WATERSHED DIGEST
monthly newsletter
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Water Quality Monitoring Workshop
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Thursday, December 5
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
SUNY New Paltz, College Terrace,
New Paltz, NY
This workshop focuses on what water quality monitoring methods are best suited to achieving specific goals. It brings together experts to discuss different types of monitoring related to stream health, including road salt, nutrients, benthic macroinvertebrates (or biomonitoring), and bacteria. Speakers will focus on case studies, sharing monitoring results and how to use data. Workshop is free, but
RSVP
is required. Lunch will be provided.
Hosted by the Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz. Sponsored by the Hudson River Estuary Program & New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.
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Update from the Hudson River Watershed Alliance
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We're proud to share our
2019 Annual Report
! In 2019, our educational and capacity-building programs reached 742 people, and covered important topics like water quality, flooding, stream habitat, source water, community engagement, and more. We supported over 25 watershed groups throughout the Hudson River watershed through our programs and technical assistance. We also helped 18 municipalities improve local land use and plan for climate change.
We look forward to expanding our reach to meet the needs of our watershed partners and growing our network to ensure a healthy and resilient Hudson River watershed. Your support makes this possible! Donate on our secure form
here
.
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2019 Work on Watersheds Yearbook
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The Battenkill Conservancy's popular “Picky Bug Table” has successfully increased outreach and engagement with the community.
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Working with youth on the Fall Kill in Poughkeepsie
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Community Resilience Building Workshop for lower Wappinger Creek watershed municipalities
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Newburgh Clean Water Project brought high-quality and engaging public education outings and events to an economic justice community.
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Monitoring water quality in the Saw Mill River
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The Great Wallkill River Race (photo by Leah Rae)
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In Fall 2019, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance asked organizations working on watershed issues throughout the region to share one fact, one proud accomplishment from the last year, one opportunity for next year, and one challenge they are facing. The 2019 Work on Watershed Yearbook is the result, and is posted to the Hudson River Watershed Alliance website
here
.
We heard back from 24 groups working on watersheds, from the Battenkill in Washington County to the Bronx River in Westchester County and New York City. The waterways ranged in size from the Mohawk River (149 miles long), to the Tannery Brook (2 miles long). These watersheds are diverse, and so are the issues they are facing.
Pollution, overdevelopment, drinking water contamination, aging infrastructure, flooding, coordinating with multiple municipalities (and states), limited awareness, and lack of planning are just some of the challenges facing Hudson River watersheds. Fortunately, community groups, volunteers, municipalities, non-profits, county agencies, and other partners are working on solving these problems at the local level.
Here are just a few highlights:
- The Saw Kill Watershed Community and Fall Kill Watershed Coalition each worked with local students, together teaching 450 students about their local streams.
- The Minisceongo Creek Watershed Alliance and Bronx River Alliance had major cleanups. They removing 835 pounds of materials from the Minisceongo Creek, and the 200,000th item from the Bronx River!
- The Wappinger Creek Watershed Intermuncipal Council and the Lower Esopus watershed held Community Resilience Building Workshops, which convened watershed municipalities to work together on priorities to reduce flooding and adapt to climate change.
- Several groups took important steps to monitor water quality and water quantity. The Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance monitored water quality to better understand Harmful Algal Blooms in Orange Lake, the Sing Sing Kill has a new long-term monitoring station, the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance will be tracking down sources of bacteria with new partnerships, and the Moodna Creek Watershed Intermunicipal Council will monitor water level to warn local leaders when the creek is nearing flood stage.
- Friends of the Great Swamp acquired 194 acres to protect the Swamp River, the City of Albany completed a daylighting project on the Patroon Creek, and the Rondout Creek Watershed Alliance restored a stream buffer through the Trees for Tribs program.
- Newburgh Clean Water Project held innovative programs to engage residents, including Watershed Safaris and Water Salons. In the Catskill Creek watershed, 400 people were surveyed on their priorities to inform a watershed plan.
