the scenic quality of an identified resource; and
(ii) the addition of structures which because of siting or scale will reduce identified views or which because of scale, form, or materials will diminish the scenic quality of an identified resource.
Policy 24 sets forth certain siting and facility-related guidelines to be used to achieve the policy, recognizing that each development situation is unique and that the guidelines will have to be applied accordingly. The guidelines are set forth below, together with comments regarding their particular applicability to this Scenic Area of Statewide Significance. In applying these guidelines to agricultural land it must be recognized that the overall scenic quality of the landscape is reliant on an active and viable agricultural industry. This requires that farmers be allowed the flexibility to farm the land in an economically viable fashion, incorporating modern techniques, changes in farm operation and resultant changes in farm structures. Policy 24 guidelines include:
SITING STRUCTURES AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS HIGHWAYS, POWERLINES, AND SIGNS BACK FROM SHORELINES OR IN OTHER INCONSPICUOUS LOCATIONS TO MAINTAIN THE ATTRACTIVE QUALITY OF THE SHORELINE AND TO RETAIN VIEWS TO AND FROM THE SHORE;
COMMENT: The Columbia-Greene North SASS is unified by the predominantly natural character of the Hudson River corridor which consists of forested bluffs, extensive wetlands and clustered river landings. The upland is a predominantly rural landscape of working farms and forested areas. The introduction of structures and other development such as highways, power lines, and signs within the river corridor, in the open farm landscape, in the river landings or in other conspicuous places would alter the unifying elements of the landscape and impair the aesthetic quality of the SASS.
The shoreline of the Hudson provides variety and interest to the SASS through its undulating shoreline composed of creek mouths, coves, wetlands and islands. The juxtaposition of the steep bluffs with the level expanse of the river's water surface also provides contrast. The alteration or interruption of these natural linear features and essential relationships through introduction of manufactured elements would disrupt the relationships and reduce contrast, impairing the scenic quality of the shoreline.
Views from one side of the river to the other unify the landscape and often make the two shores of the Hudson appear as one, since their nature is essentially the same. The SASS is generally free of discordant features. Interruption of these views or blocking these views with highways, power lines, signs and other structures in conspicuous locations would introduce manufactured elements into a predominantly natural landscape. Such structures would constitute discordant features and would reduce the unity of the landscape, impairing the scenic quality of the views. In certain circumstances and from certain perspectives, such structures could block views, particularly the intimate interior views and tunnel views to the Hudson along the bluffs on the eastern shore, destroying some of the contributing scenic components of the SASS.
CLUSTERING OR ORIENTING STRUCTURES TO RETAIN VIEWS, SAVE OPEN SPACE AND PROVIDE VISUAL ORGANIZATION TO A DEVELOPMENT;
COMMENT: The SASS is predominantly a rural landscape of working farms, pastures, fields and forests. Its aesthetic significance involves in part the continuation of this historic land use in a relatively unchanged condition. Because of this open nature of the landscape, panoramic vistas 180 degrees in breadth are common. In addition, the historic settlement pattern is one of tightly clustered hamlets surrounded by the open rural landscape and a visual organization of clear edges between developed centers and adjacent undeveloped spaces.
Introduction of new structures unrelated to farming operations into the farm landscape would alter the pastoral nature of the landscape and impair the aesthetic significance of the SASS. They could also reduce the amount of open space and reduce the breadth of the views which contribute significantly to the scenic quality of the SASS. The spread of new development in an unclustered, sprawling manner would obliterate the edge between clustered development centers and the surrounding open landscape and change the cultural pattern of development, reducing unity and contrast in the landscape composition and thus reducing the scenic quality of the landscape.
INCORPORATING SOUND, EXISTING STRUCTURES (ESPECIALLY HISTORIC BUILDINGS) INTO THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME;
COMMENT: Some of the historic structures in the SASS have been recognized through listing on the National and State Registers of Historic Places. There are many historic structures which are not listed but which may be eligible for listing. Surveys have yet to be done regarding their historic significance. Farm complexes are of particular importance to the SASS. They provide focal points in the panoramic views across the fields and provide a sense of scale for the views. The river landings contain important groupings of structures which are well related to one another and to the topography.
Failure to incorporate sound, existing structures into the overall development scheme could lead to the loss of historic structures and groupings of structures which contribute to the scenic quality and aesthetic significance of the SASS. Such structures and groupings of structures are focal points in views or frame views of the SASS. Failure to design and site new structures in the development in a manner compatible with the existing structures could destroy the unity of SASS composition and introduce discordant features in a landscape generally free of discordant features, thus impairing the scenic quality of the SASS.
REMOVING DETERIORATED AND/OR DEGRADING ELEMENTS;
COMMENT: The SASS is generally free of discordant features. However, some structures are in a deteriorated condition. Rehabilitation of salvageable historic structures could enhance the scenic quality of the SASS. Removal or screening of degrading elements which cannot be rehabilitated would also enhance the SASS. However, a determination of the historic value of a structure or remains of a structure should be determined before a course of action is chosen, however.
MAINTAINING OR RESTORING THE ORIGINAL LAND FORM, EXCEPT WHEN CHANGES SCREEN UNATTRACTIVE ELEMENTS AND/OR ADD APPROPRIATE INTEREST;
COMMENT: The Columbia-Greene North SASS contains four dominant topographical characteristics: steep bluffs along the Hudson River, drumlin-like hills along the east shore of the Hudson, broad alluvial plains behind the bluffs and steep ravines traversing the plains. Most remain undisturbed. Maintenance of these major land forms will contribute to preserving the scenic quality and aesthetic significance of the SASS.
MAINTAINING OR ADDING VEGETATION TO PROVIDE INTEREST, ENCOURAGE THE PRESENCE OF WILDLIFE, BLEND STRUCTURES INTO THE SITE, AND OBSCURE UNATTRACTIVE ELEMENTS, EXCEPT WHEN SELECTIVE CLEARING REMOVES UNSIGHTLY, DISEASED OR HAZARDOUS VEGETATION AND WHEN SELECTIVE CLEARING CREATES VIEWS OF COASTAL WATERS;
COMMENT: Vegetation in the Columbia-Greene North SASS ranges from dense hardwood forest along the bluffs and ravines to tilled fields, orchards and meadows of the working farms. Wetland species cover the river flats, and street trees and gardens decorate the river landings. Lawns line the river in the settled areas. The forested bluffs create a verdant corridor for the Hudson River. Tunnel views down the roads through these forests focus on the Hudson River glistening at the end like a distant light. These are important intimate interior views. Although clearing of vegetation in these areas would open broader views to the Hudson, the peculiar intriguing nature of these enclosed views, a unique element of the SASS, would be lost.
The forests in the ravines provide a contrast to the surrounding open fields and pastures, contributing to the textural variety of the SASS. Specimen trees in the fields provide focal points in panoramic views. Loss of these trees would reduce the degree of contrast and variety of the SASS, impairing its scenic quality.
Retention of the forests presents opportunities for screening new structures and blending them into the landscape, thus retaining the open, rural character of the SASS which is a significant contributor to its scenic quality.
The orderly plantings of street trees and gardens and the manicured lawns are contributing elements to the distinctive scenic character of the river landings. They frame views, unite the varied architectural styles and soften the developed nature of the hamlets. Failure to maintain existing and replace lost vegetation would impair the unique character of these settled population centers.
Since the State and local road network is an important means of access to the SASS, failure to maintain views from the rights-of-way through selective clearing would reduce this visual access.
The presence of wildlife and farm animals is an ephemeral characteristic which enhances the scenic quality of the SASS. Loss of the wetland vegetation, forests and pasture which sustain them would lead to the loss of the ephemeral elements, reducing the visual interest and, consequently, the scenic quality of the SASS.
USING APPROPRIATE MATERIALS, IN ADDITION TO VEGETATION, TO SCREEN UNATTRACTIVE ELEMENTS;
COMMENT: The SASS is generally free of discordant features. Failure to use colors, materials and textures which blend into the landscape could contribute discordant features to the landscape, alter the composition of views through introduction of discordant focal points and change the rural character of the landscape to the extent that the aesthetic significance of the SASS would be impaired.
USING APPROPRIATE SCALES, FORMS AND MATERIALS TO ENSURE THAT BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES ARE COMPATIBLE WITH AND ADD INTEREST TO THE LANDSCAPE.
COMMENT: The SASS is predominantly horizontal in nature, yielding views 180 degrees in breadth. Historic structures in the subunit are generally low-rise domestic and farm buildings. Introduction of large scale or bulky structures or structures made of materials that are reflective or of a color that stands out in the landscape would disrupt the horizontal nature of the landscape, add new focal points to views which would distract from the historic focal points and change the composition of views. This would reduce the unity of the landscape and introduce discordant features, impairing the scenic quality of the SASS.
Columbia - Greene North Scenic Area of Statewide Significance
Index to Columbia- Greene North Subunits
CGN-1 Coeymans Hamlet Waterfront Subunit
CGN-2 Hannacrois Creek Outlet Subunit
CGN-3 New Baltimore Hamlet Subunit
CGN-7 Coxsackie Island Subunit
CGN-8 Coxsackie Farmland Subunit
CGN-9 Coxsackie Village Subunit
CGN-12 Athens-Coxsackie Farmland Subunit
CGN-13 Schodack Landing Subunit
CGN-14 Stuyvesant Farms Subunit
CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods Subunit
CGN-17 Mill Creek Marsh Subunit
CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing Subunit
CGN-20 Stuyvesant Hamlet Subunit
CGN-21 Stuyvesant Ravine Subunit
CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms Subunit
CGN-24 Stockport Flats Subunit
CGN-25 Newton Hook Ravine Subunit
CGN-28 Stottville Farms Subunit
CGN-29 Stockport Creek Subunit
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-1 Coeymans Hamlet Waterfront Subunit
I. Location
The Coeymans Hamlet Waterfront subunit encompasses the easterly portion of the hamlet of Coeymans and the portion of the Hudson River that borders it. Its northern boundary, which is also the northern boundary of the SASS, begins at the intersection of Stone House Road and NY Route 144 and follows Stone House Road to the mouth of the Coeymans Creek, then extends eastward to the shore of Lower Schodack Island in the Hudson River. The western boundary follows NY Route 144. The southern boundary, a common boundary with the CGN-2 Hannacrois Creek Outlet subunit, stretches from Route 144 eastward to touch the northern tip of Barren Island. Its eastern boundary is the mean high tide line on the western shore of Lower Schodack Island. The subunit is located in the Town of Coeymans, Albany County, and the Town of Schodack, Rensselaer County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 1 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The topography of the subunit is composed of a low bluff and a flat alluvial plain. The street trees and lawns of the hamlet provide a pleasing contrast with the natural vegetation of the surrounding forest and low-lying marsh lands. Water is a dominant feature in the subunit. The winding Coeymans Creek enters the Hudson River north of the hamlet center. It empties into a shallow tidal cove which creates a gently curving shoreline. A dike/breakwater lies offshore. The Hudson is approximately 1500 feet wide between the hamlet and Lower Schodack Island, located in the CGN-4 Islands subunit to the east.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is comprised of an historic Hudson River landing and the tightly organized hamlet associated with it. Coeymans was formed in the 17th century when Barent Coeymans, a Dutch immigrant who had been a miller in the Rensselaerwyck mills, bought from the Catskill Indians twelve square miles of land bordering the Coeymans Creek south of the manor of Rensselaerwyck. His property was crossed by trails to the interior and included waterfalls on the creek at which he built flour mills. Because of the value of the mill sites, the Van Rensselaers disputed his ownership; but in 1714 the British upheld the title by granting him the Coeymans Patent.
Barent's daughter Ariaanje inherited the property and in 1720, on the north side of the creek, built a large home now know as the Ariaanje Coeymans House. The house remained in the family until the late 19th century when it was used as housing for workers in the brickyards. Other than the Coeymans House, the hamlet's historic structures are 19th century buildings. They cling to the hillside which rises above the outlet of Coeymans Creek.
In the past Coeymans functioned over the years as a river landing for shipment of agricultural products and other goods to urban markets. Its other industry was shipbuilding. During the Revolutionary War small gunboats were built in its shipyards for use in the defense of the lower Hudson River. Today its maritime activity is primarily recreational. A town waterfront park and boat launch occupy the center of the hamlet's shoreland and provides a focus for the community. Private marinas and docks are located just north of the park. Strong traditional marine elements of docks, slips and sheds are strung along the waterfront area, but the more recently constructed marina buildings detract from the historic character and visual quality of the hamlet and constitute discordant features. The subunit is generally well-maintained, although the clutter of the waterfront gives an untidy appearance. Boating activities add ephemeral qualities to the landscape.
