CWC Awards Planning Grants

MARGARETVILLE, NY, April 8, 2009 - The Board of Directors of the Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) recently approved six community planning grants benefitting nine municipalities in Delaware and Ulster County.

The awards, issued under the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP), totaled $200,000. They were approved at the CWC’s regular monthly Board meeting April 7, when Board Secretary Charles Buck of Gilboa intoned the resolutions for the last time.

The sole Schoharie County CWC representative for the past five years, Buck attended his last official meeting, which concluded with the Board approving its 1500th resolution. The retiring Buck was praised for his long-time involvement with Watershed issues and for being "the level-headed voice of common sense" during many a discussion.

A new Schoharie County representative will be seated at the 12th Annual Meeting of CWC member towns Tuesday, April 28 at 6 p.m. at CWC offices, 905 Main Street, Margaretville. The public is invited.

Among business accomplished April 7 was the approval of LTAP grants. The Village of Fleischmanns will receive two grants -- a $20,000 award to update its zoning law, and a $14,170 grant to complete a comprehensive plan for the village park.

The Town of Stamford ($25,000) will complete a Comprehensive Plan to address watershed and farmland protection.

Ulster County ($50,000) will develop community planning tools for the Towns of Olive and Shandaken incorporating principles of smart growth and open space controls.

Two awards went to joint projects.

The Town of Olive applied on behalf of the seven municipalities of the Central Catskills Collaborative (the Towns of Hurley, Olive, Shandaken, Middletown, Andes and the Villages of Margaretville and Fleischmanns) along the Route 28 corridor. The project will propose measures to protect natural and scenic resources along Route 28 and Upper Esopus Creek, the Bush Kill, and the East Branch of the Delaware River.

The Town of Middletown applied to conduct a regional economic Revitalization Plan for Middletown, Roxbury, Andes and the Villages of Fleischmanns and Margaretville. This $40,830 project will focus on the local economy and the importance of water resources to tourism and economic stability.

CWC programs and projects are explained in detail on the corporation’s web site: www.cwconline.org. Inquiries are welcome Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the CWC’s offices and over the toll-free line, 877-WAT-SHED (877-928-7433).