Shows
DEC Does What?!Artificial Reefs, Reel BenefitsEstablished in 1949, New York’s Artificial Reef Program is the oldest in the U.S. In this episode, hosts Sean and Erica are joined by DEC Marine Biologist Christopher LaPorta and Division Director Marty Gary to dive into the history of the State’s artificial reef network and how it artificial reefs help conserve, protect, and improve marine habitat for a variety of species. Guests also discuss how reefs support fishing and diving activities, and the coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and other entities for deploying large vessels to the ocean floor.
Episode Notes...2025-07-1035 minDEC Does What?!From Pit to Park: Reclaiming New York’s Mined LandsNew York State is rich in minerals, including sand, gravel, bluestone, zinc, and salt, which are mined for industrial and construction uses and the U.S. Geological Survey estimates the annual value of New York's mineral production at $1.84 billion. In this episode, hosts Sean and Erica are joined by Psalm Wyckoff, Section Chief for the Mined Land Reclamation Program, and Jami June, Mined Land Reclamation Specialist—staff with DEC’s Division of Mineral Resources—to discuss the essential role of minerals in New York State’s economy and how the agency oversees the mining industry to ensure the protection of natur...2025-06-2730 minDEC Does What?!Environmental Conservation (and So Much More) Police on PatrolIn this episode, hosts Sean and Erica speak with Officer Mary Frano and Officer Craig Tompkins from DEC’s Region 3 (lower Hudson Valley) about the agency’s wide-ranging front line efforts to protect New Yorkers and the environment. Conversations explore the critical work of DEC’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) who help protect New York’s air, water, wildlife, and public safety. The episode covers the wide-ranging responsibilities of ECOs as they enforce the New York Environmental Conservation Law, navigate the unpredictable nature of tasks during an “average” day, and guide the next generation of New Yorkers to engage in ou...2025-06-1327 minDEC Does What?!Talking TurkeyIn this episode, hosts Sean and Erica welcome Gordon Batcheller, retired DEC’s Wildlife Bureau Chief and current Wildlife Biologist with the Northeast Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and Mike Menza, Environmental Program Specialist with DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, to discuss the extraordinary restoration success story for New York State’s wild turkey population, the spring and fall turkey hunting seasons, and the importance of continuing the heritage of turkey hunting and provide safe and ethical hunting opportunities to future generations. They also talk about how DEC’s intro song came to be.
Episode Notes:2025-05-2342 minDEC Does What?!Where Duty Meets the WildHosts Sean and Erica speak with Captain Nancy Ganswindt and Forest Ranger Chuck Kabrehl about the critical work of DEC’s Division of Forest Protection in responding to wildfires and wilderness emergencies across the State. From fighting forest fires to conducting backcountry rescues to enforcing the laws of New York State, their talents are many. Capt. Ganswindt and Ranger Kabrehl also share their most memorable rescues, investigations, wildfire deployments, and even a surprise celebrity encounter with Nicole Kidman and Martha Stewart. Listeners will also learn about the importance of the annual burn ban, where to get daily air quality up...2025-05-0927 minDEC Does What?!Meet the CommishIn this episode, hosts Sean and Erica are joined by DEC Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton about the opportunities and challenges leading New York’s expansive environmental agency, the foundational role of the State’s natural environment to the health and well-being of all New Yorkers, and the importance of standing up and leading on environmental protections.
Episode Notes:
Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton
GOGO: Get Offline, Get Outside
Transformational Opportunities Under the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act
25 Million Trees Toolkit
Mount Vernon Water Infrastructure Improvements
BearWise Basics
2025-04-2429 minDEC Does What?!Why Did the Salamander Cross the Road? NY’s New Wetlands LawIn this episode, hosts Sean and Erica are joined by staff from DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife— Roy “JR” Jacobson, Habitat Protection Section Head, and Krista Spohr, Freshwater Wetlands Outreach Coordinator—for a conversation about the newly adopted freshwater wetland regulations and general permits, how DEC determines where wetlands are located to enhance conservation efforts statewide, and the long history of state and federal environmental protections for these critical ecosystems.
Episode Notes:
Freshwater Wetlands Program
DEC Finalizes Regulations to Protect Freshwater Wetlands
Free Fishing Weekend Events
Moose Rescued from Lake Abanakee
Camp Santanoni W...2025-02-0638 minDEC Does What?!Spills, Spills, SpillsDEC’s Spills staff respond to more than 10,000 spills each year, part of the agency’s real-time emergency management of petroleum and hazardous and non-hazardous material releases that can have direct impacts to local streams, water supplies, and public health. In this episode, hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by staff from DEC’s Division of Environmental Remediation—Mike Zamiarski, Regional Spills Engineer in DEC’s Region 8, and Kevin Hale, Chief of Spill Response Coordination—to discuss how DEC’s Spill Response program protects and restores New York’s natural environment and how DEC’s spills...2025-01-1736 minDEC Does What?!Don't Be Salty New York!In this episode, hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Julie Berlinski, a research scientist with DEC’s Bureau of Water Resource Management, and Division of Water environmental program specialists Alene Onion and Leila Mitchell, to discuss the need to reduce rock salt use and how to do it. While the use of rock salt on roadways and sidewalks is necessary for safe and efficient travel during snowy New York winters, it can have negative impacts on lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and groundwater. Learn more about how to reduce rock salt use, an...2025-01-0231 minDEC Does What?!The Greatest of LakesIn this episode, we explore the work of DEC’s Division of Water to protect the iconic Great Lakes, the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world.
