July 2019
WATERSHED DIGEST
monthly newsletter
Save the Date!
Connecting Our Streams Workshop
Photo: Trout Unlimited
Thursday, August 22
9:15 AM – 4:00 PM
Norrie Point Environmental Center
256 Norrie Point Way, Staatsburg, NY

There are over 10,000 culverts and over 1,000 dams on tributaries to the Hudson River estuary, and this infrastructure can block fish, wildlife, and flood flows in streams. This free, all-day workshop will describe how culverts and dams act as barriers, and what we can do about it. We'll share what information is currently available and focus on moving from assessments to actions to improve stream connectivity and reduce flood hazards. We’ll also discuss opportunities to develop shared solutions for streams and communities.

To register and for more information, please click here .

Sponsored by the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program & New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission
Update from the Hudson River Watershed Alliance
The Watershed Digest monthly newsletter is back! It's been a busy few months, and we're excited to update you on our work.
Toast to the Tribs
We held the Toast to the Tribs annual awards benefit at the Falcon on June 1, celebrating the work of the Moodna Creek Watershed Intermunicipal Council, the Schoharie River Center, Trout Unlimited/Town of Chatham, and Simon Gruber.

We also honored outgoing board members Jan Blaire, Simon Gruber, Roy Lamberton, and Russell Urban-Mead.

Photos from the event are posted here .

Thank you to everyone for your support!
Watershed Roundtable
We held our spring Watershed Roundtable on June 24 for watershed group leaders across the region to share their stories and learn from each other.

16 watershed groups shared facts, accomplishments, opportunities, and challenges they are facing in their work to improve Hudson River tributaries. 
Community Resilience Building Workshop
In collaboration with the Nature Conservancy, we participated in a Community Resilience Building workshop for municipalities in the lower Wappinger Creek watershed.

This workshop identified community assets that are vulnerable to climate change and potential opportunities for intermunicipal coordination. 
Land Use Training
In collaboration with Pace University Land Use Law Center, we participated in a Land Use Leadership Alliance (LULA) training for municipalities in Albany County.

The Hudson River Watershed Alliance will be offering an additional training day focused on water issues for these communities. 
Watershed Highlight
Photo: mouth of the Monhagen Brook (NYS DEC)
Photo: Monhagen Brook Riverkeeper Sweep cleanup
Monhagen Brook Watershed Plan
Orange County Water Authority and Orange County Soil & Water Conservation District recently finalized a watershed plan for the Monhagen Brook. The Monhagen Brook flows from Monhagen Lake, a reservoir for the City of Middletown’s drinking water supply, into the Wallkill River. Its watershed covers portions of the City of Middletown, the Town of Wallkill, and the Town of Wawayanda. The Monhagen Brook is listed in the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Priority Waterbodies List/Waterbody Inventory as impaired for phosphorus, and the NYS DEC completed a Harmful Algal Bloom Action Plan for the Monhagen-Middletown reservoir system in 2018.

Starting in 2016, Orange County Water Authority and Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District convened a group of stakeholders to discuss their vision for a healthy Monhagen Brook watershed. They also provided information and advice to develop the plan and its strategies.

At 12 mi 2 , the Monhagen Brook watershed is relatively small – especially compared to the larger 800 mi 2 Wallkill River watershed! This allowed the project team to develop very detailed next steps, many of which are site-specific, to protect the watershed and reduce sources of phosphorus. The Monhagen Brook drains a large portion of the City of Middletown and is about 20% impervious surface. The plan includes historical context, and shows were buried sections of the stream once ran. The Monhagen Brook Watershed Plan is a good watershed plan case study for a small, urbanized watershed.

The Monhagen Brook Watershed Plan is online here . This project was funded in part by a grant through the NYS DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program.

Interested in watershed planning? Guidance from NYS Department of State and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation on how to create a watershed management is available here .
Events & Opportunities
Thursday, August 22
Connecting Our Streams workshop
Norrie Point Environmental Center
Staatsburg, NY

Tuesday, October 29
Hudson River Watershed Alliance Annual Conference
Wallace Center, FDR Presidential Library
Hyde Park, NY

HRNERR Opportunities for Consultants due July 19

Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve has four opportunities for qualified consultants: (1) Market analysis of research institutions and fellowship programs conducting research related to Hudson River NERR priorities and outreach; (2) Trainer in proposal writing for students interested in research related to Hudson River NERR priorities; (3) Database (MS Access)/bibliography of references from research conducted in the Hudson River NER; and (4) Research forums/symposia and fellowship fairs for students and faculty interested in research related to Hudson River NERR priorities.


New York State: Consolidated Funding Application grants due July 26

There are a number of water-related grant opportunities included in the 2019 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA). Riverkeeper has compiled a list of grants that might be of interest here .


NEWIPCC: Restoration of Watershed Connectivity grants due August 2

New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), in partnership with the Hudson River Estuary Program, is inviting proposals for projects to help restore aquatic habitat connectivity for herring and eel, reduce localized flood risks, and improve conditions on Hudson River Estuary tributaries. Projects will help municipalities develop municipal management plans and designs to repair or replace inadequate road-stream crossings (culverts and bridges) and to prioritize sites that cause flooding and are barriers to fish movement. Projects will also develop at least two conceptual construction designs, and one final construction design for priority sites for each municipality. Neighboring municipalities are encouraged to work together to plan on a watershed scale, especially if they share a tributary to the Hudson in common. A successful project will engage at least two municipalities. $215,000 is available.


Hudson River Estuary Program: River Access grants due August 14

Approximately $200,000 is available in the RFA for River Access for projects along the shoreline of the Hudson estuary, including the tidal portion of its tributaries, that provide new or improved accessibility at new or existing access sites for boating, fishing, swimming, and/or wildlife-dependent recreation. The minimum grant award is $10,500 and the maximum grant amount is $50,000. This funding is from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).


Hudson River Estuary Program: River Education grants due August 14

Approximately $200,000 is available in the River Education RFA to support projects and plans to enhance education about the estuary along the tidal waters of the Hudson or relevant portions of New York Harbor to make opportunities to learn about the Hudson River Estuary more accessible to a wide-range of people. The minimum grant award is $10,500 and the maximum grant amount is $40,000. This funding is from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).


Environmental Facilities Corporation: Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grants due September 13

Municipalities are eligible to apply for funding for quality infrastructure projects at municipally-owned sewage treatment works OR municipally-owned public water systems for construction, replacement or repair of infrastructure; or compliance with environmental and public health laws and regulations related to water quality, in the following categories:
  • Water Infrastructure Improvement Act Wastewater Infrastructure Projects: Depending on the size of the project, applicants may receive funding for up to 25 percent of net eligible project costs, or a maximum of $25 million, whichever is less.
  • Water Infrastructure Improvement Act Drinking Water Infrastructure Projects: Applicants may receive funding for up to 60 percent of net eligible project costs, or $3 million, whichever is less.
  • Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants Clean Water and Drinking Water Projects: Applicants may receive funding for up to 40 percent of net eligible project costs, or $10 million, whichever is less.
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