USC Synopsis
Upper Susquehanna Coalition
A network of local water quality professionals to develop, support and deliver watershed programs
Upper Susquehanna Coalition
11 Digit Hydrologic Unit Area (HUA) Code Watersheds
Web site: u-s-c.org
Administrative Office:	Watershed Coordinator
Tioga Soil and Water Conservation District	James Curatolo
56 Main Street	4729 State Route 414
Owego, New York 13827	Burdett, NY 14818
607-687-3553	607-546-2528 (phone/fax)
DelaneyB@co.tioga.ny.us	iac3@htva.net
The Upper Susquehanna Coalition
The Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC), established in 1992, is a network of county natural
resource professionals who develop strategies, partnerships, programs and projects to protect the
headwaters of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. The USC is comprised of
representatives from 11 counties in New York and three in Pennsylvania.
The New York representatives are members of each county's Water Quality Coordinating
Committee. These committees are multi-disciplinary groups consisting of local health, planning, and
highway departments; cooperative extensions; environmental management councils; engineers; water
purveyors; soil and water conservation districts; and citizens groups. The Pennsylvania
representatives are members of each county's Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) Committee. All USC
members have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that reflects their endorsement of the

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USC Synopsis
development of non-point-source projects on a watershed basis. The USC has three standing
committees: Executive, Education, and Planning/Implementation. Over the last ten years, USC has
united its members in a genuinely coordinated effort. Through shared projects and regular meetings,
the USC has maintained a remarkable degree of cordiality and cooperation between its members and
its many partners.
Funding
Funding for the USC operations and projects is obtained from federal, state and local sources. The
New York Department of Environmental Conservation supports the Coalition by funding 80 % of the
USC Watershed Coordinator position through the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee and
NY Department of Agriculture and Markets. Most funds for planning and implementation are
obtained competitively; they are on behalf of the entire USC or frequently on one or more of its
county members for subwatershed projects.
Strategic Support
The USC provides liaison support between state, regional and federal agencies and local planners and
implementers. The USC has partnered with local, regional, state, federal, academic and non-
governmental organizations to conduct projects on varying watershed scales. Through its county
members the USC networks with local watershed organizations, town and county public works and
planning officials, farmers and other watershed stakeholders. The USC strives not to duplicate work
of others or compete with ongoing efforts at any level, but to integrate other programs into an overall
basin strategy. From its outset, the USC has sought to operate frugally by engaging local established
sources of support, such as the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, to the fullest extent feasible.
Strategic Planning
Water quality and quantity issues are described in the Chemung and Susquehanna Basin Watershed
Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS). The WRAPS was developed as a joint effort between
the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, USD A Natural Resources Conservation
Service and USC to provide a basin-wide strategy to address nonpoint issues, as requested by the US
Environmental Protection Agency. It is an integration of County Water Quality Strategies, the NYS
DEC Priority Waterbody List, NYS DEC and USDANRCS natural resource concerns, NYS DOH
Source Water Assessment priorities and the NYS Agricultural Environmental Management Program.
The WRAPS is also the basis for New York's involvement in the Chesapeake Bay Program. The
WRAPS is an overview document that summarizes important problems and potential solutions on a
watershed scale. If there is a water quality/quality issue in the Basin it will be described in the
WRAPS document.
The USC uses a Multiple Barrier Approach (MBA) to watershed planning and implementation. The
MBA addresses the issue (such as flooding, streambank erosion or degraded fish habitat) at the
source (e.g., headwaters), across the landscape, and in the stream corridor, as well as
programmatically (e.g., regulations, training). Important concepts that guide the MBA include:
1.	Define the issue or problem before developing the plan.
2.	Target data collection to collect relevant information needed to develop practical solutions.
3.	Search for "critical control points" in issues where small changes may lead to large results.
4.	Plan projects both spatially and temporally.
5.	Develop watershed plans in a nested approach so work within a subwatershed will also address
issues in the larger basin.
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6.	Promote redundancy even within each barrier to increase success.
7.	Integrate practices to address more than one issue at a time.
By developing multiple and possibly smaller projects to address problems, progress can continue and
tangible results can be achieved over a wide range of funding levels. This approach suggests
planning, education, implementation and regulatory solutions to local stakeholders.
