Action # |
Description |
Lead Agency |
Time Frame for Action |
Expected Outcome |
Phase 1 assessment of two streams in the watershed |
SWCD |
2009-2010 |
delineation of the streams into “geomorphic” reaches |
|
Phase 2 assessment of the two streams selected for the Phase 1 study |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
field-based, georeferenced observations of the occurrence of erosion, fine sediment sources, riparian condition, management practices, large woody debris, etc. |
|
Phase 3 assessment of the two selected streams |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
detailed topographic surveys and geomorphic assessments at the sub-reach scale as part of a long term monitoring program and/or evaluation of appropriate BMP solutions for sections of stream |
|
Complete riparian corridor assessments of at least 2 additional tributaries to the Upper Esopus, including assessment of the riparian corridor. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Complete assessments of 2 tributaries, which include assessments of the riparian corridors |
|
Develop a list of candidate stream corridor projects |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
List of candidate stream corridor projects |
|
Investigation into treatment alternatives for the “Chichester” reach of Stony Clove Creek |
SWCD |
2009-2010 |
Project Assessment Report, Project Conceptual Design Report, Project Final Design, Constructed Project with Report |
|
Update topographic data necessary to improve accuracy of terrain for hydraulic modeling required to delineate floodplains. |
DEP |
Dependant on Contract Registration between DEP-FEMA |
Updated digital elevation models used for hydraulic modeling and subsequent hydraulic modeling results to be used in deriving FIRMs. |
|
Work with watershed municipalities on an education and outreach effort to better utilize the NY Alert system for flood emergency preparedness. |
CCE |
2009-2010 |
Work with UC Emergency Services to distribution of outreach materials on NY Alert to watershed communities |
|
The Ashokan Watershed SMP Field Office in Shandaken will be a host site for flood prevention/protection information |
CCE |
Start spring 2009, with continuous updating |
Physical and digital library of resources for Ashokan watershed Towns and residents. |
|
Develop a flood emergency preparedness program for stream management stakeholders. Watershed municipalities, working with local and state agencies, should support periodic training sessions on flood related issues. Audience should include municipal leaders, code enforcement staff, planning boards, landowners, realtors, lending institutions and others |
CCE |
April 2010 |
Workshop on flood emergency preparedness topics at April 2010 Watershed summit |
|
CCE, UCSWCD, and DEP will work with WOH watershed stream management partners to develop documentation of guidelines for post-flood response to stream channel and corridor. This Action Item is contingent upon coordination with WOH watershed Stream Management Program partners, and local, state and federal agencies |
All partners |
Depends on WOH timing and interest |
Convene coordinated inter-basin meeting to strategize content and format of proposed guidance document. Work with partners and consultants, if needed, to publish guidelines. |
|
Work with the Hamlet of Phoenicia to apply flood-proofing measures and relocation as a pilot during the five year project |
CCE |
2010 |
Meet with Town of Shandaken to determine interest in this item, and to investigate sources of technical assistance and funding. |
|
Ulster County now has a FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan. Work with the Town of Shandaken, the only Town in watershed to support the County’s HMP effort, to be prepared for use of State mitigation funding following declared State emergencies. |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Work with Town of Shandaken to develop projects and revise project list. Provide technical support. Work with the Town of Olive, Hurley and Woodstock to see if they can participate in the FEMA plan. |
|
Develop a stream corridor project monitoring protocol that can be adapted for specific projects. |
SWCD |
2009-2010 |
Review existing protocols and develop a protocol can be used. |
|
Implement monitoring protocol with the completion of the first project completed with funds from AWSMP contracts. |
SWCD |
2010-2011 |
Implement the protocol. |
|
Develop a document that describes appropriate best stream management practices to address stream bank erosion for use in the Ashokan watershed. |
Multiple |
This Action Item is contingent upon coordination with WOH watershed Stream Management Program partners, and local, state and federal agencies |
Convene inter-basin committee to begin developing the document. |
|
Provide long term access to technical assistance to landowners and municipalities for assessment of their stream-related problems, development of effective management strategies and to supervise stream project implementation. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Provide regularly scheduled times in office or for site visits to assist streamside landowners and municipalities with evaluating and addressing stream-related problems. Develop/seek opportunities to demonstrate evaluation techniques and effective management strategies that can be used as part of the education & outreach program. Provide funding, through SAP, CCE implementation funds, or UC SWCD project funds to encourage landowners and municipalities to participate in developing and implementing management plans. |
