Schoharie Watershed Stream Management Program

David Burns | Project Manager | NYCDEP Stream Management Program March 3, 2015 Presentation Outline

• Stream Management Program: Quick Background • Stream Management Implementation Program • SMIP Categories and Update • Additional Non-SMIP Projects

2 DEP’s Stream Management Program Mission Working with Watershed Partners to: Restore natural stream system stability and ecosystem integrity by working to facilitate the long term stewardship of Catskill Mountain streams and floodplains.

3 Stream Management Planning • Multi-objective: to coordinate disparate management goals, traditions and practices that might otherwise be at cross purposes;

• Community-based: to ensure inclusive, transparent planning involving all interested stakeholders, especially private streamside landowners;

• Watershed-scale: stream systems are impossible to manage effectively without considering all functional linkages.

• SMPs: Batavia Kill, West Kill, East Kill, Schoharie Creek, Manor Kill

• All available at www.catskillstreams.org Local Adoption and Implementation

• All (8) municipalities in Greene County have gone through the SEQR process and adopted the relevant SMP (currently renewing); Conesville in Schoharie County also adopted the Manor Kill SMP;

• Municipalities signed an Memorandum of Understanding with SWCDs to work collaboratively towards the implementation of stream management plans, and to work collaboratively on stream and floodplain issues. MOU has been updated to include Local Flood Analysis;

• SMP works through Annual Action Plans developed with SWAC and watershed partners (FAD deliverable every year);

• GCSWCD presents updates to Town Boards;

• All municipalities have appointed representatives to Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee. Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee

Batavia Kill PAC

Schoharie PAC East Kill PAC

SWAC • The SWAC is an appointed 15 member committee that represents Schoharie watershed municipalities, Greene County Legislature, and Education & Outreach, Highway & Infrastructure, and Recreation & Habitat subcommittees.

• Primary Role is to oversee locally-driven implementation - Stream Management Implementation Program (SMIP) STREAM MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM (SMIP), STARTED IN 2009

7 Local Implementation (SMIP)

• In 2009, DEP committed 2 million towards the stream management implementation program (SMIP); • GCSWCD, through DEP agreements, provide staffing for implementation as one aspect of their stream program; • SWAC developed an application process to guide implementation; • Implementation funding split into the following categories: Landowner Stream Assistance, Highway/Infrastructure, Stormwater and Critical Area Seeding, Planning and Assessment, Habitat and Recreation, Education and Outreach and Flood Hazard Mitigation (post-Irene); • SWAC, GCSWCD and DEP ensure project’s are consistent with Stream Management Plans; • SMIP funding will be renewed in next agreement with GCSWCD. Local SMP Implementation Program Category Number of Awards through Ten Rounds (8/1/2009 - 2/1/2015) Landowner Stream Assistance 6

Stormwater and Critical Area Seeding 3

Recreation and Habitat 5

Education/Outreach 14

Planning and Assessment 4

Highway and Infrastructure 8

Flood Hazard Mitigation 4

Total 44

• 28 projects completed, 3 on-going (e.g. ditch seeding funds) and 12 in- process and 1 withdrawn

• $1,976,769.07 committed to date; Windham LFA Change Order Pending 99 SMIP 2014 Approvals

1010 Round 9 and 10 Awards (2014) . Town of Windham to undertake an LFA

. Schoharie Watershed Month 2014

. Windham Path multi-use, non-motorized trail on Batavia Kill phase 2

. Kaaterskill United Methodist Church Stormwater/Rain Harvesting Project

. Replenishment of the Schoharie Watershed Stream Crossing/Culvert Engineering Fund (Engineering for S. Gilboa Rd culvert (Gilboa) and Beech Ridge road stream stabilization (West Kill))

. Conesville Town Park Community Enhancement Project

1959 2009 11 Conesville Town Park Community Enhancement

12 S. Gilboa Road Culvert Replacement

13 Schoharie Watershed Month 2014

14 Windham LFA

• Started LFA Process in June, 2014 in conjunction with NYS Community Rising Program. Recently formed a separate Flood Advisory Committee • SMIP funded at $33,860 to Milone and Macbroom Inc., Currently, adding additional E/O and cost/benefit analysis.

15 16 Windham LFA

17 Schoharie Creek at Kozak

18 Additional Non-SMIP 2014 Projects and Programs

1919 Schoharie Watershed Summit, 2015

• Workshops covered the use of hydraulic modeling to reduce flood risk; the new flood mitigation programs in the Catskill-Delaware Watershed; the application of the NYCDEP stormwater regulations; and the general powers and duties of the municipal planning board. • Keynote: Seeking Higher Ground: National and International Approaches to Flood Mitigation, Nicholas Pinter, Professor, Dept. of Geology & Director Doctoral Program in Watershed Science and Policy, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

20 Lexington LFA • Started LFA Process in March, 2014 in conjunction with NYSDOS Long Term Community Recovery grant. Currently forming Flood Advisory Committee and finishing LFA. • SMIP funded at $49,850 following RFP process in which Milone and Macbroom Inc was the successful bidder.

21 Lexington LFA

22 Stream Project Repairs • 500+ year event in Batavia Kill and West Kill where most damages occurred; • Excellent opportunity to work with FEMA to repair projects as “improved infrastructure”; • Post-Irene surveys and repair designs completed on 10 sites (2012), DEP issued change order to fund repairs (late 2013), FEMA to reimburse 75% of cost; • Three repairs completed in 2013; four completed in 2014; one started in 2014 to finish in 2015; and 2 scheduled for 2015 if landowner issues can be resolved. • Infrastructure around projects was largely undamaged.

West Kill at Shoemaker Batavia Kill at Conine 23 Batavia Kill at Brandywine and ACR

24 Stony Clove at Lanesville

25 West Kill at Long Rd Repair

26 West Kill at Shoemaker

27 Project Stats

Project Site Town Length Cost (Feet) Batavia Kill at Ashland 1,150’ $538,687.00 Brandywine Batavia Kill at Ashland Ashland 1,150’ $242,222.00 Connector West Kill at Long Road Lexington 3,000’ $647,918.00

Stony Clove at Hunter 800’ $301,789.00 Lanesville West Kill at Shoemaker Lexington 1,500’ NA

28 Conclusion

• Over the last 15 years the stream management program has grown into a comprehensive stream program that is focusing on scientifically-driven implementation, but still places major emphasis on assessment and education. • SMPs and Demos since 1999, but with increased implementation focus in 2009. • Schoharie Watershed SMP has Completed 104 projects protecting ~18 miles of stream at a cost of $19,465,652 $11,839,944 from DEP). • DEP has committed 35.8 million to Schoharie basin between 1997 and 2019. • More information can be found at partnership website: www.catskillstreams.org

29 Questions?

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