Watershed Assistance Program

What all property owners in Greene County should know

If you own a property within the New York City water supply watershed and plan to build on it, you should familiarize yourself with the information contained in this page.

What Are the Rules and Regulations?

There are a number of agencies that implement rules and regulations governing stormwater, soil erosion, septic placement, and stream & wetland impacts. Whether developing a single family home, a business, or large lot subdivision, development activities are monitored to minimize impacts to water, air, and animals, which ultimately affect human communities.

Regulatory Agencies

Following is a list of regulatory agencies that monitor and issue permits for development activities.

NYC Department of Environmental Protection

The DEP Watershed Rules & Regulations that affect new development the most include:

• No septic systems allowed within 100 feet of a watercourse or wetland, or 300 feet of a reservoir, or reservoir stem.
• No new impervious surfaces (roofs, pavement) permitted within 100 feet of a watercourse or 300 feet of a reservoir or reservoir stem. Access roads to subdivisions are allowed within the 100 foot buffer subject to approval by DEP of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Certain exemptions apply to individual residential housing and designated hamlets and village areas.
• Construction of new individual residences within 100 feet of a perennial stream require an Individual Residential Stormwater Permit (IRSP) from DEP.

DEP requires that a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) be developed for the following activities:

• Development or disturbance of land greater than 5 acres of total land area (doesn’t have to be contiguous)
• Clearing or grading land involving two or more acres within 100 feet of a watercourse or on a slope exceeding 15%
• Subdivisions of 5 lots or more of 5 acres or less each
• Construction of a new facility creating more than 40,000 square feet of impervious surface
• Construction of an impervious surface in a village, hamlet, or commercially-zoned area

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

DEC enforces provisions involving streams, stormwater runoff, and wetlands of greater than 12.4 acres or of local significance.

A State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity is required for any soil disturbance 1 acre or greater. In order to obtain this permit, the developer must have a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). The SWPPP is a plan for erosion and sediment control, and for installation of treatment for post-construction runoff.

A Protection of Waters Permit is required for disturbing stream beds and banks of certain classified streams. Disturbing Rosgen A, B, or C streams without a permit is a violation of the Environmental Conservation Law (will result in a fine). Disturbance may be either temporary or permanent in nature.

Regional DEC offices and Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District can tell you whether your project involves a classified stream or not (see below for contact information). Call before conducting any of these activities:

• Placement of structures in or across a stream (i.e. bridges, culverts, or pipelines)
• Fill placement for bank stabilization or to isolate a work area (i.e. rip-rap or coffer dams)
• Excavating gravel
• Lowering stream banks to establish a stream crossing
• Utilization of equipment in a stream to remove debris or to assist in-stream construction

Before construction activity begins, a Notice of Intent (NOI) must be filed with the DEC affirming that a SWPPP has been prepared and is being implemented. If you begin construction before filing a NOI and obtaining coverage, you may be subject to a penalty of up to $37,500 per violation per day.

United States Army Corps of Engineers

The USACE regulates impacts to all waterways and wetlands. Projects typically requiring a USACE permite involve discharges of dredged or fill material into waters (including wetlands).

NYS Department of Health

The NYS DoH enforces standards relating to water well location, construction, and design, and (in conjunction with DEP) individual home watewater treatment systems (septic placement).

Local Building Code Rules

Each municipality employs a code enforcement officer (CEO) who must enforce the Uniform Building Code. The NYS Uniform Building Code regulates construction of buildings and impacts to neighboring parcels. Property owners and CEO's are responsible for ensuring provisions are made to control water run-off and erosion during construction or demolition activities.

List of Common Activities that Require a Permit

Contact Information

For permits pertaining to stream disturbance, stormwater prevention, and wetlands of 12.4 acres or of local significance:

NYS DEC, Division of Environmental Permits
65561 State Hwy 10
Stamford, NY 12167
Kent Sanders, Deputy Regional Administrator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For permits impacting waterways and wetlands under 12.4 acres that may be affected by development:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albany Field Office
1 Bond Street
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 270-0589
Amy Gitchell, Enforcement Officer

For permits pertaining to septic placement approval, stormwater prevention plans, individual residential stormwater permits, and watercourse identification:

