Thirty-Ninth Annual Meeting of the Basha Kill Area Association

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Annual Report 2011

 

Although this was not a high profile advocacy year, the BKAA was decidedly opportunistic, availing itself of every occasion to promote the wetlands and our organization, which ultimately enhanced networking, outreach, and strengthened educational programs.

 

BKAA Board:

After several stable years, our board suffered a major loss in the recent passing of longtime Membership Chair/Corresponding Secretary, Lorraine Haring, who wold have received the BKAA’s highest honor, the Elizabeth Pollock Great Blue Heron Award, at this year’s Annual Meeting.  Board member Marcia Briggs Wallace, who has already “shouldered” most of Lorraine’s duties, will officially assume the Membership/Corresponding Secretary positions. Jodi Rubenstein, one of our most passionate Yukiguni opponents, is leaving the board and we commend her tremendous advocacy and support.

 

Developments in the Basha Kill Watershed:

A poor economy undoubtedly thwarted activity with the 7 Peaks and Basherkill Subdivisions as well as Commerce Park at Wurtsboro Airport. The preceding are only temporarily halted, however, and will likely resurface when financial conditions improve.  Meanwhile, there was limited involvement with Yukiguni Maitake and the Homowack. Notably, gas drilling and casinos are two industries that will generate regional repercussions, including impacts on the Basha Kill watershed, if approved.

 

Yukiguni Maitake (YM):

•   September 6,2011 - The BKAA authorized our consulting engineer, Andy Willingham of David Clouser and Associates, to send a letter to Mamakating Building Inspector Mary Grass, requesting that the following be completed by Mamakating’s Building Department: 1. Notify David Clouser and the BKAA when YM has submitted detailed building construction drawings or other information for review. 2. Allow the BKAA’s engineer to thoroughly scrutinize the drawings and proffer formal comments to the Department prior to issuance of a building permit.

 

Homowack (aka Ahaves Chaverin Gemilus Cheged Inc.)

•   Winter 2010-2011 - Despite Mamakating Town Board’s official order to mitigate the dangerous conditions existing on that portion of the property still owned by Ulster Mountain LLC, the Town has not enforced this mandate.

•   March 1 - The Town Board voted to demolish the derelict buildings.

•   May 12 - Paula Medley represented the BKAA at a ZBA public hearing, where property owners requested a variance to allow use of the first floor of the three story hotel for a residential girl’s camp.  Variance was denied, effectively closing the facility until further notice.

•   Present - There has been no action taken on the deteriorating structures

 

Gas Drilling:

•   BKAA Board voted to oppose fracking.

•   Utilizing the Guardian and Alerts, the BKAA continually apprised its members of latest gas drilling developments.

•   August 13 - The BKAA and Cragsmoor Association co-sponsored two talks on gas drilling and fracking at the Cragsmoor Free Library.

 

Casinos:

•   February 12 - Marcia Briggs Wallace and Monique Lipton represented the BKAA at a meeting sponsored by Casino Free Sullivan County.

•   Shortly after that meeting, the US Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of the Interior rejected the Stockbridge - Munsee Indian Casino proposed for Bridgeville.

•   June, 2001 - Larry Echohawk, head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced the recision of the 2008 rule restricting off reservation Indian casinos to close proximity of their existing reservations. In Sullivan County, plans of several tribes, who had desired very far off reservation casinos could be reactivated.

•   Amending the State Constitution to allow legitimization of commercial non-Indian casinos, although a rigorous effort, is being explored by some casino proponents. 

 

Lobbying to Insure Greater Disclosure by County Officials and Agencies:

•   January 13, 20, July 7, September 8, 15 - Jon Reed and Paula represented the BKAA at Sullivan County Legislature meetings to advocate for increased public accountability by county agencies like the Industrial Development Corporation (IDA), as well as elected Sullivan County officials. 

 

Networking: Throughout this past year, the BKAA carefully nurtured new contacts and constantly revitalized connections with long standing friends and supporters.  These priceless collaborations, with their myriad resources, positively influenced BKAA accomplishments.

•   As the BKAA’s representative, Jon Reed provided inestimable assistance to Wurtsboro Renaissance.

•   The BKAA continued its affiliation with the Sullivan County Visitor’s Association, whose website and publications highlighted BKAA programs as well as the wetlands resource.

•   The BKAA maintained its presence in the Shawangunk ridge Coalition (SRC).

•   The BKAA continued participation with the Orange County Open Space Alliance.

