new york watershed protection and partnership council report (2005)

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George E. Pataki, Governor 2005 Annual ReportWATERSHED PROTECTION AND PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL

Watershed An area of land, a bounded hydrologic system:within which all living things are inextricably linked by theircommon water course and where, as humans settled, simplelogic demanded that they become part of a community

John Wesley Powell


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

WPPC Mission

Message from Governor George E. Pataki .................................. 1

Watershed Protection and Partnership Council Members ........... 2

Message from Chair, Denise M. Sheehan.................................... 3

Message from Executive Director, William C. Harding .............. 4

Historic New York City Watershed Agreement ........................... 5

Building New and Updating Existing Water QualityProtection Infrastructure .......................................................... 7

Advanced Studies and Analysis for Water Quality .................... 13

Buffer Lands .............................................................................. 15

Master Planning and Zoning...................................................... 17

Promotion of Environmentally Sensitive EconomicDevelopment .......................................................................... 20

Education and Outreach............................................................. 21

Agriculture and Forestry ............................................................ 24Appendix Summary of Safe Drinking Water Act and Water

Resources Development Acts Projects .................................. 29

Contacts ..................................................................................... 38

Acknowledgements.................................................................... 39


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WATERSHED PROTECTION AND PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL

The Watershed Protection and Partnership Council represents and providesa working forum for the diverse interests that share the common goal

of protecting and enhancing the environmental integrity of the Watershed,

the social and economic vitality of its communities and the qualityand quantity of the water that sustains them.

WATERSHED PROTECTION AND PARTNERSHIP COUNCILS MISSION


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WATERSHED PROTECTION AND PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL MEMBERS

Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, CommissionerNYC Department of Health

Wilfredo Lopez, DesigneeNYC Department of Health

James F. Gennaro, NYC CouncilAndrew M. Alper, NYC Economic Development CorporationGretchen Dykstra,Commissioner

NYC Department of Consumer Affairs

Jonathan A. Ballen, NYC Business CommunityRonald L. Wozniak, Dutchess CountyJohn Lynch, Putnam CountyGerard E. Mulligan, Westchester County

Richard Knabel, Westchester Water ConsumerAlan Rosa, Catskill Watershed CorporationWard Todd, Catskill Watershed CorporationGeorgianna Lepke, Catskill Watershed CorporationFred Huneke, Watershed Agricultural CouncilRobert F. Kennedy Jr., Environmental PartiesCathleen Breen, Environmental Parties

Vacant PositionsNew York City Water Consumers Representative

Watershed Business Community Representative

Christopher L. Jacobs, Secretary of StateJames Walsh, Governors OfficeDarren Suarez, NYS SenateJulia Mallalieu, NYS Assembly

Antonia C. Novello, CommissionerNYS Department of Health

Ronald Tramontano, DesigneeNYS Department of Health

Charles A. Gargano, CommissionerNYS Empire State Development

Amy Schoch, DesigneeNYS Empire State Development

Patrick H. Brennan, CommissionerNYS Agriculture & Markets

Alan J. Steinberg,Region II AdministratorUS Environmental Protection Agency

Philip Sweeney, DesigneeUS Environmental Protection Agency

Jeffrey D. Freidlander, NYC Mayors OfficeEmily Lloyd, Commissioner

NYC Department of Environmental Protection

David Warne,Designee, Acting Deputy CommissionerNYC Department of Environmental Protection

CHAIR

Denise Sheehan, Commissioner, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

WPPC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

William C. Harding

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ANNUAL REPORT 2005

MESSAGE FROM CHAIR, DENISE M. SHEEHAN

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Pursuant to paragraph 125 of the Watershed Agreement, existingstormwater infrastructure problems are addressed through theStormwater Retrofit Program. Under the MOA, the City of NewYork committed $7.625 million to support this program which fundsthe design, construction, implementation, and maintenance ofstormwater control measures or best management practices(BMPs) to address problems from existing stormwater runoff within

the WOH Watershed. The 2002 FAD required the City to continuethis successful program, and the City committed an additional $6.3million to sustain project activity levels. The City also committed$1.25 million to support a community wide stormwater infrastruc-ture assessment and planning grant initiative as part of theStormwater Retrofit Program.

Stormwater Infrastructure Retrofits

Seven projects were completed under the Stormwater Retrofit Programin 2005, and the CWC expended $2,114,643 on them. They addressedstormwater runoff at three municipal road projects, a corporate campus

and a ski center parking lot, and made possible the purchase of a streetsweeper to remove debris and contaminants from Watershed roads sothat they do not end up in streams and reservoirs.

