Plymouth residents take unique approach to flood prevention

PLYMOUTH – A small group of Plymouth residents don’t want to see any more of their town disappear.

They’ve seen enough go already.

In response to floods in April 2005 and June 2006 that eroded creek beds and swept away landscapes, the crew of seven formed the Plymouth Canasawacta Creek Watershed Committee. The committee’s main goal: restoring and sustaining the integrity of not only Plymouth’s, but Chenango County’s natural beauty.

“The watershed is important not just for the Town of Plymouth, but for Chenango County,” said committee member Peg Kreiner. “A lot of the big business and industry has left Chenango County. The one thing we do have is natural beauty. But if the countryside is destroyed, we’re not even going to have that. And if we sit back and do nothing, it will be destroyed.”

According to the Conservation Technology Information center, a watershed is “the area of land that catches rain and snow and drains or seeps into a marsh, stream, river, lake or groundwater.” Watersheds range in all shapes and sizes, and are not defined by village, town, city, county or even state borders.

Kreiner said the total acres of land lost within the watershed in Plymouth hasn’t been compiled yet. She said the number changes everyday.

“The constant erosion is still occurring,” she said, referring to the Canasawacta Creek. “It looks like someone cuts the banks with a knife and they drop right off.”

The group has been working since September to clear-out creek beds and restore the banks that crumbled during the most recent flooding – and continue to erode. Aside from safeguarding against future losses, the group also hopes to improve the fishing and scenic aspects of the Canasawacta Creek. More importantly, they want their efforts to rub-off on other communities.

“We’re upstream from Norwich, but what we do, or don’t do, ultimately impacts them, and the same is true for other towns in other places,” said Kreiner, explaining that there’s in the only active watershed committee in the county. “We’re just a small area, but we figured we’d give it a shot. And if we’re successful, maybe people will see that they can do it in their area.”