C. Views
The subunit offers unobstructed moderately long views of the Hudson River to both the north and south framed by the wooded islands and the low hills on the western shore. Other views are framed by the streets and trees in the park. Some views are also fairly wide, generally 90 to 180 degrees. As seen from the Hudson the hamlet unobtrusively clings to the slopes behind a broad expanse of parkland. While there are no major focal points, the simplicity and tranquility of the compositions constitute their appeal.
III. Uniqueness
The hamlet of Coeymans is not unique. It is noteworthy, however, for its close historical connection to the Hudson River.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible from NY Route 144 which carries some commuter traffic between Albany and the communities in southern Albany and northern Greene Counties. The subunit is visible from the Hudson River which is accessible via the boat launch at the riverfront park.
V. Public Recognition
The hamlet is not well known except to local residents and regular travelers of NY Route 144.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Coeymans Hamlet Waterfront subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is highly visually and physically accessible to the general public, and offers unobstructed views of the Hudson River. The subunit contains an unusual variety of vegetation, including extensive marshland, forests, mature street trees and lawns. The subunit's topography, the hamlet's landscape and the shoreland are moderately varied. Water is the dominant feature that unifies the landscape, but discordant features along the waterfront disrupt that unity to some degree.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-2 Hannacrois Creek Outlet Subunit
I. Location
The Hannacrois Creek Outlet subunit encompasses a flat alluvial plain and marshland surrounding the Hannacrois Creek and Barren Island just south of the hamlet of Coeymans. The northern boundary of the subunit is a common boundary with the CGN-1 Coeymans Hamlet subunit. The southern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-3 New Baltimore Hamlet subunit. The subunit's western boundary is NY Route 144, and its eastern boundary is the mean high tide line on the western shores of Houghtaling and Lower Schodack Islands. The subunit is located south of the hamlet of Coeymans in the Towns of Coeymans, Albany County; New Baltimore, Greene County; Schodack, Rensselaer County and Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 1 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit contains great physical variety. The Hannacrois Creek follows a steep wooded gorge down through a flat scrub-covered delta to a small cove surrounded by marshes. Steep bluffs rise 100 feet above the alluvial plain. Water is the dominant element in the subunit. The Hudson River is about 1,000 feet wide between the western shore and Houghtaling and Lower Schodack Islands, located in the CGN-4 Islands subunit to the east. Barren Island, now a peninsula, is covered primarily with a maple and beech forest. The shoreline configuration of the Hudson is complex in this area. The great variety of vegetation attracts many waterfowl and other wildlife.
B. Cultural Character
The character of the area is largely undisturbed and natural. The only visible structures include several small vernacular dwellings on the west side of the marsh and the Town of Coeymans sewage treatment plant on Barren Island. Once the site of a large amusement park and recreational area that served the Capital District in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the rest of the island is privately owned. Houses in the SASS are well-maintained and largely concealed by vegetation. Adjacent to the intersection of NY Route 144 and the road which leads to the sewage treatment plant, stands an old stone house of architectural significance. Waterfowl and river traffic contribute ephemeral effects to the landscape.
Although the sewage treatment plant and its associated facilities are obscured by vegetation and sited with minimal intrusion on the Hudson River, the facilities of industrial character do constitute discordant features in this predominantly natural landscape. The subunit is generally well maintained.
C. Views
The subunit provides moderately long views to the south of the Hudson River and vistas of 90 to 180 degrees in width. The variety of elements create strong, dynamic view compositions. The Hudson River and low hills form a quiet backdrop to the activities of the wildlife gathered at the creek outlet. Views from the Hudson River are of a predominantly natural landscape.
III. Uniqueness
This type of landscape is not unique. It is fairly common in the region.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is constituted primarily of private property and is not very accessible to the public. It is somewhat accessible to the public via the Hudson River. Its western edge and some of the Hannacrois Creek corridor is visible from NY Route 144. The sewage treatment plant property is public land, but access to the property is restricted.
V. Public Recognition
The subunit is not widely recognized by the general public but is known to area boaters. Few people visit the area from land.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Hannacrois Creek Outlet subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it has a variety of scenic components including dramatic topography, diverse vegetative cover, an undulating shoreline and an array of ephemeral effects in the wildlife and marine activities. The landscape is unified through the dominant water feature of the Hudson River and the fact that the visual elements are generally consistent. There is moderate contrast among the Hudson River's expanse, the undulating shoreline and the solidity of the gorge and bluffs. Contrast also exists between the textures and colors of the mature woodlands and marshland vegetation.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-3 New Baltimore Hamlet Subunit
I. Location
The New Baltimore Hamlet subunit extends from south of the flats associated with the Hannacrois Creek mouth to the southern edge of the hamlet of New Baltimore. Its northern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-2 Hannacrois Creek Outlet subunit, and its southern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-5 Otter Hook subunit. The subunit's western boundary lies along NY Routes 144 and 61. Its eastern boundary is the mean high tide line on the western shore of Houghtaling Island. The subunit is located in the Town of New Baltimore, Greene County, and the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Green North SASS map sheet number 1 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is generally precipitous. In the northern portions a 125 foot bluff drops to a narrow beach along the Hudson River, while in the hamlet to the south the slopes between NY Route 61 and the river are very steep. In the northern portion of the subunit the vegetation consists of marsh areas behind a long breakwater that parallels the waterfront. In the hamlet there are many large trees and lawns that extend to the water's edge. The Hudson River is a dominant element, being visible from most locations. It is approximately 1,000 feet wide between its western shore and Houghtaling Island, located in the S-15 Islands subunit. The shoreline is fairly straight.
B. Cultural Character
In 1714 settlers moved south from Coeymans to the area that is now New Baltimore. The Town of New Baltimore once constituted the northern portion of the Town of Coxsackie and was separated from Coxsackie in 1811. The hamlet area was originally a fishing village; but by 1815 Paul Sherman, a Yankee from Tiverton, Rhode Island, was building sloops in the hamlet, and shipbuilding became a major industry in the community.
The subunit has a strong cultural character centered in the historic hamlet of New Baltimore. 19th century vernacular buildings and an occasional earlier structure are tucked against the bluff between NY Route 61 and the Hudson River. The hamlet streets are steep and cling to the precipitous slope. Most of the structures are handsome, if simple, and have a strong relationship to the site and the river. One 18th century structure stands in the center of the hamlet at the top of Steep Hill. It was built by Stephen Parsons, a Puritan who moved to New Baltimore from Long Island in 1754.
A small park and gazebo offer a secluded spot to sit and absorb the ambience of the area. The effect overall is one of a timeless, peaceful life along the river. The hamlet is generally well maintained, although a few of the buildings stand vacant and unkempt, waiting to be rehabilitated.
At the foot of the bluff in the northern portion of the hamlet is located a large marina, its fingers of docks reaching out into the river and parallel to the shore. The rocky bluff looms over the marina facilities. The sheds of the marina are typically blocky and unattractive and are discordant features visible primarily from the Hudson.
C. Views
In the hamlet views are framed by the structures and large trees located along the local streets and the Hudson River. The historic buildings of many architectural periods constitute the most interesting focal points of the scene against a sweeping backdrop of the river and the woods of Houghtaling Island. The lack of topographical variety in this portion of the subunit serves to heighten the contrast of the buildings and their riverfront setting. As some streets plunge to the river, they provide long, narrow views of stone walls, shrubbery and overhanging trees which frame a small patch of water visible at the street end.
In the northern portion the views to the east are from higher elevations and include the boats docked at the marina, the forested island and the low hills and bluffs on the scenic east bank. Views from the Hudson include the uninhabited Houghtaling Island in the S-15 Islands subunit, the marina and bluffs and the hamlet clinging to the rising land.
III. Uniqueness
The hamlet of New Baltimore is not unique. It is noteworthy, however, because of its close historic connection to the Hudson River and its views of the Hudson framed by street trees and historic structures.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is publicly accessible from NY Route 61, the hamlet streets and the Hudson River. A small park adjacent to the sewage treatment plant pumping station on the Hudson River provides access to the water's edge.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is limited to local residents and travelers on NY Route 61.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The New Baltimore Hamlet subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it contains a variety of historic vernacular structures, the forms and architectural detail of which are unified by the tightly clustered hamlet form. The uniform hamlet setting contrasts with that of the broad expanse of water. Manicured lawns along the Hudson contrast with the changing surface of the river, and moored sailboats contrast with the proximate historic houses on shore. The interrelationship of the hamlet and the river unifies the landscape. The subunit is visually and physically accessible to the public from NY Route 61, local streets and the Hudson River. The public can reach the water's edge at the small park adjacent to the pumping station.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Islands subunit encompasses four large islands in the Hudson River that stretch for approximately five miles, from just south of the Thruway bridge over the Hudson River to just north of the Coxsackie Creek mouth. It encompasses approximately the northern half of the river's water surface and islands located in the SASS. The islands are located in the Towns of New Baltimore, Greene County; Schodack, Rensselaer County; and Stuyvesant, Columbia County. The subunit's western and eastern boundaries are coterminous with the subunits to the west and east, namely CGN-1 Coeymans Hamlet Waterfront, CGN-2 Hannacrois Creek Outlet, CGN-3 New Baltimore Hamlet, CGN-5 Otter Hook, CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing, CGN-17 Mill Creek Marsh, CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods, CGN-15 Poolsburg, and CGN-13 Schodack Landing. See the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheets, numbers 1 and 2, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is comprised of flat islands, alluvial plain and fill. The higher land is forested, while the alluvial plain is covered with dense, successional riparian vegetation, primarily scrub trees and wet meadows. While the islands display little topographic variety, the vegetative cover is reasonably diverse. An undulating shoreline of coves and marshes borders the islands. Water is a dominant element in the landscape, as the Hudson River and the Schodack Creek define the edges of the islands. The islands are not as separate as they once were. Bronck Island is now joined to the western shore; and Houghtaling Island is connected to the Lower Schodack Island to its north. A narrow, shallow channel separates the latter three islands from the eastern shore.
B. Cultural Character
The islands in the subunit from north to south are Upper and Lower Schodack Islands, Houghtaling Island and Bronck Island. They are used for recreation such as hunting and informal wildlife viewing. Passing boaters may moor off the islands and explore the inland area. The southern portion of Houghtaling Island is owned by the federal government and used for dredge spoil disposal.
The subunit is generally well maintained with no discordant features. The formerly open areas are reverting to wilderness, and the activities of wildlife provide ephemeral effects.
C. Views
The subunit's scenic quality is based on its unspoiled, natural appearance. The subunit offers screened, relatively short and narrow views over the Hudson River and Schodack Creek to the dramatic background elements of bluffs, hills and historic villages on the shorelands in the adjacent subunits. The depth of views from the interior of the islands is limited by the flatness of the topography and thickness of vegetation. Long views up and down the predominantly natural river corridor are available from the coves and marshes.
III. Uniqueness
Although extensive, the islands are not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
Most of the islands are in public ownership and accessible from the Hudson River, although they are not managed for recreation. They are visible from the subunits on both banks of the Hudson River, from the trains which run along the east shore of the Hudson and from NY Route 61 in New Baltimore and NY Route 9J in Stuyvesant.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition is generally limited to travelers on the Hudson and on the railroad trains and to the hunters and fishermen who visit the area. Most of the islands are publicly owned and used informally by the boating public for recreational purposes.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
Although not distinctive in itself, the Islands subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it links distinctive subunits. The subunit constitutes the middleground and background of views to the Hudson River from distinctive subunits on both the west and east banks of the Hudson, including views from the trains on the eastern shore and from NY Routes 61 and 9J, portions of which are Scenic Roads designated under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The subunit exhibits contrast between the lines of its undulating shores and the texture of the diverse vegetative cover and is unified by the river setting. Much of the subunit is in public ownership and accessible from the Hudson River. The subunit is generally free of discordant features.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Otter Hook subunit begins just south of the hamlet of New Baltimore and continues south to the mouth of the Coxsackie Creek. The subunit's western boundary is NY Route 61. Its northern and southern boundaries are coterminous with adjacent subunits. The eastern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-4 Islands subunit except south of Bronk Island where the subunit incorporates the mouth and adjacent flats of the Coxsackie Creek. Here the eastern boundary is shared with the CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing subunit. The Otter Hook subunit is located in the Town of New Baltimore, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheets, numbers 1 and 2, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The topography is moderately varied, comprised of approximately 1000 acres of rolling pasture, orchard, and woodland on a plateau 100 to 150 feet above the Hudson River. The land along the river is flat alluvial plain and marsh. The Hudson River is a dominant water feature in the eastern portion of the subunit. Dense wooded bluffs rise above a moderately varied shoreline of small, shallow coves. The most striking physical aspect of the subunit is the diverse vegetation, including woodland, pasture, hay fields and orchards. The Coxsackie Creek has cut a varied corridor through the very southern end of the subunit, consisting of both deep pools in a steep rock gorge and fast flowing water through pastureland. Small tributaries and some intermittent streams drain the surrounding hills and empty into the creek. At the creek mouth are found tidal flats.
