Some of it will be archived.  The problem is day to day access by DEC employees who need the information.  Also, every archiving effort results in lost materials.

As an example of the former, my unit deals with flood problems.  We have historical stream flow records and hydraulic engineering analyses.  We have no room in the new building to keep these materials.  While many of the files sit unused for years, there is often a need to pull a file so that the impacts of some new development or new flood control works can be properly analyzed.  Without quick access to the historical data that we have, engineering studies will have to be redone at a very high cost - - or inappropriate development will be allowed.

One of the problems with archiving is that it takes a great amount of staff time to go through what we have and to properly analyze and dispose of it.  We simply do not have the staff to do that.

In a message dated Thu, 18 Nov 1999 10:58:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, Wayne Miller <[log in to unmask]> writes:

> Any chance these materials might be transferred to the State Archives or
> similar repository?
> Wayne Miller
>
>
> On Tue, 16 Nov 1999 [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> > I can't answer your question, but I can suggest that with the new undersized DEC building, even the records you were able to find will disappear.  This will be bad tidings for any DEC unit which relies on historical data.  NOTE:  DEC is moving to a new building in a year or two.  There is little room in the new building for files and records.  Employees are being told to cut half of our holdings -- without comperable assistance regarding scanning or sorting.  Much will be lost.
> >
> > In a message dated Tue, 16 Nov 1999  9:30:50 AM Eastern Standard Time, David Pachan <[log in to unmask]> writes:
> >
> > > To whom can help,
> > >
> > > I work for the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in the department of lands and forests. I have a question concerning the total percent of forested land in New York State befoe the 1900's.
> > >
> > > Here is what I have so far:
> > >
> > > Forest land cover figures-- forest land is defined as land with at least 10% stocking of trees of any size, or that formerly had such tree cover and is not currently developed for a non-forest use.
> > >
> > > Total land area of New York State-- 30.2 million acres
> > >
> > > 1900-- 7 million acres--appox. 23%
> > > 1925-- 9 million acres--approx. 30%
> > > 1953--15.1 million acres-- approx. 50%
> > > 1968-- 17.3 million acres-- approx. 57%
> > > 1980--18.5 million acres--approx. 61%
> > > 1993-- 18.6 million acres-- approx. 62%
> > >
> > > As early as we can go will be greatly appreciated.
> > > Thank you very much for who ever can assist me.
> > >
> > > David
> >
>
> **************************************************************************
> Wayne L. Miller                         Special Collections Librarian
> Feinberg Library                        2 Draper Avenue
> 518-564-5206                            Plattsburgh, NY 12901
> [log in to unmask]      or             [log in to unmask]
>         "I wonder what will happen today!"  -Maggie Muggins-
> "Not even God can change history...which is why he tolerates historians."
>                                         -Voltaire
> **************************************************************************