March 2025 Conservation Report

- WCSWD, NYDEC and WNYTU will be doing a stream bank restoration project this summer on the Wiscoy at the Boy Scout Camp. Wyoming County has $19000 left over from dam project they have available. NYDEC applied for Habitat Access money – no timetable on grant approval. We will probably apply for FEF and State Conservation Fund grants. This may be a scaled down version depending on the federal funding availability.

- On Elm Creek in Cattaraugus County and Clear Creek above Galen Hill Road a sewage fungus mat has formed along the stream bottom due to excessive manure run off from upstream dairy farms. NYDEC is investigating and trying to mitigate the issue. No reported fish kill but currently do not know the effect on trout recruitment until shocking is done this summer. Looks like Rock Snot but it is not.

- NYDEC, Kyle Glenn and I on behalf of the chapter have requested TU National to change the chapter’s Home Water from Clear Creek Ellington to the Upper Cattaraugus watershed. We feel there is more opportunity for future projects and this watershed is more familiar to our chapter’s members.

- Joe Morgan