Public Education 

The BC - NY promotes public education to teach people about the importance of the Battenkill Watershed. Public education activities include:  

• The Voice Of The River newsletter. 
• Nature & Exploratory Trips. 
• RiverWatch: Including student/teacher classroom training. 
• NY Route 313 Adopt-A-Highway clean up. 
• Speaker Series: Topics including history, wildlife and land uses of the watershed. 
• Internship opportunities.  
• Slide Shows. 
• Media Reports. 
• Special Events. 
• River Clean Ups. 

The BC-NY works in conjunction with the National River Watch Network to monitor the water quality of the Battenkill. Our monitoring program measures and tracks the physical, chemical and biological health of the river. Our River Watch Program:  

• involves local landowners, farmers, businesses, students and teachers. 
• educates through workshops, school involvement and public activities. 
• monitors on an on-going basis the stream velocity, flow, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, and microorganisms of the Battenkill. 
• prepares multi-year water quality reports of the Battenkill. 
• reports to local towns and governments on the water quality of the Battenkill. 
• works with other River Watch programs within the Hudson River Drainage Basin to present a water quality assessment of the watershed. 
• participates in Hudson River Water Quality Congresses. 

The BC - NY discusses and addresses issues which affect the Battenkill Watershed. Public policy activities include:  

• working for responsible land-use planning throughout the watershed. 
• working for the reduction of point and non-point pollution. 
• working to minimize adverse impacts to the river. 
• supporting efforts to protect the watershed's natural beauty. 
• strong support for local agriculture. 
• working cooperatively with local governments Easton, Greenwich, Jackson, Salem, Argyle, Cambridge, Hebron, Hartford & White Creek. 

The BC - NY is a 501(c)(3) land trust and therefore has the legal ability to accept donations of land and to hold conservation easements. These activities promote and maintain the watershed's rural character and natural habitat. On-going Land Conservancy activities include:  

• membership in the National and New York State Land Trust Alliance. 
• attendance at the National and New York State Land Trust Alliance conferences. 
• distributing information to explain the environmental benefits and income, estate, and gift tax consequences of conservation easements and other land protection mechanisms. 
• working with property owners to establish conservation easements and other land protection plans