Watershed Farm and Forest2009 · Watershed Farm and Forest annual report 2009 2009 Online Annual...

Watershed Farm and Forest

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20092009 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 Com-munications Department at (607) 865-7090, ext. 226.

http://nycwatershed.org/pdfs/2009WAPAnnualReportCompressed.pdf

2 • 2009 Watershed agr icultural counc il onl ine annual report supplement

Behind the Mission

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

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

2009 Committees and Members

2009 Annual Report Corrections (print version):

page 2: Karl VonBerg, Watershed Forester

2009 Watershed agr icultural counc il onl ine annual report supplement • 3

2009 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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

STAFF

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

PARTNERS

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 Foun-

dation

putnam county land trust

rc&d council: central, hud-

son-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

2009 DONORS &

SUPPORTERS

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 credit-

cobleskill

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 correc-

tions by calling (607) 865-7790

or by emailing info@nycwater-

shed.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).


FOUR-YEAR FINANCIALS 2009 2008 2007 2006Revenue:Program Services: Whole Farm planning – 721,942 837,857 $520,597 Bmp implementation and construction 4,373,983 3,361,457 3,567,673 3,289,563 status reviews and nmp 489,960 Farm to market 429,046 conservation reserve enhancement program 108,099 122,319 64,075 croton system (east of hudson) 737,145 802,064 806,775 554,296 small Farms program 146,377 150,754 135,406 sustainable agricultural education (Farm to market) 348,214 280,642 273,208 program administration 1.549,380 1,801,720 1,395,008 860,494 Forestry 648,044 552,506 432,412 412,009 easements 3,267,707 1,755,957 5,299,299 3,716,539 research 60,067 68,803 55,215

total program revenue 11,495,265 9,658,403 12,961,542 9,881,402 Other Revenue: Federal awards 669,924 697,604 657,006 763,075 Contributions 9,046 Foundation grants – 51,639 42,819 interest 7,442 16,619 15,058 7,673 economic development and other grants – 179,977 78,431 other 1,879 28,770 27,352 10,305 gain or loss of sale of asset (1,082) 32,786 – 0 donated services 427,148 702,835 310,146 1,174,100

Total Other Revenue 1,114,357 1,478,614 1,241,178 2,076,403

total program and other revenue carried Forward $12,609,622 $11,137,017 $ 14,202,720 $11,957,805 Expenditures: Whole Farm planning 827,924 828,211 520,597 Bmp implementation and construction 4,439,663 3,373,834 3,545,377 3,289,983 status reviews revisions and nmp 492,199 conservation reserve enhancement program 108,406 122,319 64,075 croton system 737,294 802,306 830,772 633,780 small Farms program 147,691 151,399 135,406 program administration 1.342,281 1,392,614 1,223,409 850,589 Forestry 1,205,628 1,076,204 1,046,685 925,138 natural resource Viability – 317,977 education and outreach 431,115 349,203 338,424 0 easements 3,055,945 1,771,083 5,336,113 3,711,571 research 101,266 88,291 253,123 depreciation 138,005 146,557 117,765 101,817 donated services 427,148 702,835 310,146 1,174,100 acquisition of Fixed assets (113) (50,171)

total expenditures 12,269,278 10,799,923 13,938,798 11,927,985

excess (deficiency) of revenues 337,094 263,922 29,820 over (under) expenditures 340,344

net assets, Beginning 1,496,237 1,159,143 895,221 865,401

net assets, ending $1,836,581 $1,496,237 $1,159,143 $895,221 *per independent auditors report and notes to financial statements.


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New York City Watershed AgriculturalProgram, Location of Participating Farms

in the New York City Watershed2009

Ü

0 10 20 30 405Miles

1:700,000

Catskill/DelawareWatershed

GIS Data are approximate according to their scale and resolution. They may be subject to error. For informational purposes only.

0 4 8 12 162Miles

1:350,000

CrotonWatershed Ü

Created: 20100415

LegendWAP Farms" Large Farm

"! Large Farm - CREP

" Small Farm

"! Small Farm - CREP

Basins

Reservoirs

WAC Watershed

Hudson River


Delaware

Ulster

Sullivan

Otsego

Greene

Schoharie Albany

Chenango

Orange

Chenango

Broome

Fairfield

Fairfield

Litchfield

Westchester

Putnam

Dutchess

Rockland

LegendBasins

Reservoirs

WAC Watershed

WAP Area

WAC Forestry

NYC Owned Property

NY State Land

NY Land Owned Other

Hudson River

Area under NYC Supported Programs,State Land, NYC Land

in the New York City Watershed2009

Ü

0 10 20 30 405Miles

1:700,000

Catskill/DelawareWatershed

CannonsvilleReservoir

PepactonReservoir

NeversinkReservoir

RoundoutReservoir

AshokanReservoir

SchoharieReservoir

GIS Data are approximate according to their scale and resolution. They may be subject to error. For informational purposes only.

