The 5th annual Creek Week was held September 13 -21, 2014. This event was co-sponsored by Ulster County Environmental Management Council and Ulster County Department of the Environment.  Other collaborators include the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, the Lower Esopus Watershed Partnership, and Riverkeeper.

Recap of  

2014 Ulster County Creek Week

 

September 13 

Falling Waters Preserve Hike

John Burroughs Slabsides Geology Ramble

Tugboats: Workhorses of the Hudson River

Kayak Tour of the Lower Esopus Creek

Saturday Night Sunset on the Walkway

September 14

Warner Creek Stream Walk

Creek Week on the Rondout: Jump in it, Don’t Dump in it!

September 16

Esopus Creek Critters…Creepy, Crawly, and Critically Important

September 17-18

Water Resources Infrastructure: A Critical Piece of Community Development

September 20

Kingston Fall Foliage Morning Kayak Tour

Tugboats: Workhorses of the Hudson River

Hudson River Lighthouse to Lighthouse Challenge

Sunset Seining and Song

September 21

Kids Fishing Day at Ashokan Reservoir

September 27 – Native Pollinators Workshop

10AM – 1PM; Frost Valley Model Farm, Denning

Did you know that the mining bee deposits 2 to 3 times more pollen than honeybees per apple blossom visit? And that many native bees are solitary nesters dependent on undisturbed soil to find a suitable home? Or that squash bees actually sleep in the flowers they pollinate? How about the power of 250 mason bees, which can efficiently pollinate an acre of apple trees; while that same acre could require the services of nearly 40,000 honeybees?  Join the Rondout Neversink Stream Program at Frost Valley YMCA Education Farm to learn more about the fascinating world of native pollinators from educator Tim Stanley on Saturday, September 27 from 10am-1pm.

According to the pollinator-friendly Xerces Society (xerces.org), native pollinators are essential to our environment, serving as a keystone species in most terrestrial ecosystems. Fruits and seeds derived from insect pollination are a major part of the diet of approximately 25 percent of all birds, and a wide range of mammals from voles to bears. In many  places, this essential service by pollinators is at risk from habitat loss, pesticide us and introduced diseases.

“The single most cost- effective step landowners can take in protecting their stream bank is to stop mowing to the edge of the river and allow the riparian area to develop plant root systems stronger than what a  lawn provides,” says Stacie Howell, Catskill Streams Buffer Coordinator in Denning and Neversink.  But there’s more: roughly 70% of bee species build nests underground – we can encourage them by providing forage and conserving sandy soil and bare ground. Roughly 30% nest in hollow plant stems, or old beetle borer holes – by conserving snags, brush piles and pithy stemmed plants, we give them places to thrive.  Behavior of native pollinator species will be covered in the workshop, so participants can understand that the worst case scenario of “roughing up your buffer” is increasing the diversity of flowering trees, shrubs and wildflower blossoms while increasing habitat opportunities for these helpful streamside denizens.

The presenter, Tim Stanley, is Environmental Education Coordinator at The Fresh Air Fund’s Sharpe Environmental Center and a Master Natural with Cornell Cooperative Extension, who founded the Native Beeology field guide and website to promote a greater understanding of native pollinators. A graduate of SUNY ESF, Stanley served as a Forest Ranger for the Maryland Forest Service, where he taught Smokey Bear programs, prepared high school students to compete in Envirothon and worked with landowners to create stream-side buffers.  He also serves as President of the NY State Outdoor Education Association.

Frost Valley YMCA Education Farm is located at 2849 Denning Road, Denning NY. There is no cost for this workshop, which is co-sponsored by Frost Valley YMCA and Rondout Neversink Stream Program, a project of Sullivan County Soil & Water Conservation District funded by NYC Department of Environmental Protection. 845-985-2581; http://www.sullivanswcd.org

 

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Archive of the 2013 Events

“Rivers on Drugs” (presentation)

Family Day at the HRMM! 

Say No to Knotweed! ID & Control of Invasive Japanese Knotweed for Landowners 

Hudson River Morning Kayak Tour

Rondout Creek Clean-Up…by Boat

Kayak Tour of the Tidal Lower Esopus

 

Weekend Volunteer Restoration Workday – Black Creek Preserve

Hudson River Evening Kayak Tour

Youth Fishing Frenzy 

Gear-Cleaning Demonstration: Do your Part to Help Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

 

“Sailing the Belle Aventure” (presentation)

Esopus Creek Critters…Creepy, Crawly, and Critically Important

Catskill Native Plant Society Hike

Kayak Tour, Esopus Bend Nature Preserve

 

Minnewaska Wonders: Mine Hole Waterfall and Point Lookout Hike

Kids Fishing Day at the Ashokan Reservoir

Rosendale Fishing Day on the Rondout Creek

Climate Change at the LOCAL Level (presentation)

 

2012 CREEK WEEK RECAP:

The 3nd annual Creek Week was co-sponsored by Ulster County Environmental Management Council and Ulster County Department of the Environment.  Other collaborators for this year’s Creek Week included the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program, the Lower Esopus Watershed Partnership, and Riverkeeper.

 The Ulster County Department of Environment and the Environmental Management Council believe that an annual Creek Week will better connect people to our fantastic Ulster County environment – particularly our watersheds and water resources. We hope that people use these events to learn more about what is just outside their door, learn something about how they can protect or improve the environment, enjoy time outside with friends and family, and to have fun.