Schoharie Watershed Summits
Brief History of Schoharie Watershed Summits
Over 110 local officials, property owners and agency personnel attended the first Watershed Summit presented by the Schoharie Watershed Assistance Program in 2007. The turnout was indicative of the interest local and regional stakeholders have in learning about the status of water quality in the Schoharie basin, the different programs that are available to support local communities and landowners, and how we can learn from one another that protecting water quality is as much a local benefit as it is for NYC's drinking water supply.
Underscoring that we all have a stake in protecting water quality and our communities, the Summits are a forum to bring diverse interests together to learn from one another, to network, and to understand each others' roles in this living watershed. The Summits are great networking and training opportunities for local officials, planners, engineering firms, watershed managers, regulators, and property owners. Training workshops count toward municipal credits for planning and zoning boards.The Summits continue to grow in popularity and scope since 2007.
The Schoharie Watershed Summits involve collaborative workshops targeted towards property owners, local decision-makers & watershed agencies across 11 municipalities and 3 counties in the northeastern Catskill Mountains.
| Municipalities | Counties |
|---|---|
|
Town of Ashland |
Delaware |
Past Schoharie Watershed Summits
2021 Schoharie Watershed Summit
VIRTUAL SESSION #1:
View of the Horizon: Invasive Species to Look for this Year
John Thompson (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership)
Invasive species threaten the ecology, economy and our health in the Schoharie watershed. Learn what invasive plants and animals are spreading towards our area and those invasives just coming into the watershed. Find out what you can do to report these new threats and help to slow their spread.
Management Techniques for Common Invasive Plants in the Catskills
Dan Snider (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership)
Dan Snider, Field Projects Manager for the Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership, will discuss best management practices for common terrestrial invasive plants, including Japanese knotweed, Japanese barberry, Oriental bittersweet and more. He will also cover useful invasive species management resources such as iMap Invasives and the IPMDAT.
VIRTUAL SESSION #2:
What’s bugging our forests? Impacts of invasive pests on the functioning of Catskill forests
Dr. Gary Lovett (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies)
The Catskills are one of the areas of the country hardest-hit by invasive forest pests. In this presentation, Dr. Lovett will discuss how these pests are likely to change the tree species composition of Catskill forests, and how that will affect the forest ecosystem functions that we depend on, such as storing carbon and protecting water quality. Dr. Lovett will also discuss why so many forest pests get into our country and what we can do about it.
VIRTUAL SESSION #3:
Forests, Meadows, Ledges, and Streams: Using Natural Resource Information for Local Planning and Conservation
Gretchen Stevens (Hudsonia)
The Greene County Natural Resource Inventory, published in 2019, describes important and unusual resources, and their services to the people of the county. The presentation will show how to use the NRI to identify and prioritize features of local importance, and to inform planning, policy-making, and reviews of land development projects.
Special Use Permits
Christopher Eastman (New York State Department of State’s Local Government Training Program)
Some uses require additional review and should be granted permission only if the application meets certain conditions. These special uses include gas stations, dog kennels, and uses with drive-through windows. The special use permit is also used for development in environmentally sensitive zones with overlays such as for wetlands, steep slopes, and along scenic ridgelines. Scenarios in which the special use permit tool is most helpful will be discussed, along with rules local boards must follow for reviewing and approving applications for special use permits.
2019 Schoharie Watershed Summit
Morning Presentations:
Beneath It All: Bedrock Geology of the Upper Schoharie Watershed
Dr. Charles Ver Straeten (New York State Museum)
Rivers flowing through Earth’s earliest forested landscapes (~385 million years ago, Devonian Period) deposited sediments that formed the shale, sandstone and conglomerate of the Catskill Mountains. The modern landscape of the upper Schoharie watershed is a result of 350 million years of erosion, carving out valleys between the ridges and peaks of the Catskills. This talk examines the history of those rocks, their character and composition, and the effects of their weathering.
