Moodna Creek Watershed Conservation and Management Plan
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MMooooddnnaa CCrreeeekk WWaatteerrsshheedd CCoonnsseerrvvaattiioonn aanndd MMaannaaggeemmeenntt PPllaann Prepared by the Orange County Water Authority New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provided funding for this project from the Environmental Protection Funds through the Hudson River Estuary Program March 2010 Contact information Mail: Orange County Water Authority PO Box 118 99 Main Street, Ste 1 Goshen, NY 10924 Phone: 845-615-3868 Fax: 845-291-4828 Website: http://waterauthority.orangecountygov.com Upon request, OCWA can mail a CD or a paper copy of this Watershed Plan to an address or have it available for pickup at our Goshen office. 2 The OCWA appreciates the time and support of all of the individuals named below who participated in this planning process. Many thanks go to: Kate Ahmadi Bob Farkas Elly Knieriemen Bill Prehoda Devin Arne Allan Frei Susan Konvit Nancy Proyect Gary Arne John Furst Mary Lepore Mark Roe Sonia Ayala John Gebhards Patty Lercara Eric Rubenstahl Kirk Babcock Kelly Gentle Steve Maneri Julius Sas Michele Babcock George Green Dick Manley Stacy Schmoyer Dan Burke Russell Hallock Debbie Marone Tracy Schuh Edward Butler Gary Haugland Randy Mayer Bill Schuster Bob Calotta Laura Heady Margaret Menge Bill Steidle Sally Calotta Peter Helseth John Mickelson Robert Stone Cynthia Cheyne Frank Hemming Joe Mlcoch Ronnie Stone Susan Cleaver Rick Horn Jim Mullany Kevin Sumner Sheila Conroy Terry Hughes Diane Newlander Jonathan Swiller Tom Corl Rob Jeroloman Kristen O'Donnell Chuck Thomas Neil Crouse Lucy Joyce Richard Ostner John B. Wenz Robin Crouse Ron Jurain Pat Owen Jay Westerveld Tom DeVinko Patrick Kinney Trudy Pojman Kirk Williams The OCWA is indebted to the professionals and Watershed residents who contributed text to this Plan. Sincere thanks to: Kate Ahmadi, Ph.D. University of Connecticut Associate Professor retiree, Blooming Grove resident Scott Cuppet Watershed Program Coordinator, HREP, NYSDEC / Cornell University Allan Frei, Ph.D. Deputy Director, CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities Kevin Grieser Riparian Buffer Coordinator, HREP, NYSDEC Laura Heady Biodiversity Outreach Coordinator, HREP, NYSDEC / Cornell University John Mickelson Landscape Ecologist Molly Ramsey Graduate Research Assist., SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, NY Bill Schuster, Ph.D. Executive Director, Black Rock Forest Consortium Kevin Sumner Director, O.C. Soil and Water Conservation District We would also like to recognize the following individuals for their hard work and support of this project: OCWA Board of Directors: Marcia Jacobowitz, Esq., Chair R. Michael Worden, Vice Chair Thomas DeBenedictus, Treasurer Jonah Mandelbaum Daniel E. Patenaude, P.E. David Church OCWA Executive Director and Commissioner of Planning Kelly Dobbins Senior Planner, OC Planning Dept and Project Manager Eenika Cruz OCWA Administrator Simon Gruber OCWA Consultant Edward Helbig OCWA Consultant Megan Tennermann Planner, OC Planning Dept Atticus Lanigan Planner, OC Planning Dept Matt Ryan Planner, OC Planning Dept 3 Table of Contents I. Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 7 Background............................................................................................................................. 7 Purpose and Goals of this Plan ............................................................................................... 8 Approach Used within this Plan ........................................................................................... 10 Moodna Creek Watershed Atlas ........................................................................................... 11 Understanding a Watershed .................................................................................................. 11 The Moodna Creek Watershed: An overview ...................................................................... 11 What is a Watershed Plan and What is its Purpose?............................................................. 14 Key Principles and Terms for Watershed Planning.............................................................. 15 II. Existing Conditions in the Moodna Watershed .................................................................. 17 The Many Names of the Moodna Creek............................................................................... 17 The Lower Moodna Creek and Bay: Where the Moodna Meets the Hudson River............. 17 Freshwater Flow................................................................................................................ 18 Essential Nutrients ............................................................................................................ 18 Pollutant Inputs ................................................................................................................. 18 Coastal Habitat.................................................................................................................. 19 Riparian Areas .......................................................................................................................... 20 Impacts of Disturbance on Riparian Vegetation................................................................... 20 Natural Disturbance .......................................................................................................... 20 Human Disturbance .......................................................................................................... 20 Outside Influences on Riparian Buffers................................................................................ 21 Agricultural Influence....................................................................................................... 21 Public Road and Utility Infrastructure Influence.............................................................. 21 Residential Development Influence.................................................................................. 21 Designing and Managing a Healthy Riparian Buffer ........................................................... 21 Unhealthy Streamside Buffers .......................................................................................... 21 Healthy Streamside Buffers .............................................................................................. 21 Water Quality of the Moodna Creek and its Tributaries........................................................... 23 Lake Communities.................................................................................................................... 28 Biological Resources ................................................................................................................ 29 Recognition of Significant Biodiversity in the Moodna Creek Watershed .......................... 31 Hudson River Shoreline: The Moodna Mouth................................................................. 31 Streams and Riparian Corridors........................................................................................ 33 Wetlands ........................................................................................................................... 33 Grasslands, Shrublands, and Farmland............................................................................. 34 Cliffs and Caves................................................................................................................ 34 Cores, Connections, and Landscape Perspective.................................................................. 35 Conclusions........................................................................................................................... 36 Forest Resources ....................................................................................................................... 36 Forest Types and Successional Status................................................................................... 37 Species Composition and Trophic Structure......................................................................... 38 Fragmentation and Disturbance ............................................................................................ 38 Notable Features of Moodna Watershed Forests.................................................................. 39 Benefits Provided by Moodna Watershed Forests................................................................ 39 Areas of Concern for Forests ................................................................................................ 40 Land Use ................................................................................................................................... 41 Protected Open Space ........................................................................................................... 41 4 Development Trends in the Moodna Watershed .................................................................. 47 Review of Local Codes and Plans ........................................................................................ 49 Water Supply ............................................................................................................................ 51 Sources of Water................................................................................................................... 51 Reservoirs ......................................................................................................................... 52 Wells ................................................................................................................................