|
Convene periodic meetings with the Highway Superintendents for each of the Ashokan watershed municipalities, Ulster and Greene County DPW staff, and NYS DOT representatives to discuss opportunities for collaboration and technical support. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Attend a monthly Ulster County Highway Superintendant meetings to explain the Program. Establish a quarterly or semi-annual meeting with all relevant local, county, and State highway personnel to identify shared stream/road concerns and evaluate opportunities to support coordinated effort to use BMPs. Develop annually revised work plans for collaboration. |
|
Provide technical assistance to ensure application of fluvial geomorphic principles and fiscal support to the Town of Shandaken in the Deer Lane bridge replacement. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Meet with Shandaken Highway Superintendant and others, as needed to complete geomorphic assessment and design for bridge replacement. Contract to provide funding assistance to help procure materials and implementation service. Seek additional opportunities to establish collaboration with all Highway departments on using applied fluvial geomorphic principles for assessment and design involved with bank stabilization and bridge/culvert replacement. |
|
Meet with all highway departments operating in the Ashokan watershed to identify current roadside ditch and steep slope vegetation management practices and provide support as needed to improve those practices. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Convene meetings and make recommendations, as needed. Work with highway departments to secure funding to implement recommendations |
|
Meet with all Towns in the Ashokan watershed to assess whether road abrasive material in current use has a high clay/silt content and identify options to improve quality of abrasive if needed. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Convene meetings and make recommendations, as needed. Work with highway departments to secure funding to implement recommendations |
|
Meet with Towns, CWC, and UC DOE to identify status of stormwater management planning and formulate recommendations for developing or improving, as needed. |
SWCD/CCE |
2009-2011 |
Convene meetings and make recommendations, as needed. Work with involved parties to secure funding to implement recommendations. Documented results of meeting |
|
Town of Shandaken has mapped with GPS, the locations of all culvert outfalls. Work with the Town to identify those culvert outfalls that may contribute pollutants into the stream system and prioritize opportunities for mitigation. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Report documenting plan for (1) mitigating point-source pollutant discharges from culvert outfalls; and (2) identification of funding opportunities. |
|
CCE and UCSWCD staff will attend semi-annual public informational meetings required by the Shandaken Tunnel SPDES permit to stay informed on DEP’s operations of the Tunnel. |
DEP |
On-going |
Distribute announcements of scheduled meetings to Council and working group members. |
|
The Ashokan SMP Field Office in Shandaken will include hard copies of all pertinent public documents regarding the operations of the Shandaken Tunnel and proposed structural and operational modifications to help reduce turbidity discharged into Esopus Creek (e.g. Catskill Turbidity Control Studies Phases 1-3). |
CCE |
On-going |
Information is available to the community |
|
Develop and distribute to watershed municipalities maps of potential hazards associated with LWD based on aerial and ground-based reconnaissance imagery |
DEP |
Depends on interest of towns |
Helicopter reconnaissance photos and/or video with maps documenting potential LWD hazard locations. |
|
CCE will research how other areas have handled LWD management issues. |
CCE |
Will depend on availability and accessibility of information on LWD. Initial research assessment will begin Fall 2009 |
Brief report documenting research findings and recommendations for actions in the Ashokan watershed. |
|
UC SWCD and DEP intend to initiate a geomorphic assessment of the “Chichester reach” of Stony Clove Creek (Management Units 17 and 18 in the SCSMP) in support of a proposed treatment feasibility study. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Work with other partners through inter-governmental agreement to investigate geotechnical and hydrogeologic conditions leading to hill slope failure at the Chichester reach of Stony Clove. Seek to engage researchers to conduct research in the Esopus Creek watershed to investigate this phenomena. |
|
DEP intends to collaborate with the NYS Geological Survey to update/revise the mapping of the surficial geology of the Upper Esopus Creek watershed. |
DEP |
Contingent upon NYSGS activities |
Meet with NYSGS staff seasonally to stay apprised as to their efforts and provide additional data as available. Assist NYSGS, if possible with supplemental funding to support effort |
