Kingston council backs Lower Esopus Stream Management Plan; county-administered funds and watershed coordinator highlighted

The City of Kingston Common Council adopted a resolution in support of the Lower Esopus Stream Management Plan, a multi-municipality implementation roadmap that identifies roughly 50 projects to improve water quality, access and ecosystem health along the Lower Esopus.

Ulster County planning staff presented the plan and described it as a framework municipalities and community groups can use to prioritize projects and apply for funding. The plan's implementation will rely on many actors over several years including municipalities, county agencies, nonprofits and state agencies; the county is hosting plan materials and will help coordinate next steps.

Presenters told the council there are seven municipalities included in the plan's study area. The plan lists projects ranging from shoreline and water-quality work to recreation amenities such as water trails and waterfront access. One example cited was the Kingston SoFo waterfront planning effort, which received a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) planning award of roughly $200,000; larger implementation costs for waterfront improvements were described as potentially "millions." When asked about total program cost, a county planner summarized expected costs as "millions and millions and millions of dollars," noting that the plan does not assign a single aggregate price tag for all recommended projects.

Funding sources discussed include a consent order and related environmental-benefit funds tied to turbidity releases from the Ashokan Reservoir. Presenters said there are about $2,000,000 in environmental-benefit funds designated for the Lower Esopus; the council was told those funds will be administered by the Hudson River Foundation and distributed via a grant application process. That money already underwrites initial pieces of implementation, including partial funding for a watershed coordinator position: Ulster County and the Environmental Protection Department (DEP) funds will combine so the coordinator can spend about 50% of their time on Lower Esopus work and 50% on related watershed work such as Wappinger/Wallkill efforts.

Speakers emphasized that the plan functions as a roadmap to help municipalities compete for state, federal and private funding. Grant reviewers often look for established plans; the resolution signals Kingston's support and awareness of the plan rather than committing the city to specific projects or local funding at this time.

The council moved and seconded the resolution and approved it by voice vote. Staff and presenters said they would continue outreach and provide more detailed information on project-level costs and timelines as grant rounds and implementation options are developed.