Several Community Wide Stormwater Infrastructure Planning and As-sessment projects were conducted to help municipalities identify infra-structure problems and prioritize improvement and repair needs. Somereceipients subsequently applied to CWC for Stormwater Retrofit fundsto implement necessary improvements.

8

Future Stormwater Controls

As provided in paragraph 128 of the Watershed Agreement, theCity of New York provided $31.7 million to fund new stormwatermeasures required by the Watershed Rules and Regulations, butnot otherwise required by Federal or State law in the WOHWatershed. This program funds the design, construction,implementation, and maintenance of stormwater controls requiredfor new construction.

Eight projects funded in whole or in part by the CWC were closed out in2005. CWC reimbursed project owners $414,037 for expenses associ-ated with these stormwater controls. The projects included residentialand commercial enterprises. CWC also reimbursed operation and main-tenance expenses for some of its previously funded stormwater controlsystems in order to maintain their efficiency and extend the useful lifeof these projects.


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ANNUAL REPORT 2005

BUILDING NEW AND UPDATING EXISTING WATER QUALITY PROTECTION INFRASTRUCTURE

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Stream Management

Under paragraph 127 of the Watershed Agreement, the City committed $3 million for a stream management program to work in partnershipwith the WOH Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) to develop stream management plans and stream restoration demonstrationprojects in priority streams. In light of the tremendous success of the Stream Management program, the current FAD greatly expands thisprogram. The City of New York committed an additional $22.8 million for this endeavor.

The objective of the Stream Management program (SMP) is to increase stream system stability through development and construction ofdemonstration projects, and to enhance long-term stream stewardship through increased community participation.

Stream restoration projects use bioengineering and natural channel de-sign to reduce erosion and potentially decrease turbidity, lessen the threatof flood damage from erosion and improve stream ecology. The SMPmade substantial progress in 2005 towards accomplishing its extensiveset of stream management plans and demonstration restoration projects.Since 2002, the SMP and its partners completed six stream managementplans addressing 33% of the NYC West of Hudson Watershed and re-main on schedule to complete three additional stream management plansbringing the area addressed to 65% by 2007.

Further, SMP realized its goal of establishing a diverse network of res-toration demonstration projects by completing assessment, design andconstruction for 6 projects as of December 2005. SMP has completed12 projects since 1996 and expects to complete an additional 5 projectsbefore December 2007.

Healthy stream corridors maintain stable banks, good water quality and important wildlifehabitat.


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Schedule for Stream Management Plans and Demonstration Restoration Projects in Priority Watersheds

Requirement

Broadstreet Hollow Stream Management PlanChestnut Creek Stream Management Plan

Town Hall/Grahamsville Restoration ProjectStony Clove Creek Stream Management Plan

Beecher Smith Property/Lanesville (T) Restoration Project

Batavia Kill Stream Management Plan Red Falls Restoration Project Big Hollow Restoration Project Red Falls Monitoring Report

West Branch Delaware Stream Management Plan

Town Brook/Post PropertyWest Kill Stream Management Plan

Restoration Project (undetermined location)

Esopus Creek Stream Management Plan Woodland Valley

East Branch Delaware Stream Management Plan

Restoration Project (undetermined location)Schoharie Creek - including East Kill Stream Management Plan

Restoration Project (undetermined location)

Due Date

12/31/0212/31/0312/31/0312/31/03

12/31/04

12/31/0212/31/0612/31/0312/31/1012/31/04

12/31/0412/31/0512/31/06

12/31/0612/31/0312/31/07

12/31/074/30/07

12/31/07

Status

CompleteCompleteCompleteComplete

Complete

CompleteIn processCompleteIn processComplete

CompleteIn processIn process

In processCompleteIn process

In processIn processIn process

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WATERSHED PROTECTION AND PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL16

Recreational OpportunitiesThe undeveloped lands that the City owns or is purchasing canprovide tremendous recreational opportunities for outdoorenthusiasts. In fact, for many of the Watershed communities, suchactivities represent a way of life that they would like to seecontinued. Yet, the Citys priority for managing these lands is toensure that they have adequate security to prevent anything fromadversely impacting the Citys water supply. Thus, it is compelled tocarefully evaluate potential recreational opportunities. The Cityrequires permits, which are available at no cost, for recreationalusers of its lands.

