[caption id="" align="alignright" width="160" caption="Mahayana Buddhist Temple, Cairo"][/caption]One of the things one learns owning property Upstate... you've got to deal with the beavers. Especially if one has watercourses of any sort on one's land. This lesson has been learned, apparently, by members of the Mahayana Buddhist Temple and Retreat on Ira Vail Road in the Greene County town of Cairo, where the not-for-profit who owns the property, Buddhist Temple of America, has just applied to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for a permit to rid themselves of a growing beaver problem by 1) removing approximately 700 cubic yards of sediment for pond maintenance; 2) stabilizing the temple island with the addition of 15 cubic yards of stone rip-rap; 3) constructing a water impoundment feature along the pond outlet at the site of a breached beaver dam to maintain water levels; and 4) replacing an existing triple culvert with a larger elliptical culvert to restore function and prevent flooding. The DEC has declared that there are no negative impacts from the proposed actions, although it also seems that by their actions, beavers may be a totally atheistic species, with little care for either human spiritual beliefs or human architecture.

The complete Public Notice:
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Notice of Complete
Application
Date: 12/20/2010
Applicant: CAIRO-LEEDS LLC
710 IRA VAIL RD
SOUTH CAIRO, NY 12482
Facility: BUDDHIST TEMPLE OF AMERICA
710 IRA VAIL RD
CAIRO, NY
Application ID: 4-1924-00244/00001
Permit(s) Applied for: 1-Section 401- Clean Water Act Water Quality Certification
1-Artice 15 Title 5 Stream Disturbance
Project is located: in CAIRO in GREENE COUNTY
Project Description: The proposed project consists of four aspects: 1) removal of approximately 700 cubic yards of sediment for pond maintenance; 2) stabilization of temple island with the addition of 15 cubic yards of stone rip-rap; 3) construction of a water impoundment feature along the pond outlet at the site of a breached beaver dam to maintain water levels; and 4) replacement of an existing triple culvert with a larger elliptical culvert to restore function and prevent flooding. the water impoundment feature will be constructed with a 1 on 5 slope to allow for the passage of aquatic organisms, and appropriate pollution controls will be required for all in-water work. The project is located off Ira Vail Road in the town of Cairo, Greene County.
Availability of Application Documents: Filed application documents, and Department draft permits where applicable, are available for inspection during normal business hours at the address of the contact person. To ensure timely service at the time of inspection, it is recommended that an appointment be made with the contact person.
State Environment Quality Review (SEQR) Determination: Project is an Unlisted Action and will not have a significant impact on the environment. A Negative Declaration is on file. A coordinated review was not performed.
SEQR Lead Agency: None Designated.
State Historic Preservation Act (SHPA) Determination: Cultural resource lists and map have been checked. No register, eligible or inventoried archaeological sites or historic structures were identified at the project location. No further review in accordance with SHPA is required.
DEC Commissioner Policy 29, Environmental justice and Permitting (CP-29): It has been determined that the proposed action is not subject to CP-29.
Availability For Public Comment: Comments on this project must be submitted in writing to the Contact Person no later 01/13/2011 or 15 days after the publication date of this notice, whichever is later.
Contact Person: SARAH H. EVANS NYSDEC 1130 NORTH WESTCOTT RD. SCHENECTADY, NY 12306 (518)357-2049
DM1T#47454