Watershed
WatershedFarm & ForestFALL 2012Stewardship Programs of the Watershed Agricultural CouncilAt the Council, we often share our successes and challengesthrough PowerPoint presentations, text reports and photos.However, a field trip really puts it all into perspective. In early August, DEP Commissioner Carter Strickland visited the WatershedAgricultural Council for the first time. He and select DEP staff tookus up on our offer for a private, watershed tour to get a first-handview of what our Agricultural and Forestry Programs are doingin the NYC Watershed to keep water clean for nine million NewYorkers.Twenty-five people, including Council Executive Director CraigCashman and Board Chairman Fred Huneke, visited three Delaware County locations during the five-hour tour. First stop was thelarge dairy, Holley-Hill Farm, owned by David and Elaine Holley, inWalton. Here, the Commissioner learned about Best ManagementPractices (BMPs) ready for repair & replacement, the magnitudeof post-Irene streamwork, and the Holley’s 18-year perspective onworking with the Agricultural Program.Next at Carman Acres, Small Farms Program participantsRodney and Peggy Carman own a mixed livestock operationwith pigs, horses, chickens, and beef. The Commissioner saw recently completed projects including covered manure storageand feeding areas, and diversion ditch systems. All workedtogether to address manure issues, to dry up muddy pasture,and to redirect stormwater tovegetative filter strips away froma waterway leading into the Cannonsville Reservoir.To round out the Commissioner’s understanding of theCouncil, its programs, and partnership efforts, Council programmanagers, including Conservation Easement and Farm to Market Programs, presented overviews of the Council’s accomplishments. Lucky Dog Organic Farm of Hamden—a participant inthe Pure Catskills, Agricultural and Conservation Easement Programs—provided the local foods lunch. The group finished outthe afternoon with a visit to the Lennox Model Forest in Delhi,the first outdoor classroom created by the Council and CornellCooperative Extension of Delaware County to demonstrate thebenefits of active forest management. These wooded publicspaces—located in the four corners of the watershed region: Siuslaw (Acra, NY), Frost Valley (Claryville, NY) and Clearpool (Kent,NY)—serve as landowner-forest professional education sites thatshowcase hands-on woodland BMPs and forest managementplanning strategies.Each year, the Council hosts a dozen watershed farm and forest tours for international and domestic watershed experts andvisitors. We look forward to the Commissioner’s visit next year aswe’re proud of the technical assistance and construction projectscreated by our staff and partners, projects that benefit both regional landowners and downstream water consumers.The group hiked up the Lennox ModelForest trail to get a better understandingof silviculture and the advantages of proactive forest management planning forregional economic gain. Back (l-r): DEPCommissioner Carter Strickland, ForestryProgram Manager Tom Pavlesich, DEPDeputy Commissioner David Warne,Executive Director Craig Cashman,Agricultural Program Manager LarryHulle. Front (l-r): board member SallyFairbairn, DEP Program Manager EdBlouin, Council Chairman Fred Huneke.Kneeling: DEP Section Chief JohnSchwartz.
