Cooperation urged on water quality
CROGHAN — Creators of the Black River Watershed Management Plan are encouraging local leaders to use it collectively to enhance the region's water quality.
"This is one of the projects I see the most potential for," Andrew J. Raus, principal planner with Bergmann Associates, Rochester, said during the unveiling of the plan Wednesday at the American Maple Museum.
Mr. Raus commended area leaders for their cooperation in developing the watershed plan and said he expects that will continue into the implementation phase.
"This is your project," he said. "We're just here to help you get it done."
The Black River watershed encompasses 1.2 million acres in Lewis, Jefferson, Herkimer, Oneida and Hamilton counties, including the city of Watertown, 37 towns and 18 villages.
"Watersheds know no political boundaries," said Ken Avery from Bergmann Associates.
The consultants recommend that a Black River Watershed Conference be held annually to discuss watershed issues and collaborate on ways to improve water quality.
They also suggest that local leaders form an implementation team that could develop monitoring programs, set up a work plan and communicate positive results, plus evaluate the need for a watershed coordinator.
A memorandum of understanding, indicating a willingness to share information and work collectively to protect and restore Black River water quality, has been signed by 17 of the 56 municipalities, and Bergmann representatives encouraged more to sign on.
The consultants also recommended implementing a five-year action plan with the following general initiatives: conducting a detailed study for high-priority areas, encouraging community service for water-quality projects, developing educational workshops for municipal employees, setting up a local invasive species response program and reducing livestock access to streams in high-priority areas.
The study identified the lower Black River, essentially from Carthage to Lake Ontario, and the Mill Creek Basin in and around Lowville as the highest priority areas, the former because of the high population density and the latter because of the high concentration of agricultural use.
The 470-page plan also includes specific recommendations for each municipality and other groups of stakeholders, including local agencies, farmers, recreational users and residents in general.
The Lewis County Soil and Water Conservation District has served as project manager for the four-year-old plan development, while the town of Greig is the sponsoring municipality. The Tug Hill Commission and state Department of Environmental Conservation also worked with the district on the project.
Plan development was funded primarily through the state Department of State with assistance from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Beaver River/Black River Advisory Council and member items obtained through state Sen. Joseph A. Griffo, R-Rome.
Kevin Millington, coastal resources specialist with the state Department of State, said Wednesday that the same grant program that helped pay for the study will be available to fund implementation projects designed to improve the watershed. "I expect this to be a long-term relationship," he said.
"This plan really does represent just the starting point," said Judy Drabicki, regional DEC director.
More information is available on the project Web site, and the entire plan will likely be posted there some time in April.
ON THE NET
Black River Watershed
Management Plan:
www.blackriverstudy.org
