Field & Stream Magazine Recognizes Friends of the Upper Delaware River For River Project

Field & Stream, the world’s leading outdoor magazine, has endorsed a river access project on the West Branch of the Delaware River.

The magazine gave Friends of the Upper Delaware River (FUDR) its “Hero for a Day” award in connection with the project to improve public access to the river and create a park.

Last year, a local landowner donated more than 350’ of riverfront property at 24 Laurel Ave. in Deposit to FUDR, a nonprofit conservation group. FUDR has worked to improve habitat and create parking at the site, providing new access to the river for trout fishermen, birdwatchers, and the community.

On Saturday, June 1, volunteers helped clear paths from the newly graveled parking area to the river, install guardrails, and help construct a handicap-accessible platform at the site.

FUDR Chairman Dan Plummer said a number of businesses donated time and work to the project. They include Watson Engineering of Owego, Catskill Region Surveying Services of Fleischmanns, and Wheeler Excavating of Deposit. Kelly Gutshall of Landstudies Inc. of Lititz, Penn., designed the park.

Many volunteers turned out to help, including several Trout Unlimited chapters, Theodore Gordon Flyfishers and staffers from local restaurants. The Koo Koose, a Deposit restaurant owned by Steve Lutz, donated lunch for the volunteers.

FUDR Offers Help, Urges Quick Repairs For Flood-Damaged PA Boat Launches

Hancock, N.Y.—Two busy boat launches on the West Branch of the Delaware River are closed after sustaining heavy damage during flooding in late June, and a river advocacy group is urging government officials to repair and reopen the sites as quickly as possible.

The public access sites on the Pennsylvania side of the river at Shehawken and Balls Eddy were damaged by flooding from recent relentless rains, including as much as 5 inches in some locales during a deluge on June 27 and 28.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission closed the sites due to the damage to both the parking areas and launch ramps. Friends of the Upper Delaware River has asked the agency to make their restoration a priority.

"These sites are critically important for public access and to the local economy,” said Jeff Skelding, executive director of FUDR, a nonprofit conservation group that acts as a river watchdog. “We need these access sites repaired quickly, and FUDR has already offered our assistance to Pennsylvania authorities.”

The access points offer parking for both boaters and wading fishermen. They are used frequently by the many commercial guide services that operate in the area, attracting tourists who frequent local restaurants and motels.

The Balls Eddy access ramp is located off Penn-York Road just north of Starlight, Penn. The Shehawken access is across the river from Hancock at the intersection of Pennsylvania routes 191 and 370. Shehawken is just upstream from the famous Junction Pool, where the West Branch joins the East Branch to form the Main Stem of the Delaware River.

FUDR has assisted in several Delaware River repair projects in recent years, and it is the sponsor of ongoing stream restoration projects near Hancock. 

“These sorts of storms are happening with increasing frequency and intensity,” said Skelding. “The recent damage at Balls Eddy and Shehawken illustrates the importance of protecting and restoring our streams and rivers. Smart repairs to these sites and a preventative approach to river management upstream can mitigate damage in the inevitable future flood events."

Friends of the Upper Delaware River Establish New Riverside Park

Friends of the Upper Delaware River Partners with Deposit, NY
To Establish New Riverside Park

A crew of more than 60 volunteers turned out on June 1 to help create the new Friends of the Upper Delaware River Park on the West Branch in Deposit.

The volunteers, including members of Future Farmers of America from Walton Central School and other students from Sidney, removed debris and deadwood, cleared vegetation and broke trails at the site, which runs along 350 feet of riverfront on Laurel Avenue in the village.

A local landowner who wanted to open the spot up for public enjoyment donated the property to FUDR, a nonprofit conservation group. When completed, the park will include hiking trails, picnic tables, benches and a viewing platform that will provide access for the physically challenged.

FUDR Park will provide a new access point to the river for trout fishermen, birdwatchers and others, said Jeff Skelding, executive director of Friends of the Upper Delaware River.

