NYCkayaker Moodna Creek restoration -- dam removal project meeting invitation

[Simon Gruber]

Invitation

Public Information Meeting on Moodna Creek Habitat Restoration Project

You are invited to a public information meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2009,
from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, at the Kowawese Unique Area, Plum Point, New
Windsor, NY 12553.  This meeting is being hosted by the Orange County
Department of Planning, in cooperation with American Rivers, the NYS DEC
Hudson River Estuary Program, the Orange County Water Authority, and the
Moodna Watershed Coalition.  American Rivers staff and consultants will give
a presentation about a planned dam removal project on the Moodna Creek.  

 

Interfluve Inc., the engineering consultant to American Rivers for the dam
removal project, has completed a feasibility study and final design report
for this project, which will be the primary focus of the meeting.  This
project will improve conditions for kayaking, support habitat restoration,
and potentially lead to improved public access to the Moodna Creek.  We will
also provide a brief overview of related watershed planning and restoration
projects in the Moodna Creek watershed, including efforts to increase public
access for kayaking, fishing and recreation, and a watershed plan being
developed by the Orange County Water Authority.  There will be an
opportunity for questions and discussion about links between these
initiatives and other local concerns including water quality, fisheries,
flooding, and recreational use of the Moodna Creek and nearby portions of
the Hudson River.  The April 18 meeting will include presentations from
Brian Graber from American Rivers, and Marty Melchior of Interfluve Inc.  I
will provide the opening introduction about the local Moodna Creek watershed
planning process.  An educational brochure about the project will be
distributed at the meeting.   

 

This American Rivers project is funded by the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary
Program and the NOAA/American Rivers Partnership program.  The meeting
location is the meeting room overlooking the Hudson River at Kowawese Unique
Area (also known as Plum Point) in New Windsor.  The street address is 64
Plum Point Lane, New Windsor NY, 12553, if you are using Google Maps. 

 

I hope you will be able to join us for this educational meeting.  This
project will be an important step towards protecting and restoring fisheries
and other habitat values, and also for improving recreational access to the
Moodna Creek, and community participation will be important as these
initiatives move forward.  Please contact me for more information,
directions, etc. 

 

Simon Gruber

845-534-5622

 

PS.   On May 23 at 9 am, there will be a ½ day volunteer tree planting
program on the banks of the Moodna Creek near the Moodna Viaduct in
Cornwall.  The parking area and meeting location is on Otterkill Road near
the trailhead for the Schunneumunk Mountain State Park trail system.  This
is a fun project good for the whole family.  The holes will be dug ahead of
time so the work is fairly light and rewarding.  If you want more
information contact me or just show up sometime between 9-1 pm.  This
project is sponsored by the Trees for Tribs streambank restoration program
of the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program.