Change is a Good Thing. . . Transformation, Even BetterExperienceplete her Masters at Columbia University,for her efforts in raising the profile of theFarm to Market Program.Over the last 20 years, the Council haschanged, improved, and evolved. Beit staff, programs or initiatives, transformation continues to take time and leadership. In September, the Council welcomedSonia Janiszewski as Farm to MarketManager and new face behind the PureCatskills buy local campaign.“Sonia bringsan exceptional combination of profes-sional experience and a passion for agricultural economic development and localfood systems,” noted Executive DirectorCraig Cashman.“Her background includesextensive marketing, communications, andpublic relations experience in the privatesector and as an independent consultantregionally. She will continue our organizational efforts to provide production andmarketing education of local farm products and regional technical assistance, andhelp spearhead a new economic viability initiative to enhance the Pure Catskillsbrand through the development of an online store.” Sonia was promoted internally;as the Farmhearts Fellow she developedCatskills FarmLink, which provides a mechanism for connecting Catskills land withthose interested in farming it, and CatskillsCRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliancefor Farmer Training), a grassroots effort providing beginning farmers opportunities toconnect and learn from established farmers. A Delhi native, Sonia is also involvedwith her family’s diverse farm, WildflowerFarm in Meredith.In April, John Jackson joined the Council’s IT (Information Technology) Department as the GIS (Geographic Infor2Toolsmation Systems) Coordinator in the Waltonoffice.“John manages the Council’s geospatial data used in every segment of Councilactivities; he’s our resident map maker,”noted Cashman. “He also provides staffwith assistance and training on the GIS system, and integrates that data with our master database. He brings 20 years experiencein software engineering and conservationplanning to the team.”As we welcome new staff members, wewish those departing the best of luck. SmallFarms Coordinator Dan Flaherty recentlytransitioned to USDA NRCS as a ResourceConservationist, and remains a member ofthe Watershed Agricultural Program. Danaccepted the position after Lenny Prezorski retired to full-time farming in May. Wethank Dan and Lenny for their service andexpertise they brought to the AgriculturalProgram over the last two decades. We alsothank Challey Comer, who went on to com-The Council spent nine months exploring the feasibility of an online store. OnJuly 24, the Council approved the businessplan and subsequent development of PureCatskills Marketplace. This Internet-basedopportunity will allow farm and forest businesses from the Catskills region to markettheir products to consumers from NewYork City to the Catskills, across the U.S. andthe world.Last year, e-commerce accounted for4.6% of overall retail sales in the U.S. In 2011,those U.S. online shoppers spent 194 billion, a 16% increase over 2010. Pure CatskillsMarketplace will give consumers an outletthrough which to purchase Catskills farmand forest products with the simple clickof a mouse. By connecting to a broaderconsumer base online, Pure Catskills’ businesses are provided a cost-effective opportunity for tapping into the growing nationaland global e-commerce trade.The need for the Pure Catskills Marketplace became apparent when the
Council conducted a survey of farm andforest businesses during the developmentof the Council’s Economic Viability Strategic Plan earlier this year. The survey indicated that 83% of regional farm and forest businesses sell their products throughon-site or on-farm sales. Fewer than 25%of those respondents indicated they wereusing the Internet and other marketingtools. The survey also showed that thesesame local businesses have limited timeto devote to their product marketing anddistribution. There is a strong industryneed for cost-effective marketing tools thatpenetrate markets outside of the Catskillsregion. The Council acknowledges theseregional hurdles to business success andexpansion, and is stepping forward to provide this direct marketing opportunity forCatskills farm and forest business by creating Pure Catskills Marketplace.The Marketplace is a natural extensionof the Pure Catskills brand and reflectsthe direction of the Council’s EconomicViability Strategic Plan (available onlineat nycwatershed.org). The Council is wellpositioned to create and manage an online store for three reasons:1. The Council’s mission specificallyidentifies the promotion of farm andforest business economic viability asan organizational priority.2. The Council works with a network ofmore than 750 farm/forest businesseswithin the Catskills region.3. Through the Council’s relationshipwith