Natural Resources Inventory

An inventory of natural resources helps a community to plan for and protect important natural features. It can be comprehensive, looking at land, water, air, plants, animals, etc., or it can focus on a few important resources in a community.

In 2000, the Tompkins County Planning Department published a Natural Resources Inventory for the County, which includes maps and descriptions of various resources such as wetlands, flood hazard areas, slopes, soils, bedrock and surficial geology, and protected lands.

Also in 2000, the Tompkins County Environmental Management Council updated its Inventory of Unique Natural Areas, which lists 192 areas within the county that have significant ecological, biological, geological and scenic characteristics. Identifying significant natural areas is an important first step in any effort to protect resources which are valued by a community.