Esopus Creek News 2014 Winter
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Winter 2014 Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program Newsletter A quarterly publication of Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County Esopus - Broadstreet Hollow - Woodland Valley - Stony Clove - Fox Hollow - Birch Creek - Beaverkill - Little Beaverkill - Peck Hollow- Bushnellsville - Bush Kill Flowing Through Time: AWSMP Announces its 5th Annual Ashokan Watershed Conference on April 5th The Catskill Mountains have provided us with a rich history, lore, and legacy. Native Americans found magic here, and early European settlers discovered flora, fauna, and enough resources to sustain them for generations. Various industries thrived from logging, tanning, glass making, and Inside this Issue farming . .all utilizing our Main Feature 1 natural resources, and most importantly using the clean, Upcoming Events 2 clear waters from our excep- Recent Events 3 tional streams. John Burroughs, the most Featured Stream 4 respected naturalist and essayist, ence organized by the Ashokan educator and historian who wrote & Science Article next to Henry David Thoreau, Watershed Stream Management a column for the Catskill Mountain Recreation Article 6 Program (AWSMP). Flowing News called, “A Catskill Catalog,” described a local creek . “only in such remote woods can you now Through Time: Streams and Catskill will discuss the cultural develop- Help with Buffers 7 see a brook in all its original Mountain Communities is the title of ment of our region. His presenta- freshness and beauty. An ideal the fifth annual educational event. tion on the social history of the Announcements 8 trout brook was this, now hurry- The daylong conference will Ashokan Watershed will give us an ing, now loitering, now deepening explore the natural and cultural opportunity to learn about the around a great boulder, now history of this most extraordinary area from the early communities gliding evenly over a pavement of area. Experts will present a and valley’s settlers to the impact green-grey stone and pebbles; no diverse approach, examining the building the Ashokan reservoir had We’re on the web! sediment or stain of any kind, but history and folklore of our region, on the region. Special focus will be www.ashokanstreams.org the relevance of past and current paid to streams and land use white and sparkling as snow- water, and nearly as cool. Indeed, stream management approaches, patterns — where and why the water of all this Catskill region issues with climate change, and communities flourished and Ashokan Stream is the best in the world.” other topics of interest to resi- implications for that develop- Management Program 6375 Rt. 28 A historical look at our Catskill dents, municipal officials, and the ment now, in light of the threat Phoenicia, NY 12464 community. of climate change. streams will be the theme of the phone: 845-688-3047 2014 Ashokan Watershed Confer- Bill Birns, PhD, a writer, ...continued on the next page fax: 845-688-3130 Visit Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County online at: www.cceulster.org or email [email protected] ...Watershed Conference continued from page 1 Upcoming Events Bill will talk about the role of the Upper The afternoon offers choices from Esopus in the American Revolution, and the three different tracts: March Catskills as the birthplace of a unique For residents who want to learn how to The New York State Floodplain and school of American arts and letters. The read flood maps and interpret flood Stormwater Managers Association works of the Hudson River School of insurance rate maps (FIRMS), Brent will hold their annual meeting from painters and the Catskill-centric stories of Gotsch, educator from the AWSMP will March 25-27 at the Poughkeepsie Washington Irving and James Fenimore spend time with a hands-on approach to Grand Hotel in Poughkeepsie, NY. Cooper are examples of how this region The AWSMP has awarded grants for flood maps. influenced American culture with lasting area municipal officials to attend and impact today. A second tract given by meteorologist obtain or renew their Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) Bill will also touch upon the Catskills as Stephen DiRienzo, from the National certification. the home of innovation in science, technol- Weather Service Forecast Office in Albany, ogy, industry, and tourism, — and, of NY will be a training on the meteorological April course, the birthplace of American fly- factors affecting extreme weather, the The 5th Annual Ashokan Watershed history of big storms, and unique character- fishing Conference will be held on Saturday istics of the Catskills that influence precipi- Other presentations will cover climate April 5 at the Ashokan Center in and hydrology, and stream management. tation patterns. Olivebridge, NY. This year’s theme is Allan Frei, PhD, a climatologist at the City A stream experts panel will be available Flowing Through Time: Streams and University of New York, Hunter College, to answer your questions regarding the Catskill Mountain Communities and will feature topics