online at: www.cceulster.org or email [email protected] [email protected] email or www.cceulster.org at: online County Ulster of Extension Cooperative Cornell Visit

Tobey, CCE-Ulster; Christiane Christiane CCE-Ulster; Tobey,

Courtney, CCE Ulster; Jenine Jenine Ulster; CCE Courtney,

Continued on Page 2 2 Page on Continued Conservation (DEC), and and (DEC), Conservation second site, by the Roxmoor Roxmoor the by site, second ey at www.ashokanstreams.org at ey Surv Newsletter our out Fill

Dan Davis, NYC DEP; Michael Michael DEP; NYC Davis, Dan

Department of Environmental Environmental of Department article pg. 2). After the flood, a a flood, the After 2). pg. article exceed both $600,000 at the the at $600,000 both exceed

Contributing Writers: Writers: Contributing aerial photo of your home! home! your of photo aerial sized poster a win to Enter

Management Agency (FEMA), (FEMA), Agency Management Woodland Valley Rd (see (see Rd Valley Woodland declaration, damages must must damages declaration,

from the Federal Emergency Emergency Federal the from was an imminent threat to to threat imminent an was eligible for a federal disaster disaster federal a for eligible Jude DeFalco DeFalco Jude

sites with representatives representatives with sites the flood, as the eroding bank bank eroding the as flood, the declaration will occur. To be be To occur. will declaration Design Layout Layout Design

officials, and other interested community members community interested other and officials,

Program staff visited damaged damaged visited staff Program Hill Rd. was completed before before completed was Rd. Hill very unlikely a federal disaster disaster federal a unlikely very

Michael Courtney Courtney Michael Workshops for streamside landowners, municipal municipal landowners, streamside for Workshops that maintain stream stability. stability. stream maintain that protection project near Fawn Fawn near project protection at the time of this writing, it is is it writing, this of time the at

Managing Editor Editor Managing

restoration is done in ways ways in done is restoration Luckily, a streambank streambank a Luckily, some damages. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, damages. some

fax: 845-688-3130 fax:

ensure that post-flood post-flood that ensure culvert before the flood. flood. the before culvert assistance funds to help cover cover help to funds assistance

program opportunities. opportunities. program

phone: 845-688-3047 845-688-3047 phone: coordinate resources and and resources coordinate had identified as a problem problem a as identified had provide individual or public public or individual provide Onteora High School School High Onteora Extension provides equal employment and and employment equal provides Extension

. . Cornell Cooperative Cooperative Cornell Extension is implied is Extension

Program’s work has been to to been has work Program’s in Trevor Hollow, which staff staff which Hollow, Trevor in which case FEMA would would FEMA case which Phoenicia, NY 12464 12464 NY Phoenicia,

endorsement by Cornell Cooperative Cooperative Cornell by endorsement

Saturday, April 9th 9th April Saturday,

infrastructure damage. The The damage. infrastructure replace a washed out culvert culvert out washed a replace declaration will be declared, in in declared, be will declaration

discrimination is intended and no no and intended is discrimination

6375 Rt. 28 28 Rt. 6375

with the understanding that no no that understanding the with

agencies related to public public to related agencies designed and will help to to help will and designed wondering if a federal disaster disaster federal a if wondering

The information given herein is supplied supplied is herein given information The

governments and other other and governments Oliverea. The program also also program The Oliverea. many people may be be may people many

Free to residents by request. request. by residents to Free Conference Conference

and coordinating with town town with coordinating and channel at Brown Road in in Road Brown at channel With all of this local damage, damage, local this of all With

Ashokan Watershed Watershed Ashokan providing technical assistance assistance technical providing Creek to its pre-flood stream stream pre-flood its to Creek

Fax: (845) 688-3130 688-3130 (845) Fax:

played a strong role in in role strong a played relocation of the Esopus Esopus the of relocation project near Fawn Hill Rd. Rd. Hill Fawn near project

Phone: (845) 688-3047 688-3047 (845) Phone:

Annual Annual 2

Management Program has has Program Management Roxmoor Inn, and the the and Inn, Roxmoor the streambank protection protection streambank the

nd

Phoenicia, NY 12464 12464 NY Phoenicia,

Ashokan Watershed Stream Stream Watershed Ashokan Creek across from the the from across Creek same FEMA grant that funded funded that grant FEMA same

www.ashokanstreams.org

6375 Rt. 28 28 Rt. 6375

Save the Date! Date! the Save In response to the flood, the the flood, the to response In reaches such as Woodland Woodland as such reaches funded for protection by the the by protection for funded

