2009 Online Annual Report Supplement: Last Updated May 3, 2010
The 2009 Supplement contains additional financial and programmatic reports, data tables, photos and captions that did not appear in the printed 2009 WAC Annual Report. If you have questions, contact the Outreach Communications Department at (607) 865-7090, ext. 226.
Executive Committee:
Fred huneke, chair
David Cammer, Vice Chair
William Coleman
Sally Fairbairn
Barbara howard
dan palm
dave post
John schwartz, dep
Farm to Market Committee:
John Verhoeven, Chair
ed Blouin, dep
Sally Fairbairn
richard giles
Fred huneke
marianne Kiraly, cce
holley White
Audit Committee:
Kenneth smith, chair
linda deWitt
tom hutson
Easement Committee:
tom hutson, chair
linda deWitt
darby hartwell
Ken heavey, dep
Fred huneke
dan palm
EoH Committee:
Barbara howard, chair
ed Blouin, dep
David Cammer
Kristen carolla
michael dignelli
paul heller
Fred huneke
Betsey Ryder
Finance Committee:
William Coleman, Chair
David Cammer
linda deWitt
Joe eisele
Fred huneke
John schwartz, dep
2009 Annual Report Corrections (print version):
page 2: Karl VonBerg, Watershed Forester
Forestry Committee:
dan palm, chair
Robert Bishop
David Cammer
eric dahlberg
Fred huneke
John Riedl
larry schaefer
Kenneth smith
John schwartz, dep
Governance Committee:
dan palm, chair
William Coleman
richard giles
Barbara howard
John Verhoeven
Policy Committee:
John Verhoeven, Chair
Joe eisele
Sally Fairbairn
Fred huneke
John schwartz, dep
Agricultural Committee:
Dave Cammer, Chair
ed Blouin, dep
William Coleman
Joe eisele
Steve Fleming
Sally Fairbairn, Vice Chair
Fred huneke
heidi pickett
dave post
Steve Reed
Nutrient Management Committee:
dave post, chair
ed Blouin, dep
Chris DiBenedetto
Joe eisele
rick hold ridge
Fred huneke
tom hutson
John Verhoeven
Outreach Committee:
David Cammer
Sally Fairbairn
Barbara howard
Fred huneke
tom hutson
dan palm
John schwartz, dep
John Verhoeven
Fred huneke, chair, delaware
Dave Cammer, Vice Chair, Schoharie
William coleman, treasurer, delaware
tom donnelly, delaware
gail hillriegel, secretary, ulster
linda deWitt, delaware
Joe eisele, delaware
sally Fairbairn, ulster
richard giles, delaware
darby hartwell, delaware
Barbara howard, Westchester
r. thomas hutson, delaware
daniel palm, delaware
dave post, delaware
Ken smith, delaware
John Verhoeven, greene
John schwartz, section chief, Bureau of Water supply, on behalf of caswell holloway, commissioner, nYc dep
craig cashman, executive director
Thomas Artale, Finance Director
lorinda Backus, procurement assistant
amerigo Balzano, engineering specialist
marigrace Bellert, executive assistant (eoh)
rob Birdsall, land conservation stewardship specialist
troy Bookhout, easement conservation planner
edna Boroden, information technology specialist
Barbara Brown, Wac accountant
andrew cheung, agricultural engineer (eoh)
Tara Collins, Communications Director
challey comer, Farm to market manager
carrie davis, agricultural program coordinator (eoh)
dan deysenroth, nutrient management specialist
leslie deysenroth, executive assistant agricultural program
Dan Flaherty, Small Farms Coordinator
tom Foulkrod, Watershed Forester
Jeffrey graff, easement program manager
dan hadden, engineering specialist (eoh)
amy hawk, contract and grants specialist
don hebbard, engineering specialist
tim hebbard, engineering specialist
seth hersh, database project administrator
heather hilson, Forestry outreach specialist
Jim hilson, senior planner
rick hochulli, engineering specialist
andrew hubbard, Watershed Forester (eoh)
gary lamont, land conservation specialist
Brian latourette, agricultural program manager
amy lieberman, land conservation specialist
phoebe lindsay, project coordinator
cheryl marion, administration services director
cynthia mccarthy, nutrient management specialist
collin miller, Wood products utilization & marketing Specialist
ryan naatz, conservation easement specialist
tom pavlesich, Forestry program manager
elaine poulin, agricultural program assistant manager
laura reed, executive assistantForestry program
linda reed, staff accountant ii
susanne sahler, conservation planner (eoh)
James samek, gis coordinator
susan seymour, executive assistanteasement program
nate townsend, engineering specialist
eric VanBenschoten, engineering specialist (eoh)
Karl VonBerg, Watershed Forester
dan Vredenburgh, assistant conservation planner
Agroforestry Resource Center
American Farmland Trust
the ashokan center
Bedford Audubon Society
Bedford riding lanes assn.
