Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month

Dutchess Watershed Awareness Month

2011 Events

This year’s WAM events commenced July 27th. There was a great variety of almost thirty, many family-friendly, mostly free events. See full list of events below.

All events, ordered by date

Fall Kill Creek Cleanup & Storm Drain Marking
Tuesday, June 28, 9 am – 12:00 pm & 1 pm – 3 pm
Location: Meet at the Public Safety Building, 505 Main Street, Poughkeepsie
Watershed: Fall Kill Creek
Join volunteers from the organization Bike & Build, the Fall Kill Watershed Committee and Middle Main Revitalization for the 2nd Annual Creek Clean Up on the Fall Kill in the city of Poughkeepsie. Please register in advance to volunteer. Contact Ryan Palmer, Fall Kill Watershed Coordinator at ryan@clearwater.org , or 845-265-8080, x7114.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: West Buttercup Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Sunday, July 3, 8:00 am
Location: West Buttercup Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Stanford
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
For 2-3 hours explore Buttercup Farm with members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn about the many resident bird species. This is an easy to moderate walk. For additional information click here.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Tamarack Preserve
Wednesday, July 6, 8:00 am
Location: Tamarack Preserve, Turkey Hollow Road, Amenia
Watershed: Tenmile River
For 2-3 hours explore Tamarack Preserve with members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn more about the many resident bird species. For additional information click here.

Cary Institute Wappinger Creek Week Celebration Walk
Thursday, July 7, 5:00 pm–6:30 pm
Location: Gifford House, Cary Institute, 2917 Sharon Turnpike, Millbrook
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join us for a family-friendly interpretive walk along the Wappinger Creek. Explore a wetland habitat and sample creek macro-invertebrates.

Millbrook Film Screening: Bag It
Thurs, July 7, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Farm & Home Center, 2715 Route 44, Millbrook
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
A man who pledges to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store realizes society’s abuse of plastic and documents the consequences while identifying solutions.

Sunset Sail on the Hudson Aboard the Woody Guthrie
Friday, July 8, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Beacon Sloop Club at Beacon railroad station, Beacon
Watershed: Fishkill Creek
Sail on a replica of sloops that plied the Hudson in the 19th century while enjoying a potluck dinner and presentation on the river’s environment. Bring a covered dish and beverage to share. Suggested donation $10/adult, $3/child under 13. RSVP  by July 1st with Russ at russoutdoors@yahoo.com.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Pawling Nature Preserve
Saturday, July 9, 8:00 am
Location: Pawling Nature Preserve, Quaker Lake Road, Pawling
Watershed: Tenmile River
For 3-4 hours explore Pawling Nature Reserve with members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn more about the many resident bird species. This is a moderate to strenuous walk. For additional information click here.

Wappingers Falls Rain Barrel Workshop and Painting Demonstration
Saturday, July 9, 10:00 am
Location: Meiser Homestead at Meiser Park, Village of Wappingers Falls
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Rain barrels capture runoff from rooftops during storms to use later to water your lawn or garden. At this workshop you will build your own! There is a $45 fee and spaces are limited – please RSVP by emailing Angela at acs26@cornell.edu or calling (845) 677-8223 x114.  Following the workshop, at 11:30am, local artists will provide tips and illustrate how to add personality to your rain barrel.

ADK Hike: Madam Brett Park and Denning’s Point
Sunday, July 10, 10:00 am
Location: Madam Brett Park, Beacon
Watershed: Fishkill Creek
Walk along the beautiful tidal flats and marshes where the Fishkill Creek empties into the Hudson and see Tioronda Falls. About 1.5 miles, with a detour to Denning’s Point afterward. For directions, email Louis at ruidisch3@gmail.com.

Arlington Farmer’s Market Information Table
Monday, July 11, 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Vassar College Alumnae House lawn, Raymond Avenue, Poughkeepsie
Watershed: Casperkill Creek
The Casperkill Watershed Alliance will have an aquifer model and information on healthy streams and watersheds.

Fall Kill Then and Now
Tuesday, July 12, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Location: Meet at the bridge on the corner of Washington Street and Brookside Avenue, Poughkeepsie
Watershed: Fall Kill Creek
Take a walk along the Fall Kill to the Walkway over the Hudson with City Assistant Engineer Joe Chenier and local historian and author Harvey Flad. Learn how the creek played a role in the development of the city and now, how the city impacts the creek. Parking available along the creek side of Brookside Ave. Walk is about 2 miles total.

Poughkeepsie Rain Barrel Building Workshop
Tuesday, July 12, 6:30 pm
Location: Fall Kill Partnership Gardens, 29 North Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie
Watershed: Fall Kill Creek
Rain barrels capture runoff from rooftops during storms to use later to water your lawn or garden. At this workshop you will build your own! There is a $45 fee and spaces are limited – please RSVP by emailing Angela at acs26@cornell.edu or calling (845) 677-8223 x114.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Pond Gut
Wednesday, July 13, 8:00 am
Location: Pond Gut, Pond Gut Road, LaGrangeville
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn more about birds in the Hudson Valley that frequent this area. For additional information click here.

