Kevin Sumner, District Manager for Orange County Soil and Water Conservation District, works with Orange County Land Trust intern and University of New Hampshire student Cole Hamling, placing US Geological Survey staff gages along Quaker Creek in Warwick’s Black Dirt Region. USGS staff gages have been placed at key areas along the tributaries of the Wallkill River as part of an effort to track the movement of water in the black dirt region. By monitoring water flow, the Land Trust’s Wallkill River Task Force will be able to prioritize future flood mitigation efforts. Other flood mitigation projects include planting riparian buffers along the banks of waterways which help to enhance water quality, control erosion and, in some cases, reduce the impact of future flooding. For information on participating in the Black Dirt Region Staff Gage project please contact Karin Roux, Wallkill River Task Force Coordinator, via email at karin@oclt.org or phone at 845.343.0840 ext 16.
