NARROWSBURG — The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will host a presentation titled “3D Visualization of Land Use in the Upper Delaware Corridor” on Thursday, December 1, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Upper Delaware Council office, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg.

The public presentation will be given virtually by Dr. Claire Jantz and Alfonso Yanez Morillo from the Center for Land Use and Sustainability (CLUS) at Shippensburg University, with an introduction by Sharon Davis, Middle and Upper Delaware Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).

The objective of the pilot study that will be discussed is to create a visualization tool for communities in the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE) corridor. 

With funding from the NPCA and support from the UDC and National Park Service, the CLUS at Shippensburg University created a series of interactive maps that illustrate current land use patterns, recent land use change, and potential growth pressure for the UPDE corridor.

For two municipalities - the Town of Tusten and Lackawaxen Township – the CLUS also developed 3D maps that visualize current building patterns and what the future might look like given current zoning ordinances as a case study.

The UPDE corridor protects an array of sensitive environmental and biological resources, and supports local economic activities related to tourism and recreation. Due to the scenic and rural character, special considerations are needed to balance land use development and growth.

The administrative boundary for UPDE is defined by the 1986 Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River Management Plan, and local municipalities, state, and federal government stakeholders manage land uses under a partnership framework, the Upper Delaware Council.

Development activities and land use regulations within the river corridor must meet “substantial conformance” with the Land and Water Use Guidelines.

The Dec. 1 presentation will offer a demonstration of the 3-D Visualization Project tools.

The UDC’s monthly meeting to follow will include status reports from the Delaware River Basin Commission, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, National Park Service, and the UDC Executive Director; discussion of old and new business; and public comment.

All UDC meetings are open to the public. For further information on how to participate via a Zoom option, call (845) 252-3022 or emailashley@upperdelawarecouncil.org.

Please check www.upperdelawarecouncil.org or UDC social media pages for any meeting updates.