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SOIL & WATER
ADVOCATE 1946—2019
73 YEARS OF
CONTINUOUS
CONSERVATION
PROGRESS
In This Issue
Water Street Flood-plain ReclamationProject
Monitoring the
Susquehanna
Watershed’s Ripari-an Forest Buffers
Re-investing forWater Quality
Tree and Shrub
Program Order Form
Staff Changes
Delaware County
Winter 2018-2019 December 31, 2018
See pages 6-7 for our easy pull-out
Tree & Shrub order form.
A little over a year has passed since taking on my new role as Executive Direc-tor for Delaware County Soil and Water. It’s been trying, it’s been challenging but moreover, it’s truly been a pleasure be-
ing surrounded by an incredibly positive and profes-sional SWCD staff, providing the best conservation service possible to Delaware County. We love the people, the mountains and the streams and are pas-sionate about conserving and protecting all of it. You will see as you read through the Advocate that the stories and pictures speak for themselves.
I cannot say enough about the importance of partner-ships, a common theme in our success stories. These triumphs are largely due to our longstanding relation-ships with agencies and organizations that share our goals of protecting and preserving our natural re-sources while being mindful of public and private safety, good stewardship of the land and water, and support of economic viability and sustainability.
Times are changing and so is the weather. With more than our share of floods, we have stepped up our efforts and sharpened our focus on flooding and its associated issues. You will find a great example on page 3 in the Water Street floodplain reclama-tion project, just one of many that will lead to flooding relief for the Village of Walton and throughout Delaware County. Often it seems we are moving too slow in our quest for flood relief. We started living, building and working along our streams and rivers over 200 years ago. It will take time, perhaps many, many years, to get to the point where we can watch the high waters pass without fear. I encourage each of you to support these endeavors and to stay connected with your community’s efforts to reduce flooding issues. We must start now to provide a future for our communities and generations to come.
The headwaters of four major watersheds begin life in Delaware County: the East and West branches of the Delaware River, the Mohawk River in the east and the Susque-hanna River along the north edge. Not a drinking water supply so much as the critical lifeblood of the Chesapeake Bay, the Susquehanna River and its tributaries draw much of our attention for very important reasons. Take a look at page 4 to learn why ripari-an buffers along the Susquehanna and its tributaries play an important role in control-
(Continued on page 10)
A Message from Larry Underwood, Executive Director
Delaware County SWCD
Directors
Frank Bachler, Chair
Member-at-Large Representative
Town of Meredith
Bruce Dolph, Vice-Chair
Member-at-Large Representative
Town of Walton
Jim Ellis, Supervisor Representative
Town of Meredith
Jeff Taggart, Supervisor Representative
Town of Franklin
Andy Kiraly, Farm Bureau Representative
Town of Franklin
Jerry Fraine, Member-at-Large Representative
Town of Meredith
Staff
Larry Underwood —Executive Director
Peggy Pilch —Secretary/Treasurer
Sandra Whittaker —Data and Budget Specialist
Judith Spencer —Administrative Assistant, Editor
Rick Weidenbach —Ass’t to the Executive Director
Larry Day —Soil and Groundwater Specialist
Susquehanna Watershed Program
Karen Clifford —Special Programs Technician
Kyle Buel —Technician
Jay Czerniak —Technician
Brian Danforth —Civil Engineering Technician
Joe LaCourt —Technician Trainee
NYC Watershed Agricultural Program
Gideon Frisbee —Technical Coordinator
Chris Savage —Civil Engineering Technician
Paula O’Brien —Technician
David Adams —Technician
David Andros —Technician
Nora Mosher —Technician
Ben Green —Technician Trainee
Rick Neuman —Planner
Brian Caruso —Systems Manager
Stream Corridor Management Program
Graydon Dutcher —Program Coordinator
