NEWSLETTER

Issue 10: July 20th, 2020

Protecting the Saw Kill watershed and its ecological, recreational, and historic resources through hands-on science, education, and advocacy.

Hunter Lustberg A NOTE FROM: SKWC LEADERSHIP TEAM

Hello! I hope that you are doing well and managing as best you can. If you’re looking for volunteer opportunities or activities in the Saw Kill area, check out:

Red Hook Responds works to support the efforts of volunteer initiatives in the Tivoli and Red Hook areas. They offer grocery and prescription deliveries, food pantry bags, dinner deliveries and neighborly chats.

The Red Hook Community Center recently reopened its doors and is hosting a variety of courses, workshops and community support events. They are offering painting workshops for both adults and children, Tai Chi classes, and a Summer Youth Employment Program, you can check out the details of these programs in the attachment. "Meet ups for adults with special needs & caregivers" is also starting up again. Email [email protected] for availability or if you have any questions. Social distancing and face masks are required.

These articles are written with your interests in mind. Please feel free to respond with topics you would be interested in hearing about, or if you would like to contribute an article. Email [email protected] with any questions or feedback. PFAS AND OTHER HARMFUL CHEMICALS IN TURF FIELDS Julia Gloninger, Saw Kill Watershed Community Intern, '21

Mountains of old turf fields are piling up in unexpected places as they reach the end of their life cycles, as schools and other turf users realize that disposal is both a costly and complicated ordeal. Studies have shown that turf fields contain high amounts of PFAS chemicals. This class of chemicals has been linked to a multitude of negative health effects for humans and wildlife. These chemicals have gone unregulated for many years which is especially problematic because they persist indefinitely in the environment and our bodies. Scientists are continuing to research remediation processes to remove the chemicals from drinking water while simultaneously advocating for strict regulation.

Many studies have examined the presence of harmful chemicals in the crumb rubber used in turf fields. Many studies have examined the presence of harmful chemicals in the crumb rubber used in turf fields.The EPA released a study last year that found dozens of metals and volatile and semi- volatile organic compounds in the crumbs. Some are known carcinogens, including cadmium, nickel, and arsenic. Despite these findings, the study was inconclusive, noting that more research is needed to identify specific risks, and that human exposure seems to be limited. Many scientists and environmental groups have criticized this determination as premature and lacking an important degree of caution. Other studies have confirmed the presence of these chemicals and others such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and have examined the ways in which these chemicals leach from the rubber tires into surrounding bodies of water and the air.

More recently, researchers are calling attention to the need to examine the chemicals used in other parts of the artificial turf, such as the plastic blades of grass, an aspect that was not considered in the EPA study. In the manufacturing of plastic, PFAS chemicals are often used to aid in molding and extrusions so that the plastic will not clog up machines. Tests conducted by the Ecology Center have shown that these PFAS do in fact linger in the plastic blades of grass and the backing that attaches them. These results suggest that PFAS could linger in other plastic products that use PFAS as an aid in the production process. Another study found PFOS (a specific type of PFAS chemical that is no longer in use) in a sample from some older turf field that hadn’t been disposed of properly. The study also found high levels of the chemical in a nearby wetland, suggesting a potential for these chemicals to enter water sources.

Turf fields usually need to be replaced after about 10 years of use. Turf is widely marketed as recyclable at the end of its lifecycle, but the Synthetic Turf Council has been unable to provide the name of any facility currently able to recycle turf in the U.S. Some companies claim to do so, but the evidence to back their claims is difficult to find. With the knowledge that these fields contain high levels of toxic chemicals, many landfills do not accept them. This means that turf fields will need to be disposed of in facilities capable of managing hazardous chemicals. Due to the high costs of this type of disposal and processing, the old fields are piling up in places where there is a high potential for contamination of local water sources. More research is needed on the potential leaching of PFAS into water sources, but the potential for risk is high. Facilities and schools should take the health concerns and high cost of disposal into consideration when choosing to install these types of fields.

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[email protected] www.facebook.com/sawkillwatershed P A G E 0 2 www.sawkillwatershed.wordpress.com Instagram @sawkillwatershed TAKE A WALK THROUGH THE SAW KILL WATERSHED Grace Carter, Saw Kill Watershed Community Intern, Bard College '21 I’m not an avid hiker, but as so many others have during quarantine, I turned to the outdoors for space to recharge. I’ve done some exploring of the hiking trails that wind through the Saw Kill watershed at Bard College and . I'd like to share my findings with you. But before heading out for your next adventure, please check the website of Hike the for trail closures and parking restrictions due to COVID-19.

