Latest news with #DEC
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cobb County to use AI to enhance emergency communications training
The Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) says a new partnership is giving them new ways to train emergency responders. Working with GovWorx, Cobb 911 will use the company's CommsCoach Simulations, which officials said was an artificial intelligence-enhanced training platform for emergency communications. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Going forward, Cobb County 911 would be one of the first emergency communications centers in Georgia to use the AI-powered training program. According to county officials, CommsCoach 'simulates realistic, high-pressure emergency calls, providing new telecommunicators with hands-on experience in a controlled, low-risk environment before they answer a live call.' TRENDING STORIES: Man accused of injuring north GA deputy, ramming into patrol vehicle found hiding under camper bed 10 charged with stealing more than $6M in electronics as part of porch pirate ring Body pulled from Peachtree Creek The calls are designed to have dynamic elements like background noise, callers who won't cooperate or who are distressed, and emergencies that change quickly to help 'reflect the real-world challenges' of answering dispatch calls on the job. 'This groundbreaking technology is a powerful step forward in how we prepare the next generation of 911 professionals,' DEC Director Melissa Alterio said. 'This partnership exemplifies how Cobb County 911 embraces innovation and finds new ways to provide excellent service and the most superior level possible.' In the next few weeks, Cobb Department of Emergency Communications will launch their CommsCoach program during the academic training phase for their newest class of recruits. Officials said the training team has tailored the platform to align with county protocols and scenarios in real life. 'CommsCoach Simulations is designed to elevate training beyond the classroom,' Scott MacDonald, GovWorx CEO and co-founder, said. 'With this partnership, Cobb County 911 is making sure its team has the tools they need to succeed, without replacing the critical role of human leadership, discretion, and care.' [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
DEC announces $100M fish hatchery modernization effort
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton recently announced the launch of a nation-leading $100 million freshwater fish hatchery modernization plan. The funding supports the first of three phases of modernization projects for 12 hatcheries operated by DEC across the state. The hatcheries are integral to effective fisheries management and conservation, and contribute up to $5 billion in economic benefits provided by New York's recreational freshwater fishing industry. 'DEC's fish hatchery system serves as the backbone for the management and restoration of our freshwater fisheries,' Lefton said. 'Today's launch of the hatchery modernization plan will further strengthen New York State's commitment to the angling community and the continued stewardship of our fisheries resources far into the future.' First established in 1864, New York's fish hatchery system is the oldest in North America. The DEC operates 12 hatcheries that annually produce up to 850,000 pounds of fish that are stocked into more than 1,200 waterbodies for recreational and restoration purposes. The average age of DEC's hatcheries is 93 years and the integrity of many buildings, water supply assets, and fish-rearing structures are at risk. In recent years some of the most crucial needs have been addressed with a steady flow of DEC capital funding, but more extensive work is needed to sustain and improve operations to truly modernize the hatchery system for the future. The historic $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 dedicated up to $75 million for hatchery improvements as part of the $650 million specified for improving access to and protecting nature. This funding, combined with funding from New York Works and other capital funds, provides a solid foundation for creating a modern hatchery system that is technologically advanced, more efficient, adaptable, and environmentally responsible. The DEC will use Bond Act monies and capital funds to leverage other state and federal funding to modernize the hatchery system in multiple phases over the next 10 years. Improvements center on employing contemporary culture technologies to maximize fish production and ensuring greater sustainability by using the best technology available to reduce energy use and minimize the facilities' carbon footprint. DEC will implement its modernization plan in three phases, with Phase 1 beginning immediately. Highlights of Phase 1 include: • Covering the rearing ponds to exclude predators, reduce sunlight, and provide a surface for a photovoltaic system at the Caledonia Hatchery • Refurbishing ponds at the South Otselic Hatchery for increased walleye production • Overhauling the water supply system at the Salmon River Hatchery • Building a new hatch house at Chateaugay Hatchery • Replacing the existing hatchery at Randolph with a brand-new facility 'This plan not only ensures the continued health and sustainability of our state's freshwater fisheries but also preserves critical recreational and economic opportunities for future generations. New York's fish hatchery system is a vital part of our state's natural heritage and supports recreational fishing that benefits local communities, small businesses, and tourism across the state,' New York State Conservation Council President Dr. Keith Tidball said. 