“River access is desperately needed in the Upper Delaware River system,” Skelding said. “The best way to educate people about the importance of this river is to give them a bird’s eye view of its beauty. The river not only provides a variety of recreational opportunities like fishing, boating, hiking and bird-watching. It also contributes to the economic vitality of Delaware County, attracting tens of thousands visitors each year.”

The volunteers included a number of Deposit residents as well as members of Trout Unlimited , Theodore Gordon Flyfishers and the Wild Trout Flyrodders.

“Special thanks go to Deposit Mayor John O’Connor,” said Dan Plummer, FUDR’s board chairman. “He was the first guy to arrive and the last to leave.”

The riverside transformation attracted the attention of Field & Stream magazine, which selected the Deposit project and Friends of the Upper Delaware River for its “Hero for a Day” conservation program. A film crew from the magazine spent the day documenting the work of the conservation volunteers.

Plummer said a number of local and regional businesses donated materials and services, and others donated lunch for the volunteers. Participating businesses included BC Pizza & More, Butterfields Café and Koo Koose Grille, all of Deposit; the Bluestone Grill of Hancock; Catskill Region Surveying Services of Fleischmanns; Landstudies Inc. of Lititz, Penn.; Schaefer Enterprises of Deposit; Watson Engineering of Owego; Wheeler Excavating of Deposit, and Wist Lumber of Deposit.

“I want to especially recognize Wheeler Excavating,” said Plummer. “Even though Donny Wheeler says he is ‘not feeling 100 percent these days,’ he stepped up to help get the park ready for use. Donny sent his grandson Steve Deinhard to do the heavy lifting this project needed to get off the ground.”

Upper Delaware Council Names 2013 Honorees

The Upper Delaware Council, Inc. (UDC) will honor those that have enhanced the quality of life or protected the resources of the Upper Delaware River Valley at its 25th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday, April 28.

Reservations at $27 per person are due by April 19 for the banquet that will take place at The Lackawaxen Inn, 188 Scenic Drive, Lackawaxen, PA. Seating is open.

A reception with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar begins at 3 p.m., during which guests may view a UDC silver anniversary photo retrospective on loop.

A hearty buffet dinner served at 4 p.m. will include roast beef and turkey carving stations, chicken marsala, lemon pepper filet of sole, garlic mussels, pork loin with mushroom gravy, baked penne, meatballs in marinara sauce, sausage & peppers, a variety of potatoes, vegetables, salads, breads, and desserts, including a 25th anniversary cake.

Historian George J. Fluhr of Shohola, PA will offer an address, “UDC: A Quarter-Century of Partnership”, at 5 p.m. prior to the presentation of awards. There will also be special greetings and a souvenir item offered to commemorate the 25-year milestone.

The UDC will honor the following recipients of 10 awards:

Distinguished Service Award – Dr. Peter Kolesar (Yulan, NY) and James A. Serio (Hancock, NY), for their volunteer research and advocacy to develop a protocol for increased coldwater releases to improve the habitat for Upper Delaware River fisheries.

Partnership Award – Water Safety Campaign for the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, coordinated by the National Park Service, National Canoe Safety Patrol, and Stuart Communications of Narrowsburg, NY as a multi-faceted initiative started in 2012 to eliminate or reduce river fatalities.

Recreation Achievement Award – Trailkeeper.org and “Take a Hike!” Trails of the Upper Delaware River Valley” projects, for developing new resources to facilitate and promote hiking as a public recreational activity.

Community Service Award – Delaware River Youth Education Program by the Hancock Community Education Foundation, for educating 5th-9th graders on environmental issues that affect natural resources in the Upper Delaware River Valley to foster a conservation ethic.

Cultural Achievement Award – Sullivan County Historical Society and the Sullivan County Division of Public Works’ Department of Parks, Recreation & Beautification, for sponsoring annual commemorations of the Revolutionary War 1779 Battle of Minisink at Sullivan County’s Minisink Battleground Park in Minisink Ford.