•   The BKAA joined Friends of the Environment, a regional environmental group, which lobbied for enhanced monies for the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).

•   We networked minimally with politicians this year.

•   The BKAA enjoyed consistent backing and encouragement from loyal supporter Sullivan County Audubon Society along with Audubon New York and its grassroots coordinator, Laura McCarthy.

•   Friends of the Shawangunks, NY/NJ Trail Conference, and Phillipsport Community Center also were crucial BKAA proponents.

•   On behalf of the BKAA, Paula mentored environmental groups and individuals on an as needed basis.

•   Dave Colavito consistently pressed county agencies and officials to introduce greater transparency.

•   October 17,2010 - Michael Medley and Paula attended Friends of the Shawangunks Annual Meeting and presented updates on Yukiguni Maitake and 7 Peaks.

•   December 9 - Michael and Paula represented the BKAA at Sullivan County Visitors Association’s (SCVA) Annual Meeting and Holiday Celebration at the Monticello Raceway and Racino.

•   December 16 - Jackie Broder and Paula attended a meeting on connectivity at Norrie Point State Park, sponsored by SRC, Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership and DEC.

•   March 4,2011 - Jackie represented the BKAA at Sullivan County’s Not-for-Profit Leadership Summit 2011, held at Bethel Woods.

•   April 11 - Andy Garrison, Gary Keeton, and Marcia Briggs Wallace attended an informational meeting before Deerpark’s Town Board, on expansion of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Towpath in the Town.

•   May 11 - Michael and Paula represented the BKAA at SCVA’s Annual Literature and Brochure Exchange at Sonoma Falls, Morsston.

•   June 3 - Jack Austin, Andy Garrison, Michael Rider, Michael and Paula, attended a ceremony transferring property owned by NY/NJ Trail Conference to DEC for incorporation into Huckleberry State Forest in Greenville.

•   June 7 - Jackie and Paula attended a program honoring Laura Heady with Mohonk Consultations’ 2011 Environmental Distinguished Achievement Award.

•   June 15 - Alva Jones and Paula attended a “Coffee Hour” for Sullivan County non-profits held at Cornell Cooperative Extension.

•   June 24 - Marcia and Paula attended the opening reception of “Birds of Sullivan County - A Photographic Exhibition” at Morgan Outdoors in Livingston Manor.

•   August 27 - The BKAA partnered with Kohl’s Distribution Center in Wurtsboro to clean the Basha Kill wetlands.  BKAA participants included Linda Lou Bartle, Jackie, Stephen & Susan Erny, Fred Harding, John Lavelle, Monique Lipton, Bill Lucas, Michael and Paula, and Jon Reed.

•   September 7 - Jackie and Marcia represented the BKAA at a focus group entitled “What Inspires You About Sullivan County?,” sponsored by Sullivan Renaissance, Sullivan Planning and Environmental Management, as well as Sullivan Economic Development Corporation.

•   September 12 - Marcia participated in another focus group centering in Sullivan County’s assets/issues, sponsored by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council and held at Bethel Woods.

•   September 19 - Michael and Paula attended a Wurtsboro Board of Trade mixer at Giovanni’s.

 

Town of Mamakating Meeting Coverage:

Town, Planning, and Zoning Board meetings were attended on an as needed basis.

Come Clean - 2011 Project

Cathy Dawkins & Patricia Diness

 

The BKAA Come Clean Team undertook a new project this summer.  In keeping with the environmental beautification mission, Come Clean targeted a business property in the Village of Wurtsboro for a custom garden makeover.  The building on Sullivan Street that houses the Laundry, Catskill Soap Company,and the Custom Tailor Shop is directly across the street from the Village Veteran’s Park.

 

With permission from the property owner, the Come Clean Team visited the site, assessed site characteristics, any existing plants that could be integrated into the revised garden plan, water needs and availability, and general layout. 

 

The team purchased and planted new herbs, shrubs, grasses, and annuals.  The Soap Company uses herbs as one of its themes, so we featured herbs including lavender, sage, scented geranium, and greek oregano on that side of the building. 

 

During the planting activities, the team realized that the exterior of the Laundry serves as a community gathering area.  The master plan was quickly modified to include a bench for people to enjoy the garden without trampling the plants. The garden has drawn many positive comments and smiles and the bench is used extensively.