Ben Dates —Project Engineer
Gale Neale —Technician
Jessica Patterson —Technician
Jeff Russell —Technician
Mike Coryat —Technician
Elizabeth Bowie —Data and Budget Specialist
Jay Dinga —Data and Budget Specialist
Catherine Skalda —CSBI Coordinator
Partnering Agencies
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Dave Mortensen —ASTC - FO
Dennis DeWeese —Acting Watershed Coordinator
Tony Capraro —District Conservationist
Quentin Gahan —Area Resource Conservationist
Suzanne Baker —Resource Conservationist
Brandon Dennis —Resource Conservationist
Dan Flaherty —Resource Conservationist
Evan Sweeney —Soil Conservationist
Andrew Grabo —Program Support Specialist
Sam Ly —Project Engineer
Paula Bagley —State Engineer
Pamela Mason —Administrative Mgmt Specialist
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Dale Dewing —CCE Team Leader
Paul Cerosaletti —Senior Resource Educator
Rich Toebe —WAP Dairy/Livestock Educator
Kim Holden —Administrative Assistant
April Wright-Lucas —Feed Management Planner
Melinda Gaida —Feed Management Planner
Ben Hepler —Nut. Mgmt Community Educator
Watershed Agricultural Council
Larry Hulle —Agricultural Program Manager
Brian LaTourette —program Operations Coordinator
Nate Townsend —Whole Farm Planning Coordinator
John Jackson —Database Manager
Kristan Morley —Economic Viability Manager
Heather Magnan —Communications Director
Sara Bolton —Pure Catskills Specialist
Nadine Trahan —GIS Coordinator
Jimmy Sietsma —Database/GIS Specialist
Elaine Poulin —WAP Procurement/Contract Officer
Lorinda Backus —Executive Assistant
Jackie VanLoan —Executive Assistant
Wendy Hanselman —Admin. Assistant to the WAP
Brittany Hall —Admin. Ass’t to Procurement & PFM
Leanne Nabinger —Engineering Specialist
Scott Boyce —Engineering Specialist
Rick Hochuli —Engineering Specialist
Peter Steenland —Technician/Engineering Coordinator
Tim Hebbard —WIRC Specialist
Cynthia McCarthy —Nutrient Mgmt/PFM Coordinator
Nate Nero —Nutrient Management Specialist
Brent McKeon —Nutrient Management Specialist
Kari Sheridan —Nutrient Management Specialist
Troy Bookhout —Conservation Planner
Dan Deysenroth —Conservation Planner
Dan Vredenburgh —Conservation Planner
Ben Hendee —Conservation Planner
Shylabeth Taylor —Precision Feed Mgmt Specialist
Aric Boyes —CREP/CSBI Planner
Alison Heaney —CREP Intern
Tristin Tait —CREP Intern
All programs and services of the Soil and Water Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service are offered on a non-
discriminatory basis, without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, or handicap.
Water Street Floodplain Reclamation Project
N early thirteen acres of Walton Village and Town proper-
ties located on Water Street (behind McDonald’s) are
being excavated after years of planning and design to
reclaim a critical floodplain of the West Branch Delaware River.
Municipal officials, along with technical agencies, identified the
reclamation project during the development of the Local Flood
Analysis plan that addresses flood issues and prioritizes pro-
jects. The area became a topic of importance in 2006 when
flood waters could not drain from Delaware Street due to the
higher elevation of the fill between the village’s main street and
the river. More recent observation of the water concerns can be
seen as it ponds at Veterans’ Plaza after a rain storm.
Fill had been added over the years to accommodate commercial
development. Recent studies, however, show that the creating
and maintaining floodplains is the most effective way to mitigate
damage. The $1.2 million project began this fall to remove and
transport 54,000 cubic yards of fill to designated areas approved
by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
A culvert beneath Water Street will allow the water from Veter-
ans’ Plaza to drain into a swale or narrow channel. The swale
will convey the park’s 2.8 acres of stormwater runoff from build-
ing roof tops and parking lots along Delaware Street through a
vegetated filter area before it enters into the West Branch Dela-
ware River.
