Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program

05/01/2026

Eight professionals from the Ashokan Reservoir watershed recently attended the NYS Floodplain & Stormwater Management Association (NYSFMSA) Conference in Utica, NY thanks to AWSMP scholarships.
From code enforcement to planning and floodplain administration, this group is bringing valuable skills and connections back to support safer, more resilient communities.
Pictured (L–R): Melissa Gray (Town of Woodstock), Sally Rodgers (CCE Ulster/AWSMP), Rob Stanley (Town of Shandaken), Aaron Bennett (NYC DEP), Domenick Covello (Town of Olive), Leslie Zucker (CCE Ulster/AWSMP), Donna LeMoine (Town of Shandaken), Francis Hoffman (Town of Woodstock)

04/29/2026

AWSMP’s Max Kelly recently attended the 10-day River Assessment and Monitoring course taught by Dr. Dave Rosgen. This course was a deep dive into stream stability, erosion monitoring, and sediment transport dynamics.

Max teamed up with Gillian Mathews of Rondout Neversink Stream Program to evaluate salmonid habitats. The AWSMP and RNSP conduct salmonid habitat evaluations pre- and post-restoration to make sure our projects provide excellent habitat for trout during all life stages, and times of year.

Together, they learned how to apply these monitoring metrics to Catskill streams! We’re excited to bring these sharpened skills to our upcoming restoration sites.

04/08/2026

The Town of Shandaken is undertaking a Local Flood Analysis (LFA) for the hamlet of Chichester. The initiative is led by the Chichester Flood Advisory Committee (ChiFAC). This committee was formed to create a comprehensive plan to mitigate flood risks in the area, similar to other completed LFAs in Phoenicia, Mt. Tremper and Pine Hill.
However, the town needs your input! The first Public Meeting on April 25, at Town Hall will introduce the project to residents. The meeting will start with a brief overview of the LFA process, and begin gathering information by providing large format maps for residents to identify their properties and explain flooding issues they have experienced. What are your experiences with flooding? Do you have suggestions? The town and SLR want to hear from you!

To learn more, visit: https://ashokanstreams.org/chichester-local-flood-analysis/

03/23/2026

Rainy and warm spring nights are an excellent opportunity to view amphibian migration in the Catskills. Many salamanders and frogs spend most of their lives on the forest floor. On warm and rainy spring nights they will traverse the landscape to find wet depressions, known as woodland pools, to reproduce and lay eggs.

The migration from forests to woodland pools can be challenging and treacherous as amphibians need to cross busy roads. The Amphibian Migrations and Road Crossings Project is a citizen science project to help record data about migration and assist these woodland creatures.

To learn more visit: https://dec.ny.gov/nature/waterbodies/oceans-estuaries/hudson-river-estuary-program/conservation-and-land-use-program/amphibian-migrations-and-road-crossings

Photo credit: Amanda Cabanillas

12/11/2025

There are over 500 road-stream crossings in the Ashokan Watershed. Culverts and bridges are essential elements of our road network that allow us to cross the many streams that define our landscape. However, many structures are undersized, in poor condition, and present barriers to fish and wildlife. The recent replacement of two culverts in Shandaken displays how a properly sized structure can work in harmony with streams.

09/25/2025

09/08/2025

September is National Preparedness Month. Flooding is the primary natural hazard in New York. Watershed residents should be prepared for the effects of flooding. If you live in the floodplain, you may consider structural mitigation options that may lessen damage to your property. Flood vents (pictured here) have been proven to reduce the amount of time floodwaters are stagnant in a building. Watershed residents should also learn their evacuation routes, coordinate with family members on an emergency plan, and sign up for emergency alerts. Below are helpful links for signing up for emergency alerts:

Olive: https://townofolive.org/town-of-olive-public-notification-system-sign-up-now/
Shandaken: https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=shandaken
Hurley: https://www.townofhurley.org/disaster-preparedness/pages/receiving-emergency-alerts
Ulster County: To sign up for Ulster County emergency alerts, register on the NY-Alert website at alert.ny.gov or by texting "ULSTER" to 333111

08/27/2025

The Olive Flood Advisory Committee, working under the direction of the Town of Olive Town Board, invites you to attend the first in a series of public meetings to find solutions to flooding in the hamlets of Shokan & West Shokan.

This Local Flood Analysis (LFA) will focus on beneficial and feasible solutions. We’re asking you to help us identify issues and areas prone to flooding within your hamlet.

What are your experiences? Do you have suggestions? Questions? Together, we’ll develop a range of strategies that will be tested for their effectiveness using engineering analysis. Initial results will be reported at a second public meeting to help refine these strategies.

More details: https://ashokanstreams.org/shokan-local-flood-analysis/

08/06/2025

August is National Water Quality Month! Our mission at the AWSMP is to maintain the health of streams in the Ashokan Reservoir Watershed. The primary water quality concern in our watershed is fine sediment, silt, and clay particles that become suspended in stream flows. These suspended particles cause the water to look brown and cloudy, known as turbidity.

Our staff spend large amounts of time in summer collecting data on sources of water quality impairment. Some of these sites may become future stream restoration sites to limit the source of turbidity.

We hope that you find time to visit a stream this summer and celebrate the high-water quality that our watershed is known for!

07/15/2025

Join our team! Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCE Ulster) is now hiring an Education Program Manager with the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program. The position is focused on education program management and implementation supporting both flood mitigation and stream management. Please help us distribute the AWSMP Education Program Manager posting to anyone who may be interested. Apply by July 31, 2025

https://cornell.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CCECareerPage/details/AWSMP-Education-Program-Manager---Shokan--NY_WDR-00053947

07/01/2025

Be aware of the water temperature while fishing this summer. Trout are temperature sensitive species and thrive in cool waters. As stream temperatures rise above the mid-60s, trout begin to feel stressed and risk of mortality from catch-and-release angling rises.
Here are a few tips for summer angling:
- Consider fishing in streams that are cooler, due to their smaller size, greater canopy cover, or higher elevation
- Check near-real time water temperature on various USGS Stream Gages located across the watershed
- Carry a thermometer to the stream to check the water temperature
- Limit the amount of time fish spend out of water as fish are only able to get oxygen while in water