B. Cultural Character
Cultural features in this pastoral landscape include clustered farm buildings and a few isolated residences, all of which appear to be unchanged since the turn of the century. While isolated blight such as junkyards constitute discordant elements, overall a high level of maintenance is evident on the active farmland and orchards. Grazing livestock, resident wildlife and changing light patterns add ephemeral effects. NY Route 61 respects the topography, and in the southern portion of the subunit, remains a narrow rural road of great charm.
C. Views
Pleasing pastoral compositions, with a dynamic balance of elements, are frequent within the subunit. Sweeping views from the upper fields encompass 180 degree vistas. Other views are either very long or framed by vegetation. Views include filtered vistas of the Hudson River framed by a striking internal landscape of small fields and woodlands. As the roads traverse the landscape in a roller coaster manner, their disappearance and reappearance is intriguing, enticing the traveler to experience the next unfolding vista. The rolling meadows provide an undulating canvass across which shadows and highlights combine in a rich palette of hues and values, while the diverse vegetation provides a pleasing tapestry of colors and textures that changes with the seasons. Barns and farmhouses on distant hills and in hollows add focal points and color accents to the compositions. Meandering streams add linear elements.
Higher locations offer views which stretch to the Catskill Mountains to the southwest and to the Taconic Hills and Berkshires to the east. Views of the Coxsackie Creek corridor are available where NY Route 61 crosses the creek. The reflective surface of the water is in contrast to the dark rocky bluffs and scrub vegetation of the shoreland. The water surface contributes a variety of texture to the scene as it alternately tumbles over rocks and lingers in still pools.
III. Uniqueness
Although the subunit contains unusually lush farmland and forest, it is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit consists primarily of private land. It is accessible from NY Route 61 and highly visible from the highway, the Hudson River and the subunits to the east. V. Public Recognition
While the subunit is not widely recognized by the public, the scenic quality of the southern five mile segment of NY Route 61 is recognized through its designation as a Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Otter Hook subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it exhibits great variety of topography, vegetation and views. The topography ranges from the flat alluvial plain along the Hudson to the adjacent plateau more than 100 feet above the river. Vegetation includes pasture, orchard and woodland. The hues and tones of the landscape vary as the direction and intensity of light changes. The subunit is unified by its pastoral character. There is high contrast between: forms, including between the rolling land and the farm structures; texture, between the diverse vegetative cover and the changing character of the Hudson River; and patterns, including the contrast between the textures of the forested and farmed areas.
The subunit is highly visible to the public from NY Route 61, the Hudson River and its eastern shore. The views available are of outstanding composition and scenic quality. The southern five mile segment of NY Route 61 is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Coxsackie Creek Subunit contains about 350 acres of land on either side of the Coxsackie Creek. Its western boundary is NY Route 61. It shares its northern, eastern and southern boundaries with subunits CGN-5 Otter Hook, CGN-7 Coxsackie Island and CGN-8 Coxsackie Farmland, respectively. The subunit is located in the Town of New Baltimore, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is comprised of farmland along the east side of NY Route 61 and a steep, densely wooded ravine cut by the Coxsackie Creek in its descent from this plateau 100 feet above the Hudson River. A mix of hardwood forest and meadow vegetation covers the folds and hollows that flank the ravine. The winding creek has a moderately varied shoreline. Although the water of the creek is present, it is not a dominant element in the landscape.
B. Cultural Character
Land use in the subunit consists of forestry and dairy farming. Cultural features in the subunit include 19th century farmsteads, fences, walls and fields associated with traditional farming activities. The farms are well maintained, and there are no discordant features. Wildlife and rushing water add ephemeral elements.
C. Views
Some panoramic views are wider than 180 degrees, while other views are limited by vegetation. From the upper fields there are long views to the Hudson and Taconic Hills to the east and to the distant Catskills to the west. Striking internal compositions focus on the winding passage of the Coxsackie Creek through the ravine. From some locations the distant Catskill Mountains form a backdrop in views to the west, with low hills filling the viewshed to the east. There are no major focal points.
III. Uniqueness
The Coxsackie Creek subunit is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is visually accessible from NY Route 61 and forms the middle ground in views to the west from subunits on the eastern shore of the Hudson River. The interior landscape of the State land in the creek corridor is accessible via trails.
V. Public Recognition
NY Route 61 in the subunit is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law, and the Coxsackie Creek corridor from NY Route 62 to the Hudson River is owned by the State Department of Environmental Conservation. Otherwise, the subunit is not well known to the general public, and recognition is limited to travelers on Route 61 and local residents.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Coxsackie Creek subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it contains a great variety of woodland and field vegetation and high contrast among landscape elements. The contrast between the flat farmland on the plateau and the steep ravine is sudden and dramatic. There is strong textural contrast between the hard, rough rock face of the ravine and the creek's reflective pools and tumbling water. The Coxsackie Creek corridor is owned by the State and accessible to the public via trails. The subunit is visible from NY Route 61, a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law, which runs along the western edge of the subunit. It forms the middle ground in views to the west from subunits on the eastern shore of the Hudson River.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-7 Coxsackie Island Subunit
I. Location
The Coxsackie Island Subunit encompasses Coxsackie Island, Rattlesnake Island and adjacent western shorelands of the Hudson River from the mouth of the Coxsackie Creek south to the northern boundary of the Village of Coxsackie. The subunit's western boundary lies along Riverside Avenue in the southern portion and along the top of the bluffs in the northern portion. Its eastern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-19 Sheffer subunit. The subunit is located in the Town of New Baltimore and in the Village and Town of Coxsackie, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is comprised of a steep wooded hillside rising 200 feet above the Hudson River, with two islands at its base. The islands are separated from the shore by channels up to twenty feet deep. A rolling plateau is found in the southern portion of the subunit along Riverside Avenue. The subunit is covered with mature woodland, except for some small clearings adjacent to the shore of the Hudson. Water is a dominant element in the subunit. The Hudson River is approximately 2,000 feet wide in this area and has an extremely varied shoreline bordering islands, coves and bays.
B. Cultural Character
Navigational aids and a few undistinctive dwellings are located along the Hudson River, but otherwise cultural activity is lost in the rich natural character of the area. The navigational light on the north end of Rattlesnake Island and resident wildlife provide some ephemeral effects. The area is generally well-maintained. The unscreened residential development is a discordant feature in this predominantly natural landscape.
C. Views
The subunit offers sweeping vistas over a shallow bend in the Hudson, including some four to five miles of river corridor. The landform creates strong compositions. Islands provide focal points in the views, while the Village of Coxsackie provides a backdrop to the scene on the south and west. The distant Catskill Mountains are visible in views from the top of the bluff. There are also views of the wooded hills of Stuyvesant in the CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms and CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing subunits to the east. In general, the combination of a complex shoreline, the Hudson's proximity to the Village, and mature trees overhanging the water combine to form scenic compositions of exceptional quality.
III. Uniqueness
The scenic quality of the subunit is noteworthy, but it is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Coxsackie Island subunit is primarily in private ownership. However, it is accessible and visible from the Hudson River and from Riverside Avenue in the Town of Coxsackie, and from a dirt road, Sweezey Road, which runs along a portion of the northern shore. The subunit is visible from NY Route 9J on the eastern shore of the Hudson and from the railroad trains which also run along the eastern shore.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is limited primarily to boaters and local residents.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Coxsackie Island subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it contains a varied landform of steep bluffs, hills and islands that offers sweeping vistas of the Hudson River and the distant mountains to both east and west. The shoreline is also varied. High contrast of form, patterns and colors is present among the vegetation and water elements. The dramatic topographic change, the steepness of the slope and the isolation of the islands combine to make this subunit serve as a visual counterpoint to adjacent traditional village and farm landscapes. The Hudson River unifies the landscape. The subunit is generally free of discordant features, except for a few new residences. It is accessible from the Hudson River and visible from the Hudson and from Riverside Avenue in the Town of Coxsackie.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-8 Coxsackie Farmland Subunit
I. Location
The Coxsackie Farmland subunit incorporates upland farms in the northern portion of the Town of Coxsackie. Its northern boundary generally follows the Town's northern boundary, while the southern edge of the subunit reaches south to just behind the houses along Van Dyck Street and Lawrence Street in the Village of Coxsackie. NY Route 61 constitutes its western boundary. Its eastern boundary consists of common boundaries, including Riverside Avenue, with the CGN-9 Coxsackie Village and the CGN-7 Coxsackie Island subunits. The subunit is located in the Town and Village of Coxsackie, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The topography of the subunit is flat to rolling with a small valley. It incorporates approximately 400 acres of actively farmed fields and orchards. There are some specimen trees, generally in the vicinity of the farm residences and barns. The water element is minor, consisting of a small brook.
B. Cultural Character
The physical and cultural attributes of this area are closely tied together. The farmland is part of the fertile lowlands stretching parallel to the Hudson River first settled in the 17th century by the Dutch as they migrated south from Rensselaerwyck. The Dutch established their early farms inland, out of sight of the Hudson River and the British soldiers. Coxsackie is most closely associated with Peter Bronck who settled there in 1662. The community is also known for the Coxsackie Declaration signed in Peter Bronck's house on May 17, 1775 by 221 Hudson Valley farmers. After hearing of the Battle of Lexington the farmers declared their opposition to the actions of the British Parliament.
The historic continuity of land use is obvious in the appearance of the subunit, giving it a timeless quality. Large barns and farmstead clusters, vernacular in character, nestle in the landscape, sheltered by specimen trees. The farming activities and broad expanse of sky contribute ephemeral effects to the landscape. There are some discordant features associated with the highway corridor and the village housing adjacent to the southern portion of the subunit.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are characterized by open sky and horizontal fields stretching into the distance. The breadth of views is generally greater than 180 degrees. While the Hudson River is not directly in view, the Catskills on the west and Taconics on the east serve as distant backdrops for the pastoral compositions. The simplicity and scale of the subunit are unusual in the normally complex, tight landscapes along the Hudson.
III. Uniqueness
Although the large flat fields are noteworthy, they are not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is primarily in private ownership. This open landscape is accessible and highly visible, however, from NY Route 61, Riverside Avenue and other local streets.
V. Public Recognition
The subunit, with its sweeping views, is admired by travellers through Coxsackie, but is not well known by the general public. NY Route 61 is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Coxsackie Farmland subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is a publicly accessible landscape with dramatic views. Topographic variety is limited, but the alternations in crops, orchard plots, and wood lots provide a fair degree of vegetative variety. The landscape is unified by the farm land use. The subunit is recognized as the viewshed of NY Route 61, a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The subunit is accessible and highly visible from NY Route 61, Riverside Avenue and other local streets.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-9 Coxsackie Village Subunit
I. Location
The Coxsackie Village subunit consists of the eastern third of the Village of Coxsackie and a small portion of the Town of Coxsackie to the north. Its western boundary lies 500 feet west of NY Route 385 from the southern village boundary to the intersection with Lafayette Avenue, then 500 feet west of Lafayette Avenue, Van Dyke Street, Noble Street and Riverside Avenue to just north of the village's northern boundary. Its eastern boundary consists of its common boundary with the CGN-7 Coxsackie Island, CGN-24 Stockport Flats and CGN-23 Nutten Hook subunits. The subunit is located in the Village and Town of Coxsackie, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
In the northern portion of the subunit the topography consists of a steep 140 foot bluff edging a cove on the Hudson River which provides some variety to the shoreline. In the southern portion the land slopes gently to a narrow alluvial plain and is covered with a modest variety of trees and lawns. The Hudson River is approximately 2800 feet wide in this area and is joined by small tributary streams. The Hudson is a dominant element in the landscape. The central portion of the subunit includes the open lawn of a large park at the water's edge. Tidal flats border some portions of the waterfront, while the upland consists of a large flat stretch of filled land, including the waterfront park and Reed Street.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit includes the corridors of local streets and the southern portion of the NY Route 385 corridor in the Village of Coxsackie, adjacent neighborhoods and the Coxsackie waterfront. The village is built above and below the steep bluff and on hills overlooking the Hudson River. The area encompassing the Village of Coxsackie was purchased from the Indians in 1662, and the English issued the Coxsackie Patent to the new owners in 1687.
