The New York State Hudson River Valley Greenway Act of 1991provides economic and technical assistance to communities within the Greenway area, the 13 counties that border the Hudson River and the 242 municipalities within them, who voluntarily adopt a regional planning compact. The Greenway Act also gives incentives to municipalities that join county Greenway compacts. The option to participate in a county compact preserves local decision-making authority. The Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, in 2000, created “Greenway Connections: Greenway Compact Program and Guides for Dutchess County Communities.” This comprehensive manual outlines landscape ecology principles to ensure that habitats are connected and farmland fits seamlessly into the larger landscape. Some municipalities, such as Poughkeepsie, have added Greenway goals to their ordinances, meaning that any changes to their zoning law must be consistent with Greenway Connections.