Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District

04/24/2026

Hope everyone’s finding some time to get outside and celebrate Earth Week!
Here’s a fun scene we stumbled on while taking care of one of our project sites on the Manor Kill yesterday. These fox kits were such a treat to watch as they ventured out of their den to play on that slope!

03/04/2026

We will soon be reviewing applications for two 5-month Water Resources Field Technician internship positions. This hands-on internship offers the opportunity to participate in assessing, restoring, and protecting Catskill Mountain streams within the Schoharie Reservoir watershed!

The preferred candidates are recent or upcoming (Spring 2026) AS/AA graduates in an environment-related field. As interns, they will gain experience in:
- surveying stream corridors,
- monitoring restoration projects,
- maintaining riparian buffers, and
- organizing community outreach events.

Compensation includes:
- housing and living stipends,
- professional development trainings,
- AmeriCorps Education Award, & more!

Internship dates: May 22 – October 30, 2026
Apply by April 12th! https://www.gcswcd.com/about/employment
Questions? Contact [email protected] or [email protected]

02/03/2026

Our annual Bare Root Sale is now open and accepting orders! Plant shopping can really bring a bit of brightness to these below-freezing days, so go ahead and check out the inventory and start planning your warm weather projects: https://greene-county-soil-water.square.site/

Order deadline: Monday, March 30
We pre-order our inventory and orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. For the best selection, placing your order well in advance of the March 30th deadline is highly recommended.

If you have any questions, please call our office (518) 622-3620

10/09/2025

Agricultural districts are state-recognized areas established under Article 25-AA of the Agriculture & Markets Law to protect active farmland and support agriculture. They help preserve land use for farming by giving counties, farmers, and the state a structured way to manage and safeguard agricultural lands. All Greene County towns and villages fall within Greene County’s Agricultural District No. 124, which encompasses 841 parcels and more than 42,000 acres.

From November 1 through November 30, 2025, Greene County landowners have the opportunity to request inclusion of viable farmland into Agricultural District No. 124. During this period, municipalities, state agencies, or landowners within or adjacent to the district may propose additions.

A fillable PDF of the Greene County Agricultural District 124 Application Form is available on the county’s website: https://greenecountyny.gov/departments/planning/agriculture/district124/

Have questions about being included in Agricultural District No. 124? Please feel free to contact our District Technician, Alex Johnk at (518) 589-6871 or [email protected]

10/03/2025

We have space for four more people to join the October 11th Reservoir kayaking event! Free! 10AM-12PM.
Follow the link for more information and to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kayak-the-schoharie-reservoir-october-11th-tickets-1402270401519?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/11/2025

We are now seeking qualified applicants for appointment to the position of Education & Outreach Coordinator. Starting salary will be $60,000 - $65,000, commensurate with experience; additional benefits include health insurance and NYS Retirement.

Typical work activities, minimum qualifications, and other details can be found on the Employment page of our website: https://www.gcswcd.com/about/employment

08/20/2025

With steady rain expected throughout the day today, we have moved this month’s Schoharie Reservoir kayaking event to Thursday (8/21, tomorrow), and a spot has opened up!
10AM - 12PM.
Free!
All you need is a DEP Recreation Access Permit (also free!).
If you would like to join, please send an email to [email protected]

07/10/2025

Some spots have opened up on next Wednesday’s (7/16) Schoharie Reservoir kayaking day! 10AM - 12 PM.
This event is free! All gear is provided.
If you would like to join, please send an email to [email protected]

06/16/2025

We still have some space available for this Saturday's (6/21) kayaking event!
10AM - 12PM. Kayak, paddle, and life jackets provided!
Free. Register today: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1401766414079?aff=oddtdtcreator

We are excited to share that we will be running one kayaking event every month through the remainder of the 2025 boating season! Steam-cleaned kayaks, paddles, and life jackets are provided. A DEP Access Permit is required for participation. Space is limited and registration is required!

The events will be held on:
• Saturday, June 21st (Rain Date: Sunday, June 22nd)
• Wednesday, July 16th (Rain Date: Thursday, July 17th)
• Wednesday, August 20th (Rain Date: Thursday, August 21st)
• Saturday, September 27th (Rain Date: Sunday, September 28th)
• Saturday, October 18th (Rain Date: Sunday, October 19th)

These events are free!
Registration links found here: https://linktr.ee/gcswcd?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=b0bd593c-4696-4915-8a79-79303caa889c

Funding for this project was provided by the Stream Management Implementation Program. This is a collaborative program between the Greene County Soil & Water Conservation District, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and municipalities within the Schoharie Reservoir drainage basin.

06/12/2025

The geology tour with Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten was rescheduled for this coming Saturday, and we've had a few spots open up! If you would like to join, please email [email protected]

Rescheduled due to rain!! New date: Saturday, June 14th.

Join us for an opportunity to see the globally famous fossil forest, Earth’s oldest known forest, near Cairo, NY. Dr. Chuck Ver Straeten - one of the scientists who discovered the site in 2009 - will be our guide as we observe the root impressions where large trees stood ~385 million years ago! The trip will also visit another site nearby, where you get another sense of the environments in the Catskills region at that time.

Rain date: TBA. We will drive from the Fossil Forest to the second site. Registered attendees must be able to provide their own transportation between sites. Carpooling to the event is encouraged, but not required.

This event follows Dr. Ver Straeten’s webinar scheduled for Wednesday, May 28th. Visit our Linktree to register for both: https://linktr.ee/gcswcd?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=f359a24a-7b4d-4d3f-925e-54f42b783c95

Chuck Ver Straeten is a sedimentary rock geologist at the New York State Museum. He studies various rocks and fossils of the Devonian Period in New York State and beyond. He is both a geological detective and “deep time” historian of Earth and Life, between 420 and 380 million years ago. You’ll see him along road cuts, streams and mountain sides, studying the rocks. His main research examines the Devonian rocks of the Catskills, including Earths oldest fossil forests. In addition, he is also an improvising musician, inventing music and sound on the spot.