Development of Reeds Landing, also known as Coxsackie Middle Landing and Coxsackie Landing, began in 1784. Reed Street was named after Eliakim Reed who operated a dock and warehouse on the Hudson River prior to 1800. By 1810 the land had been subdivided and early buildings stood on piles in the marsh areas. By the mid-1800s this landing was the main commercial waterfront area for Coxsackie and included many enterprises such as ship-building, ice harvesting, a carriage factory, a printing press factory, an iron foundry and the sale of lumber and coal. A ferry once ran between Coxsackie and Newton Hook on the east bank of the Hudson River. The Village of Coxsackie was incorporated in 1867.
While the village architecture is predominantly modest Victorian vernacular, the buildings are clustered in a tight grid pattern resulting in a strong sense of place. More mercantile buildings with their 19th century storefronts intact remain than is usual in Hudson River communities. A State-owned riverfront park and boat launch are graced by a large gazebo used for concerts and other events. Park events and boating activities on the Hudson provide ephemeral effects. The village is tidy and generally well cared for, although some pockets of deterioration exist, constituting discordant features. The design of the modern post office building is not compatible with the surrounding historic structures and constitutes a discordant feature.
C. Views
Broad views to the east, 90 to 180 degrees in breadth, are dominated by the Hudson River against a backdrop of wooded islands, Nutten Hook and the low hills, farms and estates located in the CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms subunit on the east bank. Moderately long views of two to three miles are available up and down the Hudson. The riverfront park provides a focal point in views from the Hudson. In views to the east from the village, the waterfront provides a climax to the natural movement down the hill and through the center, a burst of openness at the end of narrow vertical corridors. The simplicity of the scene provides a balance of visual elements, providing many pleasant compositions in different locations within the village. The integration of streets, buildings, and steep landform provides visual variety and a liveliness it would lack on a flatter site.
III. Uniqueness
Because of its strong sense of place and orientation to the Hudson River, the Coxsackie subunit is unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is publicly accessible from NY Route 385, local streets and the Hudson River. It is also visible from Nutten Hook, which is owned by the State of New York and managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation, from the railroad trains and from other locations on the eastern shore of the Hudson.
V. Public Recognition
Thirty-two buildings in the business district and environs constitute the Reed Street Historic District listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The village is not well recognized by the general public, however.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Coxsackie subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it contains a moderate variety of scenic components, including the built environment of the tight village settlement, upland and marsh vegetation, the Hudson River and its wooded islands. Unity is achieved through the setting of a well preserved, historic village, recognized through the listing of the Reed Street Historic District on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The openness of the waterfront park and of the Hudson River contrast with the historic street corridors. Coxsackie is a unique historic village in a pristine natural setting. The subunit is accessible from NY Route 385, local streets and the Hudson River and is visible from Nutten Hook, the railroad trains and other locations on the eastern shore of the Hudson.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-10 Lampman Hill Subunit
I. Location
The Lampman Hill subunit extends south from the Village of Coxsackie along NY Route 385 to the intersection with Four Mile Point Road. Its northern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-9 Coxsackie Village subunit. Its southern boundary, a common boundary with the CGN-11 Vosburgh Swamp subunit, runs northeast to a point just south of Beecher Road. Its eastern boundary is the common boundary it shares with the CGN-24 Stockport Flats subunit. The subunit is located in the Town of Coxsackie, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheets, numbers 2 and 3, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit contains dramatic topographical changes, from a 260 foot high hill and 100 foot high wooded bluffs rising above the Hudson River to the level upland plateau behind the bluffs and the broad expanse of the Hudson. The land is covered with diverse vegetation of lawns, specimen trees, hardwood forest and meadows. Water is a dominant element in the subunit, the Hudson being approximately 1500 feet wide in this area. Its shoreline is moderately varied with some coves present.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is rich in historic resources. The Town of Coxsackie was first settled by members of the Peter Bronck family who built a house in 1663 to the west outside the subunit, now the Bronck Museum operated by the Greene County Historical Society. In that house on May 17, 1775, 225 members of the Committee of Correspondence and Safety signed the Coxsackie Declaration stating that Americans should only be ruled by themselves. In the early 1800s Leonard Bronck Lampman built his imposing French chateau still located atop Lampman Hill. A number of other significant homes dot the subunit, acting as focal points for views within the area, their estate-like lawns sweeping down to the Hudson River. The waterfront contains several old landings and remains of docks. At one time ice houses were numerous along the shoreline.
There is some farming activity, primarily hayfields, which contribute seasonal ephemeral effects. The subunit is generally well maintained but contains some discordant features in the form of spreading residential development on ridgelines.
C. Views
The subunit's elevation provides spectacular views four to five miles along the Hudson River and across the Hudson to the woods and farms of Stockport located in the CGN-25 Newton Hook Ravine subunit on the east bank. Viewing opportunities in some locations extend 360 degrees. The Catskill Mountains provide a distant backdrop in views to the west. This setting and the diverse estate landscape provide many dramatic view compositions.
III. Uniqueness
This landscape of upper Hudson villas and dramatic topography is unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
Although land in the Lampman Hill subunit is privately owned, the open nature of the subunit makes it highly visible from NY Route 385, Beecher Road and the Hudson River. The subunit is accessible from the roads and the Hudson River.
V. Public Recognition
NY Route 385 is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Otherwise, the subunit is not well known to the general public, although Route 385 does carry local north - south traffic.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Lampman Hill subunit included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is a unique upper Hudson villa landscape with dramatic topographical variety and diverse vegetation. It is visually and physically accessible from the Hudson River, NY Route 385 and local roads. Although inappropriately sited new development has decreased the landscape's unity and contributed some discordant features such as the spreading residential development on crestlines, the subunit retains a degree of scenic quality which merited recognition through the designation of NY Route 385 as a Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Vosburgh Swamp subunit encompasses some 450 acres midway between the Villages of Coxsackie and Athens, including the west flats and Vosburgh Swamp as well as Four Mile Point. The subunit's northern boundary, a common boundary with the CGN-10 Lampman Hill subunit, lies just south of Beecher Road. Its western boundary, a common boundary with the CGN-12 Athens-Coxsackie Farmland subunit, generally follows the edge of the wetland except in the north where the boundary reaches west to NY Route 385. The subunit is located in the Towns of Coxsackie and Athens, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
Topographic variety is limited. The southern two-thirds of the subunit is comprised of a broad, flat marsh at the base of wooded bluffs. The northern portion consists of long, gradual slopes at the bottom of which lie a broad plain and low hills located along the Hudson River. There is a diverse mix of vegetation types including marsh vegetation, woodlands, pasture, orchard and lawns. The great variety of marsh vegetation contrasts with the heavy cover of trees on the surrounding upland. Water, including the Hudson River, coves, ponds and rivulets in the marsh, is the dominant element. The Hudson is about 3500 feet wide in this area. The shoreline is diverse, encompassing meandering streams, irregular marsh boundaries and more regular pond configurations. Small sandy beaches appear at low tide.
B. Cultural Character
Isolated by the marsh, a small group of homes is clustered on a low rise called Four Mile Point. Partially hidden in the trees, they symbolize an older way of life along the river. The buildings provide a charming cultural element in the midst of this natural area. The subunit is generally well maintained, but some discordant features such as abandoned gravel pits and scattered new housing are present. Wildlife, river traffic and rising mists over the Hudson contribute ephemeral effects.
The roadbed of the Saratoga and Hudson River Railroad is still visible in the northern portion of the subunit. Built in 1867 by Cornelius Vanderbilt to bring farm produce and other goods from inland areas to the docks in Athens, the railroad was dubbed the White Elephant Railroad when its docks and depot burned nine years after their construction.
A 19th century stone lighthouse with clapboard wings still stands at the elbow of Four Mile Point. Once the site of ice houses, the point is now a quiet, rather isolated landscape with a strong relationship to the Hudson River. The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. owns the 7.6 acre Four Mile Point Preserve, opened in September 1992, which provides public access to the river, a beach, picnic area, and a promontory trail and overlook with spectacular views of the river, Stockport Middleground Flats, and agricultural lands of Columbia County. The Town of Coxsackie manages and maintains the preserve.
C. Views
The subunit offers full views of the Hudson, its islands, and the bluffs and hills of the Hudson's eastern shore. The depth of views is limited only by the relatively low elevation. There are moderately long views up and down the Hudson for two to three miles. Some broad views extend 90 to 180 degrees, and those from the upland areas to the east extend to the Taconic Hills. Views to the west across the pastures at the top of the slopes reach to the distant Catskill Mountains. With a background of river and low hills, the composition is horizontal, unified and tranquil.
Interior landward views are of historic barns and houses framed with large trees and surrounded by lawns with the Hudson for a backdrop. Four Mile Point Road is narrow and winding, revealing new compositions with each turn. Views from the road include the Hudson River, ponds, marshes, woodlands and historic structures.
III. Uniqueness
The Vosburgh Swamp subunit is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The Vosburgh Swamp subunit is accessible from Four Mile Point Road and from the Hudson River. It is visible from NY Route 385, the Hudson and its eastern shore, including the passing railroad trains. There is evidence of use of the beach areas for picnicking and viewing the Hudson River. The abandoned right-of-way of the White Elephant Railroad is used informally by local residents to gain access near the Hudson River. Public accessibility has increased with opening of the Four-Mile Point Preserve.
V. Public Recognition
The Vosburgh Swamp is known for its wildlife values and attracts bird watchers from around the Northeast. Four Mile Point is well known to boaters. Otherwise the subunit is known primarily by local residents, particularly hunters. NY Route 385 is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law, and the Vosburgh Swamp subunit is visible from the highway. The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. recently purchased land on Four-Mile Point for a park open to the public.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Vosburgh Swamp subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is a distinctive landscape with a great variety of vegetation and a moderately varied landform. The texture and color of the marshland vegetation contrast with that of the wooded uplands. The historic structures also provide an element of contrast, although they are well integrated with the natural setting. The water elements of the Hudson River and the Vosburgh Swamp are dominant and unify the subunit.
The subunit is publicly accessible from the Hudson River and NY Route 385 and visible from Route 385, the Hudson River and its eastern shore. NY Route 385 is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law because of the views it provides, including views of the Vosburgh Swamp subunit. Public recognition is generally limited to local residents except for that segment of the public involved in bird watching and hunting. Public accessibility has increased with opening of the Four-Mile Point Preserve.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-12 Athens-Coxsackie Farmland Subunit
I. Location
The Athens-Coxsackie Farmland subunit is comprised of about 500 acres of land bordering NY Route 385. Its northern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-10 Lampman Hill subunit, anchored at the intersection of Route 385 and Four Mile Point Road. The eastern boundary of the subunit is the common boundary with the CGN-11 Vosburgh Swamp subunit. The Village of Athens northern boundary constitutes the southern boundary of the subunit and the southern boundary of the SASS on the Greene County side of the Hudson River. The subunit is located in the Towns of Athens and Coxsackie, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is characterized by successional farmland on a low bluff overlooking Vosburgh Swamp and the Hudson River. The land slopes down from the highway to the Hudson, from an elevation of 100 to 150 feet, creating a moderate amount of topographic diversity. Vegetation is a mix of second growth deciduous forest, pasture, hayfield and scrub. The shoreline is moderately varied, consisting of small coves and bays and the marsh edges.
B. Cultural Character
The Athens-Coxsackie Farmland subunit has a rich cultural and historic heritage evident in traditional farmstead clusters and attractive vernacular architecture. The area has been occupied since prehistoric times. Robert Juet, crewman on Henry Hudson's Halfmoon, recorded in his diary having run aground on the flats and trading with the Indians. He describes the beauty of the landscape in his writings. In 1667 the Loonenburg Patent, which included lands in the southern portion of the subunit, was granted to Adrian Van Loon. The first house on the large farm was built to the south of the subunit in what is now the Village of Athens by Jan Van Loon in 1708. The land was then subdivided over the years. The early settlers of these fertile flat lands were farmers, many of whom had migrated from the Manor of Rensselaerwyck to the north.
The northern portion of the subunit lies in the Town of Coxsackie, which was founded in 1788. The Town of Coxsackie once extended south to Murderer's Creek in what is now the Village of Athens. The Town of Athens was founded in 1815 and incorporated the southern portion of the original area of Coxsackie.