Dammed Terrain: The Glacial Geology of the Schoharie Watershed and Adjacent Areas
Dr. Andrew Kozlowski (New York State Museum)
Expanding Ice Sheets at culmination of the last glacial cycle about 25,000 years ago severely impacted drainage patterns across New York State particularly in the Schoharie Watershed and adjacent areas of the Catskills and Hudson Valley. Glacier margins blocked valleys creating deep expansive lakes, reversed drainages and blanketed the landscape with both thick and thin glacial sediment. This talk provides an overview of glacial events, glacial deposits and relict landforms resulting from our most recent glaciation.
Reading the River's Geologic Story
Dany Davis (New York City Department of Environmental Protection)
Dany Davis, NYCDEP’s Stream Studies Coordinator, will give a presentation covering the connection of Catskill geology to Catskill streams. How does the ancient bedrock history and the ice age saga conveyed by Drs. Ver Straeten and Kozlowski influence the modern stream story? How do we use our understanding of the Schoharie watershed geology to improve our understanding and stewardship of the streams? Does the West Kill have a different geologic story than the East Kill? Why does the Batavia Kill run red at Red Falls and can management practices change that? Dany will highlight some of the ways geology influences Schoharie watershed streams and why we need to know how to read this story if we are to succeed in stream management.
Afternoon Workshops (attendees choose one):
1. State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) Basics
Christopher Eastman and Jennifer O'Donnell (New York State Department of State, Division of Local Government)
This introduction to the State Environmental Quality Review Act includes an overview of the environmental assessment form (EAF), Type I, Type II, and Unlisted actions and the sequence of making a positive or negative declaration on a project’s potential to have an adverse impact on the environment. The relationship between the administration of local regulations and SEQR will also be discussed and the recent changes to the SEQR regulations highlighted. (Code officials may apply to use this course as a professional development elective.)
2. Discovering What Matters: Using Natural Resource Information for Local Planning and Conservation
Gretchen Stevens (Hudsonia)
This introduction to the just-published Greene County Natural Resource Inventory will describe some of the important and unusual resources, and their values for the people of the county. The presentation will show how to identify and prioritize features of local importance. The presentation will also explore volunteer and local regulatory measures for the features and places of greatest local value.
3. Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Tom Blanchard, CFM (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
This workshop will be an introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Topics to be covered will include the roles and responsibilities of the local floodplain administrator, typically the code enforcement official. Floodplain regulations and building code standards will also be discussed. Application has been made to the DOS for 2 code enforcement credit hours.
2018 Schoharie Watershed Summit
Morning Presentations:
"Flood, Fire and Fossils: The story of the Schoharie Reservoir"
Diane Galusha (Communications Director/Education Coordinator, Catskill Watershed Corporation)
The New York City Board of Water Supply was still building the Ashokan Reservoir when it began to look for a place to dam the Schoharie Creek. What if it had chosen Prattsville? Author Diane Galusha looked at this and other decisions that ultimately rearranged the landscape, scattered a community, and continue to reverberate a century later.
"The State of Good Repair: Four projects that will shape the future of NYC’s water supply in the Catskills"
Adam Bosch (Director of Public Affairs, NYC DEP)
Adam Bosch, the director of public affairs for NYC DEP, talked about $2.5 billion in capital investments that the City has planned in the Catskills over the next 20 years. The presentation touched on two projects that have already begun—the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel and the rehabilitation of facilities at Schoharie Reservoir—and it shared information about projects at Ashokan Reservoir and the Catskill Aqueduct that are due to begin in the near future.
"Streams 101: The Basics of Stream Channel Morphology and Flood Plain Dynamics"
Joel DuBois (Stream Program Specialist, Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District)
Joel DuBois discussed the basics of stream channel response to disturbances and the role of channel evolution on the dynamic interplay between the stream channel and its floodplain. The presentation included a discussion of natural channel responses to flood damages and the role of the floodplain in channel stability and flood damage reduction.
