Environmental Management Council
Care about preserving our area's natural resources?
Consider joining the Environmental Management Council! We are currently accepting applications for municipal and at-large members.
Sign up for the EMC's Green Scene e-newsletter!
Want to stay up to date on local environmental issues but don't have the bandwidth to comb through multiple emails every day? Check out the Green Scene, the EMC's bimonthly e-digest of environmental news and events relevant to Tompkins County.
Agendas and Minutes
Membership Roster
Báo cáo thường niên
Meetings
The EMC meets at 4 p.m. on the second Thursday* of every month but August. All are welcome!
Meeting dates, times, and locations are subject to change. For information on the next meeting, please call the County Planning and Sustainability Department at (607) 274-5560.
Check out the Agendas and Minutes page for more information.
View Guest Presentations given at past meetings
History and Mission Statement
The Tompkins County Environmental Management Council (EMC) has been the Legislature's official citizen advisory board on local environmental issues since 1971.The purpose of the EMC is to identify problems, propose priorities, and promote coordination of activities in the development and management of our natural resources and to provide a public forum for the discussion and resolution of these problems and completion of proposed projects.
More information can be found on the EMC Background page.
Membership
The EMC is composed of the following voting members appointed by the County Legislature: 12 at-large members and 16 municipal members (one designated by each municipality in Tompkins County). Voting members serve two-year terms and must reside in Tompkins County. The EMC also has associate (non-voting) members appointed by the EMC chair to lend expertise to committees as needed.
Visit the EMC Membership page to learn more.
Outreach and Education
A Guide to Improve Soil and Create Rain Gardens, Bioswales, and Pollinator Habitat
2018 EMC Climate Adaptation Committee Flood Survey and Risk Study
2018 Update of Invasive Plants List
2017 UNA Inventory Update
Environmental Alert: Important Recommendations for Indoor & Outdoor Lighting
Windpower FAQ
Special Events
Fall 2025: Unique Natural Areas (UNA) Inventory Update
The UNA Committee of the EMC hosted a public presentation on the most recent round of changes to the Unique Natural Areas Inventory. Wednesday, Nov. 13, 6:00-7:30 PM, BorgWarner Room, Tompkins County Public Library (101 E. Green St, Ithaca).
View the slides from the UNA Inventory Update presentation.
Video Available: Flooding -- Are you ready? Let's talk about it.
Watch a recording of the EMC's fall 2022 public outreach event.
Environmental Justice: A local lens on a global issue
2020 Fall Community Outreach Event
October 8; Via Zoom Webinar
Watch video of the full presentation.
Learn more about the program and presenters.
A Community Conversation on Management of County-owned Forests
December 18; 4:00-5:30pm, BorgWarner Room East, Tompkins County Public Library
The EMC hosted a public informational meeting to present its draft report on the County-owned Forest Management Plan and receive comments.
Development with the Earth in Mind
2019 Fall Community Outreach Event
October 17; BorgWarner Room, Tompkins County Public Library
Video: full presentation
Video: individual speakers
Ithaca Green New Deal; Nick Goldsmith, City and Town of Ithaca
Housing Demand and Impact of Development Patterns on GHG Emissions; David West, TC Department of Planning and Sustainability
Planning with Transportation Integration; Lauren Gabuzzi, Downtown Ithaca Alliance
Is Green Development Sustainable? Brent Katzmann, Warren Real Estate
Designing for Longevity; Noah Demarest, Stream Collaborative
City as Sponge; George Frantz, Cornell University Department of City and Regional Planning
Video: Q&A discussion
https://youtu.be/Yx06hb2LV-I?t=4429
Learn more about the 2019 fall community outreach program and presenters.
View slides from the 2019 fall community outreach presentation.
The Tompkins County Planning and Sustainability Department provides financial assistance and staff support to the EMC.