NYS Agricultural Assessment Program

The NYS Agricultural Assessment Program work will begin January 1, 2019. Through the Agricultural Districts law, property tax bills can be reduced for land used for agriculture. Eligible landowners must submit an Agricultural Assessment Application to their town assessor by the taxable status date. In most towns, this is March 1^st, but it is suggested to check with each town assessor to confirm. GCSWCD will complete the first step in the application process by classifying all farmland that will be enrolled in the program by soil productivity. A soil map will be developed, along with the “Soil Group Worksheet,” which is used to define the acreage of each soil productivity group. For more information about the program, click here or contact Michelle at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-622-3620.

Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative (CSBI) is Currently Accepting Applications

The CSBI program works with streamside landowners in the Schoharie watershed to plant native trees and shrubs in the riparian buffer area along the stream.Are you a streamside landowner with property located in the Schoharie watershed? Schoharie watershed landowners with property within a riparian buffer (streamside) area may be eligible to participate in the CSBI program. Participants of this program work with GCSWCD to develop a planting plan for native trees and flowering shrubs to be installed within the riparian buffer zone.

What is a riparian buffer? Riparian, or streamside, buffers are vegetated or undisturbed natural areas along a stream. There are many benefits to installing a riparian buffer or increasing its size along a stream, including:

• Improved water quality: Riparian buffers serve as natural biofilters, protecting aquatic environments from polluted surface runoff. Riparian buffers reduce the amount of sediment flowing into streams by slowing surface water velocity and capturing sediment before it enters the stream. Riparian buffers reduce nutrients (i.e. nitrogen and phosphorous), pesticides, and other chemicals by slowing surface water velocity and allowing water to soak into the ground (infiltration) or be absorbed by the plants, which are able to naturally break down some of these pollutants.
• Increased habitat: Riparian buffers are extremely complex ecosystems that help provide optimum food and habitat for stream communities. The habitat provided by trees and shrubs also doubles as a corridor for species that have had their habitat fragmented by various land uses. Both aquatic and terrestrial species benefit from riparian buffers that have been protected or restored. The leaves and woody debris that fall into the stream provide food and habitat for even the tiniest of aquatic creatures, which are critical for the food chain.
• Stabilized streambanks: Native plants form extensive root systems that help hold the soil in place and slow the process of erosion.
• Water temperature control: By providing shade over the streams, trees and shrubs are able to help regulate the water temperature. They can even have a significant impact on moderating the effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems, particularly in our headwater streams.
• Improved flood control: Riparian buffers encourage infiltration of stormwater by slowing the speed of the water running off the land and increasing the amount of water that is absorbed into the ground. Groundwater enters the stream at a much slower rate than surface water, which helps control flooding and maintain stream flow throughout the year.

For more information about CSBI, click here or contact Laura This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-622-3620.

Stream Management Implementation Program (SMIP) Grant Applications due March 15^th

The GCSWCD and Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee (SWAC), in conjunction with NYCDEP, are seeking qualified applications for stream management implementation projects in the following categories: Education & Outreach, Highway & Infrastructure, Landowner Stream Assistance, Recreation and Habitat Enhancements, Planning and Assessment, and Flood Hazard Mitigation. There are two rounds of funding per year, with application deadlines of March 15^th and September 15^th. For more information about the SMIP funding opportunity, click here or contact 518-622-3620.

Would you like to host an event for Schoharie Watershed Month in May 2019?

GCSWCD partners with local organizations to offer the annual Schoharie Watershed Month events each May.Did you know the Schoharie Reservoir drainage basin (known as the Schoharie watershed) is part of the largest unfiltered water supply in the United States? The Catskill/Delaware water supply system, which includes the Schoharie Reservoir, supplies 90% of NYC's drinking water. Water from this system is considered the "champagne of drinking water."

Each May, we coordinate the annual Schoharie Watershed Month series of events to provide education about water quality, watershed protection, and local stewardship to the general public. We schedule events in communitites within the Schoharie Reservoir drainage basin to bring people together to celebrate this amazing water system. In May 2019, we will be celebrating the 10^th annual Schoharie Watershed Month and we're looking for organizations to collaborate with us on events. For more information about Schoharie Watershed Month, click here. We encourage anyone interested in partnering with us for May 2019 to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 518-622-3620 for more information.