The US Department of Army’s Water Resources Development
Act (WRDA) provided the Delaware County Board of Supervi-
sors with a $645,760 grant for construction. The Delaware
County Soil and Water Conservation District, in partnership with
New York City Department of Environmental Protection, provid-
Proposed construction limit for the floodplain reclamation project.
Historic view from 1905 of Walton looking upstream with the Wal-ton Fairgrounds on the right side of the photo. The large, vacant floodplain on the left could hold vast amounts of floodwaters, helping to protect Delaware Street.
ed the cost share match through its local flood hazard mitigation
funds. The Walton Flood Commission did not want the property
to remain vacant following completion of the project. Several
public meetings with consulting firm Place Alliance in 2017
helped the community develop conceptual plans for walking
trails and a boat launch.
The ultimate goal of the project is to protect the community
while maintaining economic sustainability.
Current view of Walton looking upstream with the Walton Fair-grounds on the right side of the photo. Development in this area filled in the floodplain, reducing protection for both businesses and residences near the river.
3
Monitoring the Susquehanna Watershed’s Riparian Forest Buffers
D uring the spring of 2018, the DCSWCD
worked with the Upper Susquehanna Coali-
tion to secure funding for the maintenance and
monitoring of implemented riparian forest buffers
throughout the Susquehanna Watershed of Delaware County,
hiring interns Joe LaCourt and Jessica Moore to complete the project.
The purpose was to better understand the functionality of our streamside
buffers, which enhance water quality, provide habitat for fish and wildlife,
and prevent streambank erosion. All of the monitored buffers are located on
streams that ultimately lead to the Chesapeake Bay. In 2010, the Environ-
mental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) which aimed to reduce the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and
sediment entering the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. In 2017, the mid-point
phase of the program, the EPA reported that New York State had achieved
the statewide phosphorous target, but had fallen short on the nitrogen and
sediment goals. With Riparian Forest Buffers being the “best bang for your
buck” in water quality enhancement, the monitoring and maintenance would
prove to be beneficial in reaching targeted goals for the TMDL in 2025.
The pair monitored 34 riparian forest buffers located on properties through-
out the county, covering a total of 527 acres . They collected data on tree
and shrub survival rates, invasive species, and general site conditions. With
this newly compiled data, the DCSWCD is now able to adjust their practices
to enhance the quality of future riparian buffers.
Jessica Moore gets a count on trees and shrubs to determine survival rates, as well as documenting their health.
Sturdy tree tubes or “shelters” protect young, vul-nerable saplings from animal browsing and wind exposure on a CREP planting in the Susquehanna Watershed.
Joe LaCourt and Jay Czerniak inspect one of the hundreds or, in some CREP areas, thousands of trees to assess its condition. Landowners main-tain the tree tubes and remove them once the trees are well-established.
4
3
A new 28’ x 67’ covered manure storage was installed to provide the farmer with an
area to periodically store manure. Keeping the stored manure protected from the ele-
ments will reduce the amount of polluted water entering the existing VTA and will ulti-
mately reduce the nutrients and sediment reaching a watercourse.
Concrete heavy use area protection. The existing HUAP provided no covered area to
stack manure, leaving it exposed to precipitation, creating a mess for the farmer and a
water quality concern for the watershed.
S WCD technical
staff working
within the NYC
Watershed Agri-
cultural Program (WAP)
had a busy year in 2018
designing and implement-
ing Best Management
Practices (BMPs) across a
number of watershed
farms. Andes Mountain
Farm, a beef operation
owned by Joe and Nancy
Eisele in the Town of An-
des, had multiple BMPs
updated through the WAP
Repair & Replacement
strategy. Every BMP in-
stalled has a lifespan – the
amount of time it is ex-
pected to function to solve
a resource concern, so
long as proper operation
and maintenance activities
are completed. USDA/
NRCS Standards also
evolve and change, so if a
BMP no longer functions
as intended and needs
work, it needs to be re-
constructed to meet new
standards if applicable.
Repair & Replacement is
used to re-invest in existing
BMP infrastructure to en-
sure continual water quality
protection and extend the
BMP for another lifespan.