Volunteer Award – Jerold Yavarkovsky of Lake Huntington, NY, for selfless service to the Town of Cochecton’s Zoning Board of Appeals, Cochecton Youth Commission, Cochecton Preservation Society, literacy and academic causes, and other good works.

Special Recognition Awards (3) – Susan Beecher of Milford, PA for her outstanding contributions to Pike County, PA as manager/director of the Pike County Conservation District from 1989-2012; Gary Letcher of Ashton, MD, for releasing a revamped, third edition of his indispensable book, “A Paddler’s Guide to the Delaware River”, in February of 2012; and David B. Soete of Honesdale, PA, for his dedication to the Upper Delaware Council as senior resource specialist from 1989-2012 and ongoing photography contributions.

Oaken Gavel Award – Nadia Rajsz, supervisor of the Town of Lumberland, NY, for her leadership and service as Upper Delaware Council chairperson in 2012.

All are welcome. A downloadable reservation form is available at www.upperdelawarecouncil.org.

Those who are unable to attend but would like to support the non-profit UDC’s river conservation efforts and help offset costs of this banquet are encouraged to become sponsors at $25.

Sponsors will be recognized in the banquet program and in the UDC’s Fall/Winter 2013 newsletter issue, “The Upper Delaware”. Please submit a $25 donation by check payable to “UDC” or cash by April 19.

For more information, please contact the Upper Delaware Council at P.O. Box 192, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY 12764; phone (845) 252-3022; e-mail info@upperdelawarecouncil.org.

One Bug on the Upper Delaware River

April 26th through 28th, 2013 marks the dates of the 6th Annual One Bug fly fishing tournament put on by the Friends of the Upper Delaware River as a fund raiser to benefit the river system.

To date, this event has funded spawning tributary restoration and several bank stabilization projects on the system. Please come out and have a good time and join with friends to  protect, preserve and enhance the ecosystem and cold-water fishery of the Upper Delaware River System and to address any environmental threats to our area for the benefit of local communities, residents and visitors to the region. 

Check out http://fudr.org/ for more information.

11 REPRESENTATIVES INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN THE DELAWARE RIVER BASIN

Legislation makes habitat, water quality and flood control improvements

WASHINGTON — A group of 11 bipartisan representatives from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey today introduced legislation to improve restoration and conservation efforts in the Delaware River Basin. With competitive grants to incentivize public-private partnerships and improved coordination among stakeholders, the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act will improve habitat, water quality and flood control for fish, wildlife and people. 

Despite its estimated $26 billion economic impact on the region annually, Delaware River restoration efforts receive very limited federal resources compared to similar watersheds across the country. The legislation creates the Delaware River Restoration Program within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and authorizes a competitive grant program and technical assistance to leverage federal resources available to the basin. 

Grant applications that demonstrate collaboration between organizations, universities, and governments will be more likely to receive funding. The federal share of the cost of a project can be no more than 50 percent, incentivizing applicants to seek out significant private investment to match the federal commitment. 

The legislation will not add to the current budget deficit, as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will use its existing budget to implement the provisions of the legislation. 

The following members of Congress signed onto the bill as original co-sponsors: 

      · Representative John Carney (D-DE)

· Representative Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
· Representative Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)
· Representative Rob Andrews (D-NJ)
· Representative Chris Gibson (R-NY)
· Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ)
· Representative Pat Meehan (R-PA)
· Representative Jon Runyan (R-NJ)
· Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA)
· Representative Charlie Dent (R-PA)
· Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

“Since our state sits at the mouth of the Delaware River, we are highly invested in the overall health of the basin, which provides our region with an abundance of resources, from drinking water to wildlife,” said Congressman John Carney (D-DE). “Doing what we can to conserve and restore the basin is not just the right thing to do environmentally -- but also economically. This legislation will help government, nonprofit groups, and private industry work cohesively to preserve the vibrancy of the Delaware River Basin for future generations.” 