The subunit was once traversed along its eastern edge by the Saratoga and Hudson River Railroad. Built by Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1867 to bring farm produce and other goods to Athens docks, it was dubbed the White Elephant Railroad nine years later when its docks and depot were destroyed by fire. Its abandoned right-of-way, sometimes atop a six-foot berm across open fields, is still visible.
The contrast of the farmsteads with their open, natural surroundings is blurred by recent residential development along the highway. A greenhouse as well as cultivated clusters of trees belonging to a commercial nursery are located along NY Route 385. In general the area seems to be in transition, with many abandoned fields and new homes in evidence. There is some evidence of neglect.
Farming activities provide some ephemeral effects. Scattered new development contributes a moderate degree of discordance.
C. Views
The subunit overlooks Vosburgh Swamp and the Hudson River. Views from the subunit include partial vistas to the east of the Hudson with the Taconic Hills visible in the distance. Views to the west include the dramatic backdrop of the Catskill Mountains. The views extend from one to two miles in length and are 90 to 180 degrees in width. The varied landscape provides a pleasing variety of visual elements, organized around a pastoral theme. There exists a dynamic balance of elements in the view compositions, with the Catskills and Hudson River islands providing some focal points.
III. Uniqueness
The Athens-Coxsackie Farmland subunit is an uncommon pastoral landscape, but it is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is primarily in private ownership. It is visible from the Hudson River and the subunits on the eastern shorelands as well as from NY Route 385. In the southern portion River Road provides access to the southern edge of the subunit, and the Hudson River provides access to its length. Its eastern edge along Vosburgh Swamp is visible from the Hudson River. The abandoned right-of-way of the White Elephant Railroad runs along the eastern boundary of the subunit and is used informally by local residents for hiking and snowmobiles.
V. Public Recognition
The subunit is not widely recognized by the public, although it constitutes the eastern foreground of the NY Route 385 viewshed. NY Route 385 is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
VI. Reason For Inclusion
The physical character of the subunit is its most dominant scenic attribute. The low bluffs and pastoral landscape of the Athens-Coxsackie Farmland subunit are highly visible from the Hudson River and its eastern shorelands as well as from NY Route 385, a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The subunit is accessible from the Hudson River and River Road. The subunit exhibits a moderate variety of topography and vegetation highly unified by the historic farming activities. The contrast among the landscape elements of broad fields, woodlands and river is moderate. The composition and extent of views to the Catskills and Taconics is dramatic.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-13 Schodack Landing Subunit
I. Location
The Schodack Landing subunit constitutes the northeastern portion of the SASS. Its northern boundary lies along Knickerbocker Road, approximately two miles north of the Columbia/Rensselaer County line. Its eastern boundary follows the coastal boundary which in the southern portion of the subunit lies along a railroad spur inland from the Hudson River. The southern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-15 Poolsburg subunit, and the western boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-4 Islands subunit. The subunit is located in the Town of Schodack, Rensselaer County and the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 1 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The landform consists of heavily wooded bluffs and terraces paralleling the Hudson River. The vegetative cover is diverse, ranging from lawns and individual trees in the hamlet of Schodack Landing to mature woodlands, orchards and open meadows in the surrounding countryside. Water, in the form of the Hudson River and the Schodack Creek, is a dominant element in the subunit. Streams cut through the bluffs in several locations. Some wetlands line the shore which includes headlands and small coves.
B. Cultural Character
The predominant land use in the subunit is residential, consisting of a cluster of historic homes located along NY Route 9J and parallel secondary roads in the hamlet of Schodack Landing. The historic structures are of many architectural periods, some dating to the 18th century. They are generally well maintained and set in a village landscape of yards and gardens. To the north of the hamlet, older houses are scattered along the highway corridor, creating more of a strip development pattern.
The hamlet still exhibits a close relationship with the Hudson River. Originally settled by the Dutch in the early 1700s, Schodack Landing was an important commercial center in the 18th and 19th centuries used by the settlers to ship their farm produce and other products such as furs and tanned hides to the cities to the north and south. In the late 1800s river ice was a major commodity. As with other landings on the Hudson, the advent of the railroad changed the transportation patterns, and Schodack Landing became a small local stop along the line. No trains stop in the hamlet today.
The railroad tracks still parallel the Hudson and detract slightly from the settlement's visual and physical connection with the river. Other than the railroad, there are no discordant features to mar the landscape. The subunit is very well maintained.
C. Views
The subunit provides full views, 90 to 180 degrees in width and two to three miles long, of the Hudson River and Lower Schodack Island, which divides the Hudson in this area. The bridges which carry the railroad and the New York State Thruway over the Hudson are visible in the background to the north, outside of the subunit. The bridges and the islands contribute focal points to the views. Because of the wooded nature of the subunit, however, views from NY Route 9J and local roads are very limited. Within the hamlet views are oriented along the highway and are punctuated with a pleasing irregular cadence of historic structures sited at irregular distances from the corridor. The hamlet is the focus of views from the river.
III. Uniqueness
The Schodack Landing subunit's cluster of historic homes set atop the low bluff overlooking the Hudson River and Houghtaling Island is unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible to the public via the Hudson River and NY Route 9J. It is visible to passing motorists, boaters and rail passengers.
V. Public Recognition
The subunit is part of the Schodack Landing Historic District listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
VI. Reasons for Inclusion
The Schodack Landing subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it exhibits an unusual variety of historic structures set in a landscape of moderate topographic variety. The subunit is highly unified by the hamlet theme and the colors of both the natural and cultural components. There exist striking contrasts between the natural and man-made forms. The subunit is generally free from discordant features. It is accessible to the general public via the Hudson River and NY Route 9J and is visible to passing motorists, boaters and rail passengers. The subunit is publicly recognized through the Schodack Landing Historic District listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-14 Stuyvesant Farms Subunit
I. Location
The Stuyvesant Farms unit lies eastward of the bluffs lining the Hudson River and extends south for 3 miles from the Columbia-Rensselaer County line. The subunit is approximately 1 mile wide, and is a common boundary with the CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods subunit. Its western boundary, a common boundary with the CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods subunit, is located 1/4 mile east of the east bank of the Hudson River. Its eastern boundary follows the State coastal boundary. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 1 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit has great topographic variety consisting of rolling hills and small ravines interspersed with large open fields, meadows, orchards and woodlands in a predominantly agricultural landscape. The woodlands are mature and create a substantial visual contrast to the open fields. While there are some small ponds and streams, water is not a dominant feature in the landscape.
B. Cultural Character
Agriculture is the principal land use, with a mix of tilled fields, pastures, orchards and woodlands. Historic farmstead and estate structures are of a fine vernacular architecture and are well-maintained. There are a few scattered single family houses along the lightly traveled roads in the subunit. No obvious discordant elements exist to detract from the pastoral landscape which is reflective of a working agricultural community.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are varied, although views of the Hudson River are limited. There are more substantial views 90 to 180 degrees in width over fields to woods and distant hills to the east, the Berkshires, and to the west, the Catskills. Within the subunit, views of farms and woodlands create a rich three dimensional tapestry. Historic farmsteads and estates serve as focal points in the landscape of fields and woods.
III. Uniqueness
The scale and quality of the pastoral agricultural landscape of this subunit is unique. With no obvious discordant elements, the highly scenic landscape continues a traditional rural heritage in the rapidly growing Hudson Valley region.
IV. Public Accessibility
Although the land in the subunit is primarily in public ownership, the subunit is accessible and visible from a network of local roads.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition is limited to local residents and travelers on local roads
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Stuyvesant Farms subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it exhibits an unusual variety of major components including highly diverse topography and vegetation. The mature woodlands present a striking contrast in texture with the open farm fields. This scenic pastoral agricultural landscape is a unique example of the traditional rural heritage. The subunit is generally free of discordant features and is accessible and visible to the public via the network of local roads.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Poolsburg subunit is composed of two separate small settlements located in northern Columbia County on the banks of the Hudson River. The first settlement, Poolsburg, is about 4 miles north of the hamlet of Stuyvesant, while the second settlement is another 1 1/2 miles north of Poolsburg. They are essentially surrounded by the CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods subunit. The subunit shares its western boundary with the CGN-4 Islands subunit. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 1 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Component
A. Physical Character
The landform in both settlements is composed of a terrace and bluffs 100 feet in height overlooking the Hudson River. Vegetation is diverse, ranging from lawns and individual trees in the hamlets to woodlands and orchards immediately adjacent. The river shoreline along both areas is moderately varied, consisting of small coves and headlands. The river is a dominant element in the landscape, with a width from 500 to 1000 feet.
B. Cultural Character
The principal land use in the subunit is residential, although the number of houses is probably fewer than 25. Most structures are historic, of a consistent high quality design and generally well-maintained. There is a strong visual connection between the groups of houses and the river, which is the dominant and organizing visual element in the landscape; yet the river is somewhat cut off from the upland areas by the railroad line which traverses both settlements. The tracks themselves plus electric transmission lines scattered throughout the subunit constitute discordant features.
Many ephemeral effects are present in the subunit, including river traffic, passing trains, wildlife and sunsets.
C. Views
There are full views of the Hudson River 90 to 180 degrees in width from the groups of houses in each hamlet, including views of Houghtaling Island. Views are also available one to five miles along the Hudson. Views within the subunit include the houses, which provide a pleasing contrast and accent to the surrounding landscape. River islands and low hills across the river provide a background for views which also encompass headlands, islands and navigation lights as focal points.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique, although the strong variety of positive visual elements, consisting of historic homes in small riverfront settlements, bluffs, woodlands and the river, is fairly unusual within the region.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible and visible from NY Route 9J and local roads and is visible to train passengers and passing boaters on the Hudson River. The railroad tracks are a barrier to access between the river and the shorelands.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition is limited to local residents and travelers on the Hudson River, NY Route 9J and the trains.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it has a high variety of major components made up of dramatic topography and diverse vegetation along the Hudson River which unifies the landscape. The texture of the vegetation and the bluffs contrast with the changing surface of the Hudson. The subunit is generally free of discordant features. It is accessible to the public via NY Route 9J and local roads and is visible from the roadways, the Hudson River and the railroad trains.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods Subunit
I. Location
The Stuyvesant Woods subunit stretches approximately 3 1/2 miles along the Hudson River and its eastern shore. Its southern boundary is irregular, a common boundary with the CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms and CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing subunits. The western boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-17 Mill Creek Marsh, CGN-4 Islands and CGN-15 Poolsburg subunits. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Green North SASS map sheets, numbers 1 and 2, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The topography of the subunit is dramatic, composed of steep, corrugated bluffs up to 100 feet high together with numerous ravines carved by the many streams flowing into the Hudson River. There are small uplands between the stream courses. The vegetation is diverse, ranging from mature woodlands on the steep hillsides to open meadows and occasional orchards on the uplands.
The subunit has about one mile of straight river shoreline at its northern end, lined with the railroad tracks. In the south, the shoreline undulates along the marsh located in the CGN-17 Mill Creek Marsh subunit to the west. Water is a dominant element in the landscape, including many streams and the Hudson River itself.
B. Cultural Character
There are some scattered residential land uses of modest houses with simple vernacular architecture located around old river landings; but most of the landscape is in a natural state, with few cultural features. A designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law, NY Route 9J lines the west side of the subunit from north to south, while three local roads climb the bluffs eastward from NY Route 9J. The railroad tracks are located along the river's edge. A second spur runs through the middle of the subunit from north to south.
Wildlife, waterfalls on the streams, passing trains and boats add ephemeral effects to the landscape. The subunit is generally well-maintained, with the railroad tracks and overhead electric transmission lines the primary discordant features.