catskill center
catskill Forest association
catskill mountain Foundation
catskill mountainkeeper
catskill invasive species partnership (crisp)
catskill streams Buffer initiative
catskill Watershed corporation
center for agricultural development & entrepreneurship
center for Woodlands education
clearpool education center
coalition of Watershed towns
common ground educational consulting
cornell cooperative extension: delaware, dutchess, greene, putnam, schoharie, sullivan, ulster, Westchester Counties
cornell university
delaware county Board of supervisors
delaware county dept. of Watershed affairs
dutchess land conservancy
empire state Forest products association
Farm catskills
Federated Conservationists of Westchester County
Food systems of new York city
Frost Valley Ymca
glynwood center
hilltop hanover Farm & environmental center
hudson Valley agricultural partnership
Just Food
land trust alliance
lower hudson coalition of conservation districts
muskoot Farm
new York city dept. of environmental protection
nYFarm link
nY Farm Viability institute
nY Forest owners association
new York logger training, inc.
new York state
• dept. of agriculture & markets
• dept. of environmental Conservation
• dept. of health
• office of the governor
• soil & Water conservation Committee
nYc Watershed environmental education alliance
north salem open land Foundation
putnam county land trust
rc&d council: central, hudson-mohawk,
lower hudson/long island, South Central riverkeeper
scenic hudson
Soil and Water Conservation district: delaware, dutchess, greene, putnam, schoharie, sullivan, ulster, Westchester Counties
stone Barns center for Food & Agriculture
sunY college of environmental Science and Forestry
teatown lake reservation
the nature conservancy
Tilly Foster Farm
usda agricultural research
serviceusda Farm service
agencyusda natural re-
sources Conservation
Service
us army corps of engineers
us environmental protection Agency
us Forest service
us geological survey
Ward pound ridge reservation
Waterkeeper
Watershed protection
& partnership council
Watershed Qualified
Consulting Foresters
Westchester land trust
Anonymous
Baseball hall of Fame
Robert Bishop
John Blish
Brian Bower
edna Boroden
Steve Bott
Brewery ommegang
leon Brooks
Brooks’ house of BBQ
Tom Buel
c&c Feeds
david & peggy cammer
Kristen carolla
catskill craftsman
clark companies
Bill Coleman
tara & John collins
Challey Comer
Karl connell
cooperstown Brewery co.
eric dahlberg
Carrie Davis
Brandon Dennis
linda deWitt
Chris DiBenedetto
michael dignelli
James & pat doty
Joe eisele
Sally Fairbairn
Farmer’s museum
Jerry & Jessica Farrell
First pioneer Farm creditcobleskill
Daniel Flaherty
Steve Fleming
Fly creek cider mill
diane galusha
gerry Foundation
handsome Brook Farm
Fred hathaway
amy & gary hawk
paul heller
gail hillriegel
Kim holden
rick holdridge
Barbara howard
andrew i. hubbard
Fred & marilyn huneke
tom hutson
igive.com
randy Kelly
mariann Kiraly
Klinger power sports
ian lamont
Jacob lamont
paul lapierre
Brian K. latourette
lucky dog Farm
lutz Feed
mas engineering
david mann
cheryl p. marion
dave mcFarland
patrick & Barbara mcgraw
John & nancy mcshane
gary mead
collin a miller
Jason miranda
national Bank of delaware County
theresa o’Brien
thomas W. o’Brien
Jessica Olenych
Jeff Olsen
dan palm
thomas pavlesich
michelle peters
heidi pickett dave post
elaine poulin
lenny prezorski
price chopper
James radomski
lisa rainwater
Karen rauter
Art Reed
laura reed
linda m. reed
Steve Reed
John Riedl
Jake rosa
ruminant health services
Betsey Ryder
John sauchuk
adolph & elaine schaefer
larry schaefer
gregg & cathy schroeter
John schwartz
Dale Scott
Kenneth smith
stamford greenhouses
stock Building supply
sullivan county planning Department
Sullivan County Visitors Association
Sullivan Renaissance thornwood Farm
John Thurgood
Tractor Supply Store
John & Beth Verhoeven
Karl VonBerg
rick Weidenbach
holley White
Frank Wood, esq.