the New York City Department ofEnvironmental Protection (DEP), PureCatskills Marketplace can gain costeffective marketing access to the NYCmarketplace.will develop The Marketplace in phases,working one-on-one with Pure Catskillsfarm and forest businesses to assist themin selling their products online. The online store is scheduled to launch on June1, 2013 and feature more than 30 Catskillsfarm and forest businesses and their portfolios of products. Gradually, the Marketplace’s vendor and product selection willexpand to include an even larger varietyof regional food and wood products. Forupdates on the Marketplace’s progress,visit www.nycwatershed.org.InitiativesThe Council works with many organizations and agencies on landowner initiatives. These next three stories highlight recent collaborative successes on the farm,in the woods, and with the public.Over the next 18 months, the CouncilBuilding Farming Community One Farmer at a TimeBuilding a farming community takestime, but you have to start somewhere.Catskills FarmLink, a collaborative online resource designed to connect Catskills landowners and farmers looking for farmland,does just that—one farmer at a time. Muchlike an 18th-century matchmaker, CatskillsFarmLink seeks the perfect pairing, and successfully completed its second link in justnine months. A previously idle 500-plus acreBovina farm listed by Andrew Ebenstein isnow leased by June Wright of Tuff-a-NuffFarm. Match made, FarmLink success!Named after the family’s first cow, Tuff-aNuff Farm is a dream turned reality. Wrighthas been building a small herd of heiferswhile looking for the right opportunity torent a farm at which she could begin livingher life-long dream of starting a small dairy.She also raises sheep, goats, chickens, ducksand horses, and is interested in bringinga few beef cattle to the land. The familyhopes to be milking within a year, but thereis work to be done. The farm also plans torotationally graze its herd and to providefresh pasture daily.provements. For more on this story, visitthe Council’s blog,You & Your Watershed atwww.nycwatershed.blogspot.com.Catskills FarmLink completed its firstlink back in April 2012 when the MigliorelliFarm started a second fruit and vegetableretail outlet in the old Alice & Roger’sFarmstand on State Highway 28 in Mt.Tremper, Ulster County. Catskills FarmLink is acollaborative effort of seven partners, witha coordinator subsidized by a FarmheartsFellowship from Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development, administrative support from the Council, and DEP funding.June will now work with FarmLinkpartners who will provide support andresources to her farm. Her next “links” arewith Cornell Cooperative Extension ofDelaware County for assistance with dairyyoungstock, enrolling the farm in the Watershed Agricultural Program, and workingwith Farm Catskills on funding opportunities that could be used for on-farm im3
Fresh From the CatskillsTFrom the CatskillsHeading off to pick your own pumpkins?Visit our website to print a coupon for a freePure Catskills market bag, redeemable atparticipating Pick-Your-Own farms during October. *Our website is also updated weekly with info onFarmers’ Markets - U-pick Farms - Farm StandsGiveaways - Tips on Buying Fresh and Local Recipes and more!Brought to you by*while supplies lasthrough December, you’ll hear radio spots and see ads—likethis one running in Edible Hudson Valley at left—promotingPure Catskills members and the fresh, local products at harvesttime. The “Fresh From the Catskills” campaign celebrates our seasonal bounty by making it easy for you to find, prepare and enjoy!Through the Pure Catskills campaign, the Council receivednearly 18,000 from a New York State Department of Agriculture &Markets grant to promote specialty crops like berries, vegetablesand Christmas trees as part of a marketing campaign designed toconnect more people to the great tasting food of the Pure Catskillsregion. The campaign dovetails with the Pride of New York promotion. The Council is working with Kingston-based CRSR Designs, using multi-channel marketing to promote regional farmsand their products, and highlighting the venues where fresh, localproducts are found.When you buy local, you’re choosing to support our farmers,strengthen the regional food system, and invest in our communities. Visit PureCatskills.com for county-specific listings of farmers’ markets, u-pick locations, farmstands, and harvest festivals, aswell as recipes for cooking up what’s in season. Follow the PureCatskills Facebook Page and tweets from @Pure Catskills for coupons and special giveaways, “Fresh From the Catskills.”purecatskills.comPick a Peck of . . . PumpkinsDelaware CountyMaple Shade Farm2066 County Highway 18, Delhi 13753www.mapleshadefarmny.comGreenane Farm Market & Garden Center196 County Route 10, Meridale 13806www.greenanefarms.comSunflower Farm834 Crescent Valley Road, Bovina 13740www.sunflowerfarmofbovina.comUlster CountyHurd’s Family Farm2187 State Route 32, Modena 12548www.hurdsfamilyfarm.comProspect Hill Orchards40 Clark’s Lane, Milton 12547www.prospecthillorchards.com4