NYC DEP, Water Supply Bureau
71 Smith Ave.
Kingston, NY 12401
Joe Damrath, Stormwater Program Supervisor, (845) 340-7234, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For septic system approval contact:
Christopher Costello, (845) 340-7235, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For stream restoration, riparian planting recommendations, soil studies, wetland identification, and aerial maps:

Greene Couny Soil & Water Conservation District
907 County Office Building
Cairo, NY 12413
(518) 622-3620

For standards pertaining to water well location, construction, and protection, and wastewater treatment:

NYS Department of Health, Bureau of Water Supply Protection
Flanigan Square, 547 River Street
Troy, NY 12180
(518) 402-7650, (800) 458-1158

 Enhancing Resource & Recreational                                                                      Opportunities in the Great Northern Catskills

Project Background

A local trail committee, originally oganized through the Mountaintop Community Resource Strategy, worked with the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, property owners, the Town of Hunter, NYSDEC, the Mountain Top Historical Society, and Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District to open a pristine, undisturbed stretch of the Ulster—Delaware Railroad line as a public hiking trail. This trail, now known as the Kaaterskill Rail Trail (KRT), provides amazing views of the famous Kaaterskill Falls and provides a link between the Mountain Top Historical Society and the facilities at North-South Lake. Future trail development and extensions to the KRT are currently being discussed with a newly-formed local trail committee, known as the Hunter Area Trails Coalition (HATC).

Trail Development

Phase 1 - On June 2, 2013, under beautiful sunny skies, the ribbon was cut on Phase 1 of the historic Kaaterskill Rail Trail (KRT) in Haines Falls, NY. After three years, the Kaaterskill Rail Trail committee was successful in securing trail easements from four landowners. The 1.5-mile trail runs from the grounds of the Mountain Top Historical Society, in Haines Falls, to the end of Laurel House Road, just a five-minute walk from the top of Kaaterskill Falls in the 8,550-acre Kaaterskill Wild Forest preserve and near the NYSDEC North/South Lake Campground. It roughly follows what was originally a footpath dating back to the 1820s that connected the Catskill Mountain House to hotels in Haines Falls.

In order to complete Phase 1, the KRT committee raised $120,000 to purchase the final property needed to complete this section of the trail. The Open Space Institute, the NY-NJ Trail Conference, and the Mountain Top Historical Society funded the purchase. On May 20, 2017, there was another community celebration marking the end of the 2013 detour and the opening of the missing link. Walkers and hikers can now enter the KRT along the old train route as envisioned by many for so long. This long-awaited achievement was made possible through a broad coalition of groups and individuals.

Phase 2 - This phase of the KRT is on New York State land in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest. Following the success of opening Phase 1 on the former railroad bed, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) acknowledged it was time to upgrade the trails in and around Kaaterskill Falls to make access safer and more manageable. The DEC invested over $800,000 in safety and accessibility improvements including: 1) installing a 115-foot hiking bridge that spans Spruce Creek and connects the hamlet of Haines Falls to the Escarpment Trail and North/South Lake Campground, 2) constructing a new foot trail leading from the end of the marked Kaaterskill Falls trail at the base of the falls upslope to the middle pool of the falls, 3) installing a stone staircase designed to blend in with the natural stone of the area at a location that limits its visibility from below, 4) expanding two parking areas, 5) constructing an observation platform overlooking the top of the falls and 6) building new, wide, smooth surface trails with level resting areas. A celebration was held on September 13, 2017 at the top of Kaaterskill Falls to promote trail safety during the busy hiking season. Over 125 people attended including state, county, and local officials, as well as numerous trail and regional organizations.

Hunter Area Trails Coalition - With so much trail development happening in the region, the Hunter Area Trail Coalition (HATC) formed in 2016 to coordinate trail projects across the Town of Hunter. Representing local government, state, city and county agencies and local not-for-profit organizations, the HATC plans and collaborates on trail projects that enhance hiking opportunities within the town. Participating members include Catskill Center for Conservation and Development, The Hunter Foundation, Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District/Watershed Assistance Program, Mountain Top Arboretum, Mountain Top Historical Society, NY-NJ Trail Conference, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Town of Hunter, Village of Hunter, Village of Tannersville, and Windham Area Recreation Foundation.