BUFFER LANDS

Sporting Advisory Committees (SAC)Paragraph 115 of the Watershed Agreement created an EOHSAC that reports to the Council, and paragraph 118 created aWOH SAC that reports to the CWC. The Committees makerecommendations to the City regarding potential recreational useopportunities on newly acquired lands.

The City continued to make landsavailable in 2005 under its accesspermit system. Currently, there arealmost 100,000 valid access per-mits, with over 11,100 DEP hunt-ing tags issued in 2005. The

amount of lands available to thepublic continued to increase witha total of over 74,000 acres openfor various uses.

In 2005, access for whitetailed deerhunting was made available on36,538 acres of DEP lands. TheCity has also continued cleaning up

abandoned boats along the shoresof the reservoirs, and is in the pro-cess of updating its rules and regu-

lations for recreational use and creating an Internet permit issuance sys-tem.

In addition to generating recommendations to the New York City De-

partment of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding appropriate rec-reational uses for properties acquired under the Citys Land Acquisitionprogram, SAC meetings provide a valuable opportunity to interface withDEP Land Acquisition and Stewardship staff to discuss ideas relative tothe entire process of recreational use. It also allows SAC members tobring local community concerns and preferences to the attention of DEPstaff.

The SAC met twice in 2005 and reviewed ten parcels submitted by the

DEP for acquisition totaling 697 acres. There were also three parcelswhere conservation easements were obtained on almost 162 acres.


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ANNUAL REPORT 2005

MASTER PLANNING AND ZONING

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dum of Agreement, which promotes and institutionalizes water-shed wide cooperation and planning.

Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District and Town ofWindham (WOH)

The Town of Windham on behalf of localities in the NYC SchoharieReservoir watershed is in the process of developing a multi-objec-tive approach to the source reduction of turbidity in the SchoharieReservoir basin. The Greene County Soil and Water ConservationDistrict will manage the data collection and is expected to workwith local, regional and state representatives to identify specificturbidity reduction projects, assist in the planning of new programsas well as develop infrastructure and equipment resources. In 2005,$50,000 was awarded to the Town of Windham and Greene Countyfor this project.

Roxbury Parks Di-rector accepted thePreserve Americagrant in March,flanked by First LadyLaura Bush (left) andSecretary of the In-terior Gale Norton. Isuggested that theWhite House Lawnmight be the perfectplace for the Roxbury

Nine to play vintagebaseball, said Ms.Ellsworth, and Mrs.Bush agreed.

Conesville (T)Jefferson (T)Fallsburg (T)Jewett (T)Roxbury (T)Windham (T) & Greene CountyDenning (T)Marbletown (T)Conesville, Gilboa & Jefferson (T)Deposit (T)Franklin (T)Walton (T)Walton (V)Tannersville (V)Kent (T)Southeast (T)North Salem (T)Lewisboro (T)Brewster (V)New Castle (T)

Comprehensive Plan UpdateComprehensive PlanComprehensive Plan UpdateComprehensive Plan UpdateKirkside Park Barn RestorationTurbidity Reduction StrategyMaster Plan and Zoning Laws RevisionsOpen Space and Natural Resource PlanCounty Planning Technical AssistanceSite Plan Review Local LawComprehensive Plan UpdatePilot Highway Management PlanWellhead & Source Water Protection PlanMaster Plan Build-out AnalysisZoning Law AmendmentStormwater Capital Management PlanLocal Law AmendmentsBiotic Corridor Regulation PlanComprehensive Stormwater OrdinanceGIS Stormwater Management Plan

$25,000$25,000$25,000$20,350$53,000$50,000$15,000$25,000$75,000$20,000$25,000$25,000$25,000$25,000$25,000$25,000$25,000$25,000$25,000$25,000

Municipality Type of Application NY State Funding

Round VI - 2005 Projects


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PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Catskill Fund for the Future (CFF)

The CFF was created in paragraph 135 of the Watershed Agreement and is administered by CWC. Initiallycapitalized with $59.7 million from the City, the CFF provides loan and grant support for environmentallysensitive economic development projects in WOH Watershed communities.

The CFF continues to promote environmentally sensitive growth oppor-tunities in WOH Watershed towns. In 2005, twenty loans valued at$5,464,350 were closed for projects which are expected to create 176

jobs over the next three years. Funds leveraged from other sources bythese loans totaled $11,119,548, bringing the total investment of loansclosed in 2005 to $16,581,898. As of December 31, 2005, 121 loanstotaling $47,924,330 had been approved by the CWC Board of Direc-tors since 1998.

In 2005 loans were made to a variety of businesses, including restau-rants and produce markets, a communications company, a rigging andindustrial supply firm, a producer of athletic stadium equipment and a

metal fabricator.