DEC’s Great Lakes Program is the largest watershed by land area, working across over 42 percent of the state’s land area and along over 750 miles of shoreline. New York's Great Lakes Basin includes Lake Erie, Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River, and holds 21 percent of the world's freshwater resources. Hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Shannon Dougherty, DEC’s Great La...2024-12-1931 minDEC Does What?!When Disaster StrikesIn this episode, we take a closer look at how DEC supported recovery efforts as part of the New York State Incident Management Team (IMT) operations in the city of Asheville, NC, following the devastation of Hurricane Helene in September 2024.
Hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald welcome Division of Forest Protection Forest Ranger Captain Adam Pickett and Division of Communication, Education, and Engagement/DEC Region 5 Public Participation Specialist Erin Hanczyk to discuss their 14-day IMT deployments, which included helping to distribute food and water to impacted communities and coordinating communications and outreach...2024-12-0530 minDEC Does What?!Relations with Indigenous NationsNovember is Native American Heritage Month, a nationwide celebration of the contributions of Indigenous peoples and celebration of their heritage, traditions, culture, art, and history while acknowledging how society has impacted Indigenous peoples and culture. New York State was the first state to recognize ‘American Indian Day’ in 1916, originally observed on the second Saturday in May. In this episode, hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Peter Reuben, Director of DEC’s Office of Indian Nation Affairs, and Beynan Ransom, the Office’s Program Coordinator, to discuss how DEC works to strengthen relation...2024-11-2235 minDEC Does What?!Pheasants and Deer and Bear, Oh My!Hunting remains one of the most popular forms of outdoor wildlife recreation in New York State, with more than 565,000 licensed hunters generating approximately $1.5 billion in economic activity each year. In this episode, hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald are joined by Timothy Pyszczynski and Brendan Quirion—Wildlife Biologists with DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife—to discuss the importance of hunter education and safety programs to recruit the next generation of hunters and help prevent hunting-related accidents, preview the deer and bear harvest for 2024-2025, and explore the role of big game hunting in wil...2024-10-2437 minDEC Does What?!Sturgeon ThunderEvery October, more than 5,000 students and educators from across New York State participate in the annual A Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor. The event provides opportunities for hands-on activities to encourage discovery and interest in protecting the Hudson River ecosystem.
This episode, hosts Sean and Erica welcome Chris Bowser—Education Coordinator with DEC’s Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and passionate advocate for connecting people to nature—for a wide-ranging conversation on DEC’s education and engagement work in communities along the Hudson River. Bowser is a familiar face to followers of DEC’s so...2024-10-1137 minDEC Does What?!DEC Dispatch: Who You Gonna Call?DEC’s dispatch office receives more than 100,000 calls every year. Sean and Erica talk to Communication Specialist Alicia Bodmer and Communication Technician David McCasland from Ray Brook Dispatch about what it’s like to respond to challenging calls. From coordinating mountain and water rescues to deploying staff and equipment during extreme weather events, DEC dispatchers hear it all, playing a frontline role in helping Environmental Conservation Police Officers, Forest Rangers, and Spills Response experts get to where they’re needed most. It’s not all emergencies though – you’ll hear some lighthearted stories too, including one about an owl who isn’t su...2024-09-2627 minDEC Does What?!The (Extreme) Heat is OnExtreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States each year, more than hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding combined. In this episode, guest Dr. Leo Bachinger, Special Assistant with DEC’s Office of Climate Change, joins hosts Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald for a conversation about the biggest risks created by extreme heat, how climate change is worsening the impact of extreme heat on the human body and local ecosystems, and multi-agency efforts like New York State’s first-ever Extreme Heat Action Plan to help local communities prepare and respond to incr...2024-09-1228 minDEC Does What?!Harmful Algal Blooms: Know It. Avoid It. Report It.While HABs have existed for billions of years, recent changes—including climate change, warmer temperatures, and increases in phosphorous and other nutrients—are accelerating their growth and negative impact on New York’s environment, human health, pets, and summertime activities. In this episode, hosts Sean and Erica are joined by Matt Kraft and Leanna Pierson, Research Scientists with DEC’s Division of Water, for a closer look at HABs, state investments to improve water quality, and the agency’s education and outreach efforts (Know It, Avoid It, Report It) to help New Yorkers track HABs in their communities.
