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Seasonal Briefing • Summer & Fall 2026
Wallkill River Watershed Alliance Update
A season of community science, public art, river events, watershed coordination, and fall planning.
Field monitoring, public art collaborations, and community science continue across the Wallkill River watershed this season.
Authored by Robert Howe (WRWA Watershed Coordinator)
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Dear Friends of the Wallkill,
This summer has brought intensive field observations, a laboratory-confirmed harmful algal bloom at Sturgeon Pool, active public commentary on watershed protections, and Alliance leadership in the Wallkill Futures creative initiative. Working alongside organizational leaders Martha Cheo and John Gotto, as well as partners at Riverkeeper, we are advancing interagency coordination and regional watershed oversight.
Looking ahead to autumn, we are strengthening connections across our 60-mile river corridor—linking neighbors through deep-listening paddle performances, River-to-Ridge drone mapping demonstrations, agricultural outreach at Black Dirt farmers markets,
and multi-agency working groups.
Every mile of river watched, every sample analyzed, and every municipal conversation facilitated is powered directly by members like you. Visit our secure portal at
wallkillalliance.org/join to renew your membership, make an annual contribution, or sign up
as a volunteer watcher.
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1. The Summer So Far with the Alliance
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Water Quality Update
Confirmed HAB Sample at Sturgeon Pool (Ulster County)
Sample collected June 30, 2026; lab-confirmed July 2. A targeted surface water sample prompted by vigilant volunteer HAB Watcher observations near the public access ramp at Sturgeon
Pool was processed at Riverkeeper’s Kingston laboratory through our ongoing collaborative partnership with David Stormer and the Riverkeeper water quality team. Microscopic analysis confirmed
high concentrations of toxic Microcystis cyanobacteria with phycocyanin levels exceeding safety thresholds.
This rapid response underscores the real-world impact of trained, consistent field observation. When temperature spikes and reduced flow slow the river, our community network ensures timely warnings reach the public before official sampling sweeps occur.
Public Health Advisory:
Avoid contact with spilled paint-like discoloration, bright green scum, or thick floating mats. Keep dogs strictly on-leash and away from the water edge; cyanotoxins pose severe danger to pets.
🔍 Track live conditions on the HABs Watcher STREAM Dashboard and view verified statewide alerts on the NYHABS Public 2.0 Map.
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In the News
“Opinion: What We Take for Granted” – Hudson Valley One
A prominent op-ed feature in Hudson Valley One examines the cumulative ecological pressures bearing on the Wallkill River basin—from historical agricultural runoff and climate-induced
flow reductions to modern stormwater development. The column highlights the necessity of sustained, grassroots advocacy and inter-municipal planning.
📰 Read the full op-ed article on Hudson Valley One
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Public Art & Partnership
WRWA and Wallkill Futures Exhibition at Unison Arts
WRWA is proud to serve as a primary community partner in Wallkill Futures—a multi-disciplinary public art project bridging speculative art and river ecology.
The landmark exhibition at Unison Arts Center in New Paltz opened on July 17 and runs through August 22, 2026. It showcases participatory art projects including prints made from discarded objects gleaned from the river banks as well as native plants, sculptures freeze-cast in Wallkill water, community-created sci-fi videos about the future of the Wallkill after climate change, and floating treatment wetlands.
Location & Hours: The exhibition closes August 22 at Unison Arts, 9 Paradies Lane, New Paltz. Gallery hours are Thursday–Saturday, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.
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2. Community Events and Activities in the Near Future
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Interactive Performance & Paddle
Sonic Paddle: Deep Listening on the Wallkill with sTo Len
📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026 • 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM | Sojourner Truth Park, New Paltz, NY
Join interdisciplinary artist sTo Len and WRWA for an immersive on-water listening experience. Using customized underwater hydrophones and wireless audio receivers, paddlers will tune into the hidden aquatic acoustics of the Wallkill—from macroinvertebrate
stridulation to water currents and underwater vegetation resonance.
Equipment: Bring your own canoe, kayak, or paddleboard with required PFD, or reserve a rental boat in advance through local outfitters at Sojourner Truth Park.
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Field Demonstrations & Community Science
River-to-Ridge Science & Mapping Demonstration Weekend
📅 Saturday, August 29 & Sunday, August 30, 2026 • 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | River-to-Ridge Trailhead, New Paltz
Experience watershed science in action! WRWA technical advisors and student researchers will host live field demonstrations connecting drone-based multispectral mapping with stream bio-assessments.
- Drone Stream Surveys: Learn how thermal aerial imagery detects cold-water upwellings and tributary inputs.
- Macroinvertebrate Kick-Netting: Hands-on sorting of Mayflies, Stoneflies, and Caddisflies—living indicators of water quality.
- Stream Table Models: Interactive physical erosion models for children and families.