Fences Make for Good Neighbors and Healthy ForestsAwarm day accompanied by a steadyrain did not deter this group from visiting the newly erected deer exclosure atthe Clearpool Model Forest, situated in theheart of the Clearpool Education Center(a program of Green Chimneys) in Kent.“This seems much easier to do than I hadenvisioned,” said Tom Hall, member of thePutnam County Fish and Game Club, inreference to installing a deer exclosure onthe nearby Club property. Other membersof this wet excursion expressed the samesentiment, including Joe Patriciello andJohn Corrao, both stewardship-dedicatedlocal woodland owners in the Croton Watershed.The Clearpool deer exclosure was designed and installed in April 2012 by Jennifer Stengle of Putnam County CornellCooperative Extension, Stephen Knappof On-Earth Plant Care Specialists, ChrisHendershot of Clearpool Education Center, and several members of their energeticeducational staff. The deer exclosure accomplishes a few simple goals. First, thedeer exclosure keeps deer from eatingnew forest growth. Second, the site demonstrates the relationship between ourwoodlands and deer browsing. Lastly, asHall stated earlier, the project shows thatinstalling a deer fence doesn’t have to bea daunting task.People interested in installing deer exclosures should contact Chris Hender-Pictured above during a routine fence inspectionare ( l-r): Tom Hall, member of the Putnam CountyFish and Game Club; woodland owners JoePatriciello and John Corrao; Jennifer Stengle ofPutnam County Cornell Cooperative Extension;Chris Hendershot, Director of Clearpool Programsshot, Director of Clearpool Programs at(845) 225-8226 for details and a tour of theClearpool Model Forest.Show Us Your CauliflowersVisitors to the Delaware County Fairput a face to local food this year—their face—as hundreds of fairgoers“showed us their cauliflowers” andshared why they support regionalfarmers and a strong local food system. The Council and NYC Department of Environmental Protection(DEP) opened the fair with an annualribbon-cutting ceremony followed bythe Ultimate Sugar Rush. Staff, friendsand visitors sampled everything sweetfrom four Pure Catskills members:Slickepott fudge and caramel, localmaple syrup cotton candy from Candyland Concession, six flavors of LazyCrazy Acres gelato, and Yellow Crimson watermelon from Edgevilla Farms.The affair marked the partners’ continued commitment to water quality andeconomic viability in the watershed.Throughout Fair Week, the Councilfeatured Pure Catskills members andtheir products through free food samplings. Farmer Denise Warren sharedricotta-herb meatballs from FableRestaurant at Stone & Thistle Farm.Diane Frances of La Basse Cour Farmand B&B baked a half dozen goodiesincluding lemon cake and raspberryshortbread. Both farmers used ingredients from their own and neighboringfarms. The Council also held heirloomtomato tastings throughout the weekend, introducing Green Zebras, Foxiesand Japanese Trifeles to anyone willing to try them. (Visit purecatskills.com to find out what’s “Fresh From theCatskills.”)Best of all, visitors young and oldtook a minute to place their faceamong the growing number of voicessupporting local farmers. For a glimpseat those portraits (and to find yourown), visit the Council’s Flickr page orcheck out the slideshow on the Council’s YouTube Channel. Post your ownphoto and comment to add your faceand voice to the growing Pure Catskillsbuy local movement.5
Eyes in the SkyWhen a landowner and the Councilenter into a conservation easement,they embark on a long-term relationship.This “forever” commitment—to waterquality, working landscapes and the natural resources under our collective care—requires work, maintenance and communication.This task falls to the Easement Program staff and Land Conservation Stewardship Specialists, Rob Birdsall andRyan Naatz, who oversee 123 easementrelationships on 22,785 acres in the watershed. Together, they provide guidanceand technical support to landowners toensure responsible stewardship of easement properties, and that the conservation easement terms and conditions arebeing followed. These terms and conditions of stewardship are outlined by thedeed of conservation easement which is66a legal binding document that followsthe property in perpetuity. The Councilentered its first conservation easementto protect working landscapes in 2001and has subsequently closed on 123conservation easements (a number ofdaughter easements have been “created”from original easements by subdivisions,thus totaling 140 properties restricted byeasements today).Staff monitors properties twice a yearfollowing Council monitoring guidelines(available at nycwatershed.org). “Ryanand I split the portfolio and it takes us ayear to schedule, visit, report, and complete the entire monitoring process forall portfolio properties. This includeswalking the property and meeting withthe landowner, called a ground visit,”explains Rob. “Our second annual visitcomes from above. Aerial monitoring al-lows us to check in on the property in anefficient, fast and cost-effective way.”With the help of Delaware Aviation, theteam can spot-check all 123 easementsby air in two or three days. “Aerial monitoring also provides us with an efficientway of covering a large area of land,” addsRyan.