Taconic Foothills

Clove Valley Rod & Gun Club has submitted a permit modification to expand sand and gravel mining by 6.9 acres in Union Vale, projecting excavation of 142,000 cubic yards over 5 years with reclamation as a 4.22-acre fishing pond. A minimum 100-foot setback from NYS Freshwater Wetlands is proposed. Comments are due to NYSDEC by November 20, 2026.

Union Vale's municipal stormwater management system is in Significant Non-Compliance for being more than 30 days late reporting progress on its compliance schedule. Four other MS4 systems in the area (Arlington, La Grange, Pleasant Valley, and Arlingdale) share the same reporting violation.

Millbrook Sewage Treatment Plant is in Significant Non-Compliance for missing a deadline in its compliance schedule by more than 90 days. The facility requires immediate regulatory attention to cure this administrative violation and bring the permit into compliance.

Dutchess County showed no drought conditions the week of October 20 to 26, marking full recovery from minor abnormal dryness that affected 2.16% of the county earlier in October. Stream habitats now have adequate flow for aquatic life.

A North American river otter was recorded on October 19, 2026 in Sharon, Connecticut, in the Taconic area. Otters are native large carnivores that have recolonized much of northeastern stream habitat over recent decades; their presence indicates a fishery capable of supporting a top predator and reflects restoration of aquatic corridors across the landscape.

Greater White-fronted Goose reported at Traver Pond on October 15. This Arctic nesting species migrates south from breeding grounds; peak fall migration occurs from mid to late October as birds move toward southern wintering areas.

Millbrook Sewage Treatment Plant is in Significant Non-Compliance with its EPA Clean Water Act permit. The facility's status shows no specific violation details synced from EPA, indicating the non-compliance is administrative. This requires immediate regulatory attention to determine what compliance-schedule deadline or reporting requirement is missed.

An American Eel, a catadromous fish, was recorded August 26 in the watershed. Eels migrate to the Atlantic to spawn, beginning their downstream movement in late summer and fall, which is why the observation aligns with the season when young glass eels and elvers move through local streams.

Eastern Elliptio freshwater mussels were observed on September 11 in the Poughkeepsie area in two separate records. This native unionid builds shells from dissolved calcium, requiring year-round stable flow and clean water, making populations a marker of sustained habitat quality.

Caddisfly larvae were recorded in three locations between September 10 and 19, including Dot Wing Winter Sedges near Millbrook and Northern Caddisflies near Poughquag. Caddisflies indicate well-oxygenated, clean water where they spend most of their lives as aquatic larvae filtering organic matter and grazing algae.