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Agricultural Outreach
Black Dirt Farmers Market & Soil Health Outreach
📅 Launching Friday, August 14, 2026 • Goshen Farmers Market & Regional Venues
WRWA’s agricultural working group will host educational tables at southern Orange County markets throughout late August. Discussions will focus on best management practices (BMPs) in the fertile Black Dirt region—highlighting cover cropping, reduced tillage,
riparian buffer strips, and soil organic matter retention to minimize sediment and nutrient transport into the Wallkill mainstem.
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3. Coming Up in the Autumn
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Restoration Field Walk
Floodplain Restoration Walk at Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge
📅 Saturday, October 18, 2026 • 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Sussex County, New Jersey
Cross state lines with WRWA for a guided ecology walk through the Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge in Sussex County, NJ. USFWS refuge biologists will lead participants through ongoing floodplain restoration zones, demonstrating Atlantic White Cedar
(Chamaecyparis thyoides) sapling replanting, historic ghost-forest ecology, and wetland hydrologic reconnection strategies.
👟 Requirements: Waterproof hiking boots or rubber field boots required. Registration is limited to 35 participants.
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Community Culture & Celebration
Maybrook Wind Ensemble Performs at Carnegie Hall
📅 Saturday, November 7, 2026 • Carnegie Hall, New York City
In an extraordinary milestone for local watershed culture, the Maybrook Wind Ensemble—representing the Tin Brook tributary community—will perform on the world stage at Carnegie Hall. The concert program includes a special musical suite celebrating the
rivers and valleys of the Mid-Hudson region, with active WRWA volunteer participation in the ensemble.
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Save the Date
Teaser: Fall 2026 Wallkill River Summit
Planning is officially underway for the Alliance’s flagship bi-annual conference! The Fall 2026 Wallkill River Summit will convene municipal leaders, scientific researchers,
agricultural partners, and local residents.
Exact date, regional host venue, keynote speakers, and call for poster presentations will be formally announced in our upcoming September briefing.
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4. Current Watershed Conservation Work with the Alliance
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Community Science & Technical Presentation
SUNY Student Research & HABs Watcher Field Operations
Throughout Summer 2026, WRWA HAB Watchers and student research fellows from Mid-Hudson SUNY institutions have established a continuous visual record of river conditions through systematic, repeat monitoring at public access points.
The 3-Step Field Protocol: Observe • Photograph • Report
Trained observers document both confirmed blooms and clear water conditions. Negative reports are equally critical—they establish essential ecological baselines and confirm
that high-priority public access sites are actively being inspected.
Network Reach & Scope: Operations span 5 monitoring sectors comprising 18 priority access sites across nearly 60 river miles in Ulster and Orange Counties. Volunteers log GPS coordinates, date/time, bloom status, water clarity, weather context, and photo documentation.
Official NYS DEC Volunteer Registration Pathway:
Through our ongoing partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), WRWA offers a formal online training and registration pathway. Enrolling as a registered volunteer monitor grants access to official NYHABS reporting
tools and state-certified sampling toolkits.
Technical Dashboard Integration: The alliance’s STREAM dashboard consolidates USGS real-time flow data, weather forecasts, and direct reporting links. While designed for decision-support
and community education, all potential blooms are routed directly to NYS DEC officials for regulatory confirmation under zero-contact safety protocols.
🔗 Open HABs Watcher STREAM Dashboard | 🗺️ View NYHABS Public Map
Current Grant Deliverables: HABs Community Response Toolkit Update
Under our active grant initiative, WRWA is completing a standardized HABs Community Response Toolkit. This framework strengthens municipal capacity by establishing rapid
triage protocols, standardizing nomenclature (differentiating suspected, reported, and DEC-confirmed blooms), and establishing communication trees connecting town
parks departments, county health officials, Riverkeeper, and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.
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Stakeholder Advocacy & Hydro Relicensing
Central Hudson Hydroelectric Recreation Study Focus Group
WRWA is actively representing community interest in FERC hydroelectric relicensing proceedings for Central Hudson’s Dashville Dam and Sturgeon Pool facilities.
As a core focus group stakeholder, the Alliance advocates for three pivotal upgrades: (1) enhanced, safe portage trails for paddlers around dam structures, (2) permanent, high-visibility public health advisory signage regarding bloom conditions, and (3)
public real-time flow release telemetry data to improve water recreation safety.
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Interagency Coordination
Ulster County WQCC Watershed Working Group Kick-Off
📅 Thursday, September 17, 2026 • 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Ulster County Dept. of Environment & Hybrid Zoom
WRWA will co-lead the launch meeting of the revived Ulster County Water Quality Coordinating Committee (WQCC) Watershed Working Group. The session will align county-level infrastructure grants, MS4 stormwater compliance, and multi-town watershed management
planning.
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Protect the Wallkill River — Become a Member Today
Your tax-deductible membership directly funds water sampling equipment, HAB Watcher reagent kits, youth field trips, and persistent public advocacy for clean water across Orange and Ulster counties.
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Wallkill River Watershed Alliance
wallkillalliance.org •
wallkillalliance@gmail.com
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Protecting, restoring, and celebrating the Wallkill River and its watershed communities across Ulster, Orange, and Sussex counties.
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