 

The project was funded by existing grant money. Summary of expenditures for  this project follows:

 

Item	Source/Vendor	Date	Amount
1)      Rain Barrel, two soaker hoses, two large planters	Sam’s	4/10/2011	$ 162.27
1)      Manual Labor (14 hours at $25 per hour)	Ger Haelen	multiple	$ 350.00
1)      Garbage Bags	IGA	5/19/2011	$     5.28
1)      Plants	Monticello Greenhouse	5/25/2011	$   45.09
1)      Plants	Monticello Home & Garden	5/25/2011	$   64.43
1)      Plants	Farmer’s Market	5/25/2011	$   79.93
1)      Buckets	Heritage Feed Store	6/3/2011	$   41.94
1)      Bucket Hangers	Heritage Feed Store	6/3/2011	$     6.47
1)      Plants	Country Flowers	6/3/2011	$   51.67
1)      Sand	Lowes	6/5/2011	$   12.96
1)      Hanging Planters	Otisville	6/8/2011	$   36.74
1)      Bench and plants	Maples Farm	6/11/2011	$ 171.88
1)      Mulch	Farmer’s Market	6/21/2011	$   20.95
1)      Mulch	Lowe’s	6/30/2011	$   13.32
1)      Mulch	Home Depot	6/30/2011	$   43.21
1)      Bluestone	Orange County Masonry	7/14/2011	$ 165.00
1)      Drains and plumbing supplies	Gary Dodd		$   36.91
Total Expenses			$ 1,308.05

 

Local Environmental Activities:

•   February 12 - Nature photographer Gary Van Houten presented a slide program entitled “Four Seasons at the Basha Kill” as part of Wurtsboro’s Winterfest.  The BKAA partnered with Friends of the Mamakating Library on this and shared the library’s community room.

•   April 11 - Celebrating National Library Week, Hattie Grifo read “A Wetland Walk” and discussed the wetlands ecosystem with a kindergarten class from Wurtsboro’s Emma Chase Elementary School.

•   June 2 - In another event at Emma Chase, Michael educated Webelo Scouts about wetlands ecology in order to help them meet requirements for their naturalist badge.

•   July 9 - Anita Altman and Gil Kulick, Ray DePrado, Monique, Michael and Paula, Jon, and Marcia,  participated in Wurtsboro’s Founders Day.

•   October 2 - Michael explained the importance of wetlands to a girl scout troop from Bloomingburg and later conducted a scavenger hunt at the Pat Moore Memorial Picnic Grove in Wurtsboro. (Heavy rain had flooded Basha Kill trails, rendering them impassable.)

•   October 9 - Monique, Jon and Paula represented the BKAA at the Mamakating Rotary sponsored “Community Day” carried out at the Wurtsboro Airport.

 

Campers:

Joseph Harding from Long Island and Nora Brusinski from Westbrookville received almost full BKAA scholarships for NYS DEC Environmental Camps.  First time participant Joseph attended Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, while returnee Nora stayed at Camp Colby in Saranac Lake.

 

Jack Orth Memorial BKAA Scholarship:

Although there were several eligible candidates, this report “went to press” without knowing whether any students applied for this year’s scholarship.

 

John Winkler BKAA Water Testing Program:

Thanks to a bequest from long time supporter, naturalist, and author, John Winkler, the BKAA improved its water surveillance capabilities by purchasing updated equipment that analyzes four independent water qualities: dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, and pH (acidity or alkalinity) on site.

 

Chair Jackie Broder, along with volunteers Stephen Erny, Fred Harding, and Michael Medley, evaluated 6-8 sites every few weeks.  This group will be expanded in the future.

 

DEC Update:

This year, the BKAA renewed its five year Adopt-A-Natural Resource contract with DEC, enabling us to continue holding an annual cleanup, retrieving water samples, and offering onsite educational ventures.

 

Basha Kill Walks and Educational Programs:

These activities are crucial components of the BKAA’s core mission, which teaches others about the value of the Basha Kill, Shawangunk Ridge and surrounding areas, along with ways to safeguard these resources.

•   Jackie established the BKAA’s educational agenda for 2011 and assembled the experts who implemented it. Notably, heavy precipitation cancelled or severely curtailed “Spring Wildflowers” and “Blooms and Butterflies” with John Kenney as well as “Fall Warblers” with John Haas.

