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Delaware County NY Soil and Water Conservation District

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Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District (DCSWCD), New York

10/29/2026

DCSWCD’s CSBI program has planted numerous riparian stream buffers along Delaware County waterways. Stream buffers improve stream health and protect water quality by slowing runoff, filtering pollution, preventing soil erosion, and shading the stream to keep waters cool. Buffers that include a diverse array of native trees, shrubs, grasses and herbaceous plants can also absorb and slow floodwaters, helping to protect property and human safety.

If you have a stream on your property and would like more information about planting or maintaining a stream buffer, contact CSBI Program Coordinator Catherine Skalda at 607-865-5223 or [email protected].

📷Planting a buffer with SUNY Delhi students The College Golf Course at Delhi, April 2026.

10/28/2026

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is native to Central and Eastern US and Canada, and is one of the most common and widespread deciduous trees in its territory. A fast growing, medium tree, red maple tolerates a wide range of soil and moisture conditions. Reaching up to 100 feet in height, it can grow in spots of full sun to full shade.

Red flowers in early spring, red leafstalks in summer, brilliant red foliage in fall, and red buds in winter give this common tree its name. A valuable wildlife species, red maple is often browsed by large and small mammals and is especially important to deer in late fall and early winter. It is an important food source in the spring for many insects, especially bees looking for an early pollen source. Equally as important, it supports nearly 300 species of caterpillars which are a critical source of food for many bird species.

Red Maples are also commonly referred to as Soft Maple, Water Maple, or Swamp Maple. A striking tree year-round with high wildlife value, red maple is an excellent tree to add to your landscape.

Have questions about native plants or what plants might be best for your property? Contact DCSWCD’s Catherine Skalda: 607-865-5223 [email protected].

Photo of red maple flowers CC Mark / inaturalist.org.

10/23/2026

Manure injection deposits liquid manure under the surface of the soil directly at the root zone. There are several benefits to this method vs. traditional liquid or solid manure spreading, including better nutrient absorption.

Water-soluble nutrients in liquified manure, including nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, are more bioavailable than in solid manure. When liquified manure is injected directly into the root zone, it ensures immediate plant uptake.

Contact us to learn more about this technology that provides benefits to farmers, crops, and the watersheds, and available grants.

Image shows a close-up example of a direct injection cultivator.

10/21/2026

Blackgum (Nyssa sylvatica), also referred to as Black Tupelo, is a tree native to the central and eastern United States. Preferring full to partial sun, the tall trees can reach heights of 80 feet. This tree is among the most shade tolerant of tree species, blooming from May to June, and tolerates clay and wet soils. Blackgum is found in hardiness zones 4 to 9. In the southern part of its range Balckgum overlaps with, and is often replaced by Swamp- and Water Tupelo (N. biflora and N. aquatica), especially in the wetter sites.

The small blooms are an excellent nectar source for bees, while the small, dark blue fruits that follow are eaten by birds and other wildlife and are a good source of crude fat, fiber, phosphorous, and calcium.

Blackgum is a great choice for landscaping as a shade tree, street tree, or as an addition to naturalized areas that tend to periodically flood. It tends to be easy to grow and establish and can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. Gorgeous fall colors of vibrant reds, oranges, and burgundy burst across the landscape from the tree’s alligator skin-like bark, adding color and interest to any area.

If you have any questions about native plants or want to learn more, feel free to reach out to DCSWCD’s Catherine Skalda at 607-510-7076, or find us at www.delawarecountystreams.org.

10/19/2026

Manure injection is a technique that uses specialized equipment to deposit liquid manure under the surface of the soil directly at the root zone. This contrasts with manure spreading which spreads raw manure, or liquefied manure, on the surface of the ground.

Manure injection is becoming more common in Delaware County as technology improves and becomes more accessible. In September we hosted a Precision Manure Field Day – contact us to learn more about this technology that provides benefits to farmers, crops, and the watersheds, and available grants.

10/19/2026

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) is a shrub native to the Catskill region and is adapted to moist riparian and upland sites, growing well along both streams and ponds. The plant’s beautiful red stems are complemented by its green leaves and unique white berries that ripen in the fall. These features make it a striking landscape plant and a favorite amongst ornamental gardeners.

Red Osier Dogwood has a high wildlife value, with its seeds, fruits, flowers, twigs, bark, and leaves all used as food by various species. Many native pollinators are attracted to the delicate spring flowers. The fruits are eaten by at least 36 species of birds, and many mammals, small and large. The bush also provides a good nesting site for birds.

If you have any questions about native plants or want to learn more, feel free to reach out to DCSWCD’s Catherine Skalda at 607-510-7076, or find us at www.delawarecountystreams.org.

10/14/2026

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a wonderful native addition to shrub borders, shade or woodland gardens, naturalized areas, rain gardens, or along streams or ponds. Native to the eastern, northern, and southern United States, Spicebush has striking lemon-yellow autumn foliage which has a spicy-citrusy fragrance when crushed. Female plants produce glossy, bright red berries that develop from small clusters of fragrant yellow flowers that erupt early in spring.

Spicebush is commonly found in rich deciduous woodlands, wooded bluffs, bottomland forests along rivers, wooded slopes, and gravelly seeps in shaded areas, preferring moderately wet conditions. It is frequently used in stream buffer plantings both for its growing condition preferences and its high wildlife value.

Growing 5-15 feet tall, Spicebush attracts various pollinators and other insects. The fruits are eaten by various birds, including white-throated sparrow, veery, gray-cheeked thrush, wood thrush, eastern kingbird, and red-eyed vireo, by the larvae of the Spicebush Swallowtail.

If you have any questions about native plants or want to learn more, feel free to reach out to DCSWCD’s Catherine Skalda at 607-510-7076, or find us at www.delawarecountystreams.org.

📷 Christine McAnlis (berries) on bplant.org and Ethan M. Dropkin on cornell.edu.

10/05/2026

Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District, along with our project partners, successfully completed eight Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) projects in 2026, including the Bragg Hollow Stream Deposition Project in the Town of Middletown.

Along with our project partners, NYC DEP, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Town of Middletown, we put boots on the ground to visually assess damage caused during an August 2024 storm event that filled the Bragg Hollow stream channel with gravel. Too much gravel in the stream channel can force the water up and over the banks during periods of excessive precipitation or snowmelt which leads to flooding of the surrounding landscape. It also contributes to further streambank erosion and additional sediment loss which in this case would have led to impaired water quality within the Pepacton Reservoir.

Once the EWP funding was approved, the project was surveyed to collect data regarding significant topographic features of the project area. The data collected was used for construction designs as we applied scientifically sound stream management practices to the project. Active construction began in August 2026 and was completed by September.

After removing gravel from the stream channel to the appropriate dimensions, and creating a bench along both banks, the stream flows freely once more.

Learn more about our projects: https://www.delawarecountystreams.org/projects/

10/02/2026

Don’t forget! If you ordered from our 2026 Fish Sale, pick up is TOMORROW, Saturday, October 3, 11a.m. sharp.

NYS Fish and Wildlife Law requires that you secure a Farm Fish Pond License from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation before releasing any species of fish into your pond. There is no charge for the license which is valid for five years. You MUST present a valid permit to DCSWCD before receiving your fish.

Address

44 West Street, Suite 1
Walton, NY
13856

Opening Hours

Monday	7:30am - 3:30pm
Tuesday	7:30am - 3:30pm
Wednesday	7:30am - 3:30pm
Thursday	7:30am - 3:30pm
Friday	7:30am - 3:30pm

Telephone

+16078657161

Website

https://www.dcswcd.org/, https://www.delawarecountystreams.org/

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