Gov. Andrew Cuomo today proposed a $3 billion environmental bond act aimed at creating what he called the nation’s most aggressive program to reduce the risk of floods and restore wildlife habitat.

The bond act would be part of Cuomo’s long-term plan to fight climate change and make New York more resilient to combating its impact on the environment.

Cuomo provided an overview of the plan at his 2020 State of the State address in Albany.

The governor said the bond act would connect streams and waterways, restore freshwater and tidal wetlands and reclaim natural floodplains as a method to reduce the risk of flooding in the state.

New York would restock some 200 million shellfish off the coat of Long Island, upgrade fish hatcheries across the state, create more open space and plant more trees to help restore wildlife habitats.

The “Restore Mother Nature” initiative would seek to restore up to 10,000 acres of freshwater wetlands, and reconnect or replant 10,000 miles of stream habitat, Cuomo said.

Cuomo did not provide specific details about plans affecting the Lake Ontario shoreline or the state-run Salmon River Fish Hatchery in Altmar. The hatchery is due to receive $5 million in upgrades this year.

Read more

Cuomo’s State of the State address: What it means for Central New York

Albany’s 2020 NY agenda: marijuana, guns, vaping, healthcare, voting reforms

Cuomo to OK $75M Syracuse STEAM high school, training center

NY promises $9M for nation’s largest indoor drone testing site in Oneida County

Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.