Database Development
The USC is developing a series of data layers. It was used in WRAPS and will also supply the
Chesapeake Bay Program information it needs for its Bay Model that will determine nutrient and
sediment reduction allocations for New York. The data is also used for local planning and
implementation efforts. The Database is generally at the 11-digit HUA level, but can also be
quantified and depicted by county or township.
Data Layers being developed include:
1.	Land use
•	Including the typical categories such as agriculture, forest, wetlands, residential, etc.
•	Impervious surfaces, including the area covered by all paved roads
•	Water quality information from local monitoring efforts
2.	Wetlands
•	NWI wetlands
•	NYS regulated freshwater wetlands
•	Ephemeral wetlands - we are beginning to map locations of existing and potential sites
•	Potential wetland sites for development
•	Wetlands restored since 1992 under all programs and funding sources
3.	Topography
•	We continue to strive to collect the most accurate digital elevation data available
•	Land areas categorized according to percent slope (>1% and >3%), which is useful for
locating potential wetland sites
•	LIDAR coverage, beginning with test watersheds (Seeley Creek and Sulphur Springs)
4.	Stream Corridor
•	Riparian buffers as depicted on available digital imagery
•	Riparian buffers restored since 1992
•	Eroding streambanks and their calculated sediment load
•	Stream blockages (i.e. dams)
•	Locations of unconsolidated glacial material (i.e., ochrepts, orthents) incised by streams
•	Stream sediments "fingerprinted" to determine source (bank versus surface)
5.	Stormwater conveyances and infrastructure
•	Salt storage structures (includes information on location and status)
•	Road ditch and road bank assessments, including potential sediment loading to streams
•	Culvert location and assessment
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6. Agriculture
•	Farm numbers and animal units
•	AEM Tier 2 assessment summaries
•	BMP's categorized and recorded according to CBP definitions, since 1992
•	In high priority watersheds the amount of manure produced and production acres
Watershed Modeling
The USC database represents a solid platform for creating a watershed accounting model (or models)
that can be coupled with meteorogical information particularly for extreme weather events in
drainage basins. It can also determine water quantity and quality in the river system itself. Modeling
could integrate USC's knowledge base in a way that would facilitate technical analyses, examination
of prospective scenarios, identification of management options and evaluation of those options. Most
importantly the models would also provide a basis for presenting watershed-planning efforts to
agencies and organizations as well as a vehicle for outreach to the watershed communities. The USC
is pursuing modeling for estimates of sediment loads from streambank and road ditch erosion and the
effects of wetlands on flooding.
USC Initiatives Integrated on a Watershed Basis
A.	Agricultural Sustainability:
1.	Comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMPs) for farms, regardless of size
2.	Precision feeding and enhanced forage system management
3.	Intensive rotational grazing
4.	Other best management practices that are specific to farm needs such as critical area
protection, milkhouse waste treatment, barnyard runoff management, pathogen management,
heavy use area protection, riparian buffer designation, silage leachate management,
streambank protection and the use of no-till drills for habitat enhancement.
B.	Stream Corridor and Floodplain Restoration:
1.	Stream restoration and stabilization using natural stream design techniques
2.	Riparian buffers
3.	Wetland creation and restoration
4.	House buyouts and/or relocation in the floodplain
5.	Enhance groundwater infiltration
C.	Storm water Management:
1.	Road bank and road ditch stabilization (training and implementation)
2.	Initiation of a Stormwater Phase II support role, including public outreach and education,
public participation and involvement, proactive involvement in helping communities
eliminate illicit discharges, control of construction site stormwater runoff, long-term
stormwater management support and helping municipalities prevent pollution. Integration of
"Stormwater Phase II" regulations into existing watershed strategies may ease the burden on
municipalities while strengthening the scope of the strategy.
3.	Development of a "County Stormwater Coalitions" to address Phase II requirements. The
coalition is a subcommittee of the Count Water Quality Committee.