•   Our season began with Michael Medley leading cross-country ski outings along the D & H Canal towpath in January with 8 intrepid souls and February with 11 participants.  Next came Bob Fiore’s “Star Walk,” where 16 onlookers learned about the constellations.  Subsequently, Scott Graber and Michael piloted a huge Spring canoe/kayak flotilla involving 42 vessels.  John Haas, birder extraordinaire, escorted 20 followers on his “Peak Bird Migration” amble.  Later, Bill Cutler introduced 5 visitors to Basha Kill amphibians and reptiles.  Michael led 9 hikers up Gobbler’s Knob and ushered another 10 in late Summer along the Shawangunk Ridge overlooking Wurtsboro and its environs. Gary Keeton was extraordinarily prolific, educating over 40 attendees on two walks about D & H Canal history.  He also conveyed Basha Kill lore on a moonlight excursion with 30-40 individuals, and on a sunrise adventure with 3 early risers.  Our Fall Canoe/Kayak event, guided again by Scott Graber and Michael, encompassed 10-12 craft.  This season’s final activity was John Kenney’s “Tree and Shrub” walk with 6 participants.

•   October 29 - Two groups of 30 children (1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd graders) from the Homestead School in Glen Spey were escorted on a Basha Kill tour by Jackie Broder and Michael.

•   April 16 - The BKAA launched its 29^th Annual Basha Kill Cleanup with 65 volunteers.

•   May 25 - Ed Morse and Michael introduced Leadership Sullivan Class of 2011 members to the Basha Kill via a talk, enhanced by Jim Carney’s photographs, and an on site visit.

•   August 12 - Michael toured the wetlands with two families from Pennsylvania and Switzerland.

 

Nature Watch 2011

 

The ninth year of the BKAA’s Nature Watch volunteer program wrapped up over the 4th of July weekend.  If we take a look at the numbers, this year’s educational outreach program was a resounding success.  We had 40 dedicated volunteers who interacted with 1,391 visitors at the boat launch site on South Road during our 12 week season on week-ends from mid-April through the first weekend of July!  (This number of visitors was up from 1,102 in 2010).  When you look at these visitor numbers, remember that they represent only one small window of recreational usage of the Basha Kill. There are many other entry points to the Basha Kill, as well as other days and seasons when we are not collecting numbers.   

 

Our volunteers provided visitors with information about the Basha Kill’s plant and animal residents, focusing especially on the resident bald eagle pair and the nesting ospreys.  They also offered visitors information about local businesses and other points of interest in the area.  Speaking of volunteers, I can’t say enough about the Nature Watch volunteers.  They come to the Basha Kill from the immediate area but also from many points far and wide. Our volunteers travel from Stone Ridge, Parksville, Liberty, Woodridge, Pine Bush, Port Jervis, Barryville and from locations across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.  A first this year is one volunteer who even makes the trek from Long Island to cover his shift. These folks love the Basha Kill and love interacting with visitors to the wetland.  They show up, ready to cover their shifts in the drizzling rain and you know that we had rain this season!

 

The highlight of this season clearly was the main event - the capture and rehabilitation, followed by the successful release of the Basha Kill immature eagle after she had injured herself when first fledging.  You can read the details in the fall Guardian but suffice it to say that a team effort by a group of people, most especially by Bill Streeter and his staff at the Delaware Valley Raptor Center (DVRC), contributed to this success story.  For the first time in a number of years, the bald eagle pair raised only one young.  Volunteers and visitors alike watched the chick grow until she fledged the week before the 4^th of July weekend and unfortunately, quickly injured herself.  The team of volunteers, advisors and friends, made up of Gene Weinstein, John Haas, Michael Rider, another volunteer, Patricia Diness, Linda Lou Bartle, Louann Lewis and myself, was able to rescue the bird and get it to the DRVC on July 3^rd.    After five weeks of rehabilitation, Bill Streeter released her back to the Basha Kill where she has been occasionally seen flying and perching.  It’s an inspiring story of recovery for all.  Meantime, the ospreys raised and fledged their three young this year.

 

Another highlight of this year’s season was the training for volunteers in March which kicked off the program.  A group presentation by local naturalist Gary Keeton, Basha Kill birder extraordinaire John Haas and nature photographer Jim Carney was the centerpiece of the training.  The two Basha Kill experts shared a great deal of valuable information about the ecosystem of the wetland as they worked off of Jim’s beautiful photographs. 