Afternoon Workshops (attendees choose two):
- Funding Sources Available in the NYC Watershed
Tim Cox (Corporate Counsel, Catskill Watershed Corporation)
Larry Hulle & Ethan Rubenstein (Watershed Agricultural Council)
Julia Solomon (Real Estate Project Manager, Catskill Center)
Laura Weyeneth (Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative Coordinator, GCSWCD)
Michelle Yost (Watershed Assistance Program Coordinator, GCSWCD)
Do you live or work in the NYC watershed? Are you interested in learning more about funding opportunities? This workshop consisted of a panel of representatives from organizations that offer funding programs for the NYC watershed. The organizations/programs represented included the Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative, Catskill Watershed Corporation, Streamside Acquisition Program, Stream Management Implementation Program, and Watershed Agricultural Council. Click on the names above to open each presentation. - Understanding Stormwater Regulations, Why SWPPPs Matter
Joseph Damrath CPESC, CPSWQ, PWS (West-of-Hudson Stormwater Program Supervisor, NYC DEP)
This presentation consisted of an overview of the watershed regulations pertaining to Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) and non-point source impacts from construction activities. How to avoid pitfalls in the planning process was also emphasized.
- Just Map It: Greene County Web Mapping Basics
Michelle McDonough (Conservation District Program Technician, GCSWCD)
Online interactive maps have made it easier than ever for users to explore, collect, and interpret the data necessary to lead to well-informed environmental and development planning in Greene County. This session was a practical application tutorial of Greene County’s Interactive Web Map and a brief introduction to DEC’s Environmental Resource Mapper. Attendees also learned how to access a few more of the most helpful web mappers to support land-use planning. This workshop was geared for municipal officials, planning and zoning board members, conservation organizations, and Greene County landowners. - Understanding Flood Maps and Flood Risk
Brent Gotsch, CFM (Resource Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County)
In this course participants learned why floodplains are mapped and regulated, how to identify flood hazard zones, and understand basic floodplain regulations. Participants also learned about recent changes in flood insurance rates and what this may mean for those with floodplain property.
2017 Schoharie Watershed Summit
Keynote Address:
"Resilient Forests in a Rapidly Changing World: Direct and Indirect Human Impacts on the Forests of the Schoharie Watershed"
Dr. Charles Canham (Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies)
Featured Presentations:
"Climate Change Across Seasons Experiment: Simulating Future Climate in a Forest Ecosystem"
Dr. Rebecca Sanders-DeMott (University of New Hampshire)
"The Menace of Climate Change and Invasive Species on the Health of New York's Forests: Past, Present and Future"
Dr. Jerry Carlson (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
Afternoon Workshops (attendees choose two):
- Catskill Forest Pests' Update
- Dan Snider & John Thompson (Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership)
- CRISP staff will be discussing invasive forest pests in the Catskill Park and surrounding land, with a focus on hemlock woolly adelgid and emerald ash borer. These two insects represent active threats to the Catskill’s ecosystem and economy. The discussion will include the current state of the infestations, the most up-to-date research being conducted, and best management practices for landowners and towns to mitigate the invasive species’ impact to their forests.
- Update on the Revisions to NYC's 2017 Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD)
- Dr. Pamela Young (New York State Department of Health)
- NYC’s FAD is scheduled to be revised and reissued in July 2017. Dr. Young will discuss the anticipated program requirements for the new 2017 FAD and the process for developing and issuing the FAD. This workshop will provide an opportunity for public comment and input on the draft 2017 FAD.