We’re on the web! web! the on We’re

restore damaged stream stream damaged restore Roxmoor site is already already is site Roxmoor

public infrastructure. infrastructure. public to the Town of Shandaken to to Shandaken of Town the to Road. Fortunately, the the Fortunately, Road.

across the county, just to to just county, the across were provided by the program program the by provided were threat to Woodland Valley Valley Woodland to threat

over $1.1 million in damages damages in million $1.1 over towns. Engineering designs designs Engineering towns. Inn, became an imminent imminent an became Inn,

Management, the flood caused caused flood the Management,

McKinley Hollow Bridge Bridge Hollow McKinley

Ulster County Emergency Emergency County Ulster

Brown Road in Oliverea, damaged by flood water by by water flood by damaged Oliverea, in Road Brown

Success! Success!

Art Snyder, Director of the the of Director Snyder, Art

Creek Week Week Creek 7 7 over two days. According to to According days. two over

in the Ashokan watershed watershed Ashokan the in

ly 5 to 7 ¾ inches of rain fell fell rain of inches ¾ 7 to 5 ly

Streamgages Streamgages

year flood level. Approximate- level. flood year Non-Profit Organization USGS USGS 6 6

crested at about the 10 to 20 20 to 10 the about at crested Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County

Bulk Postage

of the night as local streams streams local as night the of 10 Westbrook Lane PAID

Streams Streams

were woken up in the middle middle the in up woken were Kingston, NY 12401 Permit No.1

Plays a Role in in Role a Plays Kingston, NY 12401

residents in the watershed watershed the in residents

Woody Debris Debris Woody 4 4

, many many , Friday, October 1 October Friday,

st

catastrophic flooding. On On flooding. catastrophic

Protected Protected

regular and occasionally occasionally and regular

Valley Rd. Rd. Valley

Mountain river valleys, it’s it’s valleys, river Mountain

Woodland Woodland 2 2 predictable in the Catskill Catskill the in predictable

If there is one thing that’s that’s thing one is there If

Inside this Issue this Inside

Fall Floods 2010 2010 Floods Fall

Broadstreet Hollow - Woodland Valley - Stony Clove - Fox Hollow - Birch - Beaverkill - Little Beaverkill - Peck - Bushnellsvill - Peck - Beaverkill Little - Beaverkill - Birch - Hollow Fox - Clove Stony - Valley Woodland - Hollow Broadstreet e - Bush Kill Kill Bush - e

A quarterly publication of Cornell Co Cornell of publication quarterly A operative Extension Ulster County County Ulster Extension operative

Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program Newsletter Newsletter Program Management Stream Watershed Ashokan