C. Views
The elevation of the subunit provides full views of the Hudson 90 to 180 degrees wide and moderately long views up and down the river. Islands, particularly Houghtaling Island, and distant hills across the river provide a backdrop. However, the heavily wooded terrain limits views from NY Route 9J and the local roads. Views within the subunit encompass a great variety of scenes because of the diversity of the landscape and vegetation. The stream patterns establish narrow views along their ravines, while their narrow uplands provide more open and extended views. The islands and navigation lights contribute focal points.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique, although the combination of wooded bluffs and ravines, numerous streams, uplands and a generally unsullied natural landscape is unusual in the region.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible via NY Route 9J and local roads and is visible from NY Route 9J, local roads, passing trains, the Hudson River and the subunits on the western shore.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition is limited to local residents and travelers on the Hudson River, the trains and NY Route 9J.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
This subunit is part of the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it has a wide variety of major components,including dramatic topography and diverse vegetation and water elements. These are highly unified within a relatively undisturbed and diverse natural landscape of high visual quality. The combination of steep bluffs and ravines plus narrow uplands covered by mature woods, meadows and a few orchards is unusual in the region. The subunit is generally free of discordant features. It is accessible to the public via NY Route 9J and local roads and is visible from the Hudson River, the highways and trains and from the Hudson's western shore.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-17 Mill Creek Marsh Subunit
I. Location
The Mill Creek Marsh subunit is located about one mile north of the hamlet of Stuyvesant and extends north about two miles along the eastern shore of the Hudson River. Its inland boundary to the east generally follows NY Route 9J, a common boundary with the CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods subunit. The subunit shares western boundaries with CGN-4 Islands subunit. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheets, numbers 1 and 2, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is a low-lying tidal marsh with some second growth woodlands. The land is flat to gently rolling with a moderately diverse river shoreline containing several small coves and inlets. Water is the dominant element in the landscape, the Hudson River being about 2000 feet wide at this point. Several streams, including the Mill Creek, flow through the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
The only cultural features in the subunit are the railroad line passing north to south through the length of the subunit and through the middle of the marsh in the southern portion. Route 9J edges the subunit to the east of the railroad tracks. Otherwise, the landscape remains in a natural state. Wildlife, passing trains, sunsets and river traffic are important ephemeral effects associated with the area. The subunit is generally well-maintained, the only discordant features being the railroad tracks and some overhead electric transmission lines.
C. Views
The subunit offers full views of the Hudson River 90 to 180 degrees in width. The length of views is limited by the subunit's low elevation. The dominant visual elements in the landscape are the Hudson River and the uniform vegetation covering the wetlands with a backdrop of nearby rolling hills and a few islands. Focal points include headlands and navigation lights.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. The type of river/shore wetland landscape represented by the subunit is fairly common in the region.
IV. Public Recognition
Portions of the subunit are owned and managed by the Nature Conservancy, and the area is included in the New York Natural Heritage Program. Familiarity with the subunit is limited to travelers on the Hudson River, NY Route 9J and the trains.
V. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible from the Hudson River and is highly visible from the railroad and the river and partially visible from NY Route 9J. The subunit is visible from the subunits on the western shore of the Hudson River.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Mill Creek Marsh subunit is included in the Columbia-Green North SASS because it is a highly unified natural landscape which, while not distinctive itself, is surrounded by and links distinctive subunits in all directions. It is accessible to the public from the Hudson River and visible from the river, trains, NY Route 9J and from the western shore of the Hudson River. It is publicly recognized through its inclusion in part in the New York Natural Heritage Program and the Nature Conservancy's ownership of portions of the marsh, the wildlife of which contributes ephemeral elements to the subunit. The subunit is generally free of discordant features and serves as an important backdrop for significant views from these neighboring subunits.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing Subunit
I. Location
The Stuyvesant Landing subunit is a corridor about 1 1/4 miles long encompassing a narrow strip of bluffs along the eastern shore of the Hudson River. It shares boundaries with the CGN-20 Stuyvesant Hamlet subunit on the east, generally along NY Route 9J; the CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods and CGN-17 Mill Creek Marsh subunits on the north; the CGN-21 Stuyvesant Ravine and CGN-19 Sheffer subunits on the south and the CGN-4 Islands, the CGN-5 Otter Hook and CGN-7 Coxsackie Island subunits to the west. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic components
A. Physical Character
The topography of the subunit consists primarily of a steep bench of bluffs which rise 100 feet above the shore of the Hudson River. Vegetation is comprised of woods, open meadows and lawns which lie to the east of the bluffs. Water is the dominant element in the subunit, the Hudson being 2,000 feet wide in this area. The shoreline is somewhat diverse, including a small cove and flats.
B. Cultural Character
A small portion of the hamlet of Stuyvesant is included in the subunit. Transportation facilities and vernacular houses nestled in wooded lots constitute the principal land uses. The interrelationship of the hamlet with the Hudson is somewhat disrupted by the railroad tracks along the river's shore, but the historic importance of the landing is still evident in the remaining, though unused, railroad station and the street connections of the shoreland with the upland and interior. NY Route 9J, the principal transportation route, runs along the top of the bluff east of the houses, except in the southern portion of the subunit where it drops down to run along the shore of the Hudson.
Stuyvesant was formed from the Town of Kinderhook in 1823 and was named after Governor Peter Stuyvesant. The landing had been called Kinderhook Landing before that time and was a departure point of vessels loaded with produce, lumber and furs from the interior. When the early Dutch and Swedish settlers arrived in the 17th century, the land was covered with pine forests. Saw mills, grist mills and later cotton mills and paper mills were constructed at Stuyvesant Falls, three miles inland on Kinderhook Creek; and their products were brought to Kinderhook/Stuyvesant Landing for shipment. Today, some historic homes remain, reflecting the wealth of these flourishing industrial periods.
The subunit is generally well maintained. The activities of village life and the passing rail and river traffic add ephemeral characteristics to the landscape. The dilapidated condition of the railroad station, the railroad corridor itself and the parking lots and electrical transmission lines constitute discordant features at the landing.
C. Views
The bluff provides a variety of full views both across and up the Hudson River. Although views are limited in many areas by the wooded terrain, they can reach 90 to 180 degrees in breadth, with their background being the Hudson's islands and the low hills of the western shore. The river, islands and certain historic structures are focal points.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique, although the combination of dramatic topography with the historic hamlet features is uncommon in the region.
IV. Public Recognition
Public recognition is generally limited to local residents and travelers on NY Route 9J, a lightly traveled road in this area. Route 9J north of the hamlet is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
V. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible to the public via the Hudson River, NY Route 9J and local streets. It is visible to train passengers and passing boaters.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Stuyvesant Landing subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is a highly unified hamlet landscape with a moderate variety of scenic components which provide some contrast, especially in the dramatic topography and textures of vegetation. The subunit is accessible to the public via the Hudson River, NY Route 9J and local streets. It is publicly recognized in part through the designation of the northern portion of NY Route 9J as a Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The subunit is generally free of discordant features, except for those in the immediate environs of the unused railroad station.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Sheffer subunit stretches for one mile along the east bank of the Hudson River from about 1/2 mile south of the hamlet of Stuyvesant to just north of Nutten Hook. It shares its eastern boundary with the CGN-21 Stuyvesant Ravine and CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms subunits, its southern boundary with the CGN-23 Nutten Hook and CGN-24 Stockport Flats subunits and its western boundary with the CGN-7 Coxsackie Island subunit. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic components
A. Physical Character
There is little topographic variety in the subunit. Landform consists of low-lying wetlands and woodlands along the Hudson River, islands and some bluffs in the southern portion. Except for the bluffs and the elevated corridor of NY Route 9J, the subunit lies entirely within the floodplain. Second growth forest, primarily on the islands, and marshland provide a modest variety of vegetation. Water is the dominant element, the Hudson being 1,000 to 2,000 feet wide in this area. The shoreline undulates gently around the islands and the mouth of a small stream in the northern portion of the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
Cultural features are limited, consisting of NY Route 9J and the railroad tracks which lie near the eastern boundary in the southern half of the subunit. Otherwise, most of the area is in a natural state. The tracks constitute discordant features.
The ephemeral effects of wildlife, river traffic and passing trains contribute to the subunit's visual interest, serving as foils to the area's tranquil natural character.
C. Views
There are long, full views of the Hudson River from the subunit, greater than five miles in length and up to 360 degrees in breadth. The Village of Coxsackie and hills are visible across the river in the CGN-9 Coxsackie Village subunit to the southwest. The composition of the views is well-balanced with navigation lights on the river and Coxsackie village on the western shore constituting focal points.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique. Its riverside landscape is fairly common in the region.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible via the Hudson River and NY Route 9J. It is visible to train passengers and passing boaters and is the middle ground of views from the western shore of the river, particularly from the CGN-7 Coxsackie Island and CGN-9 Coxsackie Village subunits.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is limited to boaters. However, the subunit does constitute the middle ground of views from the Hudson's western shore, however, particularly from the CGN-9 Coxsackie Village subunit.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Sheffer subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is surrounded by and links highly scenic landscapes, constituting the middle ground in views from neighboring subunits. Its inclusion provides continuity to the SASS. The dominant Hudson River unifies the subunit. Its undulating shoreline provides some variety to the landscape. The subunit is accessible to the public via the Hudson River and NY Route 9J and is visible from the highway, passing trains and boats and from the Hudson's western shore. It is generally free of discordant features.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-20 Stuyvesant Hamlet Subunit
I. Location
The Stuyvesant Hamlet subunit incorporates that part of the hamlet of Stuyvesant east of NY Route 9J, including areas east of the hamlet on either side of County Route 398. It also includes areas north and south of the hamlet that are mostly east of NY Route 9J. The subunit does not include any shoreland along the Hudson River. Its western boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing subunit. The subunit also shares boundaries with the CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms and the CGN-21 Stuyvesant Ravine subunits. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of generally flat and open land covered with orchards, fields and woodlots. Near the river's edge the land drops abruptly about 120 feet. While there are some small ponds and streams, water is not a strong feature in the landscape, since the subunit does not include shoreland along the river.
B. Cultural Character
The principal land uses in the subunit are agricultural and residential, the latter concentrated in the eastern half of the historic hamlet of Stuyvesant. Both older and newer houses are sited along the roads leading out of the hamlet. The eastern portion of the hamlet is located on the flat plain above the Hudson and contains a number of historic buildings of a high quality vernacular architecture. A noticeable number of houses have been renovated in keeping with their period style. The historic composition of the hamlet is largely intact and well-maintained with few discordant features, primarily the new dwellings.
Some discordant features in the subunit are associated with the newer houses arranged in a strip development pattern along the roads leading out of the hamlet.
C. Views
Views to the west include the Hudson River in the middle ground, with the Catskills ever present in the distant background. Interior views extend across fields and meadows, sometimes framed by mature woodlands, with focal points of farmsteads and certain historic structures located in the hamlet. There is a high degree of variety and contrast between the hamlet pattern and the surrounding rural landscape, the edge of the settled area remaining distinct.
III. Uniqueness
The relatively intact traditional pattern of historic village and rural landscape, without significant discordant features, is uncommon within the region, but it is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible from NY Route 9J and local roads.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition is limited to local residents and travelers on NY Route 9J, a lightly traveled road in this area.
VI. Reasons for Inclusion
The Stuyvesant hamlet is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it has a high variety of cultural elements and diverse vegetation unified by the hamlet context. Contrast exists between the traditional landscape of mixed farms and woodlands and the compact historic hamlet. The subunit is accessible from NY Route 9J and local roads. While there are some discordant features in the form of new houses, the subunit is generally well-maintained and free from discordant features.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-21 Stuyvesant Ravine Subunit
I. Location
The Stuyvesant Ravine subunit comprises an area about 1/4 mile wide on both sides of a small stream, from the stream mouth at the Hudson River to about 3/4 mile upstream. The subunit is located from 1/4 to 1/2 mile south of the hamlet of Stuyvesant. It shares boundaries with the CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms, CGN- 20 Stuyvesant Hamlet, CGN-19 Sheffer and CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing subunits. The subunit is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of a steep and dramatic wooded ravine cut by a stream with waterfalls flowing down to the Hudson River where there lies a small outwash plain. Most of the area is in an undisturbed natural state with a diversity of vegetation ranging from woods to meadow and wetland plants. Water is a dominant element in the landscape, including the stream itself, the Hudson River and a small cove along the river's shore.
B. Cultural Character
Due to the steep topography, the subunit has remained primarily in a natural state. The exception is a single local road winding down the ravine on the south side of the stream with a scattering of modest houses of a good vernacular architecture located along its corridor. The subunit is generally well maintained.
With no discordant features to mar the scene, the ephemeral effects of wildlife, waterfalls, river traffic and passing trains serve to reinforce the area's tranquil character.
C. Views
While views from the ravine are limited by topography and vegetation, from some areas there are full views of the Hudson River with a background of river islands and low hills across the river.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique, although it has a high level of natural integrity stemming from its high variety of positive features, including steep ravines, waterfalls, undisturbed natural landscapes, stream, woods and wetlands.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible from a local road and the Hudson River and is visible to travelers on the road, to train passengers and to passing boaters.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is limited to local residents.