“Sometimes it’s hard to access highpoints, and walking a property in its entirety isn’t always feasible.” The Councilholds several conservation easementsthat are each in the 300-800 acre range.“Two annual visits is the minimum requirement. We’re probably visiting everyproperty more than that because we’reregularly providing technical assistanceto landowners. That’s what we’re here for.It all depends on the landowners, the activities they want to conduct, and their requests for assistance.”When flying above at 3,000 feet (often
Rob Birdsall and Ryan Naatz sit before the BDR Wallcontaining stewardship files on the Council’s 123conservation easements.times lower), the team looks for activities and changes on the landscape. Landowners are required to obtain EasementCommittee approval for extractive activities like logging or bluestone quarrying,stream work, or new structures greaterthan 5,000 square feet outside of buildingareas. “We look for stuff we might not beable to see during the ground visit,” addsRyan. “Aerial monitoring serves as a second set of eyes for what’s happening onthe ground. Most of the time, there’s nothing new happening.”Monitoring of properties is reconciledagainst a Baseline Document Report, orBDR. Housed in one of the large blackbinders lining the easement stewardshipoffi
the Council’s blog, You & Your Watershed at www.nycwatershed.blogspot.com. Catskills FarmLink completed its first link back in April 2012 when the Migliorelli Farm started a second fruit and vegetable retail outlet in the old Alice & Roger’s Farmstand on State Highway 2
Three separate watershed assessments were performed to guide the development of a watershed management plan for the North Branch Park River: 1) a Baseline Watershed Assessment, 2) a Watershed Field Assessment, and 3) a Land Use Regulatory Review. The Baseline Watershed Assessment evaluates the existing environmental and land use conditions in
Watershed, a watershed that flows toward the Columbia River. In this way, one watershed is artificially connected to several other watersheds at once. The watershed of surface flow, the watershed where domestic water originates, and the watershed where wastewater goes
Baseline Watershed Assessment North Branch Park River Watershed Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection July 2010 146 Hartford Road Manchester, Connecticut 06040 In Cooperation With: Farmington River Watershed Association Park River Watershed Revitalization Initiative
the Genesee County Soil and Water Conservation Districts’s prior experience with watershed collaboration will be a great help in this planning effort. They will be able to share their knowledge in the formation and direction of this watershed alliance. The watershed alliance is the first phase of a multi-phased watershed project that will benefit
Corte Madera Creek Watershed Infiltration and Storage Assessment (FOCMC 2m) Corte Madera Creek Watershed Sediment Control and Drinking Water Reliability Project (MMWD 1.2m) Corte Madera Creek Watershed: Barriers to Fish Passage in Sleepy Hollow Creek (San Anselmo 2m) Corte Madera Creek Watershed: Saunders Fish Barrier Removal(San Anselmo 2m)
Part I: Upper & North Fork Big Hole River Watershed Page 11 Watershed Restoration Planning A Watershed Restoration Plan is a guiding document that outlines watershed restoration goals and needs to address non-point source pollution. The plan describes actions to occur over a 3 -5 year period. It is designed to be a working
Upper Allegany Watershed Upper Allegany Watershed North Branch Mill Creek Mud Run Cassadaga Creek Clear Creek Stillwater Creek MOUTH Little Conewango Creek Lake Erie CONEWANGO CREEK WATERSHED. NY PA . watershed plumbing time & space. Municipal Costs Rebuilt 5 times In 3 years: 15,000 Stabilized in 2005: 3,500 . Municipal Costs Benefits
I. Current Watershed Conditions/Potential Benefit to the Watershed a. Describe how the watershed encompasses forest lands with characteristics and indicators prioritized by the Forest Carbon Plan: The Yuba River watershed encompasses just over 1,300 square miles and includes the North, Middle, and South Yuba River sub-watersheds.