Fall-winter 2010 2010 Fall-winter

Woodland Valley Road Protected from Erosion Stream Stewards and Creek Week 2010

The Ashokan Watershed Stream Stewards were active during the first annual Ulster County Creek Week this year from In Woodland Valley, just downstream of block access to the top of Woodland tion, and Shandaken Highway Superin- September 6 – 19. Six public events were held in the Ashokan Watershed for Creek Week ranging from Learn to Fish Fawn Hill Road, Woodland Creek was Valley. tendent Eric Hoffmeister worked Day, Native Plant Walk, Environmental Film Night, Rain Barrel Workshop, Crummy Culverts Contest, Photo Contest eroding the bottom of a steep, 30 foot together over the last year to design, and Streamside Restoration Planting. Everyone had a great time and we can’t wait for Creek Week next year! tall bank, undercutting the hillside and The identification and prioritization of fund and implement a solution for the endangering the road and utility service. this project for the Ashokan Watershed Woodland Valley Creek site. The Streamside Restoration Project Because the road and stream are so Stream Management Program was the engineered design includes a stacked On September 18, Stream Stewards close together, there was concern that result of collaboration among local town rock wall, a bioengineered hillslope, helped plant our first Catskill Streams without intervention, a flood would highway superintendents and the drainage, and riparian tree plantings to Buffer Initiative (CSBI) site. The Ashokan Watershed mitigate this community hazard. Funding program helps streamside landowners Stream Management for this project is coming from a FEMA who need their riparian (streamside) Program (AWSMP) staff. Hazard Mitigation Grant received by the areas restored with vegetation. Landowners apply for the program and This Highway Managers town and a grant from the Ashokan are expected to provide some in-kind Working Group has Watershed Stream Management contribution and provide ongoing identified locations Program Implementation Fund. maintenance of their vegetated buffer. where intervention or improved practices Rock walls, in combination with could protect both bioengineering, are useful tools when it Learn to Fish Day public infrastructure and is imperative to protect infrastructure Stream Steward Volunteer Bill Cologrande (in the green hat, right) water quality. Staff from or buildings from stream erosion. To be volunteered his skills as a licensed fishing guide to help young people Ulster County Soil and durable over time, they must be (as well as some of their parents) learn to fish at Kenneth Wilson State Water Conservation designed and built according to best Park on Sept. 18. Fishing is a great way to learn about stream habitat District (UCSWCD), practices. NRCS designs all stream bank and to get involved at an early age in streams. USDA Natural Resource protection projects to withstand at least Conservation Service a 25 year flood, with elements of the (NRCS), Cornell project designed to withstand up to a 50 Rock is placed at the toe of the eroding slope on Cooperative Extension year flood. If you are considering Woodland Creek. Large sand bags prevent and City construction of a rock wall, seek Get Involved in the Fun! Join the Stream Stewards construction runoff into the stream Department of technical assistance and ask contractors Look for our upcoming events at: www.ashokanstreams.org Environmental Protec- Continued next page Or just call us at 845-688-3047 October 1st Flood 2010 (Continued from cover) county level and $25 million at consider getting flood the state level. While the Ulster County insurance as 25% of USGS Streamgages Office of Emergency Management has claims are in moderate to Continued from previous page USGS streamgages are the primary REFERENCE assessed well over $1.1 million in low-risk areas. To learn source of data for the National Weather U.S. Geological Survey (1999). Streamflow damages for Ulster County, only $5.1 more about the National Service (NWS). NWS has a flood Information for the Next Century—A Plan for the million in damages have been reported at Flood Insurance Program, You can view real-time stream flow data prediction website at http:// National Streamflow Information Program of the the state level. go to online for 8 of the 15 USGS streamgages www.erh.noaa.gov/er/nerfc/, which shows Geological Survey. U.S. Geological www.floodsmart.gov. in the Basin and more than how close the current stage is to flood Survey Open-File Report 99–456, _13 p. However, FEMA disaster funding should 200 other USGS streamgages throughout stage for a few USGS streamgage not be confused with flood insurance. To learn about other New York State. Go online to: http:// locations, such as the Esopus Creek at Residents with flood insurance can file ways to protect yourself waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/rt/ and click Cold Brook streamgage near Boiceville. claims based on their existing insurance and your property from on “Statewide Streamflow Table” and You can monitor the streamgages online policy coverage. Flood insurance is future floods, see our scroll down to the gages in the Hudson to be aware of potential flood dangers required on all properties with flood preparedness River Basin for local streams. Continuous during heavy rain events, along with mortgages located in flood zones with a brochure at Flooding on Main St. Phoenicia on Oct. 1, 2010 recordings of stage at these sites are listening to National Weather Service 1% chance per year of flooding (the 100 www.ashokanstreams.org transmitted by satellite every one to four announcements, local media, and signing year floodplain). However, anyone can under “Resources for Landowners.” *** At press time for this issue, the hours and displayed on the web page up for NY Alert messages online at: buy flood insurance. Even if you are in a December 1st flood occurred, with similar along with a calculation of streamflow. http://nyalert.gov/. moderate risk flood area, you should damages reported.***

Page 2 Page 7

USGS Streamgages Provide Valuable Information Woodland Valley Road Protected from Erosion (Continued from page 2)

