Presented byPresented by

Insert your name, title, and districtInsert your name, title, and district

Lower Hudson Coalition of Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation DistrictsConservation DistrictsVolunteer StreamwalkVolunteer Streamwalk

ProgramProgram

Developed by the Westchester County Department of Planning and the Westchester County Soil & Water Conservation District

The Lower The Lower Hudson Hudson River River

WatershedWatershed

The Lower Hudson River The Lower Hudson River WatershedWatershed

Counties Participating in Streamwalk ProgramCounties Participating in Streamwalk Program

Albany CountyAlbany County

Dutchess CountyDutchess County

Greene CountyGreene County

Orange CountyOrange County

Putnam CountyPutnam County

Rensselaer CountyRensselaer County

Westchester CountyWestchester County

Watershed FactsWatershed Facts

3.4 Million Acres which includes all or parts of 3.4 Million Acres which includes all or parts of

11 New York Counties11 New York Counties

Contains 152 Stormwater MS4 Communities Contains 152 Stormwater MS4 Communities

from a total of 437 for NY State from a total of 437 for NY State

Watershed IssuesWatershed Issues

Development pressure Development pressure

Stormwater managementStormwater management

Erosion and sedimentationErosion and sedimentation

Biological diversity protection Biological diversity protection

Habitat restorationHabitat restoration Community characterCommunity character Economic sustainabilityEconomic sustainability

Primary Watershed PollutantsPrimary Watershed PollutantsNonpoint Source PollutionNonpoint Source Pollution

SedimentSediment

Nutrients (Fertilizer)Nutrients (Fertilizer)

Toxics (Petroleum, Pesticide)Toxics (Petroleum, Pesticide)

Heavy MetalsHeavy Metals

Pathogens (Coliform)Pathogens (Coliform)

Implementation of Water Quality Protection

Measures

Watershed PlanningWatershed Planning

Technical Assessment of Natural Features, Land Uses

and Water Quality

Public Education and Outreach

Planning ProcessPlanning Process AssessmentAssessment

What is happening to our Streams?What is happening to our Streams?

PlanningPlanning

What needs to be done?What needs to be done?

ImplementationImplementation

How will we get there?How will we get there?

EvaluationEvaluation

Did we make it?Did we make it?

What is a What is a StreamwalkStreamwalk??

Volunteer Streamwalk Volunteer Streamwalk ProgramProgram

Assessment:Assessment: A one time evaluation A one time evaluation to describe existing conditionsto describe existing conditions

Monitoring:Monitoring: Repeated evaluations to Repeated evaluations to describe trends or changes in describe trends or changes in conditioncondition

Assessment vs MonitoringAssessment vs Monitoring

Volunteer Streamwalk Volunteer Streamwalk ProgramProgram

BiologicalBiological

ChemicalChemical

PhysicalPhysical

Types of Stream AssessmentsTypes of Stream Assessments

The Streamwalk ProgramThe Streamwalk Programis a Hybrid of all Threeis a Hybrid of all Three

Earth Team Volunteer Earth Team Volunteer ProgramProgram

USDA/NRCSUSDA/NRCS

Environmental Environmental

ProjectsProjects

Age 14 and upAge 14 and up

Insurance Insurance

Volunteer Streamwalk Volunteer Streamwalk ProgramProgram

Earth Team Volunteer Application Earth Team Volunteer Application

MapsMaps

Segment Survey FormsSegment Survey Forms

Score SheetsScore Sheets

Impaired Site Assessment FormsImpaired Site Assessment Forms

Public Outreach and Information MaterialsPublic Outreach and Information Materials

EquipmentEquipment

Components of a Streamwalk PacketComponents of a Streamwalk Packet

Volunteer Streamwalk Volunteer Streamwalk ProgramProgram

Segment Survey:Segment Survey:

Used to describe the overall characteristics of a Used to describe the overall characteristics of a

stream segmentstream segment

Impaired Site Assessment:Impaired Site Assessment:

Used to describe the characteristics of an Used to describe the characteristics of an

impairment (specific site of degradation)impairment (specific site of degradation)

Survey FormsSurvey Forms

Volunteer Streamwalk Volunteer Streamwalk ProgramProgram

12 Stream Elements to Rate/Score12 Stream Elements to Rate/Score

Range of Scores 10 (best condition) to 0 (worse condition)Range of Scores 10 (best condition) to 0 (worse condition)

Score Only Elements Relevant to Stream Score Only Elements Relevant to Stream

Total Values of all Elements AssessedTotal Values of all Elements Assessed

Divide Total by Number of Elements = Raw ScoreDivide Total by Number of Elements = Raw Score

Compare Raw Score to Stream Condition Rating (excellent to Compare Raw Score to Stream Condition Rating (excellent to

poor)poor)

Rating Your StreamRating Your Stream

LAND USELAND USE

CHANNEL CONDITIONCHANNEL CONDITION

HYDROLOGYHYDROLOGY

Debris hanging from branches is evidence of recent flooding.

RIPARIAN ZONERIPARIAN ZONE

BANK STABILITYBANK STABILITY

WATER APPEARANCEWATER APPEARANCE

NUTRIENT ENRICHMENTNUTRIENT ENRICHMENT

BARRIERS TO FISH BARRIERS TO FISH MOVEMENTMOVEMENT

INSTREAM FISH COVERINSTREAM FISH COVER

POOLSPOOLS

INSECT/INVERTEBRATE INSECT/INVERTEBRATE HABITATHABITAT

CANOPY COVERCANOPY COVER

EMBEDDEDNESSEMBEDDEDNESS

IMPAIRMENTSIMPAIRMENTS

Your name and contact informationYour name and contact informationphone: (999) 999-9999phone: (999) 999-9999

e-mail: e-mail:

SURVEYS DUE AUGUST 31stSURVEYS DUE AUGUST 31st

Andrew J. Spano, Westchester County Executive

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