Fall Kill Cleanup & Storm Drain Marking
Wednesday, July 13, 6:00 pm
Location: Meet at the corner of Verazzano and Mill Street, Poughkeepsie
Watershed: Fall Kill Creek
Help clean the Fall Kill and mark storm drains in the Mt. Carmel District. The markers act as reminders to passerbys that our storm drains are connected to our creeks and the Hudson River.

Poughkeepsie Film Screening: Carbon Nation
Thursday, July 14, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum Pavillion, 75 North Water Street, Poughkeepsie
Watershed: Fall Kill Creek/ Hudson River
This documentary examines solutions to climate change. Followed by a discussion on how climate change will potentially impact local streams and waterfronts.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Vassar College Farm & Ecological Preserve
Saturday, July 16, 8:00 am
Location: Vassar College Farm & Ecological Preserve, Poughkeepsie
Watershed: Casperkill Creek
Members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club will lead a walk on the Farm and provide information on resident birds of the area. For additional information click here.

Green Infrastructure Bus Tour for Municipal Officials
Saturday, July 16, 8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Throughout Dutchess County
Dutchess County municipal officials are invited to tour several sites where green infrastructure practices are being used to mitigate stormwater. Registration is required. Municipal training certificates will be provided. Contact Carolyn for more information at cak97@cornell.edu.

Casperkill Creek Clean-up
Saturday, July 16, 10:30 am – 1:00 pm (Rain Date: July 17, same time)
Location: Vassar College, bridge near Kenyon Hall (near Manchester Road entrance to campus)
Watershed: Casperkill Creek
Join volunteers from the Casperkill Watershed Alliance and Vassar College in cleaning up the Casperkill Creek from where it enters Vassar campus down to Sunset Lake. For more information contact Will Jobs at wijobs@vassar.edu .

ADK Hike: Buttercup Farm and Thompson Pond
Sunday, July 17, 10:00 am
Location: Buttercup Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Stanford
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Bring sturdy boots and plenty of water and lunch for this easy hike in a bird-filled sanctuary. Call or email Beth (834-332-2926 or bethwillis@optonline.net) by 8:00 pm the day before to RSVP and for the specific meeting place.

Casperkill Storm Drain Marking
Tuesday, July 19, 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: Meet at the corner of Raymond Avenue and College Avenue, Vassar side
Watershed: Casperkill Creek
Help the Town of Poughkeepsie mark storm drains in the Arlington area. These markers act as reminders that our storm drains are connected to our creeks and the Hudson River. For more information contact Will Jobs at wijobs@vassar.edu.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: West Buttercup Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
Wednesday, July 20, 8:00 am
Location: West Buttercup Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, Stanford
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
For 2-3 hours explore Buttercup Farm with members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn about the many resident bird species. This is an easy to moderate walk. For additional information click here.

DLC Geology Walk at Dover Stone Church
Thursday, July 21, 4:00 pm-6:00 pm
Location: Meet at Dover Plains Elementary School on Route 22, Dover Plains
Watershed: Tenmile River
Join Vassar College Earth Science Professor Jeff Walker in a geological exploration of the historic Dover Stone Church in Dover Plains, NY. Please wear sturdy hiking shoes. For more information contact Julie Hart at 845-677-3002, julieh@dutchessland.org or dutchessland.org

Film Screening: Gasland
Thursday, July 21st 7:00 pm
Location: Lathrop Building Lakeside Park (formally YMCA), Lakeside Drive & West Dover Road, Pawling
Watershed: Great Swamp
Friends of the Great Swamp, the Pawling Planning Department and the Dutchess Watershed Coalition invite you to join us for a showing of Gasland, a timely documentary on the surprising consequences of natural gas drilling.

Clinton CAC and Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Clinton Nature Trail
Saturday, July 23, 10:00 am
Location: Clinton Town Hall, 1215 Centre Road (County Route 18), Clinton
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
Join us for a walk in the Town of Clinton’s Nature Trail, located along the Little Wappingers Creek. Come learn about the dragonflies, butterflies, and birds that live in this area during the summer. For additional information click here.

Dover CAC Wood Duck Box Building
Saturday, July 23, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Boyce Park, Old Route 22 (Route 55), Wingdale, NY
Watershed: Great Swamp
Join the Dover CAC as they build nesting boxes for wood ducks, an important species found in the Great Swamp.

Fishkill Rain Barrel Building Workshop
Saturday, July 23, 10:00 am
Location: Stonykill Foundation, 79 Farmstead Lane, Wappingers Falls
Watershed: Fishkill Creek
Rain barrels capture runoff from rooftops during storms to use later to water your lawn or garden. At this workshop you will build your own! There is a $45 fee and spaces are limited – please RSVP by emailing Angela at acs26@cornell.edu or calling (845) 677-8223 x114.

Green Infrastructure for Homeowners
Tuesday, July 26, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: East Fishkill Town Hall, 330 Route 376, Hopewell Junction
Watershed: Fishkill Creek
Learn more about green infrastructure practices that you can implement at your own home that work to mitigate stormwater. Topics to be covered include rain gardens, rain barrels, native plantings and much more.

Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club Walk: Bower Park
Wednesday, July 27, 8:00 am
Location: North Avenue, Pleasant Valley
Watershed: Wappinger Creek
For 2-3 hours explore Buttercup Farm with members of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club and learn about the many resident bird species. For additional information click here.