Watershed are habitats for large diversity of plants and animals. Some are rarer than others and many may be seen on these trails. As you walk through the places listed below, keep an eye out for flora and fauna like the tawny emperor butterfly, fissidens moss, and golden club flowers. Dutchess county contains many rare species, including the Indiana Bat, Bald Eagle, and Bog Turtle. You’ll also see and hear plenty of woodland bird species, like scarlet tanagers, wood thrushes, and orioles. After it rains - there may be red-spotted newts, American bullfrogs, green frogs, and wood frogs. If you're on the trails early in the morning, you're likely to see groundhogs, while in the evening you’ll see many skunks.

Montgomery Place: North/South Woods - The Saw Kill Trail and South Woods Trail have uneven terrain and are occasionally steep and muddy. The West Lawn Trail features sloping terrain.To get to the trail, park at 26 Gardener Way in Red Hook.

The grounds at Montgomery Place are split into the North and South Woods. The North Woods slopes down to the ravine where the Saw Kill flows. This path is approximately 3 miles long. It’s a circuit, so you can either walk the full loop or turn back when you reach the Saw Kill. The trail leads to a waterfall. The South Woods, approximately 70 acres in size, is one of the oldest oak forests in the Hudson Valley. Walk through the visitors center to a gravel path. Bear left and follow the path to the South Woods Trail. If you go straight, the path takes you toward the river and the Montgomery Place mansion. Both trails are well maintained.

Zabriskie's Waterfall - The Zabriskie family once owned Blithewood and much of the land adjoining Bard College. Christian Andrew Zabriskie gave his estate to Bard for one dollar in 1951. Zabriskie's Waterfall is located on the . To access the waterfall, park either in the Avery Overflow lot or down the road toward the Field Station. Then follow the path going down and you will be able to hear the falls before you see them. It's a 5 to 10 minute walk. Waterfall Extended - One of my absolute favorite walks is to start by Zabriskie's Waterfall, then go past the dam and trek out through the mud flats, where the Saw Kill meets the Hudson, during low tide. To avoid getting caught in deep water, look up tide levels here. It’s a muddy hike, and it adds an additional hour to the Zabriskie trail. If you're not comfortable climbing, either plan to turn back or skip this walk all together. It’s a steep climb up from the river onto the South Woods hiking trail, which lets out at the base of Blithewood Manor. Blithewood Manor houses the Levy economic institute at Bard College.The grounds are beautiful and feature a spectacular view of the . North Tivoli Bays- Due to construction activities for the Empire State Trail, effective June 12, 2020, the Kidd Lane entrance to the Tivoli Bays WMA, canoe/kayak launch road, and the trail from Bard College are temporarily closed. You can still walk around Bard’s campus, which is beautiful and well maintained.

When there is no construction, you can access Tivoli Bays near the Fisher Center at Bard. Follow the parking lot road north of Manor. At the farthest corner of the Fisher Center parking lot, you’ll see a yellow gate that is an entrance to Tivoli Bays. The sunsets at Tivoli bays are gorgeous. While you’re there, check out the wildlife. Tivoli Bays is a protected area that houses several rare species of wildflowers, butterflies, birds, fish, and more. Tivoli Bays is really beautiful for a short walk or a day hike.

[email protected] www.facebook.com/sawkillwatershed P A G E 0 3 www.sawkillwatershed.wordpress.com Instagram @sawkillwatershed Places that are not in the watershed but still lovely walks Poets’ Walk Park - Located at 776 River Rd, Red Hook the park has mown and gravel paths lined with wooden benches providing access to the 120 acres of fields and forest. The trails are very well-marked; a Scenic Hudson Trail map is also available. If you go straight on the trail, you come to a rustic gazebo at the top of the hill. From this vantage point you can enjoy views of the Hudson, the Catskills, and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge. Burger Hill- Named after the Burgers, a German Palatine family that moved to the Hudson Valley in 1717 as tenants of Col. Henry Beekman, Burger Hill is now a public park. From the parking lot, the walk is straight up the hill-- a gradual but continuous incline rising 550 feet, with a view of the Catskills from the top. The Stone benches at the top of the hill are a great place to rest and enjoy the view. Ferncliff Forest - This old-growth forest is a must stop for any Hudson Valley walk list. The forest and its 11 marked trails are open year-round for walking, hiking, fishing, camping, and skiing. The address is 68 Mt Rutsen Rd, Rhinebeck and there are road signs once you get closer to the forest. The fire tower is a bit of a climb but offers fabulous Hudson Valley views. It’s even been shouted out by the NY Times. Wilderstein Historic Site- The wooded Wildenstein grounds overlooks the Hudson at 330 Morton Road, Rhinebeck. The grounds are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round. The trail system that traverses the property is approximately 3 miles long and takes about an hour to hike. Thompson-Mazzarella Park - The Rhinebeck Community Garden, Starr Library, ball fields, a pool, and acres of protected open space with extensive trails can be found at the Thompson-Mazzarella Park. Winnakee Land Trust permanently protects the open space in the park from inappropriate development and works in concert with the Town of Rhinebeck to provide the community with recreational opportunities. The park is 72 acres with 2.2 miles of foot trails on Traver Lane, adjacent to Starr Library in Rhinebeck. The Winnakee Land Trust website is an excellent source of information for this public park. Please email [email protected] if you have any places you’d like us to add.

