The Wallkill River Black Dirt Flood Mitigation Benching project has been a project years in the making. In 2020, despite a global pandemic and funding uncertainties, the District was still able to keep the project moving forward and complete a scaled down portion. Phase 3 was split into two areas. This phase is located on the south side of the river, just upstream from the confluence of the Pochuck Creek and the Cheechunk canal. Area 1 excavation was completed in the summer of 2020. The tree planting portion was completed in May 2021.
Phase 2 south was planted in the fall of 2019. Survival throughout 2020 was good. All of the large 2” caliper trees survived their first year. Smaller containerized tree stock survival was not as high, but overall still favorable.
The District were recipients of the New York State Climate Resilient Farming Round 5 Grant. This grant allowed the District to begin Phase 4. The grant funded the permitting, design and implementation of our flood mitigation work another ¾ of a mile upstream beginning at County Route 1. The District worked with our consultants on designs and permitting.
Phase 2 south was planted in the fall of 2019. Survival throughout 2020 was good. All of the large 2” caliper trees survived their first year. Smaller containerized tree stock survival was not as high, but overall still favorable.
The District were recipients of the New York State Climate Resilient Farming Round 5 Grant. This grant allowed the District to begin Phase 4. The grant funded the permitting, design and implementation of our flood mitigation work another ¾ of a mile upstream beginning at County Route 1. The District worked with our consultants on designs and permitting.
Tree survival on Phase 2 South of the Wallkill Floodplain bench was excellent. This phase exhibited sandy soil conditions throughout at the final bench elevation, in contrast to other phases of the project. This photo is looking south (upstream) - the County Route 1 bridge over the Wallkill is in the background.