Did you know that the stage (water level) of many streams in the United Another important feature is the States is measured every fifteen minutes? use of keyways on the upstream U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and downstream end of the wall. streamgaging networks provide valuable, Keyways are perpendicular objective information for a variety of extensions of the wall, anchored uses that is freely shared. The USGS gage 15 feet back into the bank. The data are critical for flood prediction, but keyways are pinned to the rest of also have many other uses. The data are the wall, anchoring it to the bank used to design highways and bridges, map as a single unit. This will prevent floodplains, monitor environmental eddies of water from eroding conditions (e.g., acid rain), protect behind the wall at the ends, aquatic habitats, and monitor stream undermining the wall. “Keyways conditions for recreational uses. are the essential element that Streamgages that have long historical Rocks pinned to bedrock with steel rebar Drainage pipe placed before locks the entire wall into the bank. records of stream flow and water-quality You don’t want a free-standing November, after willows go dormant. construction of the wall. are particularly valuable because these wall,” Wedermeyer stated. One advantage of bioengineering is that data can be used to help identify changes even if it gets damaged, it can grow back. in stream hydrology, long-term climate A 25 year flood event is the height The rock size is selected to be heavy Similar vegetation cuttings will also be trends, and the effects of land use of flooding based on a measure of enough to not be picked up by severe used in between the rocks in the rock changes (USGS 1999). flood events. Even though they are wall to give the wall a more natural chance, not necessarily how often In the Esopus Creek Watershed, water- pinned together, rocks can actually slide appearance, provide some additional quality data is being collected in addition a level of flood occurs. A 25-year up along the rebar during high velocity stability, and shade the rocks to prevent to the regular flow measurements at all Locations of USGS streamgages in the Esopus Creek Watershed flood has a 1 in 25 chance of flows. In this case, the stones are heating the water. Inter-planting 15 USGS streamgages in the watershed. approximately the size of a small desk vegetation and using rock walls combined occurring each year. A 100-year and weigh hundreds of pounds to with bioengineering can protect and This data will be used to help understand flood has a 1 in 100 chance of prevent such movement. maybe increase habitat. USGS Streamgages in the Esopus Creek Basin how the amount, source, and timing of turbidity in the Upper Esopus Creek occurring each year and so on. Two http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/rt/ Above the rock wall, bioengineering Fortunately, the rock wall was completed affects water quality, fish, and stream 100 year floods can occur in the begins. Bioengineering is the combination just prior to the October 1st flood thanks USGS Station # Station Name dwelling insects (see Esopus Creek News same year, but it’s not very likely. It of an engineered hillslope shape with the to approval of FEMA funding and Stations with real-time streamflow data Fall, 2009 and Summer, 2010). This fall, would be like winning a 1 in 100 use of plants. Tightly rooting plants like completion of the engineering design 13621955 Birch Creek at Big Indian continuous turbidity monitoring will shrub willows and dogwoods are used to over the summer. It held up very well, begin at most of these streamgages so lottery drawing twice in a row. 1362200 Esopus Creek at Allaben help stabilize a slope. A variety of even without the bio-engineering. that the relationship between turbidity methods can be used in bioengineering, According to Hoffmesiter and others, 136230002 Woodland Creek above mouth at Phoenicia and suspended sediment can be better but the method for this steep slope will had the project not started this year 1362370 Stony Clove below Ox clove at Chichester understood. Limited water-quality data is be a Vegetated Reinforced Soil Slope there is a good chance that that flood 1362497 Little Beaver Kill at Beechford near Mt. Tremper available online, but the final results of Continued from previous page (VRSS). VRSS involves using layers of soil, would have taken out Woodland Valley these investigations will be published in 1362500 Esopus Creek at Coldbrook what level of flood it is designed to wrapped in geotextile fabric to create a Road. reports available at http:// withstand. series of two-foot, lip-like steps up the 1362342 Hollow Tree Brook at Lanesville ny.cf.er.usgs.gov/biblio/ slope. Between each layer, live willow For more information about this project, 1362230 Diversion from Schoharie Reservoir joysearch_biblio_helper.cfm. Funding for A significant design aspect to this project and dogwood stakes are placed using 20 contact Cory Ritz, Ulster County Soil Stations with water-quality data this effort is provided by the Ashokan is that the rocks are fit tightly, pinned cuttings for every foot of VRSS. These and Water Conservation District at 688- Watershed Stream Management Program 136219203 Esopus Creek above Elk Bushkill at Oliverea together and pinned to bedrock with cuttings will grow dense roots that have 3047. Information about proper Implementation Fund, NYC DEP and rebar, making the wall act as a single unit. strong holding strength to keep soil in installation of rock walls and a variety of 1362197 Bushnellsville Creek at Shandaken USGS. “The excavator is almost like an artist, place. You can see an example of VRSS at stream management options, go online to 1362199 Fox Hollow Trib to Esopus Creek at Allaben Continued Next Page finding the right rock and fitting it in just the Esopus Creek restoration demon- www.catskillstreams.org and click on 1362215 Esopus Creek Trib at Peck Hollow Rd. at Allaben the right place,” said Jake Wedermeyer, stration site located at the of “stream stewardship” and select 136223005 Esopus Creek below Aqueduct (650 ft) at Allaben staff for UCSWCD. Where bedrock is Woodland Creek with Esopus Creek. “Instream.” not available for a foundation, a footing Check out the kiosk for details. The 1362232 Broadstreet Hollow Brook at Rt. 28 at Allaben trench can be used. bioengineering on this site will be done in 1362487 Beaver Kill at Mount Tremper Page 6 Page 3