A temporary Tourism and Regional Marketing Committee was estab-lished in 2005 to discuss the most effective means of stimulating tour-

ism and enticing business startups and relocations to the Catskill Re-gion. The Catskill Area Mapping Service (CAMS), a portal through whichWorld Wide Web users can find links to travel sites, official government

information, maps of the region and more, will be a principal tool of thismarketing effort. CAMS is being developed by the CWC with a NewYork State Archives grant.

The CWC Economic Development Grant Program remained suspendedin 2005 because low interest rates reduced interest revenue generated bythe CFF, such revenue being used to fund the grant program. Discus-sions were conducted on possible revisions to the program to enhancethe beneficial impact of grants to non-profit and community organiza-

tions.


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ANNUAL REPORT 2005 21

2005 NYC Watershed Science and Technical Conference

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

The Annual NYC Watershed Science and Technical Conference is aunique opportunity to showcase the wealth of emerging scientific knowl-edge that is constantly developing in the NYC Watershed. The confer-ence brings scientists together to present research findings and data, toenhance technology transfer, and to increase coordination among thearray of public and private entities working with Watershed science acrossthe nation. It is our mission to continue to encourage leading edge tech-

nical dialog and to pass along important scientific information to thepublic, interested parties, and other scientists working in the NYC Wa-tershed and in similar arenas across the nation.

The 2005 edition of the annual NYC Watershed Science and TechnicalConference was held on September 21st and 22nd at the Fishkill HolidayInn and Conference Center, and was a resounding success thanks to ourpartners and sponsors at DEC, DOH, DEP, CWC, and NYWEA.

Attendance continues to increase with more than 300 registrants for thetwo day event, including scientists, engineers, State and federal govern-ment agencies, local municipal officials and water and wastewater op-erators.

Participants this year heard a variety of programmatic updates from regu-latory agency representatives and watershed partner entities, along with

the presentation of dozens of scientific abstracts of new and emergingscience developed primarily within the NYC Watershed. A Compen-dium of Abstracts presented at the conference was designed and pub-lished by the Department of State, and distributed to all attendees.

It is our hope that all who attended this years conference were edifiedby the scientific data presented, and inspired by the dedication and hardwork of those who, each day, advance our insight into the science ofwatershed protection.


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Watershed Forestry

A Watershed Forestry Program, which promotes sustainable forestry in the WOH Watershed by providing education about BMPs forforestry to prevent water pollution, was established in paragraph 130 of the Watershed Agreement. This program also encouragesprivate landowners to be good stewards of forest resources and educates the public about the role well-managed forests can play inprotecting water quality.

East of Hudson ProgramPutnam County Forestry Plan

The Watershed Agricultural Councils East of Hudson headquarters arelocated at Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights. Until the earlynineties, this 183-acre farm bred and sold some of the finest Holsteins inthe country. WAC recently completed a Whole Farm Plan at Hilltop,

Hilltop Hanover Farm strengthens the partnerships of land-based organizations in a newAgricultural/Environmental Resource Center for Westchester residents.

which is now owned by Westchester County and under development asan Environmental Resource Center. The Center also houses Cornell

Cooperative Extension, New York City Greenmarket, and Hudson Val-ley Wool Works.

The Environmental Resource Center will focus on educating profes-sionals, landowners and the general public, and includes demonstrationsof BMPs for agriculture and land use. The site offers a prime opportu-nity for WAC and its partners to showcase agricultural and forestry pro-

Healthy horses need healthy grass. Farm managers are learning new skills that meetthese goals and benefit water quality.


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ANNUAL REPORT 2005 27

AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

2005 WAC HighlightsWACs Farm to Market Pro-gram kicked off in May withthe printing of 30,000 cop-ies of the 2005 PureCatskills Guide to FreshFarm Products, in partner-ship with the Catskill Moun-

tain Foundation. The Guideis a key component to theCatskills regional buy lo-cal and branding campaignas consumers can find it atstores, markets and eventsthroughout the market sea-son. While local radio andnewspapers gave excellent

coverage of the campaign,a regular bulletin called theFarm To Market Updatewas mailed to farmers dur-ing the season to keep themabreast of the campaignsevents and training opportu-nities. Work began at

www.buypurecatskills.com to create a companion web version of the

Pure Catskills member Guide, as well as to provide a regional presenta-tion of Catskills products to prospective downstate and wholesale buy-ers.

