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The Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District (GCSWCD) is a county-level, political subdivision of New York State dedicated to the best management of natural resources. Located in southeastern NY, Greene County is home to the northernmost Catskill high peaks and is bordered on the east by the Hudson River. Since its inception, the GCSWCD has developed a diverse conservation program to address local needs, and assist landowners, local municipalities as well as state and federal agencies in their conservation efforts.
Office Hours are 8am-4:30pm, Monday - Friday
Schoharie Reservoir Watershed
The Schoharie Reservoir was created through the damming of Schoharie Creek. The Schoharie Reservoir watershed includes portions of 12 towns in Greene, Delaware, and Schoharie Counties – with the Greene County towns making up the majority of the Watershed. The GCSWCD administers two programs that help Schoharie Reservoir watershed municipalities and landowners secure technical assistance and grant funding:
Schoharie Watershed Stream Management Program (SWSMP): Established in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in 1996, this program seeks to advance state-of-the-art watershed management projects, policies, and programs to improve and protect streams within the Schoharie Reservoir watershed. Initiatives for municipalities and landowners overseen by the SWSMP include:
Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative (CSBI) | Stream Management Implementation Program (SMIP) | Schoharie Watershed Advisory Committee (SWAC) | Education & Outreach | Stream & Floodplain Restoration Projects | Stream & Watershed Assessments | Stream Management Plans | SWSMP Action Plans
Watershed Assistance Program (WAP): Established in 2002, the WAP provides additional assistance to municipalities and landowners within the Schoharie Reservoir watershed region. The WAP advocates sustainable economic development and a proactive approach to watershed management.
Agriculture
Since its inception in 1961, the GCSWCD has had a strong involvement in providing technical assistance to Greene County agricultural producers. In recent years, the type of agriculture in Greene County has changed with fewer dairy operators. However, there has been an increase in smaller niche and part-time operators, maintaining a viable agricultural presence in the county. The GCSWCD continues to consider the agricultural community a priority client, and works with a wide variety of local, state, and federal agencies to provide support and funding to local operators. Along with technical assistance to Greene County agricultural producers, GCSWCD facilitates participation in the NYS Agricultural Assessment Program and NYS Agricultural Environmental Management. There are many other agricultural programs available through local, state, and federal agencies.
Cohotate Preserve
450 Rte 385, Athens, NY 12414 | Brochure | AllTrails
In 1990, GCSWCD initiated the development of an environmental education center on the banks of the Hudson River. Utilizing a 52.4-acre parcel donated to Greene County by The Nature Conservancy in the 1970s, the District drafted a phased development plan and worked to secure grants from a variety of sources. The Preserve provides access to the Hudson River shoreline and the property is characterized by several distinct forest types, tidal wetlands, rolling hills as well as steep slopes near the river.
In 1996, the District entered into a partnership with Columbia Greene Community College (CGCC) to undertake the development of an Environmental Field Station which could support the college's programs as well as be used by other environmental education organizations. In 1998, the District constructed a pond and wetland area in the preserve. Located on the upper portion of the property, the pond increases educational opportunities at the Preserve and provides more variation in habitat - encouraging greater species diversity.
Today, the Cohotate Preserve has Hudson River frontage for the public to enjoy. The Preserve is open year-round for hiking, snowshoeing, and plant and wildlife viewing. Trails include interpretive signs to inform visitors about birds, wildlife, and forest habitats. Bring your sense of curiosity, as you picnic on the remains of an ice house foundation at the river's edge, or watch for bald eagles and great blue herons from one of the several observation platforms.
Bare Root Plant Sale
Each spring, GCSWCD offers a variety of bare root conifer and deciduous seedlings for use in conservation planting. These native plants are available at a low cost for conservation purposes. They also add to the beauty of your property! This sale offers a variety of habitat enhancement products at an excellent value. Choose from trees, shrubs, edible fruit plants, perennials, and wildflower seed mixes. Organic compost and fertilizer tablets are also available.
Education
Educational Models Available for Demonstrations
GCSWCD offers free classroom visits to schools within Greene County and the Schoharie Reservoir watershed. We have three key models in our education toolkit: the Wards® floodplain model, the EnviroScape® watershed model and the Augmented Reality Sandbox. Each provides an interactive and engaging way for students to learn about the importance of watersheds, water conservation, and environmental sustainability. These demonstrations are flexible and can be adapted to suit your specific grade level and curriculum requirements. We believe that hands-on experiences are invaluable in the learning process, and our watershed science model demonstrations offer a fun and memorable way for students to connect with the subject matter.
Also find GCSWCD's booth at the Greene County Youth Fair held each July for an opportunity to learn about streams at the stream table, or participate in some conservation arts and crafts!
The Schoharie Watershed Summit (Summit) is a one-day conference that was developed to serve as a forum that brings a diverse set of Watershed stakeholders together to network, learn, and share interests with one another. With morning presentations, followed by aternoon training sessions, the Summit offers community members the opportunity to hear about relevant studies and projects, while simultaneously providing local officials, with training opportunities that fulfill annual training requirements. The program is offered free of charge and draws attendees from each of the municipalities – across three counties – within the Schoharie basin.
Erosion & Sediment Control Training
The Four-Hour Erosion & Sediment Control Training is a required course for certain contractors, subcontractors, consultants, and other qualified individuals that will be involved with the implementation of the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan on a construction site that has coverage under a NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) State Pollution Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity.