4.	Support for development of Hazard Mitigation Plans for Townships
D.	Planning, Outreach and Training:
1. Developing watershed plans for specific issues at the 11 HUA level
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2.	Construction of a USC website (u-s-c.org) as a means of outreach, data and report
dissemination
3.	Public education through signage, stream cleanups and a river trail program
4.	Using Community Environmental Management (CEM) protocols to aid communities in
assessing their problems and ability to address them.
5.	"Conservation Subdivision " designs that support development, open space, water quality
protection and traditional uses such as farming
6.	Joint development with Penn State University of a multifaceted GIS Assessment Tool
7.	Support of a College Internships to work on watershed projects
8.	Continue partnerships with other organizations and agencies including Alliance for the
Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Program, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Ducks Unlimited,
Izaak Walton League of America, Penn State University, NYS DEC, SUNY Binghamton,
SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station, Susquehanna River Basin Commission, Trout
Unlimited, USDANRCS, Water Resources Institute at Cornell University
Upper Susquehanna Coalition-Current Projects
1)	Community Environmental Management Pilot Proj ect - $39k - NY 319
Each NY USC County aids a community to assess its local issues and develop a strategic plan.
2)	Otselic River Watershed Initiative with special emphasis on riparian buffers -$40k - Cortland
SWCD
a)	Broome, Cortland, Chenango and Madison counties
b)	Working with IWLA, TU and USDA FSA to restore stream health using
farmer initiated guidelines
3)	Development of 100 Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans $404k - NY Environmental
Protection Funds
Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Otsego, Madison and Tioga counties
4)	GIS Tool Development -$35k - NY 319
a)	Update each USC county with new GIS Tool
b)	Develop Wetland Tracking System for NYS DEC
c)	Develop more refined wetland assessment function
d)	Develop Dam assessment function
e)	Develop Septic system and Well assessment function
f)	Add stream morphological assessment function
5)	Chesapeake Bay Program support of NY Activities -$250k-EPA
a)	GIS Support
b)	Historical Baseline Data Collection
c)	Support of the USC Wetland Program
d)	Assessment of Road Ditches
e)	Development Conservation Subdivisions
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f)	Road Ditch Demonstration
g)	Nutrient Management Planning
h)	USC Riparian Buffer Initiative
i)	Education and Outreach - web site
6)	USC Wetland Program $996k - NY EPF, USFWS
a)	Wetland Construction -Seeley, Meads, Catatonk Watershed
b)	Integrating Ephemeral wetlands in the USC Wetland program -$62k -EPA
7)	EPA Watershed Initiative $700k-EPA
a)	Stream Restoration using Natural Stream Design - reduce erosion
b)	Watershed Based Wetland Program - reduce flooding and increase habitat
c)	Watershed Based Unpaved Road and Road Ditch Improvement Program
d)	Promoting Farm Stewardship through a Riparian Buffer Initiative - Chesapeake Bay Foundation
e)	Continued development of the AVStreams GIS Assessment Tool - Penn State
f)	Building Local Coalitions to tackle Stormwater Phase II Programs
g)	Increasing Local Capacity through a College Internship/Research Program - SUNY Binghamton)
8)	Development of a practical introductory guide: "A graphical introduction for the interested public
on stream functions and their interaction with stormwater" $23k-Finger Lakes Lake Ontario
Protection Alliance
a)	A graphical guide to stream problems, effects of stormwater and regulatory aspects of stream
and floodplain issues
b)	Partnership between Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC), Finger Lakes Lake Ontario
Watershed Protection Alliance (FLLOWPA), Champlain Watershed Improvement Coalition
of New York (CWICNY) and Lower Hudson Coalition of Conservation Districts (LHCCD)
9)	Documenting Best Management Practices on farms in the Susquehanna River Headwaters -
$45k - CBP
The Upper Susquehanna Coalition will map farms in each 11 digit HUA subwatershed within the
New York portion of its boundaries, and document the size (acres and animal units) and best
management practices that have been implemented on each farm. We will begin with high priority
subwatersheds, namely those with the greatest percent agriculture and continue surveys until we have
completed all watersheds or exhausted funding; we estimate at least 80% coverage.
NOTE: The synopsis of USC projects does not include the single county projects that are also being
implemented or federal/state programs.
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