- A New Discovery Tool: The New York Climate Change Science Clearinghouse
- Dr. Ingrid Zabel (Cornell University)
- This workshop will provide an overview and an opportunity for exploration of the New York Climate Change Science Clearinghouse, a website which serves as a regional gateway to data and information relevant to climate change adaptation and mitigation across New York State. The Clearinghouse provides climate science data, maps, tools, documents, websites, and other resources for policy makers, practitioners, researchers, and the public, to support scientifically sound and cost-effective decision making. Participants will find information in multiple ways and have the opportunity to look for content relevant to their work. They will become familiar with two new interactive tools: a Climate Data Grapher, which allows users to generate time-series graphs of observed and projected climate data, and an interactive Map and GIS Viewer with data layers applicable to a range of sectors.
- Living on the Edge: Streamside Stewardship and the Important Role of Riparian Buffers
- Laura Weyeneth (Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District)
- Join Laura Weyeneth, Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative Coordinator for the Schoharie Watershed, for a workshop to learn what a healthy riparian area looks like and how to use native plants for improving water quality. Streamside landowners and managers of riparian areas have the opportunity to plant trees and shrubs along streams to enhance the riparian buffer on their property. Riparian buffers, a best management practice (BMP), are vegetated or undisturbed natural areas along streams and rivers that protect and improve water quality by reducing the impact of adjacent land use. Riparian buffers provide ecological and water quality benefits by filtering pollutants and stabilizing streambanks while enhancing wildlife habitat, providing shade and temperature control, and reducing the detrimental effects of flood waters. This workshop will discuss how to select appropriate plants and planting areas to meet multiple conservation goals. Attendees will also learn about the resources available for riparian buffer projects in the Schoharie Watershed.
Click here to download a printable flyer for the 2017 Schoharie Watershed Summit.
2016 Schoharie Watershed Summit
"Streams to Tunnel: Watershed Management in the Schoharie Basin"
The Catskill/Delaware watershed, which includes the Schoharie basin, is the largest unfiltered water supply in the United States. Maintaining this remarkable water supply involves understanding the current threats to water quality, how those threats impact watershed communities and the importance behind watershed programming to address these concerns.
This year’s program indluded: reflecting on the Stream Management Program, which originated in the Schoharie basin, understanding the NYC Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) as the driving force behind watershed management, learning about two current invasive pests threatening our forests and waters, and continuing the tradition of providing a forum for discussion about water quality.
Keynote Address: "Then & Now: Vision of the Schoharie Watershed"
Rene Van Schaack, Executive Director, Greene IDA (former Executive Director, GCSWCD)
Michelle Yost, Watershed Assistance Program Coordinator, GCSWCD
"Filtration Avoidance Determination: The Driving Force Behind NYC's West-of-Hudson Watershed Management"
Paul Rush, Deputy Commissioner, NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP)
"Two Current Threats to Water Quality: Hemlock Woolly Adelgid and Emerald Ash Borer"
Mark Whitmore, Forest Entomologist, Cornell University
Individual break out sessions provided further resources for landowners, managers, and planners in the community including:
- How to Use Your Stream Management Plan (Joel DuBois, GCSWCD; David Burns, NYCDEP)
- This session will include a broad overview of the information contained in a Stream Management Plan, and how to use the plan to identify issues and review recommendations for specific reaches of stream. The session will also include examples where recommendations in the Management Plan were used to prioritize and secure funding for implementation projects to enhance stream stability of those stream reaches.
- Forest Management "Ask the Experts" Panel Discussion (Mark Whitmore, Cornell University; Josh VanBrakle, Watershed Agricultural Council; Chris Zimmerman, The Nature Conservancy; Dan Snider, Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership (CRISP); Jason Drobnack, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; moderated by Marilyn Wyman, Columbia-Greene Cornell Cooperative Extension)
- This panel discussion will give the audience a chance to ask questions about forest management with a focus on invasive species and potential long-range impacts to water quality. Strategies for landowners, municipalities, and/or loggers will be discussed.
- Maps Made Easy: Web Map Training for All Audiences (Gretchen Stevens, Hudsonia Ltd.)
