Recent News
Greene County Youth Fair (July 27-30, 2017)
Don't miss the annual Greene County Youth Fair at the Angelo Canna Town Park in Cairo, NY. Now in its 63rd year, the youth fair has something for everyone in the family to enjoy, with live animals, music, rides, and other entertainment. GCSWCD staff and interns will be there with our stream table on display. Bring the family and stop by our booth to see simulated streams in action and learn more about our local restoration and conservation work. This event has free admission and entertainment.
Cohotate Preserve
GCSWCD staff recently updated the trail map for the Cohotate Preserve in Athens, NY. The Cohotate is open year-round from dawn to dusk.
Click here for more information and to download a trail map.
Recent Projects
SCA Service Project 2016
An aerial photograph over one of the project sites, where 1,200 native trees and shrubs were planted to improve the riparian buffer along the Schoharie Creek. In partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP), the District completed two riparian buffer restorations on the Schoharie Creek in Jewett. These projects were conducted on September 11, 2016 as part of a weekend service project for the Patriot Day of Service.
Both project sites were on or adjacent to a stream restoration site on the Schoharie Creek. The stream banks experienced significant erosion, causing bank instability and sedimentation of the water. Earthwork was required in order to reestabilish a stable grade. The upstream site required additional bank protection. Large rock revetment was placed at the toe of the bank to prevent further loss of sediment. Developing a riparian buffer was the final step of the stream restoration projects.
SCA Hudson Valley Corps members install willow fascines on the bank of the Schoharie Creek. Due to the fast rate of willow growth, this technique stabilizes soil and helps prevent future streambank erosion. Riparian buffers are vegetated or undisturbed natural areas along a stream, usually forested with a variety of grasses, shrubs, and trees. Healthy riparian buffers help to protect a waterbody by improving water quality, increasing habitat for animals, stabilizing streambanks, providing stream shade and temperature control, and improving flood control.
The Corps members restored the riparian buffers by planting pioneer species such as gray birch and white pine, along with common riparian species like red osier dogwood, elderberry, and buttonbush. Tree and shrub species were chosen for their ability to produce a deep rooting system and stabilize the soil, which helps to prevent streambank erosion. In an additional effort to increase soil stabilization, willow fascines and live willow stakes were installed on a portion of streambank that experienced significant erosion after Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011. Willow fascines and live willow stakes are both bioengineering techniques that use live cuttings harvested from existing willows. The cuttings will eventually root and grow into new willow plants, and their high rate of growth and deep rooting system are perfect for streambank stabilization projects.
In five hours, over 40 of the hardworking SCA Hudson Valley Corps members installed a total of 2,335 native trees and shrubs, 250 feet of willow fascines, and 180 live willow stakes within riparian buffer zones along the Schoharie Creek.