Phase 3 - This phase is the KRT extension and will connect the Mountain Top Historical Society in Haines Falls to the Huckleberry Trail in Tannersville. The Town of Hunter was awarded a $75,000 NYSDEC Smart Growth grant to complete Phase 3 and market and advertise the growing network in the town. Work is due to begin in the spring of 2018.

Historical Significance of the Kaaterskill Rail Trail

Step back in time on the KRT - The Northern Catskills area is one of the earliest vacation destinations in America. In the early 1800s “going to the Catskills” meant going to the Kaaterskill Region. Haines Falls and the nearby Catskill Mountain House were at the region's heart. 

As you embark on the Kaaterskill Rail Trail (KRT), you are about to step into history. The trail was first a footpath connecting the Catskill Mountain House and other hotels to Haines Falls. By the 1880s additional boarding houses and the grand Hotel Kaaterskill attracted many travelers. The old footpath had made way for a rail corridor which, at its peak, saw two competing passenger rail lines following parallel tracks toward the Catskill escarpment. Thousands of vacationers arrived each summer via the newly-constructed rail lines to see the picturesque scenery and stay at the many boarding houses, hotels and resorts, such as the Laurel House.

Historic railroad station - At the end of the KRT trail (1.5 miles) you will find the Haines Falls Station of the Ulster and Delaware (U&D) Railroad. Built in 1913 to replace an earlier station located at then Haines Corners, it went out of service in 1940 when rail service in the area ended. For several years it was a private home. It is now the beautifully-restored home of the Mountain Top Historical Society.

Finding clues of the past - As you walk the trail, look for signs of the railroad—stone culverts from the 1880s, railroad bridge abutments, logging roads, cinders from the steam engines, remnants of the hotels, and glimpses of Kaaterskill Falls which were once clearly visible from the trains. Observe, too, how nature is returning the region to a more natural state—the very state that brought the original tourists to the Kaaterskill Region.

New York State Forest Preserve

North/South Lake Campground and Day Use Area to the north and the Indian Head Wilderness to the south in Platte Clove. Article 14 of the New York State Constitution states in part, “The lands of the state, now owned or hereafter acquired, constituting the forest preserve as now fixed by law, shall be kept as wild forest lands.”

Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway

In 2013, 41 miles of state and county roadway were designated NYS Scenic Byways in the Town of Hunter. Following earlier initiatives that promote the scenic, cultural and historic resources of the area, such as Preserve America and Hudson River School Art Trail, the Mountain Cloves Scenic Byway embraces the richness of intrinsic qualities that inspired past generations and recognizes that, through a profound travel experience, these resources support sustainable economic development that is based in the celebration of this unique landscape.

How can you help us protect the Kaaterskill Rail Trail?

• Leave no trace of your visit. Take only pictures; leave only footprints.
• Stay on the marked KRT trail (private landowners have allowed access, please respect that).
• Carry it in, carry it out. Pick up any litter you see.
• Do not disturb or harm plants, wildlife, or natural features.
• Respect other users (note: the KRT is a non-motorized trail).
• Keep pets under control.

 Kaaterskill Rail Trail Partners:

 Additional Information:

Notes from KRT meeting, June 2011                                                   

Notes from KRT meeting, March 2012                                                                                                                

KRT Assessment Map

Web Links:

Mountain Top Historical Society

Tourism

Greene County Tourism
Greene County Planning & Economic Development Map Resources

Varied Recreation

Mountain Trails XC Ski Center
Windham Mountain
Hunter Mountain
Bear Creek Landing
Windham Mountain Outfitters
Rip Van Winkle Ranch

Hiking

NYS DEC
Catskill Guide Trail Maps
Catskill Mountain Club

Historical Resources

Zadock Pratt Museum
Mountaintop Historical Society
Greene County Historical Society
Mountaintop Arboretum
Catskill Mountain House

Golf

Christman’s Windham House
Windham Country Club
Greene County Golf Association

Camping

North-South Lake
Devil’s Tombstone

Vineyards

Windham Vineyard & Winery

Looking Zoos

Catskill Mountain Country Store

Horseback Riding

Equine Solutions at Windham Equestrian Center
Windham Mountain Ranch

Fishing

Judd S. Weisberg
NYC DEP Recreation

Arts, Culture, & Entertainment

Windham Chamber Music Festival
Windham Fine Arts
Robert Cepale Art Studio
Francis X. Driscoll Images of the Catskills Gallery
Roshkowska Galleries
Windham Friends of Art & Photography
Catskill Mountain Foundation
Grazhda Music and Art Center of Greene County
Horton by the Stream
Point Lookout Murder Mystery Theatre
Hudson River School Art Trail
Greene Room Players
Greene County Council on the Arts