- Readily accessible online maps for Greene County provide lots of information about land and water resources that can help with land-use planning for conservation and development at parcel, town-wide, or county scales. This session will provide a guided hand-on exploration of the Greene County Interactive Web Map, and an introduction to the Greene County Natural Resources Map. The training will be expecially helpful for conservation organizations, municipal planning and zoning boards, conservation commissions, and watershed organizations.
- Understanding Stormwater Regulations, Why SWPPPs Matter (Joe Damrath, NYCDEP)
- The presentation will consist of an overview of the Watershed Regulations pertaining to SWPPP's and non-point source impacts from construction activities. Emphasis will be made on avoidance of pitfalls in the planning process.
2015 Watershed Summit
"Investment and Innovation for the Future" Summit Handout
The 9th annual Schoharie Watershed Summit, Investment and Innovation for the Future, highlighted communities, locally, nationally and internationally, that have demonstrated resilience and proactivity in flood mitigation and economic recovery. Various mitigation projects, relocation precedents, and collaborative success stories of communities and natural systems were covered along with training programs for local and elected officials, consultants and watershed managers. Click here for more information.
Presentations & Educational Materials:
Keynote Address: Seeking Higher Ground: National and International Approaches to Flood Mitigation - (6.18 mb)
Nicholas Pinter, Ph.D., Department of Geology and Environmental Resources and Policy Program, Southern Illinois University
Community Reconstruction in Prattsville & Sidney - (3.14 mb)
Margaret Irwin, River Street Planning, and Kevin Piccoli, Prattsville Local Development Corporation
Individual break out sessions provided further resources for landowners, managers, and planners in the community including:
- New Flood Mitigation Programs and Resources in the NYC West-of-Hudson Watershed (Nate Hendricks, Catskill Watershed Corporation)
- Roles of the Municipal Planning Board (Peter Manning, Genius Loci Planning)
- Understanding How the DEP Stormwater Regulations are Applied in Different Situations (Joe Damrath, NYCDEP)
- Reducing Flood Risks Using Hydraulic Modeling, A Panel of Experts and a Q&A Session (Nicholas Pinter, Graydon Dutcher, DCSWCD; Michelle Yost, GCSWCD; and others)
2014 Watershed Summit
"Consequences of Inaction in a Changing Climate" Summit Handout
The 8th annual Watershed Summit, hosted by the Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District Schoharie Watershed Program, was held on January 25th, 2014. Consequences of Inaction in a Changing Climate will focus on climatic patterns of the Schoharie Watershed region and the importance of integrating climate change information into response and hazard mitigation plans. The Earth is warming and New York is too. Just as we are seeing unprecedented rates of change globally, we are also observing rapid change in New York including rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns resulting in intense rains and floods (Climate Change Facts, Cornell Climate Change PWT, Oct, 2011). Join us as we explore historical climate patters for the region, how we can adapt by implementing flood mitigation measures, and what communities can do to plan for the future.
2013 Watershed Summit
"Are We Prepared for the Next Irene or Sandy?" Summit Handout
The 2013 Summit brought together upwards of 150 local officials, environmental managers and concerned landowners to discuss strategies for preparing for and mitigating extreme flood events like Hurricane Irene.
Guest speakers focused on problems with a reactionary approach to flood hazards as well as the misconceptions of previous attempts to reduce flood damage such as the straightening of rivers and dredging. A special focus was placed on the changing relationships we have with streams and the ways in which we can apply the improved science and better understanding of river behavior in the Catskill Mountain region.
The Summit speakers also focused on the implementation of the recently introduced Local Flood Hazard Mitigation Analysis (LFHMA). This program developed by the New York City Stream Management Implementation Program (SMIP) and the DEP is an effective tool to analyze the flood hazards present in a community and then identify key areas for improvement.
