Study Will Begin Restoration Of Flood-Ravaged Cadosia, Sands Creeks

The flood-ravaged Cadosia and Sands creeks near Hancock, N.Y., will be the subject of a $55,000 study aimed at their restoration, Samuel N. Rowe Jr., supervisor of the Town of Hancock, announced this week.

 

The study is being funded by the Friends of the Upper Delaware River, an advocacy organization committed to the protection and health of the river, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The study will provide a blueprint for stream restoration on these two important tributaries in the Upper Delaware River watershed.

 

The creeks, located in Delaware County, N.Y., were severely damaged in the 2006 flood in which homes, roads and bridges were damaged or destroyed.

 

“Millions of dollars was spent to do emergency flood repair work,” said Rowe. “More work on Sands and Cadosia creeks is necessary to stabilize the flood plain and reduce bed/bank erosion.”

 

The study by LandStudies Inc. of Lititz, Penn., will begin in May and cover 18 miles of stream and tributaries. It is expected to be completed by October 1.

 

FUDR has committed $33,500 to this project, along with $21,500 by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

 

“We cannot think of a better project designed to bring the Upper Delaware closer to its full potential than to restore these damaged tribs that are prime spawning waters for the wild trout in the Delaware River,” said Dan Plummer, chairman of FUDR.

 

Plummer said the not-for-profit FUDR is seeking additional financial partners for the Cadosia and Sands project. He said anyone with ideas or suggestions can reach him by sending email to: catskilldan@mac.com.

 

The restoration project proposal has been supervised by Lee Hartman of Equinunk, Penn., vice president of FUDR and chairman of the Delaware River Committee for PA Council Trout Unlimited. He and Rowe, the Hancock supervisor, have been the primary organizers of this restoration project.

 

After completion of the study, it is expected that state and federal legislators will support the effort and help to seek federal funding to begin work for restoring Sands and Cadosia creeks.