'The hatcheries are not just facilities — they are centers of fisheries conservation, education, and economic vitality.' Visit the DEC website for more information about the fish hatchery system. Stocking information, along with fishing regulations, maps, and access information is also available in 'The Tackle Box' feature of the DEC 'HuntFishNY' smartphone app. Other features include driving directions to state boat launch sites and an offline feature that allows a user to access information when cell coverage isn't available.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More than 4,000 deer harvested in Niagara County this past hunting season
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reports that hunters in New York harvested an estimated 223,304 deer during the 2024-25 hunting seasons. In addition, DEC announced the release of a report noting agency actions in response to the Herkimer County chronic wasting disease (CWD) incident and the state's plans for continued, intensified disease surveillance. The 2024-25 estimated deer harvest included 122,427 antlered bucks (i.e., adult males) and 100,877 antlerless deer (i.e., adult females and fawns of either sex). Statewide, this represents a 9% increase in antlered buck harvest and a 3% increase in antlerless deer harvest from last season. However, the total deer harvest was slightly below the five-year average. In Niagara County, 4,027 deer were harvested during the season. Orleans County saw 4,416 deer harvested. Notable numbers • 15.7 and 0.6 — number of deer harvested per square mile in the units with the highest and lowest harvest density. • 66.9% — portion of the adult buck harvest that was 2.5 years or older statewide, up from 52% a decade ago, and 30% in the 1990s. • 53.6% — portion of successful deer hunters that reported their harvest as required by law. This is greater than the five-year average of 48.2%. • 13,488 — number of hunter-harvested deer checked by DEC staff in 2024 to determine hunter reporting rate and collect biological data (e.g., age, sex, antler data). This represents 6% of the total 2024-25 deer harvest. • 18,372 — number of deer harvested using a crossbow, less than half as many as were taken with a vertical bow. Deer harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required within seven days of harvest of all successful deer hunters and DEC's examination of harvested deer at meat processors and check stations across the state. Harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources and calculating the total harvest from the reporting rate for each zone and tag type. Chronic Wasting Disease Last fall, a case of Chronic Wasting Disease was confirmed in a captive red deer herd in the town of Columbia, Herkimer County. In coordination with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), all captive red deer at the facility were tested. DEC also increased its sampling efforts for wild white-tailed deer. With the assistance of local hunters, landowners, and USDA Wildlife Services, DEC collected samples from more than 200 wild deer within the six towns surrounding the captive deer facility where CWD was confirmed in 2024; none tested positive, providing hope that CWD may not have spread into the wild deer herd. Contact the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or Environmental Conservation Police Officer to report a deer that appears sick, unusually thin, or behaves abnormally.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
DEC launches public challenge to combat invasive species impact
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — It is Invasive Species Awareness Week in New York State and its all about sharing why people should care about those invasive critters and what people can do about them. Tuesday, News 8 spoke with the Department of Environment Conservation on the topic and they have recently launched a challenge for the public in honor of it. It encourages New Yorkers to report sightings of invasive species like the Spotted Lanternfly. If you want to participate, you can log into the state's database and submit a report. Then, you'll be entered in a chance to win prizes. 'Depending on the species, they can have a huge impact on the environment or economy or agriculture,' Andrea Nieves with the DEC said. 'And they're really a people problem. They wouldn't have been in an environment like New York unless people brought them here, so getting everybody together is sort of the best solution. Having the public report them and work with their local organizations.' The annual week is usually observed the first week of June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
City of Watertown will answer to federal regulators for concerns at hydro plant