Presentations & Educational Materials:
Keynote Address: Options for Reducing Flood Risk, Making Informed Decisions
Michael Kline, State Rivers Program Manager, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation
Resources:
Vermont's Commitment to Flood Resiliency (Part 1) - (9.85 MB pdf)
Vermont's Commitment to Flood Resiliency (Part 2) - (7.0 MB pdf)
Flood Hazard Mitigation Implementation Program (FHMIP)
Jeffrey Baker, Esq. Coalition of Watershed Towns
Proposed Flood Hazard Mitigation Program
What is a Local Flood Hazard Mitigation Analysis & How Do Communities Use It To Reduce Risk?
Jim MacBroom, P.E., Milone & MacBroom, Inc.
Resources:
What is a Local Flood Hazard Mitigation Analysis and How Do Communities Use it to Reduce Risk? (Part 1) - (1.60 MB pdf)
What is a Local Flood Hazard Mitigation Analysis and How Do Communities Use it to Reduce Risk? (Part 2) - (1.61 MB pdf)
Individual break out sessions provided further resources for landowners, managers, and planners in the community including:
- Flood Studies, Where does the water go and Why? (Jim MacBroom, P.E.)
- Focused on furthering the understanding of flood behavior and the impact of dredging.
Resources:
Flood Recovery Methods (Part 1) - (4.81 MB pdf)
Flood Recovery Methods (Part 2) - (5.59 MB pdf)
- 2012 National Flood Insurance Program policy changes. (Bill Nechamen, NYSDEC)
- An overview of changes and the impacts on community participation and landowners.
- Can you see the forests for the trees. (Columbia-Greene Cornell Cooperative Ext. and Watershed Agricultural Council)
- Provided an understanding of the relevance of forest management to reducing flood risks and water quality degradation.
- User Friendly GIS mapping. (Dave Czajkowski, Kingston GIS Consulting)
- Introduced users to the Greene County GIS Web Map for planning, resource protection, and other uses.
2012 Watershed Summit
"Recovery and Rebuilding in the Wake of Irene" Summit Handout
The 6th annual Schoharie Watershed Summit focused on recovery, rebuilding, and learning from Hurricane Irene - the largest rainstorm to hit the Catskills in recorded history. There is a balance to protecting the health and safety of our communities in the face of increased precipitation and flooding, and this Summit explored fundamental stream principles in relation to flood response. The Summit investigated how watershed stakeholders could plan proactively and take proper corrective actions to minimize future damage to infrastructure, property, and streams from storm events.
2011 Watershed Summit
"In the Wake of the Flood" Summit Handout
The 5th Annual Water Quality Summit: In the Wake of the Flood highlighted tools and incentives to help communities think about proactive floodplain management, stormwater runoff mitigation, reducing flood damage, and successful flood response. The Summit also placed emphasis on incorporating low impact development techniques and thorough site review during the planning process. Additionally, theSummit reviewed the past five years of water quality initiatives in the Schoharie basin and provided program and funding resource information for watershed communities.
Presentations & Educational Materials:
People in Balance with Nature: Linking Floodplains, Stormwater & Green Infrastructure
Keynote presentation: Don Lake, P.E., Certified Professional in Erosion & Sediment Control
Part 1 (1.8 Mb pdf)
Part 2 (1.3 Mb pdf)
Part 3 (1.8 Mb pdf)
Five Years In Review
Presentation (1.2 Mb pdf)
Michelle Yost, GCSWCD Watershed Assistance Program
What to Do After the Flood: Floodplain Administrators' and Community Officials' Guide to Surviving the Flood
Tom Blanchard, NYSDEC
Part 1 (1.2 Mb pdf)
Part 2 (600 Kb pdf)
Part 3 (1.7 Mb pdf)
Protecting New York's Natural Resources through the Phase II SPDES Program
Kathy Czajkowski, NYSDEC
Part 1 (5.4 Mb pdf)
Part 2 (3.7 Mb pdf)
Part 3 (2.8 Mb pdf)
NYC Watershed Funding Resources Summary Sheet
2010 Watershed Summit
The 2010 Summit provided tools and incentives to help communities think about different design concepts. Expanding on the Low Impact Development theme, the 2010 event focused on incorporating creative options in site planning to produce multiple benefits for your community and to satisfy regulations. Protecting our local communities from flood concerns, water quality pollution, and expensive stormwater costs starts with a detailed site plan review early in the process.