LULA: A NEW PERSPECTIVE Marco Spodek, SKWC Leadership Team Member

Over the years at the Saw Kill Watershed Community, we have encountered a number of challenges as a community-led initiative. Often, our heads and hearts are in the right place; we want to protect our natural resources, keep our local forests and wetlands healthy, and ensure that everyone has access to clean drinking water. However, maintaining this vision with the practical element of moving forward on a public or municipal level requires a certain expertise that we don’t always have. Lucky for us, however, we live in the Hudson Valley; a community with a thriving network of folks pushing for similar goals. Even during a global pandemic, we can find a way to share ideas. From the end of May through the beginning of July, the Saw Kill Watershed Community Leadership team participated in the annual Land Use Leadership Alliance (LULA) training program. The program is provided by the Land Use Law Center at Pace University, and aims to bring community and municipal leaders together to discuss issues related to land use. While touching on a broad array of subtopics, the course primarily teaches participants how to implement effective policies in order to move forward on local initiatives.

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[email protected] www.facebook.com/sawkillwatershed P A G E 0 4 www.sawkillwatershed.wordpress.com Instagram @sawkillwatershed The weekly trainings were led by Jessica Bacher and Tiffany Zezula, executive and deputy directors of the Land Use Law Center, respectively, and both adjunct professors at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace. The program we attended focused on the Saw Kill, Roe Jan, and Wappingers watersheds. Dozens of virtual attendees from all over the Hudson Valley participated, each bringing their own experience and expertise to the conversation. Many topics were covered in the program. We discussed stream buffer protection and restoration, waterfront revitalization, coastal management, wetland protection, and community resilience in the face of climate change. One of the overarching messages of the program was that effective regulation and land use decisions stem from an understanding of your town’s comprehensive plan. The comprehensive plan, or the master plan, is a document that forms the foundation of future development projects within your community. When assessing the viability and scope of a new project, the first step should always be careful consultation of the comprehensive plan. Not all municipalities engage in comprehensive planning, but those that do often experience benefits such as a unified vision for the future of the community as well as an understanding of its needs and assets. Land use regulations such as zoning, subdivisions, and permitting are all required to be in accordance with the comprehensive plan once it has been adopted. These plans often need to be amended and updated as change occurs; they should be reviewed and updated every ten years. As we adjust to new realities and begin to reimagine what development in our community looks like, the comprehensive plan needs to reflect the new thinking. The Town of Red Hook’s comprehensive plan was last amended in 1993. Although that was nearly 30 years ago, the statement of land use and development policy within the plan is quite sensitive to many of the issues the SKWC continues to push for today. One of the goals established by the original master plan committee during drafting was “conservation of the community’s natural environment, including the protection of its natural features and the wise use of its land resources.” Under this heading, important issues are covered, such as protecting surface and groundwater resources with particular emphasis on public water supplies, protecting natural drainage areas through careful regulation of development adjacent to wetlands, and preventing excessive sedimentation and erosion by controlling runoff quality through project-specific requirements. These are all objectives that we strive for in our communications with local government. We take pride in the fact that our community has kept these issues at heart for decades. However, there is always work to be done and LULA made sure to let us know that it starts with a clear understanding of our comprehensive plan! Another key overarching concept of the training was effective community engagement. Folks from all backgrounds were happy to share their expertise within this department, but various conversations and role-playing exercises yielded strong takeaways focused on public outreach. Polling citizens, holding town meetings, facilitating focus groups, and keeping consistent positive communication through social media were just a few of these action items. Toward the end of the program, we split into breakout groups to brainstorm public engagement plans. We were pleased to receive affirmation from our fellow trainees that this mode of communication--creating content for our community members to enjoy and respond to--is a great way to start building a dialogue. We know that we can always improve. With that, we invite any of our community members to reach out to us via email or on any of our social media pages to start a conversation! Maybe there is some content you would like us to touch on, maybe there is an issue in the community you think we should be discussing, or maybe you would just like some more information on our group! Our door is always open to yhttps://unsplash.com/photos/EXhQYizpCZEou.

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