1. Presented by Insert your name, title, and district Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation Districts Volunteer Streamwalk Program Developed by the Westchester County Department of Planning and the Westchester County Soil & Water Conservation District

2. The Lower Hudson River Watershed

3. Counties Participating in Streamwalk Program Albany County Albany County Dutchess County Dutchess County Greene County Greene County Orange County Orange County Putnam County Putnam County Rensselaer County Rensselaer County Westchester County Westchester County

4. Watershed Facts 3.4 Million Acres which includes all or parts of 11 New York Counties 3.4 Million Acres which includes all or parts of 11 New York Counties Contains 152 Stormwater MS4 Communities from a total of 437 for NY State Contains 152 Stormwater MS4 Communities from a total of 437 for NY State

5. Watershed Issues l Development pressure l Stormwater management l Erosion and sedimentation l Biological diversity protection l Habitat restoration l Community character l Economic sustainability

6. Primary Watershed Pollutants Nonpoint Source Pollution l Sediment l Nutrients (Fertilizer) l Toxics (Petroleum, Pesticide) l Heavy Metals l Pathogens (Coliform)

7. Implementation of Water Quality Protection Measures Watershed Planning Technical Assessment of Natural Features, Land Uses and Water Quality Public Education and Outreach

8. Planning Process l Assessment What is happening to our Streams? l Planning What needs to be done? l Implementation How will we get there? l Evaluation Did we make it?

9. What is a Streamwalk?

10. Volunteer Streamwalk Program Assessment: A one time evaluation to describe existing conditions Monitoring: Repeated evaluations to describe trends or changes in condition Assessment vs Monitoring

11. Volunteer Streamwalk Program l Biological l Chemical l Physical Types of Stream Assessments The Streamwalk Program is a Hybrid of all Three

12. Earth Team Volunteer Program l USDA/NRCS l Environmental Projects l Age 14 and up l Insurance

13. Volunteer Streamwalk Program l Earth Team Volunteer Application l Maps l Segment Survey Forms l Score Sheets l Impaired Site Assessment Forms l Public Outreach and Information Materials l Equipment Components of a Streamwalk Packet

14. Volunteer Streamwalk Program l Segment Survey: Used to describe the overall characteristics of a stream segment l Impaired Site Assessment: Used to describe the characteristics of an impairment (specific site of degradation) Survey Forms

15. Volunteer Streamwalk Program l 12 Stream Elements to Rate/Score l Range of Scores 10 (best condition) to 0 (worse condition) l Score Only Elements Relevant to Stream l Total Values of all Elements Assessed l Divide Total by Number of Elements = Raw Score l Compare Raw Score to Stream Condition Rating (excellent to poor) Rating Your Stream

16. LAND USE

20. CHANNEL CONDITION

25. HYDROLOGY

26. Debris hanging from branches is evidence of recent flooding.

29. RIPARIAN ZONE

34. BANK STABILITY

38. WATER APPEARANCE

41. NUTRIENT ENRICHMENT

46. BARRIERS TO FISH MOVEMENT

50. INSTREAM FISH COVER

55. POOLS

60. INSECT/INVERTEBRATE HABITAT

63. CANOPY COVER

67. EMBEDDEDNESS

70. IMPAIRMENTS

78. Your name and contact information phone: (999) 999-9999 e-mail: SURVEYS DUE AUGUST 31st Andrew J. Spano, Westchester County Executive Your District name and logo