Watershed Planning
The devastating effects of all the high water events in 2011 harshly reminded people of the damage flood waters can cause. Yet the river is not just a monster to be tamed, if such is even possible, it is also a source of joy and inspiration. Watershed management planning is the way the people of the five Townships in the Boquet River’s watershed can cooperate together to help protect our communities’ roads, bridges, businesses and homes as well as to achieve many other goals including economic development, community enhancement, government efficiency, improving recreational opportunities and restoring the environment.
The first Boquet River watershed plan was drawn up in 1984. One goal of the initial plan was to create the Boquet River Association to facilitate the achievement of the other goals in the plan. Over the years since, BRASS and its many partners have conducted scientific studies of the river, stabilized stream banks, planted hundreds of thousands of trees and bushes, and established fishing access sites, and much, much more. The original goals in the 1984 plan continue to help guide our efforts but, after 28 years, it is necessary to update the plan in order to focus our continuing efforts on what people want and need now and also to qualify for funding from sources that now require the existence of an up-to-date community-based watershed management plan.
The actual process of watershed planning begins with the creation of an Advisory Committee. The Boquet River’s Advisory Committee is made up of Town-appointed representatives from the five watershed Townships, interested and concerned residents, many local organizations and county and state agencies. The Advisory Committee acts like a steering committee to guide and inform the process. BRASS acts like the committee’s staff person. For example, BRASS will schedule the committee’s meetings, organize, publicize, and facilitate public input, take notes, gather information, organize data, and help compile and print the plan the Advisory Committee develops.
The initial stage of the planning process requires the Advisory Committee to gather all the currently available information to characterize and describe the river and its watershed. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data is organized into maps describing soils, erosion potential, forests, pastures, farms, and built up areas, floodplains, wetlands, fishing access sites and easements, culverts, bridges, etc. Gaps in our knowledge about the river and its communities, both human and wild, are noted for future studies. Even as this information gathering stage is progressing, the second stage will begin. BRASS will help inform watershed communities about the process while seeking wider public participation to help the Advisory Committee understand what the people who live here really want as the focus and goals of their watershed plan. With an understanding of the river’s watershed and what the people of our five townships need and want in their plan, the Advisory Committee will develop a specific list of prioritized projects as a guideline for future action. If the five township governments then approve the goals of the plan, BRASS and its partners will be able to approach a wide variety of private and public funding sources with the support of our communities and the proper tool we need to justify the projects we’ve identified.
Nowadays, an updated Boquet River Watershed Management Plan is a necessary document to have.
This project is funded by the New York State Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. The grant was awarded to the Town of Westport and BRASS is managing the grant on behalf of the town.
Watershed Planning
The devastating effects of all the high water events in 2011 harshly reminded people of the damage flood waters can cause. Yet the river is not just a monster to be tamed, if such is even possible, it is also a source of joy and inspiration. Watershed management planning is the way the people of the five Townships in the Boquet River’s watershed can cooperate together to help protect our communities’ roads, bridges, businesses and homes as well as to achieve many other goals including economic development, community enhancement, government efficiency, improving recreational opportunities and restoring the environment.
The first Boquet River watershed plan was drawn up in 1984. One goal of the initial plan was to create the Boquet River Association to facilitate the achievement of the other goals in the plan. Over the years since, BRASS and its many partners have conducted scientific studies of the river, stabilized stream banks, planted hundreds of thousands of trees and bushes, and established fishing access sites, and much, much more. The original goals in the 1984 plan continue to help guide our efforts but, after 28 years, it is necessary to update the plan in order to focus our continuing efforts on what people want and need now and also to qualify for funding from sources that now require the existence of an up-to-date community-based watershed management plan.
The actual process of watershed planning begins with the creation of an Advisory Committee. The Boquet River’s Advisory Committee is made up of Town-appointed representatives from the five watershed Townships, interested and concerned residents, many local organizations and county and state agencies. The Advisory Committee acts like a steering committee to guide and inform the process. BRASS acts like the committee’s staff person. For example, BRASS will schedule the committee’s meetings, organize, publicize, and facilitate public input, take notes, gather information, organize data, and help compile and print the plan the Advisory Committee develops.
The initial stage of the planning process requires the Advisory Committee to gather all the currently available information to characterize and describe the river and its watershed. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data is organized into maps describing soils, erosion potential, forests, pastures, farms, and built up areas, floodplains, wetlands, fishing access sites and easements, culverts, bridges, etc. Gaps in our knowledge about the river and its communities, both human and wild, are noted for future studies. Even as this information gathering stage is progressing, the second stage will begin. BRASS will help inform watershed communities about the process while seeking wider public participation to help the Advisory Committee understand what the people who live here really want as the focus and goals of their watershed plan. With an understanding of the river’s watershed and what the people of our five townships need and want in their plan, the Advisory Committee will develop a specific list of prioritized projects as a guideline for future action. If the five township governments then approve the goals of the plan, BRASS and its partners will be able to approach a wide variety of private and public funding sources with the support of our communities and the proper tool we need to justify the projects we’ve identified.
Nowadays, an updated Boquet River Watershed Management Plan is a necessary document to have.
This project is funded by the New York State Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. The grant was awarded to the Town of Westport and BRASS is managing the grant on behalf of the town.