From 2022-2024, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance worked with local Advisory Committees to create watershed characterizations for the Sparkill Creek watershed and the Punch Brook-Roeliff Jansen Kill watershed. The process includes organizing a watershed advisory committee, delineating the focus watershed, gathering existing data, and organizing and summarizing the information into a written report.
The watershed characterization report helps communities understand the current conditions of their shared land and water resources. It compiles existing information in one place, describing and illustrating the physical characteristics, lands, waters, and people of the focus watershed. The report tells the story of the watershed, including what is known and where there may be gaps in available information. It provides a foundation for watershed planning and can serve as a resource for partners to build local interest in the watershed and support for future watershed management.
Punch Brook-Roeliff Jansen Kill Watershed Characterization
Punch Brook-Roeliff Jansen Kill Watershed Characterization Report (2024)
Fact Sheet: Punch Brook-Roeliff Jansen Kill Watershed Characterization (2022)
Sparkill Creek Watershed Characterization
Fact Sheet: Sparkill Creek Watershed Characterization (2022)
The final Sparkill Creek Watershed Characterization is expected in spring 2024.
In spring 2022, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance solicited applications to provide technical assistance to develop watershed characterizations, based on the process outlined in the NYS Department of State and Department of Environmental Conservation Guidebook on Watershed Plans. The Hudson River Watershed Alliance worked with Advisory Committees from two watersheds within the Hudson River estuary watershed to develop watershed characterizations, which will serve as templates in the future.
This project is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
2022 Application for Technical Assistance
This is an application for technical assistance from the Hudson River Watershed Alliance. No funding or match is required from participants. Applicants and advisory committee members will commit their time to support the watershed characterization process.
Roles: The Hudson River Watershed Alliance will facilitate the advisory committee meetings, write the two watershed characterization reports, and manage the overall process. The applicant will identify and confirm advisory committee members. The advisory committee will assist with gathering data to inform the watershed characterization and community engagement to support an inclusive process. Project deliverables include a final watershed characterization report for each watershed, including narrative and maps, along with a final presentation to the participating communities.
Eligibility: Eligible watersheds must: 1) be located within the Hudson River estuary watershed, 2) be HUC 12 size or smaller (based on US Geological Survey delineation), and 3) include at least two local municipalities, in addition to the county or counties. Applicants may be watershed groups, municipalities, or other entities, and must demonstrate local stakeholder support for this project.
Deadline: Fill out the application form by Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 5 pm.
For More Information: See the full Request for Applications here. Hudson River Watershed Alliance held an informational webinar on this program on Thursday, May 19, 2022. Webinar slides are available here for reference.
This program is supported by funding from the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC.
Application Materials
Request for Applications
Application Form
Letter of Support Template
Scoring Sheet