2009 Watershed Summit
2009 Summit Handout | 2009 Attendee List
A number of informative presentations were offered during the 2009 Watershed Summit including topics on:
Low-Impact Development, an alternative approach to site planning, design and building that minimizes landscape impacts & preserves the natural hydrologic cycle.Handout (6 Mb pdf)
Keynote: Scott Horsley, President, Horsley Witten Group
Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee: Integrating watershed protection through local leadership. Attendees learned aboutStream and Watershed Management in the Catskills (9 Mb pdf) and how the Stream Management Program (1.6 Mb pdf) is working to achieve multiple objectives.
Jeff Flack and Joel DuBois, GCSWCD
An update on priority recommendations from the Mountaintop Community Resource and Recreation Strategy (2.6 Mb pdf) – a project the WAP has been facilitating for a year that integrates public, private and business sectors on the Mountaintop to enhance tourism potential by improving marketing, event coordination, and outdoor resource activities.Presentation (7 Mb pdf)
Michelle Yost, GCSWCD WAP
Catskill Regional Invasive Species Partnership: A cooperative partnership of diverse stakeholders with an interest in invasive species management in the Catskill & Delaware region. Ben Murdock of the Catskill Center for Conservation & Development spoke on this unique collaboration involving many agencies and what invasive species are a concern in this watershed. Presentation (5 Mb pdf)
Ben Murdock, Catskill Center for Conservation & Development
2008 Watershed Summit
2008 Summit Handout | 2008 Attendee List
Approximately 130 municipal leaders, property owners, engineers, planners, and government officials participated in the 2nd annual Schoharie Watershed Summit, including an appearance from Assemblyman Peter Lopez. The day’s activities included updates on the Schoharie Turbidity Reduction Strategy, presentations from watershed agencies and county officials who specialize in stream management, and afternoon workshops for local planners, residents and engineering firms working in the basin. The afternoon planning workshops counted towards the yearly training requirement for planning and zoning board members.
Presentations & Educational Materials:
Overview of Project, Process, and Recommendations
Schoharie Watershed Turbidity Reduction Strategy Overview & Findings Presentation (10.9 Mb pdf)
M. Yost
New Funding to Support Local Initiatives
Schoharie Basin Stream Management Plan Implementation, The Next Stage (1.35 Mb pdf)
David Burns
Where Infrastructure & Streams Collide: How to Manage Both Responsibly
Presentation (18.2 Mb pdf)
Wayne Reynolds, Delaware County Highway Commissioner
Where Infrastructure & Streams Collide: Where the Water Meets the Road
Presentation (9 Mb pdf)
Joel DuBois, GCSWCD Stream Specialist
Afternoon Educational Training Sessions
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans & Regulations Presentation (1.4 Mb pdf)
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Federal Wetland Protection & Regulation: USEPA Presentation (1.4 Mb pdf)
FEMA Flood Maps: What Every Planner Needs To Know
- Power point presentation by William Nechamen (5.1 Mb pdf)
- Flood Insurance & Grandfathering Rules (2.15 Mb pdf)
- National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), Frequently Asked Questions Pertaining to Construction Standards
- Frequently Asked Questions on NFIP
SEQRA & Subdivisions: A Hands-On Exercise Presentation
Schoharie Turbidity Reduction Strategy (2.8 Mb pdf)
Executive Summary to Turbidity Reduction Strategy
2007 Watershed Summit
Approximately 120 people were in attendance at the 1st annual Watershed Summit including municipal officials and employees from 12 of the 13 municipalities in the basin, county legislators and department directors, interested property owners, representatives from engineering firms, and non-profit and government agencies. The 2007 event focused on turbidity issues in the Schoharie Watershed.