We apologize for any errors in the lists above and encourage you to contact us with corrections by calling (607) 865-7790 or by emailing info@nycwatershed.org.
The 2010 Board of Directors, headed by Chairman Fred Huneke, includes: (front row) Dave Post, Fred Huneke, William Coleman (middle row) Ken Smith, Steve Reed, Dave Cammer, John Riedl, Sally Fairbairn, John Verhoeven (back row) Tom Donnelly, Darby Hartwell, Joe Eisele, John Schwartz (DEP), Linda DeWitt, Richard Giles (not pictured) Tom Hutson, Barbara Howard, Dan Palm
Thanks to Dan Palm who served as the Council’s Interim Executive Director, effective April 2009; Tom Donnelly filled his Board seat.
Council board members often meet with legislators, nonprofit representatives and regional advocates for clean water and the environment. In November 2009, the Council supported a SUNY-Ulster seminar, coordinated by Catskill Watershed Corp. and the Water Discovery Center. The evening featured Dr. Robert Glennon, world-renowned author, speaking on the global water crisis. Prior to his presentation, Glennon met with area water experts to discuss New York City Watershed water and policy. Pictured here (L-R) before the Ashokan Reservoir are Martie Gailes (Water Discovery Center), Alan Rosa (CWC), Dr. Robert Glennon, Fred Huneke (WAC) and Gary Gailes (WDC).
You can find out more about the farm projects completed in the Watershed Agricultural Program 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Workload. The Table of Contents is listed on page 2 and includes:
2009 Planning Goals & Accomplishments
2010 Planning Goals
2009 Accomplishments-Funding
2009 Accomplishments-BMPs
Historical Implementation
PROGRAM SUMMARIES: CREP
Nutrient Management
Farmer Education
Farm to Market
Project Profiles and Photos
2010 Projected Workload
Before and after photos visually demonstrate the impact the agricultural program’s teamwork approach to planning, design and implementation and its impact have on the farmstead and water quality. For more comparison photos, review the Watershed Agricultural Program 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Workload.
Water diversions, laneways and stream crossings, like this project at a Croton Watershed farm, help reduce erosion and sedimentation that affect water quality.
Over 200 farm families gathered for the Farmer Appreciation Picnic last October. The Tremperskill Boys (photo left) played a lively tune that kept the buffet line moving. To her surprise (photo lower left), Gail Hillriegel was presented with a plaque by Fred Huneke for her years of Board service. She graciously turned down the opportunity to speak before the group. Kids (and some adults) couldn’t get enough of the Hay Maze at Maple Shade Farm, Delhi (photo top right).
more stories, participant highlights and programmatic details can be found in back issues of the semi-annual printed Watershed Farm & Forest and monthly online WAC eNews.
The Winter 2009 issue of Watershed Farm and Forest featured:
International Visitors Learn From Watershed Farms
Council Volunteers Honored at Participant Events
“Buy Local” Month A Success!
Welcome Our New Executive Director
The Summer 2009 issue featured:
Byebrook Farm and Cheese
Forced Air Composting
Dig It! Composting Workshop
The Poopollution Solution
Choosing a Forester
if you would like to receive our print newsletter and are receiving this annual report, you’re already on our mailing list!
The 2009 WAC eNews, an electronic newsletter that arrives in your email inbox on the 1st of each month, features program participants, upcoming events, videos and other timely topics. If you are not receiving the eNews and would like to, send an email to taracollins@nycwatershed.org and note “ADD TO WAC EMAIL LIST” in the Subject Line.
The Watershed Agricultural Council partners with Cornell Cooperative Extensions, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and numerous federal state, and local agencies to deliver its programs. Funding is provided by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, USDA, U.S. Forest Service and other sources. Construction and professional services are also supplied by hundreds of people through various third-party contractors, small businesses and nonprofits. The Council’s continued success lies within these relationships and the collaborative effort put forth by all.
At Clean Sweep 2009 (photo above), the Council sponsored the safe disposal of pesticides and other hazardous wastes from 29 watershed farms. A record 406 participants redeemed over 90,000 pounds of hazardous materials — keeping over 450 drums of potentially water-polluting substances out of our water supply — making Clean Sweep 2009 the largest turnout ever! The event is coordinated annually by Delaware County Department of Public Works with staff assistance from the WAC and CCE-DC and funding from NYS DEC, NYC DEP, Delaware County and WAC. The 2010 Clean Sweep date and registration period will be announced at the Delaware County Fair, August 16 through 21.
