Katie Kocijanski is reporting in the Register-Star the Columbia Land Conservancy has been awarded more than $43,000 in grant funding by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. CLC was one of 10 projects to receive the funds in the Hudson River Estuary watershed. DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said the grants will be used to “protect water quality and habitats, conserve open space, and increase storm resiliency” in various communities statewide. Locally, the CLC will use the funds to create a natural resources inventory for Columbia Country. The report to be prepared will include maps, photos and illustrations to describe local water, biological and land resources. Work on the inventory will begin in 2017. The project is a joint undertaking by CLC, the Columbia County Environmental Management Council, and Hudsonia, an environmental research, education and training organization. Read the full story in the Register-Star.