What was once just a large, unsightly ditch and a patch of mowed grass along Route 28 in the Catskills is now a lush, colorful and dynamic riparian ecosystem filled with native plants, trees and shrubs and all of the birds, amphibians and wildlife it helps to support. The transformation of this swath of streamside land, just shy of an acre, is the result of a collaboration among the Emerson Resort and Spa, the Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative (CSBI) and its partners the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on the grounds of the Emerson this past Friday to celebrate the flourishing growth of the Brookside Wander project: a native-planted stream buffer and educational garden that is open to the public.
“We feel so fortunate to live in such a beautiful and protected environment,” said Posie Strenz, Creative Projects coordinator at the Emerson. “We understand how important it is for us to model good environmental practices and to be good stewards of the land.” Strenz said that the importance of protecting our streams and rivers from erosion and making our landscapes more flood-resistant has been sadly highlighted by the disastrous flooding in the Southeast after being hit by Hurricane Helene.
At the Grand Opening of Brookside Wander, Strenz said that it was their hope that both visitors and locals might gain inspiration from what they’ve done to restore their streambed by taking a walk through this stream buffer garden. Informative panels along the route highlight native plants being used to strengthen the waterways and prevent flooding through their deep, extensive root systems that hold water and filter out toxins. “Maybe a property owner or property manager or architect might visit and want to do something similar, and this can serve as a model,” she explained.
There’s been a longstanding relationship between the Emerson Resort and Spa in Mount Tremper and various environmental agencies that work to protect the Ashokan watershed and invest in stream stabilization and restoration efforts, which largely consist of the planting of native species and the removal of invasive species. Situated in one of the most scenic crevices of the 288,000-acre Catskill Forest Preserve, the Emerson has often been the site of environmental education trainings and meetings for these various agencies. In fact, Tim Koch of the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program recalled being at the Emerson at an outdoor environmental training to do with flood management back in 2018. He was looking around to identify some streamside native plants near the degraded area that is today Brookside Wander. “I found a lot of knotweed, but not a lot of native plants. So, it’s been an absolute joy to see this project grow and thrive and change throughout the seasons.”
Strenz explained that she had been tasked with creating an educational field trip itinerary and came up with the idea to create an outdoor demonstration zone on the Emerson property for hands-on learning about the importance of invasive species and stream side management. She called Leslie Zucker of Cornell Cooperative Extension who put her in touch with Bobby Taylor of CSBI. He reviewed the property and identified the “perfect spot for this native riparian buffer.” Strenz said that it was one of her greatest joys to work alongside Taylor throughout this project. “Not only did he plan out all of the plants, but he was here doing the actual planting and all other phases until completion!”
Taylor said that he was a “planter and not a public speaker,” but his passion for his job and the waterways of the Catskills came through to the audience at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I was lucky enough to grow up in Phoenicia, and as a kid I became passionate about our rivers and streams.” Now, as an adult, it’s his job to help protect the places he loved as a child. “This was just a ditch and some mowed lawn,” he said, pointing to the area behind him that is now teeming with pussywillows, elderberry, buttonbush, meadowsweet, riverbed wild rye and American cranberry bushes. “It served no purpose.”
He explained that his agency, along with its partners, is responsible for implementing watershed protections, funded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the 200 square miles that make up the Ashokan watershed. “Basically, we provide landowners with the knowledge and tools to live more sustainably in watersheds.”
According to Taylor, any private or commercial landowner who has property bordering a stream in the Ashokan watershed can get help from the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District in planning, planting, maintaining and paying for a native riparian landscape. “We work with them to help design a garden or a streambed border that they will enjoy. We provide the plans, the plants and the maintenance for five years to ensure that the plants are healthy and taking hold. We don’t just install and walk away. We’re there in the snow and the rain to make sure that the planting area is growing and thriving. All they have to do is give up a tiny piece of manicured grass.”
He explained that native plants have larger and deeper root systems that hold and filter the water, resulting in cleaner air and water as well as protection against erosion and flooding. Besides the structural and filtering work that they do, these native plants also provide wildflower blooms, berries, shade and habitat for amphibians, birds and pollinators.
It’s Taylor’s hope that people see one streambed restoration and want to do their own, or pass the word along to a friend or property owner so that “we create a healthy watershed, a pollinator pathway and foster positive relationships with landowners who become good stewards of the land.”
He praised the Emerson’s owners and staff members, and particularly the Emerson’s Posie Strenz for leading and driving this project the last several years. He thanked the Emerson maintenance crew who helped build the bridge and kiosk to allow for the public to be able to walk through and enjoy the Brookside Wander area. He explained how he and a few volunteers, with the support of the various environmental agencies, were able to plan this stream buffer garden and plant more than 900 trees and shrubs in the one-acre parcel along the stream. “There are 29 different species, including sedges and rushes and dogwood shrubs, and all of these help to create a wonderful habitat for birds and frogs and wildlife, while stabilizing the streambed and filtering the water at the same time. Now all of these critters can enjoy their own five-star resort!”
This spring, summer and fall saw a burst of color and blossom explode from the more than 20 pounds of wildflower seeds that they sowed in 2022. “Unfortunately, that attracted some critters that we did not want, like the deer, and we had to build a temporary enclosure so that the plants can grow and mature over the next few seasons.”
Taylor said that, out of all of the 110 CSBI projects that he has helped install since 2009, it was Brookside Wander at the Emerson “that fully exceeded my expectations.” He thanked the Emerson for helping to make a “positive statement” with the restoration of this property to a native riparian public garden. He said that the owners “lead by example,” and it’s his hope that others will follow. “All it takes is a little piece of maintained lawn to turn into a landscape that is bursting with color and full of life!”
Taylor added that the Brookside Wander project “serves the CSBI program well as a demonstration of what we can do for future streamside landowners who are interested in the program.”
The public is welcome to visit and learn about all aspects and benefits of having native plants to help sustain the flora and fauna of the region, as well as the health of any watershed in which they may live. To learn more, go to https://emersonresort.com/onsite-activities-area-attractions.
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