Large Woody Debris Plays an Important Role in Ashokan Streams Large Woody Debris (Continued from previous page ) If you live near the Esopus Creek and its location. As a part of debris on local streams, Ashokan know when and how to tributaries, you know that trees are the changing nature of Watershed Stream Management Program manage large woody debris. frequently found in the streams. Stream streams, large woody intern Jenine Tobey began looking at Since large woody debris is managers refer to trees in streams as debris regularly enters some of the characteristics of large an integral part of a stream, large woody debris. Large woody debris and leaves stream woody debris in Woodland Creek this best management practices is essential to aquatic ecology and to channels all along their summer. encourage leaving it in the maintaining the long-term stability of the course. stream when possible. Here stream. According to Dr. Clifford Kraft Tobey focused her study on Woodland are some cases when large of Cornell University, the streams in our The stability of large Creek in Woodland Valley so her results woody debris should be left region historically had even more woody woody debris is a could be compared to mapping of woody in place: debris than they do today. This article function of two main debris in a 2008 assessment of · Stumps on the bank, unless explores the role woody debris plays in factors: the size of the Woodland Creek. In 2008, 91 large severely undercut streams, data that has been gathered in tree, and the size of the woody debris sites were recorded. Two · Large woody debris Woodland Creek, and some practices stream. Research years later, in 2010, 73 sites still had structures, such as for managing woody debris on private shows that a general some form of large woody debris. At embedded logs, which are each of the 73 sites, the length and retaining sediments and Channel-spanning large woody debris that is unlikely property. rule for determining to be moved during most large floods the stability of large diameter of trees were measured. By acting as a grade control Stream channel responses tend to occur woody debris is if the · Large woody debris that is around the more stable, or persistent tree is longer than the naturally providing bank protection woody debris jams. Stable woody debris channel width, it is Bank erosion from trees that were not cut before · Large woody debris structures jams can significantly affect streams by much less likely to be falling into the stream that are directly creating stream changing the channel shape, trapping moved by regular flood habitat. additional woody material, shifting flows. have major effects on the stream, and in erosion or deposition, and changing the what situations the effects might be Ultimately, large woody debris speed of water flow. The effects of By monitoring locations of large woody either positive or negative. To learn should only be removed from woody debris vary. It can scour a hole in debris that are stable or persistent over more about the stability of large woody streams in circumstances when one spot while filling in a pool at another time, we can see whether the debris will Continued on next page buildings or infrastructure is threatened. One of the easiest management practices that a Jack Isaacs Retires from DEC landowner can do to protect their stream bank is to cut up and remove trees likely to fall into the Embedded log holding sediment and acting as a a lasting legacy on the streambank protection which have grade control channel within the next year, but protection of streams in the historically destabilized streams and leave the rootwad intact in Esopus Creek watershed degraded habitat. Cantilevered trees that can be cut the stream bank. Large and throughout the region. above the rootwad to help woody debris that is In 2004, Jack was integral to the success maintain bank stability perpendicular to the stream Jack was willing to work with of the original Esopus Creek Focus collecting this data over several years, we channel can be moved to an and educate contractors, Group that developed a coordinated and could potentially find which factors are angle between a 20˚ and 40˚ town officials, and landown- collaborative approach to stream more likely to lead to the stability of to the bank (with the open ers on improving the management in the Esopus Creek large woody debris and in what situations angle downstream). This durability and cost effective- corridor. His leadership and respect in large woody debris becomes problemat- makes it less likely to have an ness of their proposed the field of stream management lent ic. After the recent October 1 flood, erosive effect on the stream stream project designs. credibility to the Esopus Creek Focus initial field investigations revealed that bank. Whether one agreed with Group. His active support continued into the debris jams predicted to be more Jack or not, he earned one’s the broader Ashokan Watershed Stream stable had collected even more woody For more information about After 30 years of service in the New respect through his straight forward Management Program. debris. Smaller woody debris was woody debris management, York State Department of Environmental manner and spirit of friendly dissent. Jack predictably moved downstream by the go online to: Conservation (DEC) Habitat Protection maintained a clear policy of preventing For all of us who have worked in the flood. www.ashokanstreams.org Unit of Region 3, Jack Isaacs has retired. or limiting past practices in stream Esopus Creek watershed it has been a Woody Debris can cause damage to bridges if not and click “Resources for As the person responsible for granting management such as gravel mining, privilege to work with Jack. The DEP and removed or there is not enough space for the debris If you’re a streamside landowner or a Landowners.” stream disturbance permits, Jack has had dredging out streams, or poor quality AWSMP program staff wish him a to pass under the bridge fantastic retirement. highway manager, you probably want to

Page 4 Page 5