Jun. 10—WATERTOWN — City Engineer Tom Compo believes that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be satisfied with the city's report on the hydroelectric plant. In March, FERC notified the city that it has until later this week to submit a report to respond to each of 11 allegations that maintain that the Marble Street plant does not adhere to the commission's license. FERC started looking into the operation of the hydro plant over the Black River after members of a river group, New York Rivers United, brought up concerns to the federal agency in December. New York Rivers United, a group of whitewater advocates and rafting enthusiasts, claims that the city has violated the FERC license on a daily basis since it was renewed in 1995. The river group conducted an audit of the facility that found numerous alleged violations. That prompted the state Department of Environmental Conservation to urge FERC to conduct a noncompliance investigation into the plant. For weeks, city officials have been working on completing the report for FERC, Compo said. Last week, Compo said that he is confident that the hydro plant allegations will not be corroborated. "I think they'll look at it and be satisfied with all of our answers — truly," he said. The city is required to submit its response to FERC publicly online by the end of the business day on Friday. One of the most serious allegations involves aerial photographs from 2003 to 2024 that indicate downstream fish passage facilities appear to be out of compliance with the license. According to the license, the hydro plant is supposed to allow for fish to bypass the facility to prevent them from entering the facility. Compo indicated last week that the city is in compliance over the bypass. On Monday night, City Manager Eric F. Wagenaar gave an update to City Council about the city's response to FERC and a "walk through" inspection that a team of DEC staffers took of the plant on May 14. Wagenaar and city staff will meet Tuesday with an environmental attorney from Bond, Schoeneck & King — the law firm that represents the city — "to go over our response," adding that "the letter" answering the 11 allegations will go out later this week. As for the May 14 state inspection, the DEC has not finished its final report and the city and DEC need to clarify some information before it's finished, Wagenaar said. In 1995, the river group, the DEC and FERC negotiated the terms of the current license, designed to mitigate significant commercial, environmental and recreational impacts identified during the relicensing process. Under the 1995 agreement, an account was set up to distribute funding for river accessibility projects. The city and Rivers United, which advocates for accessibility to the river, have been at odds about who decides how to spend that money. Their disagreement dates back to 2011 to what is known as the Route 3 Wave, once a popular whitewater kayaking course that was a site of a World Championship that drew thousands of spectators. A large rock moved in its way and damaged the course. Rivers United member Alex Barham said the city is required to repair the Route 3 Wave, but has not done so. According to the FERC license, the city should have appropriated funding to fix the problem. Rivers United members Steve Massaro and Dick McDonald are meeting with city officials on Friday to talk about the Route 3 Wave. In December, the river group filed a complaint with FERC about never correcting the Route 3 Wave problem. As it was required to according to the license, the group claimed the city spent about $60,000 from that account, but the DEC and Rivers United never approved it, Barham said. About $225,000 remains in the account. Wagenaar said he presumes Rivers United set up the meeting to discuss the Route 3 Wave, but he told council members on Monday night that "it's not the best use of city money" to repair the wave because "you can't fight Mother Nature." Instead of that project, the city is looking at fixing some stairs that lead down to the area in the river where it's popular for kayakers and making repairs to some dockage on the other side of the river, Wagenaar said. The city has recently put up signs to make river enthusiasts more aware of the river's recreational uses, he said. Since 1997, the city also was required by the FERC license to release control flows to the Route 3 Wave — and post those dates on its website — but failed to do so until last week. Over that time, the city missed 899 instances when the releases were supposed to have occurred, Barham said. The releases will occur this summer from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays until Sept. 30. The water flow releases from the Route 3 dam make the river more conducive to kayaking, Wagenaar said. The city wasn't required to release the control flows unless it was requested by a river group, he said. Rivers United was the first to make the request, he said. "I have to pay someone overtime to do it," Wagenaar said, "because it's at night." Last summer, Wagenaar met with Rivers United but never scheduled another meeting with the group, questioning whether it was a legitimate organization. He was glad to find out it's an active group, Wagenaar said.