Each year at the Delaware County Fair, the Council shares a tent with New York City Environmental Protection (photo top right). This gives both agencies a chance to meet and talk with area residents, answer questions and address concerns. Various staff man the booth for six days in August; Communications Director Tara Collins, DEP liaison John Schwartz and Agricultural Program Assistant Manager Elaine Poulin (photo bottom right) were on hand to promote clean water and hand out slices of homemade pies during Monday’s Opening Reception.
Every year, Bard College first-year graduate students visit Crystal Valley Farm in Halcott, Greene County, to see how watershed policy plays out in real life. Small Farms Coordinator Dan Flaherty and owners Chris and Judy DiBenedetto (photo, far right) provide a guided farm tour and explain the role of BMP’s like the farm’s covered barnyard, fencing, and rotational grazing and how each contributes into the water quality equation.
Owner Jon Westergreen of Main Street Farm, a local foods grocery and eatery, loves being a Pure Catskills member so much so, he wants all the world to know. Over the summer, local artists from Cobalt Studios hand-painted the Cauliflower Lady logo as a full-color mural on the grocery’s exterior wall, creating a memorable icon and downtown landmark in Livingston Manor. “I have great respect for WAC’s efforts and the Pure Catskills brand,” notes Westergreen. “Both align very well with our mission to provide fresh, wholesome and minimally produced foods at great value.” The Main Street Farm is scheduled to open May 2010.
“Instructors” at Snow Hill Farm manned stations and talked to NYC school children about beekeeping, chickens and eggs, farm machinery, beef cattle and water. Farm owner Laura O’Donohue (at left) coordinated the day’s educational topics; WAC Agricultural Program Coordinator Carrie Davis (fourth from left) and farm manager Chris Zedda (far right) helped round out the group of volunteers.
The majority of Farmer Education Program offerings is coordinated with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County. Additional on-farm educational and market-based workshops have been organized with the Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship, Farm Catskills, Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Sullivan Renaissance, Sullivan County Planning Department, the O’Connor Foundation, and SUNY-Delhi.
In September, the East of Hudson Program hosted its first Farm Tour and Participant Recognition event at Chase Meadows Farm, North Salem. The day included tours of two Croton Watershed farms. Betsey Ryder of Ryder Organic Farms, in Brewster, talked about her farm’s whole farm plan and pending construction of a composting pad and laneway;
DEP liaison Ed Blouin listens in (photo top left). The Ryder Farms’ before-after photos can be found online in the Agricultural Program’s 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Workload.
Snow Hill Farms owner Laura O’Donohue guided the group on a tour of her organic Angus operation in North Salem; WAC engineer Andy Cheung talked about the composting facility under construction (photo bottom left).
Watershed Forest Management Planning:
The Watershed Forest Management Planning Program resulted in the development of 64 new forest stewardship plans encompassing more than 10,200 acres. since 1996, 800 plans have been completed covering more than 140,000 acres. practicing sound forest management means cleaner water for downstream consumers.
Implementation:
• the BMP Implementation Program provided technical support and financial assistance to loggers, landowners and foresters, facilitating the stabilization of more than 60 miles of skid roads and trails. more than 2,000 water bars, 150,000 feet of regraded skid trail, 900 yards of gravel and numerous additional Bmp’s were used to stabilize these disturbed soils. during 2009, the Wac Forestry program developed and implemented eight plans for crossing streams on active logging jobs within the watershed. By promoting the use of Bmps, forest management activities will continue to be a negligible source of nonpoint source pollution. to date, more than 250 miles of skid roads and trails have been stabilized through the Bmp implementation program.
• during 2009, the Management Assistance Program provided technical support and financial assistance to forest landowners to implement 58 forest stewardship projects. these projects ranged from Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) to the creation of early succesional habitat for species of greatest conservation need such as the american woodcock and chestnut-sided warbler. more than 540 acres of watershed forest were impacted through landowner participation in the management assistance program. since its inception in 2005, map has funded over 170 forest stewardship projects, impacting in excess of 1,540 acres of watershed forest.
• the Watershed Forestry Institute for Teachers provided training in the concepts of forest stewardship and water quality to 20 teachers from new York city (nYc) and the catskill/delaware (cat/del) watershed. to date, 259 teachers have returned to their classrooms and used the curriculum provided by the Institute to communicate these valuable concepts to their students.
• the Green Connections Program established partnerships between students and teachers from new York city and their counterparts in the cat/del watershed. more than 850 students and from 12 different schools have benefited from this collaborative approach to teaching the concepts of forest stewardship and water quality in a classroom setting. to date, this program has introduced more than 2,600 students from 75 classrooms to the role forests play in protecting water quality.