Scenic Sites

Hunter Mountain Fire Tower

A Brief History of the Watershed Assistance Program

Since 1989, communities within the New York City Watershed have found themselves facing an increasingly complex series of rules, regulations and program initiatives focused on protecting New York City’s water supply. The NYC water supply is unfiltered, with the City having a Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) which is issued on five year cycles by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The FAD relies on a complex assemblage of watershed rules and regulations, as well as voluntary watershed protection programs, to help NYC maintain the current high quality in its reservoir system.

In 2002, at the request of the Greene County Mountaintop Supervisors and Mayors Association (MSMA), the Greene County Legislature provided funding to the Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District (GCSWCD) to develop a program that that would assist municipalities as well as watershed residents with issues related to the NYC watershed. The Watershed Assistance Program (WAP) was established as a program within the GCSWCD, with the MSMA and Greene County Legislature acting as program advisors. The WAP places a high priority on integration of all watershed programs, and takes a very proactive approach to watershed management.

What Does the WAP Do?

The Watershed Assistance Program (WAP) provides a wide range of services including education and outreach, watershed planning, and water quality or stewardship project design and implementation. The WAP serves a key role in the facilitation of local, state, and federal programs, and works in partnership with municipal leaders, residents, agencies, and organizations. Watershed stakeholders that require assistance with issues related to the NYC watershed rules and regulations, or natural resource problems, should contact the WAP to determine what types of help may be available.

WAP Programs and Projects

• Mountaintop Supervisors and Mayors Association
• Mountaintop Community Resource Strategy
• Hunter Corridor Regional Planning Study
• Mountaintop Better Site Design Roundtable
• Schoharie Turbidity Reduction Strategy
• Building in the NYC Watershed
• Mountaintop Economic Development
• Municipal Tools for Watershed and Water Resource Protection
• Mountaintop Low Impact Development Resources

Listen to a recording of Michelle Yost, WAP Coordinator, discussing the WAP and Schoharie Watershed Summit on the Watershed Agricultural Council's WIOX Watershed Wednesday show

Elevated turbidity events in the Schoharie watershed adversely impact aquatic habitat, local recreational uses, and can interfere with disinfection processes for NYC's drinking water supply. The Schoharie Turbidity Reduction Strategy (STRS) is the outcome of a proactive planning process designed to expand water quality protection at the local level across the Schoharie Watershed. The strategy relied on a diverse group of watershed partners, particularly local decision-makers, to promote watershed scale recommendations that strengthen the communities' ability to recognize and address potential water quality threats. The STRS began in June, 2006 and was completed in March, 2008. A step-by-step overview of the project including the roles of the Schoharie Basin Working Group, the Steering Committee, and the Focus Groups can be found in the summary document: STRS Project Overview.

While the stream management plans provide a detailed focus on the main stream systems, they also identify general recommendations related to land use planning on topics such as education and outreach, stormwater, and floodplain management. However, in 2006 there was no program or mechanism in place to comprehensively extend these recommendations to the entire watershed community. Recognizing this gap, the GCSWCD received a New York State Department of State grant to initiate a watershed-wide strategy that focuses on the broader stream management plan stewardship recommendations that apply to all municipalities in the watershed.

Strategy Goals & Findings

The goal of the STRS was to develop a local, action based plan (2.8 Mb .pdf) for addressing water quality problems, namely turbidity levels, in the Schoharie basin by building upon general recommendations in the stream management plans. Through its Watershed Assistance Program (WAP), the GCSWCD brought together a diverse group of local officials, interested property owners, and watershed management agencies to take the lead in developing practical solutions for water quality protection across the entire basin.