Higher milk premiums allied farmers with environmentalists at an Or-ganic Dairy Conference sponsored by WAC at SUNY Delhi during May,at which over forty farmers and professional staff discovered more about

Downstate consumers help protect their own drinking water by buying Pure Catskillsfarmproducts. A reusable ecobag markets the brand at a New Amsterdam Market in NewYork City last October.

the higher profits and water quality benefits for farmers switching fromconventional to organic dairy farming. Later in the year when fields laydormant, a bus load of vegetable farmers joined us for an Insiders Mar-ket Tour for Farmers designed to provide them with first hand informa-tion about how agricultural products are selected, marketed and pack-

aged on the wholesale and retail levels. The tour included a trip throughthe warehouse of a large produce distributor, a visit to a specialty marketand dinner with a chef whose menu features local produce. Dairy farm-ers and others looking for a new business opportunity or avocation at-tended a day long cheesemaking workshop, during which Linda Smithof Sherman Hill taught the basics about fresh cheeses such as mozza-rella, feta and ricotta.

A New York City buyer instructs farmers about stan-dards in packaging and marketing for distribution,which is key information for producers to succeedin selling wholesale.


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AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY

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A retail display of specialty cheeses has Aissa ONeil, a Catskill farmer, considering thepotential of cheese for making more for her milk on a tour of urban markets this year.

Over one hundred supporters took part in tasting Catskills chefsseasonal interpretations of local food at three Pure Catskillsdinners hosted by local chefs in three regional restaurants fromJune through September. Participating establishments workedwith Pure Catskills farmers to provide three themed dinners,titled Summers First Harvest at The Peekamoose Restaurant(Ulster County), County Fare Quarter Moon Caf (DelawareCounty) and Certified Humane at Resort (Sullivan County).WAC coordinated farmers to exhibit and highlight Pure Catskills

farm products at numerous seasonal outreach events, includingthe Delaware County Fair, Pakatakan Market, MargaretvillesCauliflower Festival and Slow Foods New Amsterdam Marketin New York City.


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CONTACTS

WATERSHED PROTECTION AND

PARTNERSHIP COUNCILWilliam C. Harding, Executive Director

2 John Walsh BoulevardPeekskill, NY 10566914-734-1347 phone

914-734-1763 fax1-877-513-WPPC toll free number

41 State Street - Suite 900

Albany, NY 12231518-473-3355 phone518-474-6572 fax

P.O. Box 380Margaretville, NY 12455

845-586-3665 phone845-586-3685 faxwww.dos.state.ny.us/watershed/wppc.htm

NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL

FACILITIES CORPORATIONDavid Sterman, President

625 BroadwayAlbany, NY 12207-2997

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OFAGRICULTURE AND MARKETSPatrick H. Brennan, Commissioner

1 Winners CircleAlbany, NY 12235

NEW YORK STATEDEPARTMENT OF HEALTHAntonia Novello, M. D., M.P.H.

Corning TowerEmpire State Plaza

Albany, NY 12237

CATSKILL WATERSHED CORPORATION

Alan Rosa, Executive DirectorP.O. Box 569 Main Street

Margaretville, NY 12455

WATERSHED AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL

Fred Huneke, Chair

RR1 Box 24

NYS Route 10Walton, NY 13856

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNORHonorable George E. Pataki

State Capitol BuildingAlbany, NY 12224

NEW YORK STATEDEPARTMENT OF STATE

Christopher L. Jacobs, Secretary of State

41 State Street - Suite 930Albany, NY 12231-0001

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OFENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Denise Sheehan, Commissioner

625 Broadway

Albany, NY 12233-1010

NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OFENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONEmily Lloyd, Commissioner

59-17 Junction BoulevardCorona, NY 11368

PUTNAM COUNTYPLANNING DEPARTMENTJohn Lynch, Commissioner

RR 9 Fair StreetCarmel, NY 10512

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTALPROTECTION AGENCYPhil Sweeney, EPA NYC

Watershed Team Leader

290 Broadway - 28th Floor

New York, NY 1007-1866

WESTCHESTER COUNTYPLANNING DEPARTMENTGerard Mulligan, Commissioner

432 Michaelian Office Building

White Plains, NY 10601

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ANNUAL REPORT 2005

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report is a partnership endeavor. Information and data contained withinwere compiled from submissions by the signatory agencies to the historic1997 Watershed Agreement and serve as the foundation for this report. It

could not have been produced without their support and cooperation andtheir contributions are gratefully appreciated.

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new york watershed protection and partnership council report (2005)

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