Schoharie Watershed Program
The Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee allows for collaboration on watershed efforts that benefit both water quality and the watershed communities. All watershed towns within Greene County have adopted Stream Management Plans and Stream Stewardship Principles, signed Memoranda of Understanding with the Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District and have assigned representatives to the Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee.
Stream Management Plan Implementation
Guided by stream stewardship principles, the Schoharie Watershed Program offers assistance to local communities, residents, and organizations to advance recommendations from Schoharie Basin Stream Management Plans. Stream Management Plans have been written for the Schoharie Creek, West Kill, East Kill, Batavia Kill and Manor Kill. To learn more about what adoption of a stream management plan entails, please click here. We also have a sample of a memorandum of understanding between a town and the Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District to illustrate how a town could move forward with plan implementation. Finally, the SWAC, GCSWCD and NYCDEP utilize an annual action plan to organize their workload and priorities.
Stream Stewardship Principles
Management of natural stream systems often results in the perception of competing or inconsistent goals and objectives. Using sound, science-based principles, stream managers will find it easier to guide their work, and achieve a common ground between landowners, municipalities, regulatory agencies and others that play an important role in the health of our Catskill stream systems. These guiding principles set a common framework upon which stream managers may carry out their important activities (principles with additional text):
- We will work to protect and restore the environmental services provided by our streams and floodplains;
- We will work to protect and restore the health of our stream and floodplain ecosystems;
- Wherever possible, we will manage streams so as to maintain their naturally effective channel form and function;
- Wherever possible, we will manage floodplains as part of the natural stream system;
- Wherever possible, we will protect and restore mature forest in the riparian buffer;
- As we manage streams to protect public safety and investments in infrastructure, our actions in one location shouldn’t compromise the health of the stream upstream or downstream, or threaten the adjacent upland ecosystem through which the stream runs;
- We will strive to keep abreast of the state-of-the-science and best management practices related to streams and floodplains;
- We celebrate the role streams play in the natural heritage of our communities.
Who is eligible for assistance from the Stream Management Implementation Program?
Local municipalities, watershed residents and property owners, schools, and not-for-profit organizations that promote watershed programming.
What projects are eligible?
Projects that are located within the Schoharie Basin, fall within a municipality that has adopted the appropriate stream management plan, follow the Stream Stewardship Principles and are consistent with the Stream Management Plans. Projects located in Johnson Hollow, Bear Kill, Huntersfield Creek and the Little West Kill are eligible since stream management plans have yet to be completed in these watershed (See map below).
Have a project idea?
The first step in the process is to research whether your proposed project fits with the stream stewardship principles outlined above, and is consistent with the recommendations set forth in the relevant stream management plan. If you find that your project is compatible with the SMIP, then contact the Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District to discuss your proposed project: 518-622-3620 or abbe@gcswcd.com. They will assist you with completing the application: Schoharie Watershed Stream Management Implementation Program Application