The expanded approach is based on the principle that planning at the watershed scale (as opposed to the municipal scale) is more effective in terms of water quality protection and cost savings. Moreover, it encourages local level oversight and control, which, in a state that espouses home rule governance, puts the responsibility more on the shoulders of local governments and departments to protect resources as opposed to being regulated by outside agencies. Soliciting the involvement of property owners and local decision-makers to address non-point source pollution from the "ground up" is the primary focus of the strategy. The grassroots effort is designed to empower all local communities in the basin to work together and learn from one another about the status of water quality and what implementation measures should be taken to minimize its degradation.

Strategy Documents

• Schoharie Turbidity Reduction Strategy (2.8 Mb pdf)
• Executive Summary to Turbidity Reduction Strategy
• STRS Project Overview (350 Kb pdf)
• Schoharie Basin Working Group

What is Low Impact Development?

Low Impact Development (LID) is an ecologically friendly approach to site development and stormwater management that aims to mitigate development impacts to land, water, and air. The LID approach emphasizes the integration of site design and planning techniques that conserve natural systems and hydrologic functions on a site. The practice has been successfully integrated into many municipal development codes and storm water management ordinances throughout the United States. Specifically, LID aims to:

• Preserve open space and minimize land disturbance
• Protect natural systems and processes (drainage ways, vegetation, soils, sensitive areas)
• Reexamine the use and sizing of traditional site infrastructure (lots, streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks) and customize site design to each site
• Incorporate natural site elements (wetlands, stream corridors, mature forests) as design elements
• Decentralize and manage stormwater at its source

LID Benefits

Utilizing LID techniques can offer many benefits to a variety of stakeholders:

Municipalities:

• Protect regional flora and fauna
• Balance growth needs with environmental protection
• Reduce municipal infrastructure and utility maintenance costs
• Increase collaborative public/private partnerships

Developers:

• Reduce land clearing and grading costs
• Potentially reduce infrastructure costs (streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks)
• Reduce stormwater management costs
• Potentially reduce impact fees and increase lot yields
• Increase lot and community maketability

Environment:

• Preserve integrity of ecological and biological systems
• Protect site and regional water quality by reducing sediment, nutrient, and toxic loads to water bodies
• Reduce impacts to local terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals
• Preserve trees and natural vegetation

Structural Low Impact Development Practices

Planners select structural LID practices for an individual site in consideration of the site's land use, hydrology, soil type, climate, and rainfall patterns. Frequently-used practices include:

Stormwater Wetlands
Stormwater wetlands can be used to treat large areas and are often selected as a stormwater management practice because of their ability to remove excess nutrients and suspended solids from stormwater runoff. Stormwater wetlands provide similar habitat to natural wetlands. Wetlands are home to a variety insects and amphibians, many of which feed on mosquitoes and mosquito larvae.

Raingardens
Raingardens are an ideal method of treating stormwater on-site in urbanized settings. Raingardens are depressions in the ground that consist of loose, deep soils and are planted with colorful native vegetation.

Permeable Pavement
Unlike traditional pavement, permeable pavement allows rainwater to move vertically, down through the parking surface and into the underlying soils.

Bioswales
Bioswales are landscape elements designed to remove pollution from surface runoff water. The bioswale filters sheet flow from the porous pavement system during excessive rainfall events and also provide a snow storage area with treatment capacity.

Rain Barrels
Rain barrels are water tanks which are used to collect and store rain water runoff, typically from rooftops via rain gutters. Storing this water reduces stormwater runoff, and also provides a free source of water that can be used for watering gardens, washing cars, flushing toilets, and doing laundry.

Additional Resources

• Mountaintop Better Site Design Roundtable
• GCSWCD stormwater retrofit projects utilizing LID techniques

Online Seminars, Training, and Webcasts on Stormwater and LID

• EPA Watershed Academy- free online courses and information on watershed management
• EPA National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Training Courses and Workshops
• Using Stimulus Funds to Finance Green Water Projects

Additional Resources on Stormwater and LID

• Building Regulations Info Sheet
• DEC Stormwater Construction Permit Regulations
• Low Impact Development Center
• Stormwater Managers Resource Center
• Promoting Low Impact Development in Your Community
• Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials: Driveways
• Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure (877 Kb pdf)
• Low-Impact Development Design Strategies (8.6 Mb pdf)
• NYS DEC Better Site Design (2.2 Mb pdf)
• Massachusetts Low Impact Development Toolkit
• Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community (10 Mb pdf)
• Addressing Imperviousness In Plans, Site Design and Land Use Regulations
 

Building the Watershed Economy

Economic development resources for existing and proposed Mountaintop businesses

Overview

Are you an existing business owner thinking of expanding or improving your operations? Thinking of starting up a business or relocating one to Mountaintop area? Need help formulating a business plan? Not sure what assistance is available? Then please explore these resources on available programs for businesses in the Watershed region of Greene County. Assistance comes in many forms whether it is used for starting a new business venture or for improvements to an existing business.