|
Review local ordinances for municipalities in the watershed in regards to floodplain management (riparian buffer, flood hazard mitigation, stormwater management). Compare local laws to best practices/model regulations. Examine how existing laws/policies are being applied at the local level |
CCE |
2010 |
Meet with floodplain managers UC DOE, and UC Planning to identify specific policies of concern to be included in the review. Identify best practices/model regulations. Develop a short report highlighting these findings and disseminate information to towns in the Ashokan Watershed. Public presentations on watershed planning issues to raise awareness in the community and support for policy changes. |
|
Evaluate ecological benefits associated with restoration projects. |
Multiple |
2009 |
Coordinate existing monitoring and research programs with proposed stream restoration sites to the extent possible. Starting in the summer 2009, develop outreach materials/reports highlighting the results of research at existing sites |
|
Identify riparian areas of particular environmental benefit or concern and create a database of targeted properties for riparian zone improvement programs. |
SWCD |
|
Develop a map and database of targeted properties |
|
Identify existing incentive programs that are applicable to landowners in the watershed and develop outreach materials for landowners regarding these programs. Directly contact landowners with targeted properties. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Outreach materials for SAP are identified and/or developed. SAP Coordinator and CCE Staff trained on existing incentive programs. Intake and assessment forms for landowners are developed that triage available programs. Targeted landowners are contacted about the availability of SAP |
|
Initiate a riparian buffer program on lands currently not covered by DEP watershed programs. |
DEP SAP Coordinator |
2009 |
Coordination of SAP and Riparian Buffer Enhancement Program. Work with Riparian Buffer Working Group to refine SAP program rules as needed. As soon as the SAP Coordinator is hired and materials are in place, documented outreach to local landowners on availability of incentive programs, particularly SAP. Informational materials and enrollment forms will be made available in Project Office and with Town and Village Planning and Zoning staff. Outreach to planning and zoning staff and code enforcement officers about the programs. Landowners in the watershed are referred to, and utilize the Trees for Tribs program, as appropriate. |
|
Provide long term riparian buffer protection through permanent conservation easements for both currently degraded and intact buffer areas. |
DEP |
2009-2011 |
CCE will provide outreach through their website, newsletters and other methods to local landowners on availability of easement programs. Informational materials and enrollment forms available on easement programs in Project office and with Town and Village Planning and Zoning staff. |
|
Provide streamside landowners and others detailed technical information through publications and the project website on the best practices for establishment and maintenance of riparian buffers. |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
The project website will be updated Summer 2009. Develop a publication for the public on establishing and maintaining riparian buffers This project will begin Summer 2009. Offer 1 training per year on riparian buffers and native plants |
|
Develop a pool of CCE Master Gardeners and other qualified volunteers to provide advice and recommendations for material riparian buffers. |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Master Gardeners available at least 1 day per month at the Shandaken Office to answer questions (during growing season). Determine if there are individuals who are interested in volunteering to provide information to the public on using native plants in riparian areas. Identify appropriate training programs for possible volunteers |
|
Develop pool of local volunteers to assist with outreach and with planting projects |
CCE |
|
Staff will have attended training on volunteer management. Continue Youth Program and Stream Steward Program as a primary source of committed and trained volunteers for community stewardship projects. Enhance outreach to volunteers through better use of website, local media, and other outreach. |
|
Develop youth program to teach youth about the value of riparian habitats, with goal of reaching adults and for general outreach about programs |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Continue Youth Steward Program. Offer at least one family-oriented program per year. Develop webpage or publication (newsletter) targeted to families and youth. Work with outreach staff to ensure media follow-up from youth events/projects. Coordinate with other DEP-led youth efforts, when feasible. |
|
Offer general education programs on the value of riparian buffers in the watershed |
CCE |
2009-2010 |
Offer regular programs for the public. |
|
Write articles for newspapers, newsletters, radio and television on the value of riparian buffers to reach wide audience |
CCE |
2009-2010 |
