brookside wander midday with the catskills and sun behind it

Brookside Wander at The Emerson

Learn about native plant species, pollinating meadows, stream-side ecology and flood mitigation on a stroll through our Brookside Wander protected environment.

The Emerson has partnered with the Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative (CSBI)* to create Brookside Wander, a streamside restoration project that highlights the importance of native plants in protecting waterways.

Serving as a model for conservation efforts in the Ashokan Watershed, this lush, planted buffer helps reduce flooding and erosion while improving water quality, supporting a thriving ecosystem, and adding another layer of protection for the water within the Ashokan Watershed.

Join us on a Guided Nature Walk to discover more about this important program. To sign up, speak to our front desk staff.

brookside wander with a view of the catskills behind it

lupin flowers in bloom with mt. tremper in the background

informational sign about the trails at the ashokan reservoir watershed

*About Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative (CSBI)

CSBI is a program administered through the Ashokan Watershed Stream Management Program and its partners, the Ulster County Soil & Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, with funding from the NYC Department of Environmental protection to create Brookside Wander.

Residents who own stream-side property in the New York City Watershed west of the Hudson River may apply for assistance through the Catskill Streams Buffer Initiative

Program to assess and improve the conditions of their stream-side areas: https://catskillstreams.org/catskill-streams-buffer-initiative/