These resources were gathered at the Building the Watershed Economy Workshop held at Villa Vosilla on June 29, 2010. This workshop highlighted programs through the Catskill Watershed Corporation’s Economic Development program, Catskill Fund for the Future, and Greene County’s Economic Development, Tourism & Planning Department and Industrial Development Agency (IDA) that are meant to stimulate economic initiatives through low interest loans, small grants for Main Street Revitalization, "shovel ready" sites, and start up financing for new businesses.

Workshop Documents

• Workshop Announcement
• Workshop Notes

Resources

Catskill Watershed Corporation

Greene County Economic Development, Tourism & Planning

Greene County Industrial Development Agency

Other Grant Resources

Study Description

The Town of Hunter, the Village of Hunter, and the Village of Tannersville recently partnered with the WAP and the Greene County Planning and Economic Development Department (GCPED) to conduct a comprehensive land use and development analysis for the State Route 23A corridor region between the Hamlet of Haines Falls and the Village of Hunter—the "Hunter Corridor". The purpose of the study was to assess the potential impacts from future development on the municipalities’ environmental (namely water quality), community and infrastructure resources, as well as to identify suitable areas for community growth that are compatible with the villages and hamlet extension areas.

The Hunter-Tannersville Corridor is poised for future development since the Villages each have a wastewater treatment facility, are in close proximity to one another (within 3 miles), and the region is a desirable area to live and recreate in. If not properly planned, however, future development may result in unintended environmental, water quality, and community consequences along the State Route 23A corridor.

Services and resources examined in the Hunter Corridor Study included potable water, stormwater, wastewater, transportation, traffic, and parking, natural, scenic and recreational resources, city and state regulations, and community and emergency services. The end result is a detailed planning and development analysis that will serve as a planning tool for municipal boards, planning boards, and property owners (businesses and residential alike) when planning and approving future development projects. The study took mitigation measures into account to avoid environmental and water quality impacts as well as areas for potential growth that are in line with maintaining high water quality standards.

Study Reports

Some of the report documents are very large files. These files are available on CD through the Watershed Assistance Program if your internet connection is too slow to complete the download.

• Hunter Corridor Study Report (4.3 Mb pdf)
• Final Traffic Study (6.3 Mb pdf)
• Public Meeting Presentation (1 Mb pdf)
  • Oct 20, 2010 Meeting Notes
• Appendices:
  • Appendix A.1 NRCS Soil Reports (2.2 Mb pdf)
  • Appendix A.2 Greene County Soil Survey (17 Mb pdf)
  • Appendix B Ecological Resources (220 Kb pdf)
  • Appendix C Community Characteristics (4 Mb pdf)
  • Appendix D Development Analysis (2.7 Mb pdf)
  • Appendix E Transportation Evaluation (4.2 Mb pdf)
  • Appendix F Code Review and Sample Regulations (670 Kb pdf)
  • Appendix G Planning Tools (1.2 Mb pdf)
• Individual Maps
  • Map 1.1 Study Area Map (1 Mb pdf)
  • Map 1.2 Catskill Forest Preserve (660 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.1 Geology Map (730 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.2 Soils Map (825 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.3 Topographic Map (3 Mb pdf)
  • Map 2.4 Steep Slopes Map ( 2.3 Mb pdf)
  • Map 2.5 Classified Streams Map (680 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.6 Flood Zones Map (720 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.7 Wetlands (1 Mb pdf)
  • Map 2.8 Significant Natural Communities (180 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.9 Rare Plants and Animals (170 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.10 Hunter Recreation Map (470 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.11 Village of Hunter Historic Resources (350 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.12 Village of Tannersville Historic Resources (350 Kb pdf)
  • Map 2.13 Resource Inventory Map (1 Mb pdf)
  • Map 3.1 Water Systems Map (660 Kb pdf)
  • Map 3.2 Sewer Systems Map (520 Kb pdf)
  • Map 4.1 Land Use Map (1 Mb pdf)

Enhancing Resource & Recreational Opportunities in the Great Northern Catskills

Project Overview

The Northern Catskills are a significant resource for recreational, cultural and scenic activities. For generations people have come to the “Mountaintop” to enjoy the great outdoors, ski, visit historic and cultural sites, and admire the idyllic scenery.

