Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program Projects and Funding

Stream manager conducting drone survey — Photo: Ulster SWCD conducting post-project survey at Elk Bushkill stream restoration site.

Requests for Proposals

Town of Woodstock Willow Local Flood Analysis

The Town of Woodstock is seeking a qualified firm to conduct a Local Flood Analysis (LFA) for the community of Willow in the Town of Woodstock, Ulster County. Funding coordination will be provided through a grant administered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County for the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program. Members of the Woodstock Flood Advisory Committee (FAC) organized by the Town Board will direct the flood analysis process. The LFA for Willow is anticipated to run from late 2026 through early 2028.

Proposal Submission Deadline: Monday, September 21, 2026

For a full description of the project including instructions on how to submit, please download the Request for Proposals and Addendum No. 1.

Proposal questions were due by August 12 to laz5@cornell.edu and answers were posted on this webpage on August 13.

Proposal Questions

Question: Would CCEUC and the Town consider extending the proposal submission deadline from August 26 to September 16? Recent heavy rainfall events and the timing of the solicitation during peak field and construction season have made August particularly challenging for many water resources consultants. Given the anticipated October/November project start (which we support), we believe a short extension would allow firms to provide more thoughtful scopes and cost proposals without materially affecting the overall project schedule.
- Answer: See Addendum No. 1, issued August 13, 2026.
Question: Task 3.4 directs the Consultant to evaluate the need for additional survey and advanced modeling, while Task 3.6 directs the Consultant to perform the additional modeling determined necessary through Task 3.4. Ideally Task 3.6 would be scoped after completion of Task 3.4, detailed review of existing survey and model data, and review with the FAC. Would CCEUC and the Town consider converting Task 3.6 to a supplemental task to be scoped/authorized after completion of Task 3.4?
- Answer: Proposer may evaluate the availability of surveyed channel cross sections included in the effective FEMA model and the need to obtain additional field measurements and propose additional survey with a cost estimate for completion of Task 3.4. Needs identified after project initiation will be met through a separate scope and fee if approved to advance.
Question: Has a maximum budget been established for the Willow Local Flood Analysis? If so, could the budget for the base scope (and/or supplemental tasks) be provided to better convey the expected level of detail for 2D modeling, sediment transport modeling, educational materials, and other tasks?
- Answer: A maximum budget is not established for the Willow Local Flood Analysis.
Question: What calibration / validation data is available for past flood events? For example, are surveyed high water marks, photographs, citizen observations, FEMA damage assessments, or other documented inundation information available?
- Answer: The Town of Woodstock and the AWSMP have images that may provide indicators of high-water marks at locations listed in the LFA report for the July 28, 2026, flow event with an estimated return interval of 3.8 yrs at the Beaver Kill at Mt Tremper NY USGS gage (source: AWSMP). Potentially this event was an order of magnitude larger in the upper reaches of Wagner Creek (flowing into the Willow hamlet center) and Beaver Kill in Mink Hollow. Peak flows in nearby Warner Creek were similar to the December 25, 2020, flow event. The Town of Woodstock has a collection of images documenting damage caused by Tropical Storm Irene on August 28, 2011, flooding in June 2006, and some prior floods that may be of use.
Question: To help ensure proposals are based on a comparable deliverable, is there an anticipated number of mitigation alternatives that should be assumed to carry forward into the Phase II feasibility analysis?
- Answer: It’s hard to predict the number of projects that may require Phase II feasibility analysis, and each project can vary in level of complication. A review of completed LFAs in the Ashokan watershed may provide an indication, see https://catskillstreams.org/lfa/. All bridges and culverts within the study area with a history of overtopping should be considered for full analysis. Floodprone sections of roadway and floodprone clusters of residential and business development should be considered for more detailed modeling to develop conceptual solutions. Based on past LFAs, individual focal areas have yielded from 3-10 mitigation scenarios each. However, each LFA is unique.
Question: Can you clarify the requested level of effort on Page 17, Item 4 regarding evaluation of flooding and erosion risk to adjacent structures in the Bass Meadow Lane, NY-212 and Louies Way area. Is the expectation that more advanced sediment modeling and analysis will be performed, and should it be offered as an optional task or included in the base proposal? Would the evaluation of concepts for channel dimensioning and longer-term solutions be included in the LFA analysis or would the town like to see a recommendation within the LFA to explore this via non-LFA funding sources?
- Answer: See Addendum No. 1, issued August 13, 2026.

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Stream Management Implementation Program (SMIP)

The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program accepts SMIP grant applications during three funding rounds each year. The grants program is currently closed. The next funding round will be announced in September 2026. About $2 million is available over the coming year for stream and flood mitigation projects.

Ashokan-SMIP-Instructions-2026 Download

Ashokan SMIP Grant Application Form 2026 Download

Eligible applicants include local, county, state, or federal government agencies, 501©(3) organizations, secondary school districts, colleges or universities. For-profit firms or institutions may submit funding applications in the Research, Assessment and Monitoring category only.

AWSMP makes funding available for community partners to implement recommendations identified in the AWSMP Action Plan , Stream Management Plans, Local Flood Analysis Plans, and for other priority reasons. Projects must be carried out within the Ashokan Reservoir watershed.

The AWSMP funds stream projects in the following categories:

– Planning
– Education
– Research, Assessment and Monitoring
(see priority research needs)
– Stream-Related Public Infrastructure Improvement
(see project eligibility guidance)
– Flood Hazard Mitigation
– Stream Restoration

A separate funding stream is available to implement projects recommended in town-accepted Local Flood Analysis plans. Eligible applicants may apply for Local Flood Analysis funding at any time (see the LFA Funding section below).

Potential applicants are encouraged to discuss project ideas with AWSMP before applying. Contact the AWSMP at (845) 688-3047 or info@ashokanstreams.org.

Potential SMIP applicants are asked to carefully review the following policies before submitting an application:

Insurance Requirements
Copyrights and Access to Information
Infrastructure Project Eligibility Guidance

The Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program has awarded over $9.6 million for stream and floodplain management projects in the Ashokan watershed since the SMIP grants program began in 2009.

For more information, contact Leslie Zucker at (845) 688-3047 or laz5@cornell.edu.

Local Flood Analysis Implementation Funding

Funding for municipalities to implement Local Flood Analysis (LFA) recommended projects is available to eligible applicants year-round. Funding applications may be submitted at any time.

To apply, municipalities should download and read the funding application at:

LFA-Implementation-Application-Form Download

Eligible communities with completed LFA studies with recommended actions in the Ashokan Reservoir watershed include:

Town of Olive: West Shokan, Boiceville, Shokan (in development)
Town of Shandaken: Phoenicia, Mt. Tremper, Shandaken, Allaben
Town of Hunter: Lanesville

Municipalities may apply to complete Local Flood Analysis studies of eligible areas through the regular SMIP grant program described above on this website. Visit the Local Flood Analysis program website for more information, and read the LFA funding program rules to determine areas eligible for study.

The AWSMP’s SMIP and LFA grant funding programs are administered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County with funding provided by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection. The Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District provides technical assistance during project implementation.