(Continued on page 10)
5
“The design plan was well done, and the contractors did a great job in its execution.”
Joe Eisele Landowner
Re-investing for Water Quality
2019 Tree and Shrub Order Form Deadline March 15
6
Call Karen at 607-865-7161 for pricing on larger orders.
Quantity Species and Age Size 25 50 100 Cost
White Spruce 9-15" $20 $35 $60
White Pine 6-14" $20 $35 $60
Norway Spruce 9-15" $20 $35 $60
Fraser Fir 8-14" $25 $40 $70
American Larch 12-18" $45 $60 $110
Quantity Species and Age Size 10 50 100 Cost
White Spruce 15-20" $20 $80 $140
Norway Spruce 15-24" $20 $80 $140
Quantity Species and Age Size 25 50 100 Cost
Sugar Maple 18-24" $45 $70 $105
River Birch 18-24" $45 $70 $105
Swamp White Oak 18-24" $45 $70 $105
Quantity Species and Age Size 10 25 Cost
Elderberry 18-24" $25 $40
Black Chokeberry 18-24" $30 $45
Arrowwood 18-24" $25 $40
Red Crabapple 18-24" $30 $45
Buttonbush 18-24" $25 $40
Quantity Species and Age Size Cost
Blue Jay Blueberry 18-24"
Patriot Blueberry 18-24"
Liberty Apple 3' - 4'
Gold Rush Apple 3' - 4'
Contender Peach 3' - 4'
EVERGREEN SEEDLINGS
EVERGREEN TRANSPLANTS
HARDWOODS
FLOWERING
FRUIT TREES AND SHRUBS
$25 for 5 plants
$20 EACH tree
$25 for 5 plants
$20 EACH tree
$20 EACH tree
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO DCSWCD
White Spruce Christmas trees, windbreak
Short, green needles
Slow to moderate growth to 100’
Well-drained soil to seasonal wetness
Significant food/nesting source for wildlife
Low deer browse
Native to New York
Norway Spruce Windbreak, screening,
lumber, wildlife habitat
Branches droop with maturity
Moderate growth to 90’
Well-drained soil to seasonal wetness
White Pine Reaches up to 140’
Soft needles, 2.5” - 5”
Cones 4” - 8”
Grows in a range of soils
Used for timber
Christmas/ornamental
Wildlife habitat
Windbreaks and screens
Erosion control
Make your selections from the following
hardwoods, shrubs,
evergreens, and variety
packs.
Order by March 15
Pick up April 13
ORDER EARLY AS SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED!!
Cost
Evergreen (3 each)
Hardwood (4 each)
Flowering (4 each)
Wetland (3 each)
Quantity Cost
3' X 3' Weed Mats with Pins $1.75 each
Planting Bars $45 each
$5 each
$.10 each
TOTAL ORDER
$150/hundred
$85 box/1000
5' Tree Shelter (stake not included)
Fertilizer Tablets (10 gram, 20-10-5)
PLANTING SUPPLIES
Fraser Fir, White Pine, White Spruce, Norway Spruce
American Larch, White Spruce, Arrowwood, Buttonbush
12 PACKS - $25 PER PACK
Black Chokeberry, Red Crabapple, Elderberry
Sugar Maple, River Birch, Swamp White Oak
7
Name EmailPlease print clearly Please print clearly
Mailing Address
Daytime phone Cell
Fraser Fir Popular Christmas tree
species Dark blue-green needles Pleasant scent Reaches maximum
height of 80’ Intermediate in shade
tolerance Likes rocky to sandy
soils that are acidic
Sugar Maple Maple syrup, timber Red, orange and yellow
fall colors Moderate to fast growth
to 100’ Well-drained soil Susceptible to deer damage Important to wildlife Native to New York
Swamp White Oak Excellent shade tree Attractive peeling bark Orange-gold autumn
leaves, acorn fruit Acid moist well-drained
soil Drought, salt, and heat
tolerant Transplants well Grows to 50’-60’
American Larch Short, soft needles Deciduous, golden in fall Aromatic Fast growth to 50’ Moist upland or boggy
soil Susceptible to deer damage Benefits wildlife Native to New York
River Birch Erosion control plantings,
moderately flood tolerant Landscaping; young,
peeling bark thickens Moderate growth, 50-70’ Wildlife habitat Needs direct sun Yellow autumn leaves
drop early Easily transplanted and
established
Arrowwood Grows 6-15’ Flat clusters of creamy
white flowers Autumn leaves yellow,
red, purple Blue-black fruit Full sun, partial shade Wildlife habitat Attracts butterflies and
birds
Black Chokeberry (Aronia) Withstands wet conditions
along ponds and streams; flood tolerant
Nectar attracts birds, bees, butterflies,
Wildlife feed on berries Vivid fall foliage Grows to 6-8’ Native to New York Many claimed health benefits
Elderberry Grows to 6’-12’ Moist, well-drained soil Used in streamside
buffers Wildlife habitat Wildlife food source Fruit high in Vitamin C Fruit used in wine,
jam, syrup and pies
8
NEED PLANTING ADVICE?
