March 2025

WATERSHED DIGEST

monthly newsletter

Update from the Hudson River Watershed Alliance

Save the Date for the WaveMaker Awards Benefit!

Wednesday, June 11 from 6:00-8:30 pm

The Falcon, Marlboro, NY

The Hudson River Watershed Alliance will hold our annual celebration of the Watershed WaveMaker awardees and the outstanding efforts of all watershed volunteers on Wednesday, June 11 at the Falcon in Marlboro.

The WaveMaker Awards Benefit is an opportunity to celebrate our WaveMaker awardees, the vast network of rivers and streams that flow to the Hudson River, and the communities that work to protect them. The benefit helps raise critical funds for the Hudson River Watershed Alliance to continue to unite and empower communities to protect our shared waters. More information about the event is available here.

Nominate a Watershed WaveMaker!

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to protect our waters and communities in the Hudson River watershed? Nominate them for a Watershed WaveMaker award!

Each year, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance recognizes 3-4 awardees from a variety of backgrounds to represent the diversity of successful watershed work in the region. A Watershed WaveMaker can be an individual, watershed group, organization, institution, or business. We'll celebrate this year's awardees at the WaveMaker Awards Benefit on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 from 6-8:30 PM at The Falcon in Marlboro.

Nominations are due by Tuesday, March 25.

Nominate a Watershed WaveMaker

2024 Watershed WaveMakers, from left to right: Sergei Krasikov, John Ladd,

Rockland Conservation & Service Corps, and Arm of the Sea Theater. Photos by Ava Battinelli.

Sponsor the WaveMaker Awards Benefit

This event is made possible through the generosity of our sponsors. Your sponsorship helps fund the program and enables more of our hard-working volunteers to attend and be recognized. More broadly, your support allows us to provide more direct assistance to watershed groups, convene communities to support flood resilience, develop innovative educational programming, and equip our new watershed workspace in Kingston.

More information on sponsorship opportunities is available on the slide deck here.

Sponsor the WaveMaker Awards Benefit

Breakfast Webinar: Fiscal Sponsorship 101

Thursday, March 13, 8:30-9:30 am | Register online here

Watershed work relies on collaboration and partnerships. We get many questions from watershed groups about fiscal sponsorship, sponsored projects, and grants, and are excited to have Kelly Mathews from the New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) to present on the topic.

Kelly will share what fiscal sponsorship is, the roles and responsibilities of a fiscal sponsor vs. a sponsored project, and considerations for applying for 501c3 tax exemption. She will describe fiscal sponsorship models and the role a fiscal sponsor can play for emerging organizations.

This webinar will be beneficial for watershed groups, along with organizations or entities that are interested in partnering. Please come with your questions!

This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.

Celebrate World Water Day with the Hudson River Watershed Alliance: Saturday, March 22

Hudson River Watershed Alliance's 2024 World Water Day gathering at Rough Draft.

Saturday, March 22 from 4:00-6:00 pm

Rough Draft Bar & Books, 82 John St, Kingston, NY

World Water Day is an annual United Nations Observance, held each year on March 22, focusing on the importance of freshwater around the world. World Water Day celebrates water and inspires action.

Join the Hudson River Watershed Alliance for World Water Day! We'll be hosting an informal gathering at Rough Draft in Kingston from 4-6 pm on Saturday, March 22. We're looking forward to connecting with our watershed community in-person. Rough Draft is a bookstore, bar, and cafe in Kingston with a great selection of coffee and tea, beer, cider, wine, and pastries.

Grab a book and a beverage, and support our waters! A portion of proceeds from sales that day will be donated to the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.

More information | RSVP for World Water Day here

Breakfast Webinar: Lessons Learned from Community-Lead Efforts to Improve Climate Resilience in the Bronx River Watershed

Thursday, April 10, 8:30-9:30 am | Register online here

Christian Murphy, Ecology & Education Manager from the Bronx River Alliance, will present on the recently updated Bronx River Intermunicipal Watershed Management Plan, which will serve as a guidebook for the next ten years of projects and plans for the Bronx River corridor.

Since the first watershed plan was published in 2010, the Bronx River watershed began suffering the impacts of climate change more frequently and with greater severity. The Bronx River Alliance convened a diverse group of stakeholders from along the full 23.5 mile length of the Bronx River. Their input was used to distill the major concerns and top priorities, and culminated in a list of priority actions to address climate risks and restoration opportunities in the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities along the Bronx River.

Watershed Group Capacity-Building Technical Assistance

The Hudson River Watershed Alliance, with support from NYSDEC, has launched a new watershed group capacity-building technical assistance program. This initiative aims to strengthen local watershed organizations by providing tailored support to help them grow and succeed.

After a competitive selection process, we’re excited to announce the four watershed groups chosen to receive one-on-one technical assistance:

Over the next year, these watershed groups will work with expert facilitators to develop a strategic workplan outlining key actions for the next 1-2 years. Hudson River Watershed Alliance staff will also help implement one priority organizational development action that emerges from the process.

By strengthening internal structures, improving capacity, and planning for the future, these groups will be better positioned to protect and restore their local waterways. More information on the program is available on our website.

We were thrilled to have so much interest from watershed groups in this program. We are also developing a new series of self-guided resources on organizational development for watershed groups, in partnership with River Network. We look forward to sharing more information soon.

Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network:

Join the Network for our Spring Programs

Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network meeting and site visit in Yonkers

The Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network (FRN) connects local governments committed to taking actionable steps to manage current and future flood risks. The Network helps municipal governments from throughout the Hudson Valley access resources and navigate complex processes, while providing a platform for peer learning and support around flooding.

Join the Network to attend our upcoming programs!

Friday, March 7, 12-1 pm virtual meeting via Zoom

Lunch & Learn: A Stormwater Solution in Hastings-on-Hudson

The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson was recently awarded $2.5 million through the NYS Green Resiliency Grant (GRG) Program for stormwater improvements to reduce persistent and destructive flooding in a residential area. Mayor Niki Armacost will share how the project came to fruition, lessons learned, and next steps for the village. The program will also include time for Q&A, discussion, and community updates.

Thursday, March 27, 10 am to 2 pm in-person

Meeting and Site Visit in Kingston

Join the Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network for presentations, discussion, networking, and a walking tour focused on the Lower Esopus Creek. Presentations include:

Funding for Flood Resiliency and Hazard Data Resources with the NYS Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (DHSES)
Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Funding, Model Local Laws, and Resiliency-Focused Initiatives with NYS Department of Stat
Introduction to Ulster County Flood Resilience Work and Lower Esopus Stream Management Plan with Ulster County Planning

Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network programs are open to Members and Partners. Members are representatives from municipal and county governments in the Hudson River estuary watershed. This includes elected and appointed officials, staff, and volunteers. Partners are staff from agencies, regional organizations, or private-sector consulting firms working in the Hudson River estuary watershed that support Members’ flood resilience goals.

To join the Network and gain access to the upcoming spring programs, visit https://www.hvfloodresiliencenetwork.org/join and complete the Member or Partner form based on your role. The Network is free to join.

The Flood Resilience Network is co-facilitated by New York Sea Grant and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.

Opportunities

GRANTS & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:

McKeon Student Research Grant

Deadline: March 10