OCTOBER 2008 UPDATE

The Watershed met with Fish & Wildlife, Chenango Soil and Water, National Resource Conservation Services representatives and Jeff Bemthin Excavating, the contractor who was awarded the bid to start the work on the stabilization of the creek, last month.

The Contractor would like to start work on our stabilization project this month, October 2008. Work will begin at the upper end (Pharsalia/Plymouth) and continue down stream. Mr.Bemthin owns his own rock quarry and has had extensive experience on stabilization of creeks/streams. He is in hopes that he will be able to begin and place several weirs and or j-hooks (according to Chris Henry, Engineer NRCS plans) before the weather turns. The current work plan is to try and get at least 20 – 25% of the heavy work in the upper portion done this year and the remainder in the Spring of 2009.

Please keep in mind that we have secured $192,000 and this will not go the full 6 mile stretch nor will this money and work cover all that needs to be accomplished. We are in hopes that at a minimum we will be able to stretch the money to at least getting rock weirs, etc., placed down through to Moon Hill (again, finishing up what can be done by Spring of 2009). All will is dependent on the cost and weather as to how much can be done and how fast. The Watershed is continuing it’s work with Chenango Soil & Water and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition to obtain additional funds. Chenango Soil & Water and the Watershed have both written letters of support of the Upper Susquehanna Coalition for additional funding in calendar year 2009 to be made available for wet lands and stabilization of creeks/streams. Approximately $15,000 of the $192,000 was provided to the Town Of Plymouth Watershed from the Coalition through Chenango Soil & Water for work here in our area.

The Watershed Committee has mailed out the appropriate documents for land owners to sign and return giving permission for the work to be done on their property. Not ALL land owners will receive a mailing at this time. We have targeted those at the upper end of the watershed at this time since that is where work will start.

The shed held a Spag. Dinner last month which went very well raising close to $300. We have a breakfast this Saturday, October 18 – 8 to 11 a.m. here at the fire hall. Current plans are to have a turkey dinner in November and a breakfast in December with some extra “sweets” based on the holiday season. Once again I would like to encourage all of you and then ask you to encourage others to come to these breakfast/dinners as the money does go directly back in to the community.