OUR STAFF WILL BE
ON HAND ON PICKUP DAY TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS.
Patriot Blueberry Cold-hardy Large, aromatic, flavor-
ful, dark blue fruit Early season harvest High production with 10-20 lbs at maturity Low, 3-5’ bushes Perform better in wet
soils than others Autumn foliage fiery red
Contender Peach Exceptionally cold-hardy Freestone Ripens mid/late August Self-pollinating Full Sun Well-drained soil 2-4 years to bearing Medium to large, sweet,
firm fruit
Blue Jay Blueberry Extremely vigorous and
fast growing to 6-7’ Ripens in July, heavy
producer for weeks High sugar content Plant with two other
varieties for pollination Autumn leaves are yellow-orange Full sun
Gold Rush Apple Dessert apple, good
fresh and in pies or crisps
Disease resistant Tart, tangy flavor Ripens mid/late October Pollinator needed Full sun Well-drained soil 2-5 years to bearing
Buttonbush Grows to 3-10’ 1” white or pink, round
fragrant blossoms turn red in autumn
Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and bees
Wetlands, floodplains, riparian buffer plantings
Full sun, light shade
Liberty Apple Low maintenance Disease resistant Great for eating, cooking,
canning and keeping Ripens early September Pollinator needed Full Sun Well-drained soil 2-5 years to bearing
Red Crabapple Bright red, 1/2” fruit persist to winter Red buds produce long-lasting pink blooms Full sun Grows to 20-30’, width
10-30’, semi-weeping Moderately drought tolerant Require little pruning
9
The system of BMPs on the Eisele farm was originally installed in 2006 with a 10 year lifespan. Through annual monitoring visits
to the farm by WAP staff, it was observed that much of the system needed to be updated following the expiration of the lifespan,
as BMPs were no longer functioning at the intended levels needed to fully protect water quality. Highlights of this year’s project
included building a roof over an identified manure storage area of the originally installed concrete barnyard area, as well as many
improvements to water control structures that keep clean water excluded from the barnyard area. SWCD EIT David Adams
worked with Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) Planner Dan Vredenburgh and WAC Engineer Pete Steenland to develop
detailed designs of each BMP, and then provided construction site inspection while a local contractor completed the work. Joe
Eisele was very happy with the work by all, commenting that “the design plan was well done, and the contractors did a great job
in its execution.”
(Continued from page 5)
Eisele
10
Additional water control structures were installed to divert water
into the repaired diversion. These new practices, along with the
repaired diversion, keep water from entering the repaired ani-
mal trails and HUAP.
The existing diversion was undersized, and additional water
control structures were needed for the amount of water entering
the diversion. As a result the practice failed.
ling and minimizing nutrient runoff that can reach the Bay, causing harmful algal blooms, undesirable or invasive aquatic weed beds and other issues that have led to a decline in fish, oysters, blue crabs and overall water quality in this nationally treasured and protected waterbody.