 

Then at the end of September, for the third year, Nature Watch enjoyed a successful fundraising social in collaboration with Paul Deninno at his Basha Kill Vineyards.  Due to Paul’s great generosity and excellent wines, the enthusiasm of some 120 attendees and a wonderful presentation with live birds by Giselle Smisko of the Avian Wildlife Center in Wantage, NJ, we raised $2,405 for the general fund of the BKAA!   Giselle brought a screech owl, a red-tailed hawk, a red-bellied woodpecker, as well as a Baltimore oriole and a bluebird.   She captured the interest of a large and varied audience with these wonderful birds and with her many stories about them.  Kudos also to photographers, Linda Lou Bartle and Jim Carney, who generously  donated prints of this year’s immature Basha Kill bald eagle to the event’s raffle.  Linda Lou also donated one of her bald eagle paintings to the cause. These raffle items brought $455 into our coffers!  Tricia Davis of Goshen got first pick of the three items, Betty Titko-Fried of Rock Hill second pick and Maureen Cleere of Taverham, England took the final item.  

 

As fall comes on and the quiet of winter, Patricia Diness and I, who head up the Nature Watch Project, look forward to next year’s season with our outstanding group of volunteers at the Basha Kill.  Special thanks to our project partners, the Eagle Institute and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

 

Maryallison Farley

 

 

Other Outreach Events:

•   April 19 - The BKAA celebrated Earth Day at SUNY ORANGE in Middletown.  Paula attended.

•   April 29 - Paula represented the BKAA at Monticello High School Eco-Club’s sponsored Earth Day/Arbor Day Festival.

•   June 4 - Jon and Paula worked on the BKAA’s behalf at the Earth and Water Festival held at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery.

•   September 18 - Marcia, Jackie, and Paula represented the BKAA at “Earth Day in Autumn” at Bethel Woods.

 

Workshops:

•   December 13 - Jon and Paula attended a conference on “Water Resources and the Regional Economy” at SUNY New Paltz.

•   February 26 - Cathy Dawkins, Patricia Diness, and Jon attended workshops at Sullivan Renaissance’s Winter Expo, held at the CVI building in Ferndale.

•   April 10 - Jackie and Paula attended a Mohonk Consultations’ forum entitled “Communities in Transition-Local Strengths, Local Resilience.”

 

Field Guide to the Basha Kill:

•   “The Basha Kill Wetlands: a Field Guide” is a crucial publication educating readers about the wetlands while also generating excitement about this unique ecosystem

•   Guides can be purchased at the Bashakill Vineyards and Canal Towne Emporium in Wurtsboro; Morgan outdoors, Livingston Manor; an information venue on the Palisades Interstate Parkway, and online.

•   Publications are also available at all Sullivan County public libraries, Cragsmoor Free Library, Port Jervis Free Library, and SUNY ORANGE.

 

 

 

 

BKAA Brochure:

•   This brochure persists in being the most widely utilized BKAA public relations tool and, as such, possesses outstanding value for the organization.  It will undergo a third printing soon and hopefully include a detachable membership form.

 

Membership Chair/Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer:

•   These key Board functions were competently executed by Lorraine Haring, Susan Erny, and Monique Lipton.  Thanks for an amazing commitment of time and energy.  We also gratefully acknowledge the sensitivity, compassion, and reliability displayed by Marcia Briggs Wallace, who assumed membership chair responsibilities during Lorraine’s illness.

 

Publicity/thebashakill.org/Alerts/Facebook/The Guardian:

•   The BKAA particularly recognizes Susan O’Neill’s ongoing dedication as our public relations guru, writing and distributing all press releases.

•   Our website, www.thebashakill.org, produced by Arrow Web Designs, and Alerts were requisite communication modalities supplying updates on BKAA programs, and general news as well as rapidly galvanizing and organizing members when we were faced with impending threats. 

•   Thanks to Maryallison Farley for being the BKAA’s contact with Arrow Web.

•   Kudos to Hattie Grifo for excellently administering Action/Information Alerts.

•   A personal debt of gratitude to Jon Reed for fielding all BKAA emails, thereby keeping Paula “in touch” with the world (whether she liked it or not)!

•   The BKAA is now part of the Social Network, having a Facebook page ably administered by Linda Lou Bartle.

•   Special appreciation to Liberty Press for managing the Guardian’s online operation.

•   Buff McAllister’s value as Editor of the Guardian, a role she has tirelessly assumed for over 20 years, is inestimable.  Buff not only edits and types many articles, “putting the whole newsletter together,” she has also directs the mailing process. Her responsibility is magnified by the Guardian’s prominence as the BKAA’s primary connection to our members.

 

BKAA Consultants:

•   Since most projects that consumed BKAA resources were on hiatus this past year, the BKAA experienced minimal contact with our “technical team” except for engineer Andy Willingham, whose efforts relating to Yukiguni Maitake were unfailingly excellent.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Paula Medley,

President