The Sand and Salt Storage Facilities Program upgraded or replaced buildings used for storing road de-icing materials to prevent salt and other substances from leaching into groundwater or nearby streams. A total of 39 facilities were constructed for municipalities in the WOH Watershed at a total cost of $9,637,389. New storage areas are safe distances from reservoirs, watercourses and wetlands. The last facility was completed in 2003.

The Alternate Design Septic Program is intended to pay eligible costs of new septic system installations, those costs being added solely due to requirements of the Watershed regulations. Reimbursement is allowed for only those cost increases attributable to the regulations. Because of the specificity of the rules of this program, and the broad reach of the CWC’s Septic Rehabilitation and Replacement Program, the Alternate Design Program has not been widely used and is largely inactive.

The Tax Consulting Program pays the fees and expenses of consultants and/or attorneys retained by Watershed municipalities to review, analyze or assist in the administration of property taxes paid by the City on City-owned lands and facilities in the West-of-Hudson (WOH) Watershed. The fund is intended to provide municipalities and intergovernmental organizations with the resources to conduct assessment reviews and help defray the costs of litigation commenced by the City to challenge assessments. For more information, call 845-586-1400.

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The 1997 MOA identified several programs in which the CWC has a consulting role. Those programs included

• New Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Program
• Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Program
• Sewer Extensions
• Dunraven Causeway Bridge Reconstruction
• Schoharie Roads and Bridges
• Land Acquisition/Sporting Advisory Committee

New Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Program
Under this program, 22 WOH hamlets and villages were identified as potential sites for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), community septic systems or septic maintenance districts. NYC initially allocated $75 million for this program, with seven communities at the top of the priority list targeted to receive initial funding. Those funds were found to be sufficient only for development of five infrastructure projects. Under terms of the 2002 Filtration Avoidance Determination (FAD) an additional $12 million was allocated to complete projects in the sixth and seventh priority communities. The seven hamlets are Hunter, Fleischmanns, Windham/Hensonville, Andes, Roxbury, Phoenicia and Prattsville.

(Under the 2002 FAD, $10 million was allocated to the Community Wastewater Management Program to address the needs of five more communities on the priority list.)

The New York State Environmental Facilities Corp. contracts with participating communities, administers and dispurses New Sewage Treatment Infrastructure Program funds and provides technical assistance in the development of wastewater treatment and collection systems.

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Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Program
This program was established to help upgrade more than 100 existing public and private WWTPs in both East- and West-of-Hudson Watersheds. City funds have been used to rehabilitate, replace or upgrade necessary equipment that is unreliable, failing or nearing the end of its useful life. Such upgrades have enabled the plants to meet higher treatment standards and the conditions of their State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permits.

Sewer Extensions
This program is constructing extensions to wastewater collection systems serving City-owned WWTPs in Margaretville, Grand Gorge, Tannersville and Grahamsville. Municipalities Town of Middletown, Village of Margaretville, and the Towns of Roxbury, Hunter and Neversink) are required to adopt sewer use and local land use laws insuring that future growth will not exceed the capacity of the WWTPs, which were recently upgraded by the City under a program separate from the MOA or FAD.

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Dunraven Causeway Bridge Reconstruction
The MOA included a commitment by NYC to reconstruct the Dunraven Causeway Bridge in the Town of Middletown, Delaware County. Connecting State Route 28 with City Road 10 along the Pepacton Reservoir, the bridge was closed several years ago due to its deteriorating condition. In lieu of rebuilding the bridge, however, the City reached agreement with the Town of Middletown to provide $3 million to the town to be used for municipal projects, and to allocate to the Arena Fire Department.

Schoharie Roads and Bridges
The MOA includes provisions for the repair and reconstruction of approximately 12 miles of roadway and two bridges built during construction of the Schoharie Reservoir in the 1920s. The bridges, on State Route 990V and Schoharie County Road 39, have been completed. Work on sections of six state, county and town roads has also been completed.

Land Acquisition/Sporting Advisory Committee/Local Consultation Program
The MOA required the city to solicit the owners of 355,050 acres of eligible land in the WOH Watershed (approximately 30 percent of Watershed land) in order to purchase vacant acreage to prevent development or degradation of water quality around its reservoirs and feeder streams. The MOA also provided for a committee of outdoor enthusiasts and sporting group representatives -- the Sporting Advisory Committee (SAC) -- to review pending City land purchases and to make recommendations on potential recreational uses for those lands. SAC members, appointed by the CWC, have also provided input on the City’s recreational use regulations and permit system.

The Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) administers the Land Acquisition Local Consultation Program to provide reimbursement to Towns to review and comment upon proposed purchases of land and easements by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). Eligible Town costs might include technical and legal review of proposed land purchases by the City, preparation of comments on proposed land purchases by the City, consultant expenses, additional in-house municipal staff expenses, or public hearing and legal notice fees. Maximum reimbursement is $30,000 per town. For more information, call 845-586-1400.

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