• Watershed Forestry Bus Tours have enabled more than 865 people from 18 environmental, municipal and school groups to participate in bus tours that visit the croton and cat/del reservoirs, timber harvesting operations, model forests, and other forest-oriented sites. Bus tour itineraries are geared toward educating urban populations about the role forests play in providing clean water. since its inception, this program has funded 94 bus tours. these tours have enabled more than 4,200 people to visit the nYc watershed to learn about the role forests play in water quality.
• the Logger and Forester Training initiative organized more than 14 workshops attended by more than 163watershed loggers and foresters. the workshops focus on providing educational opportunities where forestry professionals can gain a better understanding of safety, silviculture, forest ecology, and water quality. since its inception the logger and Forester training
Participants from the 2009 Watershed Forestry Institute for Teachers visit Pure Catskills member Mack Custom Woodworking in Shokan, NY. Here they are looking at a black walnut veneer and learning how it is made and then used in fine furnishings.
Below, the Forestry Program staff welcome loggers to the WAC-TLC (Trained Logger Certified) booth at the Woodsmen Field Days, Boonville.
initiative has implemented more than 230 workshops attended by 2,000 loggers and foresters from the nYc watershed region.
• the Model Forest Program has established three model forests throughout the watershed region. these forests provide a model of forest stewardship to landowners, logger, foresters and the general public. the model Forests hosted 39 education events attended by more than 1,100 people during 2009. an additional 4,800 youths participated in environmental education programming sponsored by the model Forest host organizations. since the establishment of the first model Forest in 1998, more than 130 education events have be held at these venues. more than 7,000 landowners, loggers, foresters and members of the general public have learned about sustainable forest stewardship and the protection of water quality through participation in these events.
• the Forest Products Utilization and Marketing initiative worked in cooperation with five institutions within the catskill region to explore the potential for the conversion to woody biomass heating systems. Institutions ranging from schools to hospitals to local wood products manufacturers received prefeasibility studies that identified a total annual energy savings of $304,000 across the facilities. in addition, the catskill Woodnet website, pure catskills branding campaign and regional wood products directory continued to support wood-based industries in the nYc watershed region throughout 2009.
• the Watershed Forest Management Planning Program resulted in the development of 8 new forest stewardship plans within the croton watershed encompassing more than 1,270 acres.
Croton Watershed Implementation:
• the BMP Implementation Program provided technical support and financial assistance to loggers, landowners and foresters. three Bmp projects were completed in the croton watershed region during 2009. the Wac Forestry program developed and implemented 2 plans for crossing streams on active logging jobs within the watershed, loaned one portable skidder bridge and distributed five Bmp free samples. By promoting the use of Bmps, forest management activities will continue to be a negligible source of nonpoint source pollution.
• during 2009, the Management Assistance Program provided technical support and financial assistance to forest landowners to implement 19 forest stewardship projects within the croton watershed. these projects ranged from timber stand improvement (TSI) to the eradication of invasive plants such as Tree-ofheaven and Japanese Barberry. more than 88 acres of watershed forest were impacted through landowner participation in the management assistance program.
Croton Watershed Research and Demonstration:
• during 2009, the Model Forest Program sought to indentify a partner-host organization for a model Forest site in the croton watershed region. a croton Watershed model Forest will be an ongoing collaborative partnership between the Watershed agricultural council and a model Forest host. a potential model Forest site is a forested location, typically of 100 acres or more that demonstrates sustainable forest management and Best management practices (Bmp’s) that serve to protect water quality. model Forests seek to educate forest landowners, loggers, foresters, municipal officials and the public about sustainable forest management and water quality in an outdoor classroom setting.
Forestry Program Manager Tom Pavlesich presented former NYS DEC forestry conservationist Paul Trotta with the Karl Connell Award which recognizes an individual for their wisdom, guidance, and leadership in promoting forest stewardship and protecting water quality.
Through the Farmer Education and Farm to Market Programs, the Council offers farmers hands-on opportunities and learning experiences that they can bring back to their farm. In October, through an SAE Pure Catskills grant, Stone & Thistle Farm hosted a “neighboring,” an informal gathering of sheep people to shear, eat and celebrate the shepherding lifestyle. Owner Tom Warren (photo at left) instructed a youngster on the proper handling of animals “larger than you.” Professional shearer Nancy Meyers (photo at right) put the finishing touches on the last of three fleeced sheep which she clipped in less than 15 minutes (total!). You can read more about this event in the online article, “The Neighboring.”