related to the cultural will present on Climate Change and functions and management of local streams history of the watershed, the Hydrology, including his relevant research and how to protect property. evolution of stream management about the frequency and impact of extreme The afternoon ends with choices for a practices, and climate change. weather on water resources in the New guided nature/stream walk, or a very Registration begins March 1. Please York City watershed. special slideshow on the Hudson River visit our website, or call the AWSMP Roy Schiff, PhD, PE, water resource office for more details. School of Landscape Painting. Nature scientist and engineer with Milone & writers Ed and Judy Van Put will offer an in May-June MacBroom, Inc. will present on Stream depth look at early American artists and Management: History, Trends, and Future Look for future announcements of a their work inspired by explorations of the Direction. We will learn how streams spring creek walk and talk. streams of the Catskills and the Ashokan/ physically work to transport water, sedi- Esopus watershed. These artists contribut- Public and volunteer events will be ment, and woody debris and how this ed some of the most important landscapes scaled back this year until we can understanding has evolved. We will also ever to be seen. Their art encouraged replace the Community Educator hear what is current in river corridor position formerly held by Gretchen others to seek out the natural beauty found planning and look at case studies of stream Rae. However, we plan to attend and in the Catskills. .with its flowing rivers, management projects from the State of hope to see you at summer fairs and streams and waterfalls. Vermont; a region with a similar topogra- festivals around the watershed. The conference will take place Saturday, phy, geology, and land-use history to the April 5, 2014 at the Ashokan Center in Catskills. Olivebridge, NY. There will be a $10 per Check the AWSMP’s website Roy will speak about watershed partner- person fee which includes lunch and www.ashokanstreams.org for more ships such as the Ashokan Watershed refreshments. For information on how to information about events and programs, Stream Management Program that are register please visit or follow us on Facebook! working to recover from past mistakes, as www.ashokanstreams.org. Online registra- the climate and hydrology of the watershed tion begins March 1st. have changed. Page 2 Recent Events in the Ashokan Watershed October training was taught by the engineering firm Staff from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Milone & MacBroom, Inc. HEC-RAS is a Ulster County with assistance from Student software program originally developed by Conservation Association (SCA) interns the Army Corps of Engineers to help deter- held a stream table demonstration at the mine surface water elevations. It allows Emerson Resort and Spa in Mount Tremper, users to input data and then virtually manip- NY as part of the Emerson’s Fall Festival ulate physical conditions to determine how on October 12. changes in the landscape or infrastructure influence flood elevations. For example, this November program is useful in determine if resizing or Throughout the month of November, staff removing a bridge will significantly reduce from Cornell Cooperative Extension of flood inundation levels. These analyses are Ulster County worked with a professional used to determine whether projects meet videographer to record a series of inter- cost-benefit criteria. DEP plans to offer the Above: Professional videographer Jessica Vecchione views with stream managers and local lead- HEC-RAS training to local and county staff of Vecc Videography films an interview with Deron ers about stream best management practic- in 2014. es (BMPs) and 2013 stream restoration Davis of USDA-NRCS on the site of a stream restora- tion project along Warner Creek. projects. The interviews were filmed on-site January near an example of the stream BMP. Other On January 21, the Rondout-Neversink topics covered local history and fisheries. Stream Management Program (AWSMP’s After the AWSMP Stakeholder Council After editing, the interviews will be pro- sister program in Sullivan County) in con- voted its approval, the AWSMP announced duced into short videos used individually for junction with the Catskill Region Invasive stream implementation grant awards total- training and posted online for educational Species Partnership (CRISP) hosted a Hem- ing nearly $244,000. Grants awarded by purposes. lock Wooly Adelgid Summit at the category: $6,821 Education & Outreach; The Catskill Stream Buffer Initiative’s largest Frost Valley YMCA. Hemlock wooly adelgid $77,000 Planning; $60,000 Research & fall planting in the watershed was installed at is an invasive species that is decimating Monitoring; $100,000 Streamside Infrastruc- the stream restoration project site on native hemlock trees across the Catskill ture. Warner Creek off Silver Hollow Road in region. During this meeting, researchers and Chichester, Almost 1,200 plants will be scientists from Cornell University, the March installed.