- The Mohawk River, Kromma Kill, Saw Mill River, and Tannery Brook benefitted from new plans. These include a 5-year Action Agenda, green infrastructure plan, State of the Watershed Report, and open space plan, respectively.
- The Roe Jan Watershed Community and Wallkill River Watershed Alliance both incorporated as 501(c)(3) organizations.
We celebrate the accomplishments of our local watershed partners, and look forward to supporting their work in 2020!
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Thursday, December 12
Breakfast Lecture Series
Plaza Diner
New Paltz, NY
8 AM - 9:30 AM
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Friday, December 13
Upper Hudson Speaker Series
Brown's Brewery
Troy, NY
12 PM - 1:30 PM
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NFWF: Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grants due January 30, 2020
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USDA Forest Service (USFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), FedEx, Southern Company and BNSF Railway are pleased to solicit applications for the 2020 Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration program.
NYS DEC: Tributary Restoration and Resiliency RFA due February 5, 2020
NYS DEC is pleased to announce funding for projects to support restoration of free-flowing waters to benefit water quality, conserve and restore habitat, and help communities with existing and projected impacts of localized flooding. Projects must conserve and restore aquatic habitat connectivity for American eel and/or river herring found in the tributary streams of the Hudson River estuary watershed. Primary priority will be given to dam removal projects that are in close proximity to the Hudson, because of their importance for improving habitat for American eel and river herring.
NOAA: Environmental Literacy Grants due March 26, 2020
NOAA-Environmental Literacy Grants: Supporting the education of K-12 students and the public for community resilience. The goal of this funding opportunity is to build environmental literacy of K-12 students and the public so they are knowledgeable of the ways in which their community can become more resilient to extreme weather and/or other environmental hazards, and become involved in achieving that resilience.
Position Available: Groundwork Hudson Valley Sustainability Education Associate
Groundwork is seeking an experienced and dynamic educator to fill our Sustainability Education Associate position. The primary role of the Education Associate is to provide energetic and engaging tours and STEM programs for K-12 school groups on the Science Barge and at EcoHouse, and within Yonkers public schools. Additionally, the Education Associate will be responsible for scheduling and invoicing groups that book programs at the Science Barge and EcoHouse, and assisting in the running and maintenance of the Science Barge.
Positions Available: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Ecology Education Positions
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY is searching for a full-time, long-term Ecology Education Program Leader to develop, promote and lead innovative programs for K-12 students at Cary Institute and at schools, helping foster ecological and data literacy, and the application of ecology to real ecosystems and environmental issues. They have also posted a position for a full-time, 6-month Ecology Education Program Specialist. Applications accepted until December 13 or the positions are filled.
Positions Available: Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District
The Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District is seeking qualified applicants for the provisional appointment to the position of Executive Director and Conservation District Program Engineer. Applications are due by December 5 for the Executive Director position and December 20 for the Conservation District Program Engineer position.
Position Available: Student Conservation Association Program Coordinator, Hudson Valley
The Student Conservation Association (SCA), a national force of youth conservation volunteers, seeks a Program Coordinator in our Hudson Valley (Poughkeepsie, NY) office. Program Coordinator role includes the selection, enrollment and coordination of approximately 45 Corps members assigned to individual internship sites in the Hudson Valley region. Other responsibilities include organizing and facilitating trainings, overseeing the development and execution of service opportunities, and program reporting duties.
Internship Available: Environmental Advocates of New York Helen M. Chapman Legislative and Policy Internship
We seek candidates that can demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communications skills, a desire to learn about state legislative and regulatory processes, enthusiasm, and a willingness to tackle new projects. The spring internship runs from January through May. Start and end dates are flexible. Position is full-time or part-time (20 hours minimum), depending on intern’s availability. Interns are asked to maintain a regular schedule. A modest weekly stipend is available, or we can assist in arranging credit for students through their schools.
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The Hudson River Watershed Alliance unites and empowers communities to protect their local water resources
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This newsletter is supported in part by the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission.
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