Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month

Wappinger Creek Week
July 5-11

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: West Buttercup Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Sunday, July 4, 8:00AM
Location: West Buttercup Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Stanford, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
For 2-3 hours explore Buttercup Farm with members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club. The Farm is made up of 553 acres of woodlands, fields, pastures, and wooded swamp and provides home to raptors, waterfowl, Great Horned Owls, bluebirds, and many resident nesting species. This is an easy to moderate walk. Please click here for more information about the bird walk and detailed directions.

Wappinger Creek History Night: History of the Hart’s Village Mills
Thursday, July 8, 7:30PM – 9:00PM
Location: Millbrook Free Library, 3 Friendly Lane, Millbrook, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
A panel will discuss the history of mills, living in a mill, and restoring mills, as well as the importance of the Wappinger watershed in the community’s past.

Cary Institute Wappinger Creek Week Celebration Walk
Friday, July 9, 5:00PM – 6:30PM
Location: Gifford House, Cary Institute, 2917 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Have a family-friendly afternoon stroll along Wappinger Creek Trail with Cary Institute educators Kim Norton and Lia Harris. Learn about water quality issues and methodology. Macroinvertebrates are the stream “bugs” that provide indications of water quality. This stroll will show you how to sample the “bugs” and let you try to do it yourself. During the stroll members of the Dutchess Watershed Coalition will have additional information available for guests.

Paddle Wappinger Lake
Friday, July 9, 5:30PM – 8:30PM
Location: Veterans’ Park, Spring Street, Village of Wappingers Falls, NY—-
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join us at Veterans’ Park on Wappinger Lake for a night of exploration of Wappinger Lake. Outfitters will be present to discuss equipment, take attendees on a tour of the Lake, and answer your questions about the sport of paddling. Here is an opportunity to see the Lake from a different perspective! Bring sunscreen, a hat, proper footwear, water and snacks. For more information on the event, contact Russ by email at RussOutdoors@yahoo.com

Clinton CAC and Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Clinton Nature Trail
Saturday, July 10, 10:00 AM
Location: Meet at Clinton Town Hall, 1215 Centre Road (County Rt. 18), Rhinebeck, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join the Clinton CAC and Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club for a walk in the Town of Clinton’s Nature Trail, located along the Little Wappingers Creek. Come and learn about the birds, dragonflies, and butterflies that live in this area during the summer months. Bring binoculars and cameras. Wear long pants to protect against deer ticks, and hiking boots (waterproof, if possible) since some of the paths may be wet. Please click here for more information about the bird walk.

ADK Hike: Buttercup Preserve & Thompson Pond
Saturday, July 10, 10:00AM
Location: Buttercup Farm
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
We will head north along the Buttercup Farm Audubon Sanctuary trail, parallel to the Wappinger Creek (admission $3). Later, we will drive to Thompson Pond, where the Wappinger Creek originates, and hike around it (about 3 miles).Please call or email trip leader Beth Willis at (845) 373-8202, bethwillis@optonline.com to RSVP.

Wappinger Watershed Rain Barrel Building Workshop
Saturday, July 10, 10:00AM
Location: Wappinger Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
A rain barrel is used to capture runoff from rooftops during a storm. Once the water is collected in a barrel, it can be used later to water your lawn or garden. At the end of this rain barrel building workshop you’ll walk away with your own functional and ready-to-install rain barrel! Due to the costs associated with this event, there is a small $15 fee and a sign-up. Spaces are limited – please RSVP by emailing Vicky Buono at vcb4@cornell.edu or calling (845) 677-8223 x153.

The Village of Wappingers Falls “Picnic in the Park”
Sunday, July 11, 12:00PM – 4:00PM
Location: Mesier Park, Village of Wappingers Falls, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join us at Mesier Park in Wappingers Falls as we conclude Creek Week. Throughout the day WIC and Dutchess Watershed Coalition volunteers and staff of Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County will be leading environmentally themes activities for youth including crafts, taking a look at the “bugs” that live in the stream and much more. The event parade kicks off at 1 PM. Be sure to get a good seat to watch for the Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month mascot, the Watershed Spirit! Santha Cooke will be present to share some of her personal stories of the Creek and collect some of yours. Be sure you take time to share your memories so they can be preserved!

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Pond Gut
Wednesday, July 14, 8:00AM
Location: Pond Gut, Pond Gut Road, LaGrangeville, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn more about birds in the Hudson Valley that frequent this area. A part of the Taconic-Hereford MUA, with separate access in the Town of LaGrange west of Verbank, Pond Gut contains varied habitat with a pond, stream, and trails. Please click here for more information about the bird walk and detailed directions.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Thompson Pond
Saturday, July 24, 8:00AM
Location: Thompson Pond, Pine Plains, NY—- MAP
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn more about birds in the Hudson Valley that frequent the calcareous bog known as Thompson Pond. Thompson Pond is located at the base of Stissing Mountain and is the beginning, or the headwaters, of the Wappinger Creek. Please click here for more information about the bird walk and detailed directions.