0 4 8 12 162Miles

1:350,000

CrotonWatershed Ü

KensicoReservoir

AmawalkReservoir

New CrotonReservoir

West BranchReservoir

Cross RiverReservoir

TiticusReservoir

East Branch/Bog BrookReservoir

Croton Falls/DivertingReservoir

MuscootReservoir

Boyds CornerReservoir

Middle BranchReservoir

Kirk LakeLake Gilead

Lake Gleneida

Created: 20100415


Agriculture Program

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 Agri-

cultural Program 2009 Annual Report and 2010 Workload.

Water Quality Stewardship Programs

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).


Outreach

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!

http://nycwatershed.org/pdfs/WatershedFarmForest091231.pdf

http://nycwatershed.org/pdfs/090831NewsletterFinal.pdf

http://nycwatershed.org/pdfs/090831NewsletterFinal.pdf

http://nycwatershed.org/pdfs/WatershedFarmForest091231.pdf


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

[email protected] 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.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs069/1101908022729/archive/1102656476006.html


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.


Farm to Market

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.


Croton Watershed / East of Hudson

“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).


The Council recognized past Board members for their commitment to the East of Hudson (EoH) Program and Croton Watershed farming community. Pictured (l-r): current

EoH Program Chairperson Barbara Howard, Fred Huneke (current WAC Chairman), former board member Bill Murphy, former Program Chair Barbara Wilkens, Carrie Davis

(Agricultural Program Coordinator) and former board member Paul Kammenstein. Not pictured: Annie Farrell


ForestryWatershed Forest Management Planning:

The Watershed Forest Management Planning Program resulted in

the development of 64 new forest stewardship plans encompass-

ing more than 10,200 acres. since 1996, 800 plans have been com-

pleted covering more than 140,000 acres. practicing sound forest

management means cleaner water for downstream consumers.

Implementation:

• the BMP Implementation Program provided technical sup-

port and financial assistance to loggers, landowners and forest-

ers, facilitating the stabilization of more than 60 miles of skid

roads and trails. more than 2,000 water bars, 150,000 feet of re-

graded 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 wa-

tershed. By promoting the use of Bmps, forest management ac-

tivities 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 suc-

cesional 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 in-

ception in 2005, map has funded over 170 forest stewardship

projects, impacting in excess of 1,540 acres of watershed forest.

Education:

• 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/dela-

ware (cat/del) watershed. to date, 259 teachers have returned to

their classrooms and used the curriculum provided by the Insti-

tute to communicate these valuable concepts to their students.

• the Green Connections Program established partnerships be-

tween students and teachers from new York city and their coun-

terparts 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.

• WatershedForestryBusTourshave enabled more than 865

people from 18 environmental, municipal and school groups to

participate in bus tours that visit the croton and cat/del reser-

voirs, timber harvesting operations, model forests, and other for-

est-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 log-

gers and foresters. the workshops focus on providing educa-

tional 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


initiative has implemented more than 230 workshops attended

by 2,000 loggers and foresters from the nYc watershed region.

Research and Demonstration:

• the Model Forest Program has established three model for-

ests 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 program-

ming 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.

Forest Products Utilization & Marketing:

• 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 pre-

feasibility 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.

Croton Watershed Forest Management Planning:

• the Watershed Forest Management Planning Program re-

sulted in the development of 8 new forest stewardship plans with-

in the croton watershed encompassing more than 1,270 acres.

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.


Croton Watershed Implementation:

• the BMP Implementation Program provided technical sup-

port and financial assistance to loggers, landowners and forest-

ers. 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 improve-

ment (TSI) to the eradication of invasive plants such as Tree-of-

heaven 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 agri-

cultural council and a model Forest host. a potential model For-

est site is a forested location, typically of 100 acres or more that

demonstrates sustainable forest management and Best manage-

ment 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 man-

agement 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.


Farmer EducationThrough 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.”


Elizabeth Phillips of

Faraway Farm demonstrated

sheepherding techniques

with dogs.

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