The Mountaintop Community Resource Strategy is a region-wide planning effort to develop a locally driven master plan that identifies resource enhancements, integration and protection of the resources that have attracted people to the area for generations. At the same time, the Strategy integrates the economic vitality of the small, rural mountaintop communities that rely on these resources to attract tourists to the area.

The Strategy covers the nine mountaintop municipalities located in Greene County — the Towns of Ashland, Jewett, Halcott, Hunter, Lexington, Prattsville, and Windham, and the Villages of Hunter and Tannersville. A comprehensive inventory of historical, recreational, recreation business retail, arts and cultural, & scenic resources was conducted and built into the Strategy’s development.

The Strategy was developed under the guidance of a Project Advisory Team and small focus groups that were organized to identify concerns and opportunities for resource enhancement and integration.

In order to keep up with changing economic times that influence the tourism market, it is important for the Mountaintop communities to work together to assess current resource attractions, identify where improvements are needed, develop a plan to address those needs, and begin implementing actions for the betterment of the Mountaintop as a whole. The Mountaintop Community Resource Strategy is the culmination of such a collaborative effort. The Strategy provides a foundation for the communities to work individually and collectively on solutions to enhance the region’s outdoor recreational, historical and cultural resources, and to advance approaches to market the local tourism economy.

Mountaintop Recreation & Resource Links

Mountaintop Community Resource Strategy Trail Projects

• Kaaterskill Rail Trail, Haines Falls

Strategy Reports & Planning Documents

Full Report January 2009

Project Advisory Team Overview & Handout and summary of meetings

Inventory of Mountaintop Resources

Map of Mountaintop Recreational Resources

List of Referenced Plans

Summary of Relevant Information From Referenced Plans

Focus Group Descriptions

Notes from Hospitality Meeting, prioritization exercise
Notes from Snowmobile focus group meeting
Notes from meeting with Cultural & Arts organizations
Notes from Recreation Business Meeting
Notes from Outdoor Recreation Meeting
Notes from Scenic Meeting
Notes from Sportsmen and Women Group
Notes from Historical Resources Group

Strategy Recommendations

Summary of Surveys

Implementation Subcommittees

Notes from Trails & Outdoor Infrastructure Committee
May 2008
June 2008
September 2008
March 2009

Notes from Marketing & Coordinating Meetings
May 2008 Business Model for Planner
June 2008
Mountaintop Recreation & Event Planner Proposal
March 2009

Trail Development Guides

Parks and Trails New York Publications & Guide Books
Implementing Trail-Based Economic Development Programs

Serving the towns of Ashland, Halcott, Hunter, Jewett, Lexington, Prattsville, and Windham, and the villages of Hunter and Tannersville

About the MSMA

The Mountaintop Supervisors and Mayors Association (MSMA) is an active group of community leaders who meet monthly to discuss topics of mutual concern and interest. The MSMA provides input and direction for the GCSWCD Watershed Assistance Program and serves as program advisor based on the priority needs the local leaders see for their communities.

The regional focus of the MSMA promotes inter-municipality communication and innovation, and allows the group to discuss issues that are common to the Mountaintop municipalities. Issues that have been raised by the MSMA include addressing the challenge of maintaining volunteers for emergency and fire services, dealing with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) on land acquisitions and watershed program funding, working with county, state and regional governments in addressing local needs (such as affordable housing), and capturing funding to help the communities with watershed planning and economic development. The meetings are an opportunity for officials to learn from one another, to problem solve, and to collaborate on a host of topics relevant to municipal governance and water quality protection.

Monthly Meetings & Minutes

The MSMA meets monthly on the fourth Monday beginning at 7:00 p.m. Each municipality hosts the meeting on a rotating basis.