Public Workshop for the Draft Stream Management Plan

December 5th, 2023

Let your voice be heard for the future of the Lower Esopus Creek!

Join Ulster County and the Lower Esopus Creek Advisory Council for a community workshop, hosted both in-person and virtually, on Tuesday, December 5 to learn more about the current conditions of the Lower Esopus Creek and hear updates about the Stream Management Plan, which is currently under development.

The workshop will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM both in-person at the Ulster County Restorative Justice Center, 733 Broadway, Kingston, NY, 12401, as well as on Zoom.

Please indicate which workshop format you plan to attend (in-person or virtual) when registering.

Walkshop, August 31st

Join Ulster County for a community walkshop—a walking workshop—at the Marbletown Town Park to discuss the Stream Management Plan for the Lower Esopus Creek. Share your thoughts and input to help shape the Plan, which will be a guide to protect and enhance the creek.

WHERE: MARBLETOWN TOWN PARK
350 Tongore Road, Kingston, NY 12401

WHEN: THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 10:30-11:30 AM
Rain or shine
(in case of severe inclement weather the event will be held on Thursday, September 7)

Please register in advance (recommended but not required)

Public Survey for Stream Management Plan

We invite you to take a survey to help shape our community’s vision for the lower Esopus Creek. Take the online survey and offer your views on issues like recreational access, natural habitats, and educational opportunities. Ulster County and an advisory council of local organizations are collaborating on a Stream Management Plan for the Lower Esopus. Public input is an important part of the planning process. The public survey is available here: https://loweresopussmp-ulstercounty.hub.arcgis.com/pages/survey

For reference, here is an interactive map of the lower Esopus Creek: https://loweresopussmp-ulstercounty.hub.arcgis.com/datasets/ulstercounty::lower-esopus-mainstem/explore

Proposed changes to Ashokan release protocol

NYCDEP has requested a modification to the Ashokan Reservoir Interim Release Protocol (IRP).  High level changes include:

  1. the removal of the protocol to allow for Operational Releases;
  2. Modification of the Spill Mitigation Release Protocol which would require DEP to reduce the discharge to the Community Release levels should the turbidity of the Release Channel discharge meets or exceeds 20 NTU.  However, language has also been included to allow Ulster County to submit a written request to DEC and DEP for DEP to continue or restart discharge mitigation releases to achieve the void target as identified in the Conditional Seasonal Storage Objective (CSSO) when the turbidity meets or exceeds 20 NTU.

Comments can be submitted before November 2nd to:

Ken Kosinski, P.E.
Director, Bureau of Flood Protection and Dam Safety
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233

Draft Ashokan Interim Release Protocol

JOIN US for an information session

DEP and towns along the lower Esopus Creek will co-host a public information session on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. The meeting will happen at the Frank D. Greco Memorial Senior Center in Saugerties, at 207 Market Street. DEP will share information about Ashokan Reservoir, its operations during the ongoing Catskill Aqueduct shutdown, and an overview of the rules that currently govern releases from the reservoir. Those in attendance will also learn about helpful tools for creekside residents, including real-time gage data that can be found online.

Registration is required for in-person attendance at the senior center. You can register at the following link: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=zl6cbwuab&oeidk=a07eisnopqi82676906

The info session will be broadcast live online for those who want watch but cannot attend in person. The following link will take you to the broadcast on the night of the meeting: https://cantineveteranscomplex.webex.com/cantineveteranscomplex/j.php?MTID=mdb23091ef19fbeb0854eb25ed50201af

Public hearing March 3rd, comment period extended

A second public hearing on the permit application and the Draft EIS, including Ashokan Reservoir operations and releases, will be held at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, through the Webex Events electronic webinar platform. For instructions for attending the hearing, visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/122281.html

The deadline for written comments has been extended to June 16, 2021. All interested parties may submit written comment concerning the Draft EIS and permit applications to the DEC Contact Person listed below by June 16, 2021. Comments sent by regular mail must be postmarked no later than June 16, 2021. E-mail comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. June 16, 2021.

DEC CONTACT PERSON: Kristen Cady-Poulin, Environmental Analyst, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233, Phone: 518-402-9167, E-mail: DEPPermitting@dec.ny.gov

For more information, please visit the DEC website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/enb/122281.html

Public review and comment period for ashokan releases

Available for Public Review and Comment: Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Modification of the CATALUM SPDES Permit, and Draft Permit. This includes Proposed Action in Lower Esopus Creek as part of the revised Ashokan Reservoir Release Protocol. Written public comments will be accepted on the Draft EIS until March 16, 2021. A virtual public comment hearing on the permit application and the Draft EIS will be held before at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 4, 2021, through the Webex Events electronic webinar platform. Information on how to provide public comment and participate in the Virtual Public comment hearing can be found here.