ATTENDEES:
Amy DeGaetano (GCSWCD), Rene VanShaack (GCSWCD), Ashley Brown (GCSWCD AmeriCorp), Mark Vian (NYCDEP), Robert Powell (TU, SC Rod & Gun), Jerry Fraine (NYSDEC), John Horn (SC landowner), Walt & Jan Bono (SC landowners), Robyn Awand (SC landowner), Chuck Schwartz (Phoenicia Fish & Game Association)
ITEMS FROM THE MEETING:

1. Stony Clove Creek Streamside Gardens Contest-five star grant application
- Mark Vian reviewed grant application
- Many issues were discussed; how does a landowner know if their streambank needs to be stabilized before planting, some landowners will not like the idea of a contest, and should this money be spent on all landowners with suitable banks who wish to participate (Do not limit the money to be spent on five properties).
- Alternative idea: Identify banks that could be stabilized with vegetation. Contact landowners of eligible sites to see if they are interested in participating. Release list of approved sites to landscape designers/master gardeners interested. Designers will pick site from list and produce a design. Judges will rank the designs. Money allocated for this project will be used to implement designs from the top of the ranking list down until the money is gone.
- Alternative idea: Identify banks that could be stabilized with vegetation. Contact landowners of eligible sites to see if they are interested in participating. Hold streambank planting workshop for landowners. Provide money or low cost planting material to interested landowners for streambank stabilization.
- Final decision was not made concerning this issue.

2. Landowners Workshop for streambank planting
- Workshop will be planned for early May, one Saturday, one hour lecture followed with a demonstration planting on the Stony Clove,
- Need to choose a demonstration site as soon as possible.
- Need to obtain permits from NYSDEC for demonstration.
- Distribute list of species suitable for stabilization projects
- Create handout for landowners on riparian planting information.

3. Streambank planting with school students
- Robyn Awand has made contact with Ms. Holler at Hunter/Tannersville High School, who is interested in participating in a streambank stabilization project. Mark Vian said he would contact the teacher to discuss possible education opportunities.
- Hunter/Tannserville school district has a community service component in their curriculum.  May wish to volunteer at riparian planting workshop.

4. Landowners Association - How to move forward
- This item will be discussed at the next PAC meeting

5. Stream Management Planning Facilitated Workshop
- The NYCDEP is planning a workshop in early April, similar to the workshop held last year in Kingston. More information will be available by the next PAC meeting.

6. Public Meeting
- Public meeting TBA for April. Look into booking the Phoenicia school to hold the meeting.
- Agenda will be discussed at next PAC meeting.
- Plug landowners association and planting workshop.

7. Next PAC meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 27^th, 4:00 at Hunter Town Hall.  The GCSWCD will send out reminder postcards to all PAC members.

ATTENDEES:
Amy DeGaetano (GCSWCD), Mark Vian (NYCDEP), Edna Hoyt (Councilman, Town of Shandaken), Rene VanSchaack (GCSWCD), Beth Reicheld (NYCDEP), Jerry Fraine (NYSDEC)

ITEMS FROM THE MEETING:

1. Management Segments

Stony Clove Creek was broken into 21 management segments (see enclosed map) based on historical instability, valley confinement, valley slope, and infrastructure.

2. Demonstration Project

Restoration project estimates to restore the BEHI#24 site, just upstream from the Chichester bridge, would exceed the money budgeted for the demonstration project.  The project team will pursue additional funding sources to implement restoration on the BEHI#24 site in the future.

The second ranked, BEHI# 17 on the Beecher Smith property was chosen for the demonstration project. The Beecher site scored very high on the Bank Erosion Hazard Index.  This site also contributes clay into the stream, impacting water quality.

The project team will meet with all landowners on the project site to discuss project issues.

Survey on the site will take place this fall.  The restoration project will be designed over the winter.  Construction will occur the summer 2003 if the project remains on schedule.

3. Streamside Landscaping workshop - Saturday July 27^th 10am at Phoenicia Elementary School

The Stony Clove Creek Landowners Association and the Broadstreet Hollow Landowners Association, in conjunction with The Greene and Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation Districts and The NYCDEP Stream Management Program, jointly sponsored the workshop.

Postcards announcing the workshop were sent to all Stony Clove Creek, Warner Creek, Hollow Tree Creek, Ox Clove Creek, and Myrtle Brook riparian landowners.   Posters advertising the workshop were hung in local businesses and Post Offices.

Presenters were:

Francis Groeters, Ph.D., from the Catskill Native Nursery in Kerhonkson, will describe the role of plants in the ecology of streamsides and floodplains, and which plant species are suited to which settings.

John Dickerson, Regional Plant Materials Specialist with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will describe techniques that can be used to stabilize streambanks with plant materials.

John Schwartz, NYCDEP Project Manager, described resources available through the Watershed Forestry Program for implementing riparian buffers along streams.

Approximately 50 landowners attended the workshop.  Riparian landowners were extremely interested in learning more about bioengineering and implementing projects at their homes.

4. MesoHabsim - Fisheries habitat assessment

Under the Stony Clove Stream Management Plan contract, deliverable II-9 calls for a fisheries habitat inventory summary report. The fisheries habitat inventory would identify habitat related limitations on fisheries productivity and recommendations for remediation of the identified limitations. 

The Stony Clove Project Team decided to use the MesoHABSIM modeling approach, developed at Cornell University, to conduct the fisheries physical habitat assessment.   Following the idea that habitat sequences change with discharge level, habitat mapping has been conducted at two different flow levels. Hydro-morphological units (riffles, pools, runs, ect.) are visually delineated using aerial photographs on a field computer. In addition to describing the size and type of hydro-morphological unit, the extent of cover, substrate, and other habitat characteristics are recorded.  Velocity measurements are also taken within each habitat unit. 

The suitability of mesohabitat type for a target fish community is assessed using field surveys (electro-fishing) and multivariate statistics. The results illustrate variation in the spatial distribution of mesohabitats and provide key information on habitat quantity corresponding to alterations in flow and channel structure.  Piotr Parasiewicz, the research associate from Cornell, will provide habitat assessment for each of the Stony Clove Creek management units.

5. Hudson River Basin & Catskill Center - Stream Watch Education Program

Mark Vian has been exploring the logistics of bringing the Stream Watch Education Program to local schools.  This program, taught by Catskill Center staff introduces students to watershed management topics and stream monitoring.

6. Coordination between Broad Street Hollow and Stony Clove Landowner's Association - Guest Speaker

The two landowner's associations will sponsor a meeting with guest speaker Robin Ulmer from The Boquet River Association (BRASS).  The meeting will take place on Sunday, September 22^nd at the Phoenicia Elementary School at 2pm.

BRASS is a small, 200-member, grass-roots non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of water and life in the Boquet watershed. Formed in 1984, it discusses and acts upon issues related to land uses, point and non-point source pollution, in-stream and riparian species and habitats, recreation, and the economy. Its membership is primarily local landowners, and its Board is composed of appointees from the five watershed towns and elected representatives.

Brass is known for its dedication to river quality and for mitigating conflicting river interests. It also has a reputation for accomplishing projects through education and by coordinating skills and services of volunteers, businesses, county and town governments, and state agencies.