VI. Reasons for Inclusion
The Stuyvesant Ravine subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is a highly scenic area with a varied and dramatic topography of steeply wooded ravines, a stream with waterfalls flowing into the Hudson River and a diversity of vegetation largely in a natural state. The scenic elements are strongly unified by the natural integrity of the area and the focus provided by the topography and water elements. The subunit is accessible via a local road and the Hudson River and is visible to train passengers and boaters. It is generally well-maintained and contains no discordant features.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-22 Nutten Hook Farms Subunit
I. Location
The Nutten Hook Farms subunit is composed of two sections of upland adjacent to the eastern banks of the Hudson River, both north and south of the CGN-20 Stuyvesant Hamlet subunit. The northern portion is located generally northeast of the hamlet of Stuyvesant, being about 1/4 mile north of County Route 398 and bordered on the west and north by steep ravines which form an irregular common boundary with the CGN-16 Stuyvesant Woods and CGN-18 Stuyvesant Landing subunits. Its eastern boundary follows the coastal boundary.
The southern portion extends from approximately 1/4 mile south of County Route 398 to just north of Newton Hook. The bluffs along the Hudson River form the western boundary, a common boundary with the CGN-21 Stuyvesant Ravine and CGN-25 Newton Hook Ravine subunits. Its eastern boundary is coterminous with the coastal boundary. Both sections of the subunit are located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
This subunit is composed primarily of relatively flat upland farmland. Vegetation is greatly varied, consisting of extensive open fields and meadows separated by wooded hedgerows, orchards and some patches of woods. There are a few water features in the form of steep wooded hillsides and ravines bordered by small ponds and streams.
B. Cultural Characteristics
Much of the subunit is comprised of active, exceptionally well-maintained and prosperous looking farms which retain a traditional agricultural landscape of farmsteads with surrounding fields separated by orchards, small woodlots and hedgerows. This is a classic and valued settlement pattern which has not yet been altered by the scattered housing development found in other parts of the region. There are only a few scattered single-family houses along the local roads, with the exception of a mobile home park at the western edge of the northern portion of the subunit. Few discordant features are visible in the landscape. Other than the few scattered houses and the mobile home park, the only buildings present are farm buildings designed in the classic vernacular style which complement the rich historic heritage of a traditional agricultural way of life.
C. Views
The subunit offers only very limited views of the Hudson River, but there are wide panoramic views in all directions across farm meadows and fields. Low hills and woods plus the Catskills to the west provide background to the views. Farm buildings and individual specimen trees provide some local points of interest.
III. Uniqueness
The Nutten Hook Farms subunit is a unique landscape. Its extensive pastoral landscape of operating farms is rare within the region.
IV. Public Accessibility
A moderate degree of public access within the subunit is provided by a network of local roads.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is limited to local residents.
VI. Reasons for Inclusion
The Nutten Hook Farms subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is a unique landscape. The fields, woodlands, and farmstead clusters within this subunit create a pleasing variety and contrast in a unified agricultural land use pattern. The unusual variety of positive visual elements in the subunit in combination with extensive high quality active farmland close to the river gives the subunit a scenic quality which is rare in the Hudson River region. Although the subunit is in private ownership, the landscape is moderately accessible from the network of local roads. The subunit is generally free of discordant features.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Nutten Hook subunit consists of a small area of about 20 acres located on the east shore of the Hudson River directly across the river from the Village of Coxsackie. It has common boundaries with the CGN-9 Coxsackie Village, CGN-24 Stockport Flats and CGN-19 Sheffer subunits. The subunit is about 1/4 mile long and 500 feet wide and is located in the Town of Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The subunit is composed of two small hills rising above the floodplains which extend beyond the subunit along the shoreline for a mile up and down the Hudson. Steep and rocky banks are found where the hills meet the river. A portion of the shale hill has been disturbed to accommodate the R & W Scott Ice House, the stone foundation of which is still visible. The varied shoreline is indented with coves and inlets. Water is the dominant feature in the landscape. Mature woodlands are the predominant vegetative feature, but meadow and wetland vegetation also occur.
B. Cultural Character
Although Nutten Hook was once the eastern terminus for the Coxsackie to Stuyvesant ferry, the subunit is principally in an undisturbed natural state with the exception of a small road winding down between the two hills to the river's edge and the grown-over remains of the historic boat landing and ice business. Located on Nutten Hook peninsula are the ruins of the R. & W. Scott Ice Company's power house and ice house. Sites of ice harvesting once included horse barns, workshops, offices and even housing for the employees. The R & W Scott Ice Company once handled more than 50,000 tons of ice per season. The power house, which supplied power for the elevators that carried the blocks into the ice house, was constructed in 1885. The company operated through the first third of the 20th century, although under other names. The ruins are in the most intact condition of any in the Hudson River region. Giving a romantic aspect to the landscape, the ruins have significant architectural value and lend a rich heritage to the site. Fortunately, the entire???9??C ???? area is in public ownership. With no discordant features in the subunit, the wildlife and nearby river traffic are important ephemeral effects associated with the site.
C. Views
Panoramic views of 90 to 180 degrees in breadth extending up and down the Hudson are available from the subunit, although the length of the views is somewhat constrained by the limited elevations of the hills, and the width of the views by the tree cover. Background elements for the views include the hills across the river and the Village of Coxsackie, located on the western shore. The village is also a focal point in the viewshed, as are nearby river islands.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit's landscape of undisturbed natural features punctuated with industrial ruins of significant architectural interest is unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is most visible from the Hudson River and the Village of Coxsackie on the western shore. Visual access is also provided by the one local road running down to the river between the two small hills in the subunit. Although Nutten Hook is publicly owned, a gate across the road at the railroad tracks discourages general public access to the area.
V. Public Recognition
Nutten Hook is publicly owned. The R & W Scott Ice Company Power House and Ice House Site is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Nutten Hook is also recognized as the middle ground of views from the subunits on the western shore.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Nutten Hook subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because the undisturbed wooded hills jutting into the river and its historic, romantic ruins combine to form a unique landscape generally free of discordant features. The subunit has an extremely varied shoreline. Contrast is found between the industrial ruins and the natural landscape. The dominant water feature of the Hudson River unifies the subunit. The subunit is accessible from the Hudson River and visible from both shores. It is publicly recognized through public ownership and through the listing of the R & W Scott Ice Company Power House and Ice House Site on the State and National Registers of Historic Places.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-24 Stockport Flats Subunit
I. Location
The Stockport Flats subunit incorporates the islands and flats located along the eastern shore of the Hudson River, extending from the southern end of Stockport Middle Ground Island northward to one quarter mile north of the settlement of Newton Hook. The railroad tracks form the eastern boundary of much of the subunit, a common boundary with the CGN-25 Newton Hook Ravine subunit. To the west lie the CGN-9 Coxsackie Village, CGN-10 Lampman Hill and CGN-11 Vosburgh Swamp subunits. The Stockport Flats subunit is located in the Towns of Stockport and Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 2 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The landform is composed primarily of heavily wooded and flat river banks, wetlands, mudflats and wooded islands. Vegetation is diverse given the variety of landforms, but second growth forest predominates. The shoreline is extremely varied with numerous coves, inlets and streams flowing into the river. Water is the dominant element in the landscape. The landscape is mostly flat except for Little Nutten Hook, a drumlin-like feature located on the river's edge.
B. Cultural Character
The only development in the subunit is located in the historic settlement of Newton Hook which includes a number of houses with consistently good vernacular design. Houses extend somewhat north and south of the settlement along NY Route 9J. In the southeastern section of the subunit is located a dike, known as the Fordham Point Dike No. 2, which extends from Little Nutten Hook to a small island just to the west. The landscape is generally well maintained. Passing trains add to the ephemeral effects in the landscape of wildlife, river traffic and sunsets. Power lines and the railroad tracks themselves are discordant features.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are limited due to the flat topography and abundant trees which filter views of the Hudson and its banks, with the Catskills providing a distant backdrop in views to the wes???9??C ????t. Buildings in the hamlet, some ruins, and the islands provide focal points in the viewsheds. The corridor of the Hudson is predominantly natural in character in this area.
III. Uniqueness
Although the type of landscape and its combination of elements represented by the subunit is uncommon in the Hudson River region, the subunit is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible via the Hudson River, and Nutten Hook hamlet is accessible via local roads. Portions of the subunit are visible from local roads and to train passengers and passing boaters. It constitutes the middle ground in views from neighboring subunits, particularly those on the western shore.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of this subunit is limited to local residents, hunters and birders, some of whom travel to the area from outside the region.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Stockport Flats subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it is a noteworthy landscape which links the distinctive subunits surrounding it. The subunit encompasses a unified, primarily unspoiled, mostly wooded landscape of islands, wetlands and an indented shoreline which is generally free of discordant features. Vegetation is diverse as is the landform and shoreline. The Hudson River is the dominant unifying element. The subunit is accessible via the Hudson River and is visible from both shores and passing trains. The islands are focal points in views from adjacent subunits.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-25 Newton Hook Ravine Subunit
I. Location
The Newton Hook Ravine subunit is comprised of the steep bluffs along the Hudson River from the deep, wooded ravines east and north of Little Nutten Hook to just north of Stockport Creek and a common boundary with the CGN-29 Stockport Creek subunit. Its western boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-24 Stockport Flats subunit. The subunit extends on the east to the coastal boundary, except in the southern portion where it shares a common boundary with the CGN-26 Judson Farms subunit. The subunit is located in the Towns of Stockport and Stuyvesant, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheets, numbers 2 and 3, for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The landform is composed predominantly of steep, wooded ravines and bluffs, the ravines having been cut by streams flowing down from the neighboring uplands to the Hudson River. Vegetation is diverse, ranging from woodland to plants characteristic of wetlands and meadows. Water is the dominant force creating this landscape, both physically and visually. The Hudson River's shoreline is varied, consisting of a deep, one half mile cove, inlets and stream outlets.
B. Cultural Character
Due to the steep slopes, there are few cultural features in this subunit, with the exception of some modest houses along the few local roads. An old clay quarry is located roughly in the middle of the subunit, while th???9??C ????e railroad follows the Hudson River shoreline. These two features are the principal discordant elements, but they are of small scale and relatively minor when balanced against the dramatic and varied topography and semi-wild natural character of the landscape.
C. Views
Views from most of the subunit range from moderately wide to narrow, being shaped primarily by the steep wooded slopes. There are filtered views through the trees of the Hudson River from the western edge of the subunit, with partial views of the Catskill Mountains which form a dramatic backdrop to the west. Hudson River islands and headlands along the shore located in the CGN-24 Stockport Flats subunit provide some focal points. In the southern portion, Southers Road follows the bluffs and offers spectacular long views up and down the Hudson River in the vicinity of Judson Point.
III. Uniqueness
Although the type of landscape represented by this subunit is uncommon in the Hudson River region, it is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is somewhat accessible from the few local roads. The subunit is visible from the west bank of the Hudson River, particularly from NY Route 385, which is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. It is also visible to train passengers and passing boaters.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is limited to local residents and boaters.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
This subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because is it a strongly unified landscape composed of a classic, heavily wooded bluff and ravine cut by streams flowing down to the river from the uplands above. Vegetation is the dominant unifying feature in this landscape. There are few other areas which exhibit the strong unity of wooded, steep slopes and ravines with only a few discordant features detracting from the landscape. Its dramatic, varied topography, with diverse vegetation and filtered views of the river and Catskills beyond give high visual quality to the landscape. The subunit is accessible via the Hudson River and local roads and is visible from the railroad trains and from the west shore of the Hudson, including NY Route 385, a Scenic Road designated under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Judson Farms subunit incorporates the upland plateau adjacent to the bluffs of the CGN-29 Stockport Creek subunit to the south and the CGN-25 Newton Hook Ravine subunit to the west. Its eastern boundary lies along NY Route 9J and a small tributary of the Stockport Creek. The subunit is located in the Town of Stockport, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic components
A. Physical Character
The subunit's landform is comprised of gently rolling to flat uplands at an average elevation of 150 feet. The pastoral farm landscape of large open fields and orchards is punctuated by scattered mature woodlands. There are several scattered ponds and streams, but water is not a dominant feature.
B. Cultural character
The land use is primarily agricultural, part of an apparently thriving historic farm community. Structures consist of historic farm buildings and some new homes in a generally well maintained landscape. Detracting somewhat from the agricultural landscape of fields, orchards and woods are some new homes which are not compatible in style with the historic structures, contributing discordant elements to the scene. Gateways along the roads and large old houses set among the fields suggest that large estate-like farms may once have predominated in the area.
C. Views
Views from the subunit's western edge are of the Hudson River and some islands in the middleground, with the Catskill Mountains to the west across the river forming a dramatic backdrop. Some of the views to the west are 90 to 180 degrees in breadth. Internal views are oriented across large fields and meadows to the surrounding woodlands. Focal points include the Catskill Mountains, farm buildings and individual significant trees.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique, but its mostly pastoral, unified landscape of fields, woods and scattered farmsteads is becoming increasingly uncommon as agriculture continues to decline in the Hudson Valley region.
