All events are free, for all ages, and at the District office - unless otherwise noted. 
Registration is appreciated; please call 518-828-4386 x 3 or email Chelsea Bensonat least 24 hours before the program. 

January Programs - Terra Tuesdays @ Germantown Library
Animal Tracking Hike
Tuesday, January 31 3:30-4:30pm, Germantown
Explore the winter landscape at Palatine Park looking for animal tracks & traces. To register please call (518) 537-5800 or email Heather Gibbons germantownlibraryevents@yahoo.com.
 
February Programs
Winter Snowshoe Walk
Saturday, February 11 2:00-3:00pm 
Experience Mud Creek on snowshoes! Beginners and advanced snowshoe hikers are welcome. A brief snowshoe lesson will be provided before we hit the trail to admire the beauty of nature in winter and search for signs of wildlife. A limited number of snowshoes are available. Registration is recommended in order to reserve snowshoes. The hike is a snow or no snow event. 

Snowshoe Adventure - Chatham Library
Tuesday, February 21 11:00am-12:00pm 
Join Chelsea Benson from Mud Creek on a snowshoe adventure. Learn about the wonders of snow: identify animal tracks, how plants and animals survive winter, all while snowshoeing. Snowshoes will be available. Please call the Chatham Library to register:  (518) 392-3666.  

Tracks & Traces Snowshoe Hike
Friday, February 24 2:00-3:00pm  
Join us for an animal tracking hike around Mud Creek! We may see tracks and traces left by squirrels, foxes, deer, and perhaps even a bobcat!  We will look for signs of wildlife and learn about the natural history of local animals. A limited number of snowshoes are available.  Registration is recommended in order to reserve snowshoes. The hike is a snow or no snow event. 

All Winter - Spontaneous Snowshoe Hikes
Based on the weather conditions, these walks will be held spontaneously at Mud Creek & at other locations in Columbia County. We have set up an email alert system to schedule the snowshoe outings. You will receive a message from Chelsea Benson: “Snowshoe Hike Scheduled”. Reply to the email and indicate if you need to borrow snowshoes. We have a limited number of snowshoes available for participants. Beginners are always welcome. To be notified of our next spontaneous snowshoe hike contact Chelsea Benson by phone 518-828-4386 x 3 or by email at chelsea.benson@ccswcd.org.

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CCSWCD
1024 Route 66
Ghent, NY 12075
Phone: (518) 828-4386 x 3
Fax: (518) 822-0219

Open Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm

Taking Orders for the Bare Root Tree & Shrub Sale
The 2012 Bare Root Tree & Shrub sale is under way!  New this year - Raspberry Bush seedlings. All orders must be prepaid and received in our office by March 23, 2012.  Be sure to order early as supplies are limited. Orders can be mailed or dropped off at our office: CCSWCD, 1024 State Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075. If you have questions, please contact Michele Lindsay by phone (518) 828-4386 x 3 or by email michele.lindsay@ccswcd.org. 
Order forms and plant descriptions are available to download: 

Grant Highlights Green Infrastructure at Roe Jan Library
The District, in partnership with the Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation Districts, was able to secure a grant from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The grant was utilized to make a video highlighting green infrastructure at the Roe Jan Library in Hillsdale. The Roe Jan Library installed a porous parking area that allows rainwater to permeate through the concrete thereby reducing flooding. Additionally, the library installed a rain garden and bioswale that filter rainwater from roof runoff and the parking area. The gardens and porous concrete help to slow down, soak up, and filter rainwater that drains into the adjacent Roe Jan Kill. The porous concrete is the first of its kind in our region. To view the green infrastructure project, please watch the video.

Local Farms Receive Recovery Funding
With the help of the District, thirteen Columbia County farms that sustained damage as a result of Hurricane Irene received relief through the NYS Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund. Approximately $135,000 was awarded to the District to help these farms mitigate flood related impacts including: clean up of debris from crop fields, restoring stream crossings, replacing and repairing pasture fencing and repairing crop field laneways.  

Funding Opportunities
The District has funding available to cover engineering costs associated with water quality improvement projects on farms in Columbia County. Please contact Laura Sager for more information: (518) 828-4386 x 3, laura.sager@ccswcd.org.