One of the three issues of Esopus Creek newsletter will feature riparian buffers. Develop a media outreach plan around riparian buffers and other BMPs by the fall 2009 |
|
Work in cooperation with highway departments, utility companies, and Catskill Scenic Railroad, to identify and prescribe specific sites for action or improved management. |
SWCD |
2009-2011 |
Identify high priority sites and opportunities for collaboration. |
|
Provide funding for plantings either as buffers or as bioengineering/biotechnical stabilization projects. |
DEP/SWCD |
2009-2010 |
Provide funding as appropriate through SAP or CCE funds. Continue to work with Trees for Tribs program |
|
Encourage development and implementation of alternative management practices at US Army Corp flood control projects that enhance in-stream and streamside habitat conditions. |
CCE |
2010 |
Meet with DEC to investigate alternative practices for Japanese knotweed control. |
|
NYC DEP and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the Catskill region should establish a program researching the ecology of Knotweed and testing various management prescriptions. The findings of this research would be applied to management programs in the watersheds. |
DEP/CCE |
2009-2010 |
Stream Stewards will develop citizen science project to test eradication methods and demonstrate results to community |
|
Continue mapping and monitoring the presence of Japanese knotweed in the Upper Esopus Creek watershed through multi-agency and public collaboration. |
SWCD/CCE |
2009-2011 |
Map knotweed as a part of the two new stream assessments. Use stream stewards or youth to map knotweed as a community service project |
|
Provide education to landowners through publications, website, and public programs on identification, proper disposal and eradication of Japanese Knotweed |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Two public programs on knotweed. Two newsletter articles on knotweed. Develop website information on knotweed. Develop brochure/factsheet on knotweed |
|
Work with TU and DEC to disseminate information about Didymo and how to prevent it |
CCE |
2009-2010 |
Place factsheets on kiosks about didymo, Develop public information strategy in collaboration with DEC |
|
Assess the feasibility of possible management strategies for the watershed (i.e. wader cleaning stations) |
CCE |
2009-2010 |
Disseminate information about effective prevention strategies. Attend meetings of agencies working on this issue to develop appropriate response |
|
Attend CRISP meetings |
CCE |
On-going |
Continue to designate a staff person to attend CRISP meetings and participate in CRISP |
|
Work with West of Hudson DEP education and outreach group to develop and disseminate outreach materials and offer public programs on Invasive Species for the West of Hudson Watersheds |
CCE |
On-going |
Participate in WHO group |
|
Explore opportunities for operational adjustments of the Shandaken Tunnel to accommodate the needs of biota along with other stakeholders |
CCE |
2009-2010 |
Coordinate with USGS/DEC grant that is assessing impact of tunnel on aquatic ecosystems. |
|
Further inventory and characterize wetlands along the main-stem Esopus Creek. |
DEP |
2009-2011 |
Coordinate with DEP/UCCC research team to share information as it is available |
|
Support further aquatic bio-monitoring and studies of other wildlife, their habitats, and interactions in the watershed by the multitude of public agencies and interest groups |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Coordinate with DEC/USGS research grant. Hold regular working group meetings. Hold an annual research conference for researchers working in the Ashokan Watershed, or coordinate panel at existing conferences |
|
Assist with coordination to make the sampling consistent and data reporting consistent, organized and accessible |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Hold regular working group meetings. Hold an annual research conference for researchers working in the Ashokan Watershed, or coordinate panel at existing conferences |
|
Improve the timing and reliability of requested recreational releases, particularly in July and August as they are critical to the economic viability and sustainability of the whitewater boating economy |
CCE |
2009-2010 |
Investigate actual release dates related to requested dates. |
|
Research policy/regulations around liability for large woody debris |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Literature/Policy review on LWD with best practices from other states. Meeting with stakeholders to review the document and to make local recommendations for policy change where needed. |
|
Identify potential stream access sites in the watershed |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Include a representative from whitewater boating community as a stakeholder for the review panel for Stream Management Projects |
|
Support the placement of information kiosks at common put-in and take-out locations as a means to share pertinent information about the location of in stream hazards, invasive species, safety tips and other key information |
CCE |
2009-2011 |
Finish and enhance Woodland Valley kiosk with additional informational materials (Summer 2009). Offer mini-grants to develop or enhance kiosks along the streams in the watershed. |