IV. Public Accessibility
Land in the subunit is privately owned. The subunit is moderately visible from local roads and NY Route 9J.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit is generally limited to local residents, although the subunit is in the viewshed of NY Route 9J, a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it has an unusual variety of vegetation including meadows, orchards and forests unified by the working farm landscape???9??C ????. Although the subunit's landscape is not unique, it is representative of the disappearing pastoral landscape. The subunit is visible to the public from local roads, and its northern portion is recognized as part of the viewshed of NY Route 9J, a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. The subunit is generally free of discordant features.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
I. Location
The Columbiaville subunit includes the hamlet of Columbiaville and the surrounding uplands. It is bordered on the south, east and west by the bluffs of Stockport Creek and Kinderhook Creek which are located in the CGN-29 Stockport Creek subunit. A portion of the western boundary is shared with the CGN-26 Judson Farms subunit, and the northeastern boundary is coterminous with the coastal boundary. The subunit is located in the Towns of Stockport and Claverack, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The landform consists predominantly of gently rolling uplands at an average of 150 feet in elevation. The undeveloped areas contain a mixture of woodlands and meadows of diverse vegetation. Lawns and gardens are prevalent in the developed areas. Water is not a dominant element in the landscape, since only a small portion of the Kinderhook Creek and a few minor tributaries are located in the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
The principal land uses in the subunit are residential and commercial. NY Route 9 traverses the subunit. The highway divides into two branches in the north, the western branch becoming NY Route 9J. Columbiaville has largely retained its historic settlement pattern and collection of vernacular historic structures clustered close to the roads and to each other. The Stockport and Kinderhook Creeks border the settlement, reminders of the historic connection of the community with the creeks and the Hudson River. The Town of Stockport was once known as an industrial community, with its mills, some of which were located in Columbiaville, taking advantage of the waterpower of the creeks. The subunit is generally free of discordant features.
In contrast with the tight cluster of the hamlet, however, newer homes, trailer parks and businesses line the highway, with some open meadows and woodlands interspersed. Discordant features in the subunit are associated with the dominant presence of NY Route 9 and its related strip development which have significantly reduced the scenic quality of the subunit.
C. Views
Views within the subunit are of moderate length and breadth with meadows composing the middle ground, and hills and woods, the background. The Hudson River is not visible from most areas of the subunit, but the Catskill Mountains provide a distant backdrop to the west. NY Routes 9 and 9J are located along the spine of a crest which affords views across open fields to the Taconic Hills in the east.
III. Uniqueness
Although uncommon within the region, the landscape of the subunit is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible from NY Routes 9 and 9J which are well traveled in this area. Several local roads also provide visual access to the landscape which is primarily in private ownership.
V. Public Recognition
NY Route 9J in the northern portion of the subunit is a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law. Public recognition of the rest of the subunit is limited to local residents and travelers on the State highways.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Columbiaville subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS in order to link the distinctive subunits which adjoin it on the west, south and east, providing continuity to the SASS. The subunit has a moderate variety of positive features in a fairly well unified landscape and is accessible to the general public via NY Routes 9 and 9J and local roads. Its northern portion is publicly recognized as part of the viewshed of NY Route 9J, a designated Scenic Road under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-28 Stottville Farms Subunit
I. Location
The Stottville Farms subunit is comprised of an upland area to the east of the bluffs in the CGN-29 Stockport Creek subunit with which it shares its western boundary. Its eastern boundary follows Joslen Boulevard and NY Route 9; and its southern boundary is Gifford Parkway just north of the Hudson City line, the southern boundary of the SASS . The subunit is located in the Towns of Greenport and Stockport, Columbia County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The landform is composed largely of open rolling uplands covered with extensive active farm fields and orchards. Small woodlots line steep slopes and the banks of several small streams. The streams wend their way between the hills to eventually flow through the deep ravines in the adjoining S-33 Stockport Creek subunit along the Hudson to the west. ???9??C ???? While some ponds and streams are present, water is not a dominant element in the landscape.
B. Cultural Character
The subunit is a good example of a classic farm landscape. Well maintained dairy farms, estates and orchards with farm buildings and houses of good architectural design present a picture of a traditional way of life that once predominated in the Hudson Valley. Early settlers in the area were farmers who also were traders. They shipped their produce, furs and lumber from the river landings to Albany and New York City. Today farm activity, wildlife and sunsets contribute ephemeral effects to the landscape, and discordant features are limited to the adjacent highway corridor and a small subdivision in the southern end of the subunit.
C. Views
Views from the subunit are extensive due to the large, sweeping, uninterrupted farm fields. The breadth of views extends greater than 180 degrees. The Hudson River is prominent in the middle ground, while the Catskill Mountains provide a dramatic backdrop to the west and southwest. Within the subunit, the highly varied, broad views are framed by woodlands. Farmhouses, barns and individual significant trees provide focal points.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit is not unique, although such an intact pastoral landscape is uncommon in the region and becoming increasingly rare.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is highly visible from NY Route 9 and local roads. This upland also forms the background of views from the uplands on the western shore of the Hudson River including those from NY Route 385, a Scenic Road designated under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law and located in the CGN-12 Athens-Coxsackie Farmland subunit.
The land in the subunit is in private ownership, except for more than 200 acres at the southern end of the subunit which have been purchased by the Columbia Land Conservancy and the Open Space Institute as part of the Greenport Hudson River Conservation Area which extends west into the CGN-29 Stockport Creek subunit. Up to 30 acres will be used as a park for the Town of Greenport, and a ridge trail is proposed. Implementation of these plans will greatly increase public access to the subunit.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition is limited to area residents and others who travel NY Route 9 and secondary roads in the subunit. The State highway is relatively well traveled in the area. The importance of this landscape is recognized through the creation of the Greenport Hudson River Conservation Area by the Columbia Land Conservancy and the Open Space Institute.VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Stottville Farms subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it exhibits a unusual variety of major components, including strong topographic variety and the varied vegetation of the working agricultural landscape. The subunit is accessible and highly visible from NY Route 9J, from local roads and from the uplands on the western shore of the Hudson River. Public access will increase as the new Greenport Hudson River Conservation Area and Greenport Town Park, including the proposed ridge trail, are opened to the public. The creation of the conservation area recognizes the importance of this landscape.
COLUMBIA-GREENE NORTH SCENIC AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE
CGN-29 Stockport Creek Subunit
I. Location
The Stockport Creek subunit encompasses approximately 1,000 acres of eastern shoreland and the adjacent waters of the Hudson River. Its southern boundary is Gifford Parkway and the center of North Bay, the southern boundary of the SASS. The subunit extends north and east to include the corridors of Stockport Creek and Kinderhook Creek. Its western boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-11 Vosburgh Swamp subunit except south of the swamp where the western boundary is the mean high tide line on the eastern shore of Middle Ground Flats. Its eastern boundary is a common boundary with the CGN-28 Stottville Farms subunit. The subunit is located in the Towns of Greenport and Stockport, Columbia County, and in the Village of Athens, Greene County. Consult the Columbia-Greene North SASS map sheet number 3 for subunit boundaries.
II. Scenic Components
A. Physical Character
The landform consists of steep ravines and bluffs from 75 to 150 feet high along the Hudson River and the Kinderhook and Stockport Creeks and their tributaries. Water dominates the landscape, the Hudson River varying in width from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. The shoreline of the Hudson is convoluted, consisting o???9??C ????f wetlands, mudflats, coves and creek mouths. The Stockport Creek winds around islands and flats, and its water tumbles over falls and rocky platforms. In places the creek bluffs have sheer rock faces. The Stockport Creek, the second largest unobstructed tidal freshwater stream on the Hudson, receives the waters of the Kinderhook and other smaller creeks which drain the uplands to the north, east and west, and then empties into the Hudson in the northern portion of the subunit.
B. Cultural Character
The intrusions of civilization in this predominantly untouched natural area are few, being limited to the railroad along the shore of the Hudson, a few modest vernacular structures along the banks of the Stockport Creek and the tops of the bluffs, and the river traffic of commercial and recreational vessels. This belies the once-bustling nature of Stockport. Stockport was formed in 1833 from Stuyvesant, Ghent and Hudson and named after Stockport, England, the origin of James Wild, a prominent resident. Upstream on the Stockport Creek the waterfalls and remains of dams indicate former sites of the mills which once made Stockport a manufacturing community. The town even hosted an academy dedicated to training workers for the mills. The hills around Stockport Creek were covered with vineyards during the 19th century.
The area of confluence of the Stockport Creek with the Hudson is reputed to be the site of the first visit in Columbia County by Henry Hudson's crewmen. They found in 1609???9??C ???? a prospering, friendly native community with a lodge, cornfields and granaries. Standing near the mouth of the creek on its northern bank is the Staats House, the second house built on the site after the original homestead was burned by the Indians in 1664 by order of the English. The creek mouth was included, along with what is now the City of Hudson, in the area called Claverack Landing. At that time Claverack extended from Kinderhook south to Livingston Manor. Major Abraham Staats, a fur trader and surgeon general for the Dutch West India Company, owned a farm on the north side of Stockport Creek which was originally farmed by a tenant. In 1667 Major Staats received a patent for the land from the English. The existing house was built in the mid-17th century and was occupied by the Staats family until late in the 18th century.
Today the subunit is primarily in a natural state. Except for some structures along the Stockport Creek, the subunit is generally well maintained. With few discordant features to mar the scene, the symbolic value of the subunit as a pristine natural area is very strong. Ephemeral effects of wildlife, river traffic, sunsets and passing trains serve to reinforce the area's natural tranquility.
C. Views
The subunit has wide, full views of the Hudson, up to 180 degrees in breadth. They are of moderate length,extending one to three miles up and downstream. The variety and dynamic balance of the landscape's visual elements, together with the bac???9??C ????kground provided by the unspoiled west shore of the Hudson and the distant looming Catskills to the southwest, yield many unique and outstanding compositions. Several small wooded islands and navigational lights on the river provide focal points within the viewshed.
Along the Stockport Creek the views are of a meandering water body with tumbling waterfalls and sheer cliffs. The perspective is narrow and intimate, except at the mouth of the creek where the water surface broadens and encircles islands and the footings of the railroad bridge. Rowboats tied along the shore are the only reminders of man's presence in the surrounding area.
III. Uniqueness
The subunit's natural character is uncommon in the region, but it is not unique.
IV. Public Accessibility
The subunit is accessible to the public via County Route 22, also known as Station Road, which runs along the north shore of Stockport Creek west of NY Route 9. East of Route 9 the road runs along the top of the southern creek bank. The Hudson River shorelands and lower creek are accessible from the Hudson River, but the railroad tracks limit landing areas. At the end of Station Road on the ???9??C ????shores of the Hudson and Stockport Creek are located a parking lot and boat ramp operated by the Hudson River Estuarine Sanctuary and Research Reserve which provides boating access to both the Hudson and the creek. The parking lot also provides visual access to the shoreline and lower creek. The Estuarine Sanctuary and Research Reserve conducts educational program tours of the area during all seasons of the year. In addition, 200 acres of waterfront property in the southern portion of the subunit, including Priming Hook and North Bay wetlands and upland, have been purchased by the Columbia Land Conservancy and the Open Space Institute to create the Greenport Hudson River Conservation Area, which extends east into the CGN-28 Stottville Farms subunit. Public access will increase when this property is opened to the public.
The subunit is visible from the Hudson River and the railroad trains on the eastern shore. It also constitutes the middle ground in views from the west shore of the river, including those from NY Route 385, a Scenic Road designated under Article 49 of the Environmental Conservation Law and located in the CGN-12 Athens-Coxsackie Farmland subunit.
V. Public Recognition
Public recognition of the subunit's scenic attributes is limited due to its secluded nature. The shorelands are well known to birders who travel to the area to observe the resident and migrating wildlife. The importance of the landscape has been recognized through the creation of the Greenport Hud???9??C ????son River Conservation Area.
VI. Reason for Inclusion
The Stockport Creek subunit is included in the Columbia-Greene North SASS because it has an unusually varied shoreline and changing topography which are unified by the dominant water elements. The subunit is accessible to the public via local roads, the Hudson River and the Estuarine Sanctuary boat launch and is visible from local roads, passenger trains and from the Hudson River and its western shore. The subunit is recognized by hunters and birders for its abundant wildlife, as well as through the creation of the Greenport Hudson River Conservation Area. Except for the railroad tracks and a few deteriorated structures, the subunit is generally free of discordant features.