Delaware County Soil and Water has partnered and contracted with the Watershed Agricultural Council and joined with USDA, NYCDEP, NYSDEC and CCE of Delaware County for over 25 years to work with our farmers in a concerted effort to improve and protect New York City’s drinking water supply. The majority of these farms are located here in Delaware County. Thousands of conservation best management practices (BMPs) that were installed early in the Program were not expected to last indefinitely and wear out with usage and age. See page 5 to learn how NYCDEP recognizes the cost-effective benefits of replacing or repairing BMPs that have exceeded their lifespan.
I’m excited about our newest offerings in our ever evolving Conservation Tree and Shrub Program and hope you will be, too. Use our “pull-out” form inside, visit our website or stop by our office for the 2019 order form.
We are very fortunate to have so many talented and experienced employees; we strive to maintain and build our exceedingly pro-fessional staff to meet current and future conservation needs throughout Delaware County. Meet our newest team members on page 11.
I look forward to another productive and successful year for Delaware County Soil & Water and wish all of you a successful and prosperous year as well!
(Continued from page 1) Underwood
B en Green, a Walton
native, has been hired
by the District as a
Technician Trainee assigned to
the Watershed Ag Program. A
graduate of SUNY Oswego,
Ben has a degree in Environ-
mental Geology. Like so many
of our agencies’ permanent
employees, he began his expe-
rience in the Watershed as an
intern, with Ben’s two summers
spent “getting his feet wet” in
the Stream Program.
J oe LaCourt, right,
from Oneonta, is a
Technician Trainee
with the Susquehanna
Program. He has a B.S. in
Geography from SUNY
Oneonta and an A. S. in
Music Recording
Technology from Finger
Lakes CC. Joe has done
coastal wetland restoration
through a volunteer program
as part of a geography
service learning course.
The DCSWCD Welcomes New Staff in 2018
R ick Neuman grew up on a farm in Homer where his
family raised registered Holsteins. Rick graduated from
SUNY Morrisville and SUNY ESF and began his career
at the Skaneateles Lake Wa-
tershed Ag Program as a Nu-
trient Management Planner,
later becoming NYS AEM
Certified. In 2007 Rick began
a new adventure as the
farmer at Muscoot Farm, an
interpretive farm at a park in
Westchester County. Rick
and his wife, Martha then
moved back to Tioga County,
then on to Delaware County
SWCD as a NYS AEM Certi-
fied Planner.
N ora Mosher returned to the SWCD recently as a
Technician as-
signed to the
Watershed Ag Program,
a title she held several
years ago. In the interim
she has worked as a
designer for a metal
fabricator as well as Alta
and Beaver Mountain
Log Homes. She brings
nearly thirty years of
construction and engi-
neering experience to
the job, with several of
those specific to the
NYC Watershed.
The
Delaware County SWCD
wishes its readers
a healthy,
prosperous and safe
New Year!
T he Stream Program welcomed Jay Dinga
as a full-time, temporary Data and Budg-
et Specialist. An alumnus of the Univer-
sity of Notre Dame, Jay brings a wealth of ac-
counting experience to the position as the former
Broome County Comptroller, CCE Compliance
Review Manager, Deputy Administrator-Fiscal
for Broome County-run Willow Point Nursing
Home and Director of Finance of the Oneonta
Job Corps program.
Jay also served eight years as a New York State
Assemblyman and eight years with Tioga Downs
Racetrack & Casino as Director of Business De-
velopment and Government Relations.
11
Call 607-865-7161
for more information.
Pickup Saturday,
April 13 at the
SWCD office in Walton.
Prepaid orders due
March 15
Check out our new wetland and evergreen variety packs!
Blue Jay Blueberry Liberty Apple
Patriot Blueberry Gold Rush Apple
Contender Peach
Swamp White Oak
Delaware County SWCD
44 West Street, Suite 1
Walton, New York 13856
RETURN SERVICE
REQUESTED
PRSTD STD U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #197
BINGHAMTON, NY
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