The Division of Coastal Resources has developed a scenic assessment program that identifies the scenic qualities of coastal landscapes, evaluates them against criteria for determining aesthetic significance, and recommends areas for designation by the Department as Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance (SASS).  SASS designation protects scenic landscapes through review of projects requiring State or federal actions, including direct actions, permits, or funding. 

The first application of the State’s scenic assessment program was in the Hudson River Valley coastal region, where six areas in Columbia, Greene, Dutchess and Ulster counties were designated in 1993 as Scenic Areas of Statewide Significance.  In 2010, nine areas totaling more than 25,000 acres on Long Island’s East End within the Town and Village of East Hampton were designated as SASSs.   The areas in both the Hudson Valley and East End encompass unique, highly scenic landscapes accessible to the public and recognized for their outstanding quality. 

The State’s scenic assessment program can be easily applied in other regions throughout New York State and can be modified to assess scenic quality in an individual community, as was done in East Hampton.   

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