2024-08-0824 minDEC Does What?!Talkin’ Trash (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)We all know the mantra “Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle,” but how familiar are you with where your trash ends up and the many ways New Yorkers can help reduce waste in our communities? New York State is leading the way on advancing more sustainable solid waste management and educating people about how to prevent landfilling, protect glass and other recyclables from ”wish-cycling,” and directly support efforts to reduce climate-altering pollution.
In this episode, Sean and Erica welcome Amy Bloomfield and Kayla Montanye, Environmental Program Specialists with DEC’s Division of Materials Management, to discuss how New Yorkers...2024-07-2638 minDEC Does What?!Digging Deep on the Navy-Grumman Plume
One of DEC's primary missions is to oversee the cleanup of contamination throughout New York State, and this episode discusses the recent news on efforts underway to address the legacy of pollution from the former U.S. Navy and Northrup Grumman facility in Bethpage and related operations on Long Island. DEC is working closely with State, federal, and local partners to ensure public health and the environment are protected from contamination both near the surface and deeper underground in groundwater. Sean and Erica talk with Jason Pelton, Professional Geologist, and Jess LaClair, Environmental Engineer, both with DEC’s Division of En...2024-07-1128 minDEC Does What?!Hooked on HatcheriesAnglers can find world-class fishing opportunities across New York State, thanks in large part to a network of 12 DEC-operated fish hatcheries – each specializing in raising and stocking various species of trout, walleye, salmon, muskellunge, and more! On this episode, Sean and Erica explore the importance of these facilities with Michelle Poprawski, DEC’s Catskill State Fish Hatchery Manager. Dive in and learn how Michelle and her fin-tastic team raise over 600,000 brown trout each year and stock them into more than 115 waterbodies throughout the Hudson Valley and Long Island to enhance recreational fishing opportunities.
LINKS:
Fish Sto...2024-06-2738 minDEC Does What?!Spread the Word, Not the SpeciesBeetles, round goby, kudzu, hydrilla - Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to New York’s environment, causing habitat degradation, loss of native species, crop damage, and much more. This episode, Sean and Erica are joined by DEC Research Scientists Cathy McGlynn and Jessica Cancelliere from the Bureau of Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health to discuss all things invasive and the importance of public awareness. Cathy and Jessica discuss how DEC plays a critical role in research, monitoring, prevention, and management of invasive species across the state, plus tips for listeners about how everyone can help prevent th...2024-06-1334 minDEC Does What?!Half-Century of Public ServiceOn April 22, 1970, Governor Nelson Rockefeller signed legislation to create the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Six years later, the legendary Nancy Lussier joined Team DEC, where she rose through the ranks from account clerk to become the agency’s longtime Director of the Division of Management and Budget Services. In preparation for her retirement, Nancy joins Sean and Erica for an in-depth look at her 50 years of service with New York State and DEC and how the agency continues to improve and evolve to assist DEC staff and the millions of New Yorkers we serve. Nancy embraced ne...2024-05-3023 minDEC Does What?!The Air Up ThereDid you know that DEC has a team of meteorologists using the latest science to keep New Yorkers informed about air quality across our state? This week, Sean and Erica are joined by DEC air pollution meteorologists Abigail Komarc and Sarah Lechleitner who explain the Air Quality Index and how to use it, how weather conditions and different seasons can affect air quality, whether we have to worry about wildfire smoke again this summer, and what it’s like to measure air quality in Antarctica.
Episode Notes:
VIDEO: DEC Meteorologists Monitoring Air Quality: https://www.y...2024-05-1624 minDEC Does What?!New York State of SustainabilityWe welcome Brendan Woodruff and Pam Hadad-Hurst, two hard-working members of our sustainability team, to discuss how DEC is leading on sustainability statewide to reduce greenhouse gases and protect our environment. Brendan and Pam outline sustainable practices in place at our facilities, DEC’s collaboration with other state agencies in “going green”, and ways New Yorkers can incorporate these same actions into their daily lives.
Episode Notes:
Sustainability at DEC - https://dec.ny.gov/about/sustainability-at-dec
DEC Sustainability Plan (2023-2028) - https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/administration_pdf/sustainabilityplan.pdf
2024-05-0217 minDEC Does What?!Tremendous TreesWith Arbor Day approaching on April 26, we talk to foresters Bryan Ellis and Jason Drobnack about how New York’s forests are evolving, the role trees play in combatting climate change, and why chainsaws still give New York a cutting edge in forest management.
2024-04-1829 minDEC Does What?!Going Wild(life) for the EclipseThe first episode of “DEC Does What?!”—featuring biologists Dr. Angelena Ross and Dr. Dan Rosenblatt, both with DEC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife— focuses on the potential effects of the April 8 solar eclipse on New York wildlife, work underway to protect endangered wildlife, and how different species adapt to changes in their habitat caused by climate change and other factors.
Episode Credits: “DEC Does What?!” is a production of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Hosted by Executive Deputy Commissioner Sean Mahar and Chief of Staff Erica Ringewald. Theme music by Mike Menza.
2024-04-0330 min