“Although organizations like the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and the Delaware River Basin Commission are successful in their respective efforts, existing programs have limited resources to fully address the habitat, recreation, and water-related challenges in the entire Basin in a fully coordinated manner,” said Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA). “This legislation will enable the Delaware River Basin to compete for federal support on the same level as the other major watersheds around the country and get all the relevant agencies and organizations working together to keep the river clean.” 

“The Delaware River Basin has a positive economic, environmental and public health impact in South Jersey and communities across the Northeast. Our actions today seek to protect this natural resource and ensure a coordinated strategy for its long-term prosperity. I look forward to working with my colleagues on this critical legislation,” said Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ). 

“The Delaware River Basin is a vital resource for jobs and economic growth in our region and it must be protected,” said Congressman Rob Andrews (D-NJ). “By boosting state, federal and local efforts to enhance our river basin, there will be more demand for recreational use of our waterway, which will attract new economic development and demand for jobs in our region. This is truly a win-win that I am proud to sponsor.” 

“A coordinated strategy for protecting and restoring the Delaware River Basin will bring real and lasting benefits to the Basin's aquatic, bird, and wildlife populations, as well as the more than 15 million people who rely on the watershed for drinking water,” said Kim Beidler, Project Coordinator for the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. “The members of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed would like to thank the legislators who are sponsoring this vital piece of legislation that will help secure the future of the Delaware River Basin, from its headwaters in pristine Catskills forests to its mouth at the Delaware Bay, and all of the habitats and landscapes in between.” 

“The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act will protect and restore waterfowl habitat, improve water quality, and enhance recreational opportunities for people who love the outdoors,” said Bernie Marczyk, Director of Conservation Programs for Ducks Unlimited. “Ducks Unlimited looks forward to implementing this legislation by building on our wetland restoration successes that have resulted in the conservation of more than 98,000 acres of waterfowl habitat in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. We will work with our federal, state, local, and non-profit partners to ensure future generations enjoy the valuable natural resources of the Delaware River Basin.” 

“A healthy Delaware River and Bay gives us clean drinking water, as well as fish, oysters and horseshoe crabs that provide tremendous economic value to our region,” says Jennifer Adkins, Executive Director of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, A National Estuary Program. “To keep it healthy, we need smart investments in forests, wetlands, and communities, from headwaters to ocean – that’s what the Delaware River Basin Conservation Act seeks to provide.” 

“Having 210 years of history in Wilmington, Delaware, DuPont is heavily invested in the health of the Delaware Estuary. We are already actively engaged through our 'Clear into the Future' community-based program in the estuary,” said Michael Parr, Senior Government Affairs Manager from DuPont. “The Delaware River Basin Conservation Act will be a big step forward by coordinating existing programs and resources, which will benefit the overall watershed and the Delaware Estuary. DuPont welcomes the opportunity to work with other partners to advance the health of the watershed and the estuary in a coordinated fashion.”

“Philadelphia Water has been a participant of coordinated source water protection efforts in the Schuylkill River; establishing a similar program for the Delaware watershed would be great for protecting water supply and citizens' health,” said Kelly Anderson, Manager of Philadelphia Waters Source Water Protection Program.

Alleviating Thermal Stress on the Upper Delaware

The Upper Delaware Council (UDC) will hold the next monthly meeting of its Water Use/Resource Management Committee (WU/RM) on Tuesday, February 19, at 7 p.m. at the UDC office, 211 Bridge St., Narrowsburg, NY.

Dr. Peter Kolesar and Jim Serio will offer a Power Point presentation on “Alleviating Thermal Stress on the Upper Delaware” at the beginning of the meeting.

The agenda will include new and old business, updates on ongoing projects, reports of recent meetings, and notices of upcoming events.

All committee meetings are open to the public. For further information, call the UDC office at (845) 252-3022 or visit www.upperdelawarecouncil.org.